- Tell please about yourself.
My name is Morgan Garrett and I am a sushi chef living in Portland Oregon USA. I teach Pekiti Tirsia Kali and am the owner and founder of the Citadel Combat Arena. I am also the Creator of the International Shortblade Symposium.
The international short blade symposium is a tournament with three parts. Bolo/machete fighting, knife fighting and judged cutting events. Any and all cultures are welcome to come to fight in the ring and represent their own martial art with an edged weapon. Traditionally sticks are used. I have changed that and have synthetic and steel divisions
- Why do you choose Martial arts?
I chose Martial arts as a system of self-mastery. I am not seeking to Master others. For me, martial arts is a journey of self-mastery not a journey to master over others Martial arts journey. I use it to improve every aspect of my lifestyle. Kali is now a part of who I am. Most martial arts had become a business of selling pretty colored belts.
- Where do you learned, and at which masters?
I started in Japanese Blade Arts and am Certified under the Headmaster of Shinkendo, Soke Obata Toshishiro. I am one of only a few students to ever receive a double rank promotion from him directly. I also took a deep Focus Upon Pekiti Tirsia Kali a Filipino martial art. I study under Tuhon Belton Lubas and the Grand Tuhon Himself Leo T Gaje Jr.
I started doing kendo which is japans national cultural sport. I then started training kdnjutstu under Obata Toshishiro at the hobby dojo in Los Angeles. His art is called shinkendo.
- Do you use specific knife techniques (from which masters)?
All of my Knife comes from Pekiti Tirsia under Dagaso Tirsia (single knife) and Qol DeMama ( Double Knife) Directly from Grand Tuhon Himself.
Effective techniques can only come from effective training. Your result is in direct relation with how hard you train. You do not get the results if you do not put in the time and effort to understand how to be effective in all matters in life and how one conducts their lifestyle.
- I’ve seen a lot of your training videos with a rubber knife, a helmet and gloves. Why do you practice with them? It’s effective?
Using training equipment to safely explore and pressure test what you are learning is very important to the way I teach. using safety gear provides the newer students the confidence to spar and increase the force used and decrease the amount of safety gear used so as not to build bad training habits.
- You practice a lot of different types of weapons. Among them is often a Filipino stick. Is the stick effective for street fights? After all, you don’t usually carry a stick with you. Why train then?
Sticks are commonly found all over the ground all over the globe. if I want to club you in the head with a stick, a stick is not hard to find. impact weapons or edged weapons, many of the techniques I teach transfer from skill to skill from tool to tool.
- You work a lot with Balisong bladed lifestyle. Classes look quite impressive. However, there will be no time for tricks in combat. You will need fractions of seconds to get the knife, which may also not be. Why are you practicing it?
Balisongs are the cultural Blade of the Philipines. the relationship to complex opening and its manipulations have many ties to Sinawali, empty hands and other techniques and methods within the system of PTK. Many of the tricks are for display or prowess, but there are many deployments that have the blade ready quicker then you imagine. it is also one of the only knives that has a continuum of force that can escalate as needed.
When it comes to Balisong knife culture there are levels of force one can bring to bear.
Less lethal would include. Fist-loaded impact device for striking. Using the handles as a flail to strike out at your attacker.
If none of this is effective at stopping the attacker and they are intent on harming you the blade can be pulled and opened quickly or in very elaborate complex openings.
Every aspect of Balisong knives represents and expressed Batangas Blade Culture.
