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Visualizing Flow
A Pekiti Tirsia Kali Training Companion
by Arlene Pinpin Stevens
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Overview


"Mathematics is the language in which God has written the universe" (Galileo Galilei)

Visualizing Flow is the first of its kind, expressed in a universal language.  Originally created exclusively for PTK-KDP students, this book may also be useful for open-minded practitioners who are studying various interpretations of the art. Explore Grandtuhon Leopoldo T. Gaje's principles of combat geometry applied in the movements of Pekiti Tirsia Kali. 

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Description


Visualizing Flow is a training companion that provides current Pekiti Tirsia Kali practitioners with a visual guide to the principles and strategies of Pekiti Tirsia Kali. Discover the simplicity and complexity of Grandtuhon Gaje's combat geometry through matrices and formulas that are meticulously mapped and coded. By fostering geometric thinking, this book aims to deepen your knowledge and improve your flow. Accelerate learning by transcending the "what" and realizing the "how" of multi-step footwork and striking combinations. This is a living document that is bound to evolve with the times.
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About the author


Arlene Pinpin Stevens is a Filipino martial arts (FMA) instructor with a background in biological science, health science, and education. In 2011, she started her apprenticeship under the direction of "The Blade Master" himself, Grandtuhon Leopoldo T. Gaje, Jr.

Born and raised in the Philippines, the movements and principles of Kali have been a part of her day-to-day life. She developed a holistic teaching approach that breaks down complex techniques to achieve exactness and economy of motion. She established a training group called Kaluyugan de Palares in the State of Maryland and launched Train Pekiti Classroom, an asynchronous online class. In 2018, she reached an important milestone of being the first female Tuhon (Master instructor) under the Pekiti Tirsia Kali combat blade fighting system.

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Book details

Genre:SPORTS & RECREATION

Subgenre:Martial Arts / General

Language:English

Pages:188

Paperback ISBN:9781098317317


Overview


"Mathematics is the language in which God has written the universe" (Galileo Galilei)

Visualizing Flow is the first of its kind, expressed in a universal language.  Originally created exclusively for PTK-KDP students, this book may also be useful for open-minded practitioners who are studying various interpretations of the art. Explore Grandtuhon Leopoldo T. Gaje's principles of combat geometry applied in the movements of Pekiti Tirsia Kali. 

Read more

Description


Visualizing Flow is a training companion that provides current Pekiti Tirsia Kali practitioners with a visual guide to the principles and strategies of Pekiti Tirsia Kali. Discover the simplicity and complexity of Grandtuhon Gaje's combat geometry through matrices and formulas that are meticulously mapped and coded. By fostering geometric thinking, this book aims to deepen your knowledge and improve your flow. Accelerate learning by transcending the "what" and realizing the "how" of multi-step footwork and striking combinations. This is a living document that is bound to evolve with the times.

Read more

About the author


Arlene Pinpin Stevens is a Filipino martial arts (FMA) instructor with a background in biological science, health science, and education. In 2011, she started her apprenticeship under the direction of "The Blade Master" himself, Grandtuhon Leopoldo T. Gaje, Jr.

Born and raised in the Philippines, the movements and principles of Kali have been a part of her day-to-day life. She developed a holistic teaching approach that breaks down complex techniques to achieve exactness and economy of motion. She established a training group called Kaluyugan de Palares in the State of Maryland and launched Train Pekiti Classroom, an asynchronous online class. In 2018, she reached an important milestone of being the first female Tuhon (Master instructor) under the Pekiti Tirsia Kali combat blade fighting system.

