A little bit about me and what to expect, as well as what I expect… My name is Vincent Pernice, and I am the instructor of the Kapatiran Mandirigma crew in Wichita. My instructor is Punong Guro Shelley Millspaugh, Lakan Walo (8th Dan) under Grandmaster Ernesto A. Presas. Guro Shelley is also the Chief Instructor for the Midwest United States, and is one of the best “stick guys” in the nation if not the world. I have been teaching this system since 1999, as an assistant to Guro Shelley. Shelley moved from Wichita to Kansas City, Mo in 2002, leaving me to teach in his wake. I currently hold the rank of Master Instructor (5th Dan) in Kombatan.
What I’m really about: OK, now that the official stuff is out of the way... I love to train. I love to teach. I do both my own way, which is a little unorthodox. Respect and martial code live well in my school, but it’s a lot more relaxed than most. I don’t care about anyone’s rank, because rank is not the tell-all of ability. I know black belts that would lose a shadow boxing match, and I know folks that have never studied a thing that you couldn’t knock down with a bat. So don’t ask me about my belt or your belt… they’re not that important. Uniforms? Nah, don’t need them for class. It’s not like you can change clothes for the real thing. Typically we wear red as students and black as instructors. Having a school shirt shows some cohesion amongst the group. I hear bologna all the time about how I’m breaking with tradition. Read up on your history… the lands that these arts came from seldom had uniforms, patches, or any of that stuff. The bottom line is that I do what’s right by my Instructors, Grandmasters, and God. They are the only ones that I really ask for guidance.
What you will learn from me: We primarily teach the art of Kombatan, founded by Grandmaster Presas and taught to us by him. The art involves weaponry, primarily the use of rattan sticks, but also including a variety of knives, swords, and short weapons. In addition, we will learn empty hand combat in every range. We will use traditional drills used in the Philippines for learning responses and enhancing reaction both with and without the weapon. The uniqueness of the arts from the Philippines is the translation from weapons to empty hand combat… the movements are all the same.
In addition, I will often incorporate Kuntao Silat into our training. This will be done primarily through the study of the 5 Way Method, created by Grandmasters Steve Todd and Jeff Sprawls, both good friends of ours and outstanding teachers and fighters. I actually owe everything I have in the martial arts today to Steve, as he is the person that introduced me to Shelley. He continues to teach me things today. This system teaches every facet of combat in the most intelligently formatted method I’ve ever seen, and it will change the face of martial arts training. And just to make sure it’s in the right hands, Guro Shelley happens to be the third-highest ranking individual in the system. Small world, huh?
My goal as your teacher: Quite frankly, I hope that none of us ever need any of what we study together. Fighting is a nasty business, too often glorified by movies and schools in the hands of fools. But the truth of the matter is that in today’s world there is a real need for the ability to protect ourselves and the ones we love. Just read the paper… there are a lot of wicked people out there looking for easy prey. It’s my job to make sure you don’t fall into that category. No one is invincible; it’s ultimately a numbers game: how can you protect yourself from the most likely threats in your world.
By carefully governing who is allowed to train with us, I strive to create a comfortable, relaxed environment for us to train for the unthinkable. If all goes well, you will learn what to do if the need arises, and more importantly learn that avoiding conflict is almost always the correct answer. My own training has enriched every facet of my life... from my work ethic to interpersonal relationships. In my opinion, this is the thing that makes a martial artist as opposed to someone that practices martial arts.
The RULES of Vinny's House
They are simple, but they are important... and they are not open to debate.
1.Train to learn the art. If you’re in it for the belt and the wallpaper, you’re in the wrong place. 2.Respect everyone in the group… no exceptions.Take care of the juniors and those who are less “blessed” than you. This includes all of our large “family”, both in the Kombatan and 5 Way Method worlds. 3. Always come to me with problems that might affect your training. This includes everything from the class schedule, to finances, to problems with other students. 4.Do not take advantage of the school.Do not mistake my kindness for weakness… offenses against the school or other students are not tolerated. I am judge, jury, and executioner where this is concerned. An example of this might be me not receiving monthly dues because of financial difficulty, only to find out that you’ve been out on a shopping spree. If you think you can play me, you’ re wrong… and I don’t want to have to explain it to you after I’m angry. 5. Do not use the art improperly. Fighting without just cause is a one-way ticket out the door. If you haven’t already figured it out, “just cause” is just about a “never” condition, and I will preach this. 6. Do not do anything to deface you and bring shame to the school. These are things that I can’t deal with: a. Substance abuse of any kind. b. Going to jail (do not pass “Go”, do not collect $200, don’t come back) c. Poor grades for students (and yes, I do check). d. Degrading statements to or about fellow students. e.Stealing… of anything. f. Spousal abuse or child abuse. God help you if I find out you are guilty of this.
That’s about the sum of it. Understand that agreeing with the rules does not guarantee that I'll accept you to train... I turn students away on a regular basis and for a variety of reasons. I maintain an open-door policy to everyone, so please feel free to express your concerns. Below is my contact information, use it when you need to:
