Respecting the Grand Masters of the Warrior Arts in the Philippines by Jay Ignacio

Those who have seen The Bladed Hand would have understood that a lot of the Grand Masters in the Philippines are not well-off. They live in very tough conditions, some are employed for a paltry sum, and there are others who have no source of income other than when they have students to teach.Please be understanding when you approach them and do not ask for discounted rates, or take advantage of them by giving them empty promises of compensation or trips abroad.FMA may give some folks abroad a decent income, or even “street cred”, but here in the Philippines, these Masters do not own gyms or schools or training facilities. They teach in public parks, or give private lessons at the students’ homes.Pay them on time whatever rate you agreed on per session, and have the decency to acknowledge them for what they taught you. Pay, or at the very least, offer to pay them for their cab, or bus, or jeepney ride to meet up with you. Feed them as well, especially if ask to meet at a cafe or restaurant.

Be mindful of the fact that photo ops with the Masters sometimes have consequences not favorable to them.

Note that when you bug them to give you a certificate (when they normally don’t because they have no registered business for their FMA system) for just a few days or hours of training, you are taking something away from them.

There’s just too much of this going around. A lot of them complain, but there is no avenue for them to adress any of their concerns. Sometimes they give in because they have no choice.

It’s a matter of understanding, and of respecting their intellectual property, among other things.