Read more

Book Reviews

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Kevin
A Good Workbook if You’re in the System (Disclosure: The author of this book is a friend of my family; I received the book as a gift and was also asked if I would review it, although the book was not specifically provided with the expectation of a positive review.) Pekiti Tirsia Kali is a Filipino martial art that incorporates both bare-handed attack and defense and the use of various weapons, notably sticks as in Arnis as well as knives and swords. Arlene Pinpin Stevens is an instructor in this style, and in 2013 she was named the first female Tuhon or Master Instructor in the system. In other words, she has lots of experience and a recognized gift for teaching. She has let both these things inform Visualizing Flow, a “training companion” book for Pekiti Tirsia Kali. Stevens’s book covers both the broad underpinnings of the system as well as the details, beginning with the philosophical tenets that drive the style, then outlining everything from different types of strikes to various forms of footwork before providing detailed practice patterns for both stepping and striking. Most of the information is presented in the form of simple diagrams, a deliberate choice that seems intended to help the student go beyond words and get directly at the heart of the motion, relative positioning, and “geometry” involved. It’s worth understanding that this is not a “learn Pekiti Tirsia Kali” book. There are very few descriptions of techniques, and none of the detailed sequences of photos of practitioners performing moves that characterize many martial arts books. It’s never easy to learn martial arts from a book, if indeed it’s truly possible at all, and such completely isolated study is not what this book is seeking to enable. I want to emphasize that even if you already know some martial arts, if you aren’t specifically familiar with Pekiti Tirsia Kali, and probably actively studying with one of its teachers, most of the diagrams here are likely to be opaque to you. On the other hand, if you are a student of this system and do have access to a teacher, I suspect you could hardly ask for a better distillation of the major themes of the training. Admittedly, being outside the system myself, this is difficult for me to evaluate with certainty, but the book appears to cover a great deal of ground, enough to be useful to both beginning students just learning the style’s broad strokes and intermediate (perhaps even advanced?) students practicing more involved drills and trying to keep the basics in mind. There is also ample white space on each page in which you could make your own notes or observations. Again, if you’re coming to Visualizing Flow with no knowledge of Pekiti Tirsia Kali, it is, honestly, unlikely to gain you much. If you’re a student of the system, though, it could be invaluable. Read more
Estrella
Visualizing Flow This book is a gem. I am new to the Pekiti Tirsia Kali world (less than two years) with no martial arts background . I immediately fell in love with the art but not too long thereafter became increasingly frustrated with my inability to understand and retain the knowledge of what I was learning in classes or online, and worse there didn't seem to be any reliable or consistent source providing any information that was organized or presented in such a way that made sense to my brain...that is until now. In my humble opinion it seems that the most important part of learning anything are the foundational elements (ie. the ABC's), because without a good foundation there is nothing to build on. This book provides clear and concise information in order for a practitioner to build a solid foundation as well as gain a more in depth perspective of the art itself. I am so grateful that Tuhon Arlene has so generously shared with us her knowledge and collective experiences of PTK and GT Leo Gaje Jr. which she has paid for with her blood, sweat and tears and which I am certain will continue to add to the knowledge of those following in her footsteps for years to come. Lastly as a woman of PTK myself she is an inspiration to all women struggling in a male dominated arena. Maraming salamat Tuhon Arlene for being all that is right in PTK. Read more
Koustav
Visualizing flow: a journey into the system When you look at Pekiti Tirsia Kali from outside, it will both amaze and baffle you with the flow and beauty. You will feel like a novice in art, staring at a Picasso. You will fall in love, but won't know how to approach it, from where to start. There are a lot of video reference material available, which will show you certain strokes of the art but you won't be able to create the painting because you won't be knowing how to connect the strokes. Tuhon Arlene has created a masterpiece through her book Visualizing flow, which is the key to connect the strokes to complete your art of PTK. Mostly people view martial arts as a congregation of techniques to counter certain adverse situation, and the main purpose for the general population to learn martial arts is for self defense. Initially one doing PTK will feel amazing as it has certain technique to counter adverse situation very efficiently, but as you start knowing the art and observing the aficionados of the system you will realize it is beyond techniques, it is a flow. Just like life is a flow. The book Visualizing Flow, very meticulously teaches you how to develop that flow. How one can transform from learning the techniques (which is done by Central nervous system) to making them reflexes (Autonomic nervous system). And this journey, this transformation has made me realize that PTK is more than a martial arts, it is a life changing system. And Visualizing Flow is more than a martial arts book, it is a window to the understanding of how Flow works both in martial arts and in life. I thank the author, Tuhon Arlene for presenting us with such an invaluable insight. Read more
Doug
Systematic Wisdom I just received my copy of Visualizing Flow and have to say that it lives up to the hype and more. It's an outstanding distillation of years of notes and tips combined with a systematic approach to getting more out of your PTK training. It's well written with a huge amount of diagrams and process flows to help you gain a deeper understanding of PTK drills, structure, and footwork...more than simple repetition will provide. I look forward to applying these nuggets and roadmaps to become more effective in FMA. Thanks for this treasure! Read more
C.
A truly Unique and Amazing training guide and manual I am in my infancy in this beautiful art and system. I have found this companion well thought out and put together in a way that allows the user learn fundamentals and explore the possibilities and variations of each movement. The manual will serve as a companion on my journey in this system and allows one to revisit, build and explore with greater understanding as time passes and more experience is gained. Again this is truly unique. I have never seen anything quite like it and I feel honored to have the opportunity to learn this system with Tuhon Arlene. Thank you Tuhon and family for this beautiful labor of love and amazing work of art. Read more
Chris
An illustrated guide to combat geometry The art of Pekiti Tirsia Kali is amazingly complex in its simplicity. It is obvious that a lot of knowledge, hard work and visualization went into crafting this work of art. It is a must have resource for any PTK practitioner, especially when the simplicity of the art is feeling complex. Life • Health • Success Read more
D.
Work of Art What an AMAZING WORK OF ART!!!!! No matter where you are in your PTK (or FMA) journey, this is a FANTASTIC COMPANION for your training! Read more
Clifton
Visualizing Flow I'm new to the art, but knew when Tuhon Arlene shared a bit of the book with us it would be something special! Quality book, easy to follow diagrams and well thought out content and instruction! A must-have! Read more
Louella
Companion and Reference It's comprehensive with a lot to flesh out. A great guide to keep with you for note taking and also gives you an impression that you can build on the principles. Bring it with you while teaching as a reference. I really like it! Read more
Waldevir
Visualizing Flow i had the opportunity to meet Tuhon Arlene for years and i always saw in it a simplicity of always having paper and pen in hand to write down all the things that came to mind or that she heard about pekiti tirsia kali. a fantastic scholar who has gone deeper in a tremendous way talking about the art that i have also practiced for years. besides, of course, tremendous simplicity and as a great master, always serving his group of students. I would like to leave my testimonial about the book. For me, the book has been essential for my studies. I do not agree when you said that it is a simple and compact study. There is a deep study of geometry and knowledge of all your experience alongside GT. This book is essential and mandatory for all practitioners of Pekiti Tirsia Kali, because immediately what is covered will be revealed on the following pages and everything will fit in a healthy way. You are to be congratulated for putting all your efforts and studies into this work that will reach the 4 corners of the planet. Read more
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