Training with Eddie Levine

What can I say?

I love to Hit.

You and I all have a preference when it comes to what we do in Martial Arts.

Without exception all ranges are important and should be worked on diligently but you'll naturally gravitate to one of them.

It just so happens I like working with my hands.

It's a feeling like no other to land your punches solidly against a focus mitt or heavy bag.

Double the fun when you can actually make it work in a sparring match and clip your partner with perfect timing.

Hopefully you never get to actually use what you learn in martial arts but if you happen to be put into a situation where you have to hit someone, it will be fast and swift and a definite knock-out will ensue.

Enter Eddie Levine.



















Eddie came very highly recommended by Cecil Peoples as a master at taking your existing game or skill when it comes to Boxing and tweaking it for optimal performance and efficiency.

Eddie is well acquainted and in the same class as legendary Boxing coach Freddie Roach (Oscar de la Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, etc...). He's helped alot of Boxers and Kickboxers improve their hand skills, among that list are fighters "Sugar Foot" Peter Cunningham, Kathy Long, Fernando Zuniga, Sven Paris, Samuel Lopez, Juan Carlos Gomez, Bridgett Riley and the list goes on.






















One of the first skills our father taught us at a young age was boxing skills and Eddie could tell right away that we were very comfortable with our hands.

He liked the kind of power we were able to muster up in our punches as well as the strong work ethic we all shared during our workouts with him.

No excuses.

No giving up.

No whining.

And high intensity.




















Working with Eddie reminded me once again of this...

"Know your strengths and weaknesses."

It's good to challenge yourself and work on your weaknesses and purposely put yourself in a situation where you know you're going to learn something, like me rolling with Gokor Chivichyan, it's the only way you'll get better.

But... always come back to what you're good at, so you keep that fire inside you burning, whatever element you're most comfortable with that's the area that actually helps you stick with your training and got you involved in the martial arts in the first place.

Boxing with Eddie was kinda like that for me, like coming home from a long trip.

Speaking of which, I'm back now and preparing for our upcoming Training Camp (Aug. 7, 8, 9).

I'll let you know this week how you can participate in this event even if you're not a Fang Shen Do member.

If you are a member, this is your last week to confirm your presence.

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

P.S. Eddie told me I strike harder than most world champions he's worked with, If you would like to find out how I do that you might want to take a look at this.

Training with Rob Kaman

What's better than training with Rob Kaman?

"Having my brothers there to train with as well!"



























During the week where I trained with Rob Kaman, the rest of my family were also in LA.

It was nice to finally see all of them and reunite under the California sun.



























Although their stay was brief I got them training with some of the people I've been telling you about.



























Rob just opened a new gym along side Rigan Machado and we were actually the first group of guys to do a class in it.

Pretty cool huh?

Rob's private training with us mirrored alot of the Fang Shen Do philosophy and what we teach in our adult sparring/sanshou classes.




























Aggressive. Nothing fancy. To the point. Efficient.

Sprinkled with alot of humour.

He found it interesting to hear about the Patenaude story and how our whole family trains together in martial arts.

With over 100 fights, the biggest feet I've ever seen on a man (which could easily kick through a wall) and currently training BJ Penn on his stand up game, Rob's tips on how to demolish your opponent and the kind of preparation that goes into getting ready for a competition were priceless.

Collectively, one of our favourite classes to date because of the similarities with FSD and a chance to train together after so long might be rivaled by another trainer we'll be working with next.

Stay Tuned,

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

Training with Cecil Peoples

I'm back!

Maintaining my daily tips and blogs is somewhat of a challenge while being away from my home for so long.

One more week and everything will be back to normal.

On to my number 6 instructor while here in LA.

Apart from being a referee and judge during many MMA events, like the last UFC 100, he's also doing a string of reality shows and trains alot of stars in the area.

I'm talking about the one and only Cecil Peoples.

Before getting to meet him, Bob Wall related a story about him during his early referee days.

He was a referee during a Thai Boxing match between an American and a Thai in which the American was winning.

Nobody likes to lose to a foreigner especially when the sport you're competing in is native to your country.

Out of frustration the Thai fighter started *accidentally* kicking the american fighter in the groin.

2 Warnings later, Cecil stops the fight.

Declaring the American, the winner.

Out of anger the Thai Fighter tried to kick Cecil in the head.

Cecil deflected it and knocked him out with one punch.

Very seldomly do we see the Ref doing the knocking out part.

So that's my introduction to Cecil Peoples.

This guy is tough and has been there, done that.

I was always taught to be immune to criticism or praise. Believing neither one was good for my development.

