Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does "Pintados" mean?
A: The term is homage to my Waray ancestors - a reflection of my tribe and where I came from. It refers to how the Spanish described the pre-colonial warriors of Samar (Waray tribe) who covered their bodies in tatoos as symbols of bravery and accomplishments.
Q: What do you mean by tribe?
A: The Philippines is composed of tribes depending on which region you are in. Each tribe offers different martial culture and perspective compared to the others. Wikipedia mentioned that there are 134 ethinic tribes in the country. I am from Samar which makes me part of the Waray tribe. Those who were born in Manila are referred to as the Tagalog tribe.
Q: How do you differ from other systems of FMA?
A: We differ from the other systems due to our free-form and unpatterned approach to learning. We only use patterns when teaching the basic. Once the student achieves a degree of proficiency, we begin the unpatterned and randomized approach to mimic the reality of stick fighting and self-defense. Lastly, Pintados FMA is an amalgamation of all of GM Garduce's martial and SWAT training that spanned decades.
Q: What is the difference between "Arnis", "Kali", "Eskrima", and "FMA"?
A: They are synonyms to each other and all mean the same thing; it's just a matter of preference. According to Wikipedia, there are 120-187 languages in the Philippines. Therefore, one system may prefere to use one over the other.
Q: Will I have to learn some Filipino terms?
A: Yes. Since we are teaching Filipino martial culture, Tagalog, Waray, and Spanish terms will be used as part of the training and the student is expected to know them as they progress.
Q: How much do you charge?
A: Please contact us for our rates.
Q: What do I need to wear?
A: Comfortable gym clothes along with an indoor shoes.
Q: Do I need to have previous knowledge in self defense?
A: No, it is not required to have prior knowledge of self-defense.
Q: Do you accept beginners?
A: Yes, we do. Please let us know if you do or do not have any martial art experience for our reference.
Q: Do you teach children?
A: No, we do not accept students under the age of 18.
Q: Do I need to have sticks prior to the class?
A: Students doing a trial class will be provided with rattan sticks. However, regular students are expected to procure their own. You can buy it from us or other sellers if you would like. Please inquire for our price. Note that only rattan wood is accepted during the scheduled training session.
Q: Do you sell sticks & weapons?
Yes, please inquire for prices and inventory.
Q: What do you expect from your students?
A: We expect students to train on their own time to ensure faster progress. The concepts covered in class should be reviewed by the student on a regular basis so that we don't repeat the same topic each class.
Q: Do you teach online or have seminar recordings?
A: Yes, we are currently offering Zoom training sessions to those interested. We also have pre-recorded seminars that are available for purchase. Please contact us if you're interested.
Did we answer your question? If not, feel free to contact us.