Below are some of the questions posed to me by one of our most senior students [also an advanced karateka and instructor] when I requested his input for this page.
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You may have similar questions?

Although my preferred answer to nearly all these questions would be, “Come practice with us and see if it’s right for you,” I have tried to reply to each question with sparse but true answers.

How much flexibility, muscle mass, etc. does our class require?
The more flexible and strong you are, the better for you

Don’t despair if you are stiff and out of shape, practice with us will help you fix that

Is it for all ages?
Yes, BUT, our current group is an all-adult one
In the past, the majority of our practices were filled with youths from middle school to college-age
Young children would be welcomed if accompanied in practice by a parental adult

Can people with disabilities participate actively?
Of course, we shall do our best to meet whatever accommodations are required

Is it a pretty sporty form for the youngsters?
It is somewhat “sporty,” serious...but fun
We used to spar regularly but not very often now [explanation is available in person]

Do we do mostly stand-up work or is it grapple-inclusive?
Mostly stand-up, we do often take our colleagues to the mat or floor but very carefully [except for our judokas, we just throw them down when we can]
We do often grapple, especially when working empty-handed against a knife or stick
 
Is our class designed for real-world applications or for perfection of a traditional form?
In that we are pretending to be hitting, stabbing, and hurting people, I suppose that is “real-worldISH
We try to be authentic while not actually hurting anyone [this is not always easy, but we have very few injuries]
We adhere to and practice the basic concepts of Modern Arnis as taught by Grand Master Remy Presas but are not a strictly Filipino Martial Arts Group
We observe the traditional manners, language, and practices of the martial arts [especially Japanese]
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Is it do or jutsu?
Neither my inquisitor-colleague-student-friend or I could say which therefore, we suppose we are both


We do not wear symbols, badges, or belts indicating grade or rank. All are welcome to participate in an initial introductory class at no charge.

Subsequent occasional practices would require a ten-dollar mat fee for the Dojo. There is no prescribed uniform for our practices other than loose, comfortable clothing suitable for exercise, or any type of martial arts gi.
We practice two-hour sessions, three times per week. Monthly dues are seventy dollars. We are always interested in acquiring new practitioners and know that you will be able to use the discipline and skills you may have acquired at Shodokan or elsewhere to help you learn and practice.



FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT RUSS FELT AT 978.745.7758
sfelt1@verizon.net when e-mailing, be sure and include “Arnis” in the subject line