But when a guy like Cecil compliments you on your speed & power in front of a group of experienced fighters, I can't help but to take it at heart.

Up to now, I can tell all FSD practitioners (whether students inside one of our schools or around the world) that what you're learning is top notch.

Take just our Strength Training Kits for example which we've been improving and refining for the past 35 years.

It will help lay, like it did for me, a strong fitness foundation to adapt yourself to any sport you undertake, avoid injuries and increase flexibility at the same time.

If you're a martial artist and still you haven't been using our Station Training System, what are you waiting for?

Get yours here and see what kind of difference it can make in your training.

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

P.S. If for some reason you didn't know who Cecil was, the next fighter I worked with while in LA is known throughout the world for his devastating leg kicks. Stay tuned.

Training with Jean Jacques Machado

What a nice man.

Jean Jacques Machado is very cool.

What a coincidence that we both appeared in the same magazine 17 years ago.

I think it was their first American magazine cover, "Martial Arts Masters" back in 1992 in which my father also had an article on close quarter attack and defense and now finally I get to meet him in person.

After my training session I told Jean Jacques how I enjoyed the atmosphere in his school, there was no ego, everyone was friendly, and how I noticed everyone was open to other types of martial arts.

Whenever you search the internet and stumble upon something martial art related either on You Tube or a Discussion Forum there's always someone studying Jiu-Jitsu that seems to have an attitude and tries to bash everyone who's not studying or training in their art.


Jean Jacques knew exactly what I was talking about. "These people are giving Jiu-Jitsu a bad reputation" he says.

Students are a reflection of their instructor, and bad attitudes are everywhere.

Every man (or woman) you meet is superior to you in one way or another.

Live by this philosophy and you'll always learn something, even when you think you know a particular area you feel comfortable in, no matter what it is, go back to a "beginner's mind", get your ego out of the way.

Not only will you learn something, you'll stay motivated longer and you'll make it more interesting for yourself.

The secret to getting the most out of martial arts is...

Actually DOING martial arts and sticking with it.

I know it's not always easy but like Gene LeBell told me last night:

"You're only young for a little while, then you're old for a long time".

With martial arts training I know you can delay, even reverse the aging process, preserving that youthful vitality as long as you can.

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

P.S. Tomorrow I'll let you know of another man I've been working with whom you've probably heard of before, he's still training and staying young and fit, accepting no excuses and sticking with his martial arts training even in his 60s. Great inspiration for all of us. Stay tuned.

Training with Leo Fong

With the death of Michael Jackson, it really puts in perspective the fragility of life.



























No one signs a contract with life guaranteeing you live well into old age.

Especially if you treat your body like a trash can.

No matter how much money or friends you have, in the end you have to be happy with who you are.

Your best friend is Yourself.

Your body is your Temple.

Time should be spent everyday working on improving some area about yourself.

The food you eat.

The physical training you have to implement into your daily routine.

The books you read.

Acting on the goals you've set.

Enjoying time alone.

Cutting addictions.

Everything you do should be about extending your life not shortening it.

Which brings me to the fourth person I trained with while here in LA.

Leo Fong

A 10 year student of Bruce Lee, very low key, funny and sharp considering his age.

Leo epitomizes what a martial artist should look like in his 80s.

Not just from a physical stand point but mentally and internally as well.

There is a very narrow window in the life of a martial artist where many men, and some women, have a desire to fight in a ring or cage to measure themselves to another person. Something Leo recalls quite fondly back in his younger Boxing days.

But at a certain point in your martial art training you grow out of that phase and into an another.

The "Preservation Stage".

Like I was mentioning earlier you want to focus on extending your life not cutting it short.

I won't go through everything Leo does but it has to do with energy work. The kind that we teach in our Neigong Training.

Remember some activites as well as some foods rob us of energy and some, replenish our energy supply.

Daily practice of key Neigong movements will make a great difference in how you feel, your level of power, calmness, and vitality.

It's a science that was once kept for the elite, royalty, taoist priests or the chosen few.

Now you can learn these same techniques and principles out of the comfort of your own home.

You can get started right here.

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

Training with Richard Bustillo

I snapped this rare picture of Bruce with a mustache at Richard Bustillo's Academy last week.




























This was the third place I visited while here in LA.

I felt right at home there.

It had the same family atmosphere as in our FSD schools and the people, especially Mr. Bustillo, was very inviting and friendly.

Also an original student of Bruce Lee in the 60s, it was interesting to see their take on Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do.

It was nice to see we shared the same belief about JKD.

At the core Jeet Kune Do is about self-expression.

