About Us
The staff at Phoenix Martial Arts Massachusetts is professional and qualified to help you begin your new martial arts journey towards self-improvement. Our staff will work with you to fulfill your individual goals and training needs. Our group classes are structured, organized, and fun! You will get stronger, faster, and smarter when you train with us. Below are brief descriptions of the martial arts styles that we offer.
Jeet Kune Do (JKD)
JEET KUNE DO aka JKD is a compilation of training methods, attitudes, philosophies, combat techniques and concepts conceived, researched and compiled by the late BRUCE LEE (LEE JUN FAN) until 1973. It was from this that JEET KUNE DO eventually evolved. The JKD taught in the Magda Institute Association, and at Phoenix Martial Arts, comes from Sifu Cass Magda's extensive training hours with Guro Dan Inosanto, and also with Sifu Ted Wong, Sifu Tim Tackett, Larry Hartsell, Richard Bustillo, and Ted Lucay Lucay to name a few. Jeet Kune Do is meant to be progressive and adaptive to the environment, as well as the times. Martial Arts today is a lot different than it was when Bruce Lee formed JKD in the 60's and 70's. That is why the Jeet Kune Do taught in the Magda Institute and at Phoenix Martial Arts is progressive and adaptive to the times, while still staying true to its major principles.
Filipino Kali
The art of the Philippines is as diverse as the islands themselves, encompassing over 7,000 of them within the archipelago with over 87 major languages spoken. Encompassing an entire spectrum of weaponry and also featuring sophisticated empty hand concepts, this highly efficient, deadly and combat-proven art enabled the southern Philippines to remain unconquered for almost 400 years. The weaponry and empty hand are taught together; the principles being common to both and interchangeable. Regardless of whether armed or unarmed, the student learns to relate to any situation using the same concepts of body angling, positioning, zoning, and flowing with the opponent. Depending upon speed, footwork and skill rather than brute strength, this fluid, practical method of self-defense is one of the most comprehensive martial arts systems known.
Pentjak Silat
Known as PENTJAK SILAT in Indonesia and BERSILAT in Malaysia, these arts involve various complex and intricate empty hand and foot maneuvers, clever and unique multiple joint locking, sweeping and throwing manipulations, and ground fighting. The style of silat taught at Phoenix Martial Arts Massachusetts is Buka Jalan, which is the silat system of Cass Magda, director of the Magda Institute Association. Phoenix Martial Arts Massachusetts is only one of a handful of locations in the United States that is certified by Guro Cass Magda and Greg Pichardo to teach Buka Jalan Pentjak Silat.
Muay Thai Kickboxing
Called the science of the eight limbs (hands, elbows, feet, knees), Muay Thai is considered to be one of the most devastating martial arts in the world today. Muay Thai kickboxing utilizes very powerful and sharp elbows and knees delivered at many angles, lightening fast kicks, hands from Western Boxing, efficient and practical takedowns and clinch wrestling into a very complete and effective Martial Art System. Practiced originally as military training and now as an exciting sport (it is the national sport of Thailand). Many Mixed Martial Arts fighters train in, or at least incorporate some of the many fighting elements of Muay Thai into their training regimen.
Grappling
Since 2006 Sifu Dustin has been extensively training in various different grappling arts, such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Professor Carlos Terrinha of Gracie Barra New England and Karl Gotch Submission Wrestling (Shootfighting) under Guro Guy Chase. While these arts make up a small portion of the training at Phoenix Martial Arts Massachusetts, it is being introduced to students from a self-defense standpoint. We do not want to fight from the ground in a self-defense situation, but we have to be aware and able to escape and grapple out of situations if we happen to end up on the ground. Aside from the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Shoot Fighting, the Indonesian and Filipino Martial Arts have various grappling methods within their system that are also introduced to the student, such as Indonesian Harimau and Filipino Dumog.