Nobody owns JKD.

Whenever you find yourself "getting it" when it comes to a technique or a concept, and this, done without thought or effort and it becomes a part of you, you are doing JKD even if you train in a different art.

Everyone expresses themselves differently in martial arts, and that's okay, there is no right or wrong way.

Like Jean Jacques Machado told me (oops did I just tell you who my number 5 instructor was over here in LA? Before I go in detail about JJ, I have to talk to you about my 82 year old number 4 instructor, tomorrow I'll post it for sure), he says: "We're all going to the same place, some people take longer than others but we all get there in the end"

Fang Shen Do is my family's interpretation of how to use the energy that resides in all of us.

Seeing how things have been going for me during my stay here, FSD is a great way to prepare the individual by laying a strong foundation of speed, power, flexibility, balance, intensity and mental toughness from which you can adapt to any art and still approach it with respect, humility, and a beginner's mind.

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

P.S. Great care has been put into the creation of our FSD products. Browse through the list and see what you can find to help you move more naturally. Browse here.

Training with Don the Dragon Wilson

On my second day here I had a chance to workout privately with Don "the Dragon" Wilson.

Even in his 50s he's still moving like a 20 year old.

So much for people saying : "Oh I'm too old to start martial arts" and often times that's coming from a 30 year old's mouth.

Don obviously gets it.

It's about the FEELING.

After all these years, it still makes him feel good.

And I hope it's the same for you.

Martial arts training has a special way of releasing harmful stress, building confidence through learning how to control your mind and body, nobody likes to feel out of control especially when your weight is concerned and the same is true about your thoughts.

Training will simultaneously take care of both.

It's only a matter of time before regular, consistent practice torches fat off your body, rids it of stiffness and pain, replenishes your energy levels, and stops you from thinking you're "too old", too soon.

Perhaps maybe the most unexpected benefit of martial art training is the positive effect it has on your mind.

The great martial artists I've met while here in L.A and all others in the past, all shared a common trait: Mental Acuity

Mentally, the first thing martial arts teaches you is FOCUS. Small improvements in this area alone will extend to all areas of your life.

Focus will help you save energy.

Focus will make you more efficient.

Focus will help you follow through.

Focus is what gets you through tough times because you stay focused on the big picture.

Then it's Visualization. Learning to think in terms of images is the secret to making sure you get what you want.

Martial arts training has a way to challenge your mind the same way playing Sudoku or any other mind game would. Your mind is like a muscle. Use it or lose it.

It's one thing to make random claims without hard proof about a subject and it's another to actually meet the people who have been training martial arts for the past 10, 20, 30, 50 years and getting the results I've been talking about.

I'll let you know of one I met here who's 82 years young and can still whip out a jab in your face without you seeing him and maintain an upbeat conversation, offer clear instruction and made me laugh as he discussed his 10 years spent working with Bruce Lee and his views about martial arts and life in general.

But before I talk about him there's someone else I trained with on my third day here that I'd like to talk to you about, tune in tomorrow.

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

P.S. If you still haven't started your MA training you need to get with the program, here's the easiest way to get started. Be our guest.

Training with Gene Lebell and Gokor Chivichyan

As you might of noticed I haven't been writing recently because of something important.

You know how I'm constantly trying to push you to reach for your goals, to step out of your comfort zone, and really reach for what you want in life.

The same thing applies to me and my family.

We practice what we preach.

I'm in Los Angeles right now.

Only 4 days have gone by and I've already worked with some of the biggest names in the martial arts world.

And you know what?

No Attitude. No Egos. No childish whining like what usually goes on martial art forums and discussion boards. Just training and sharing.

And I'm loving it!

The best schools in the world are the ones who promote harmony between the different styles and schools and focus on one thing:

Making sure more people practice martial arts.


The very first school I visited was considered the toughest so I thought, why not start with that one!

Gene Lebell is the last of a dying breed. Before meeting him I could just imagine how the strongmen of old and the oldtime wrestlers would interact.

Imagine? No more.

Dubbed the "Godfather of Grappling" it was a privilege for me to meet and train with his students and get to roll with his # 1 student, Gokor.

A great experience and a start of a long term relationship with their organization.

What I like about this school is even within their grappling they do not limit themselves to one style. Not just Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or not just Judo. They borrow from all styles aforementioned as well as Sambo and Catch as Catch Can.

























Gene Lebell and Gokor "The Armenian Assassin" Chivichyan

My stay here is looking to be very productive and fruitful for FSD. I'll let you know tomorrow who I worked with on my second day here.

Stay tuned,

Sibok M