Panantukan Feb 2005 10AM Sunday Seminar

Sifu Andy Wilson

Since opening MKG Seattle, the Seattle branch of the Minnesota Kali Group, in 2000 I have been honored to expose thousands of students to authentic martial art training. I’ve made it my mission to keep the doors open to everyone but also cultivate a team of highly competent and qualified instructors and competitors. Several have even gone on to open their own schools in the area. I’m passionate about practical, modern martial art, training hard and daily improvement but also retaining some of the traditional character development qualities and lessons at my school. After near career-ending back injuries, and several unsuccessful surgeries, I have a deep empathy for new students, those working with physical limitations and those who’ve struggled with confidence and depression. My Current Qualifications Include: Level 4 Instructor under Guro Rick Faye Panantukan Instructor under Guro Rick Faye Full Instructor in Filipino Martial Arts under Guro Dan Inosanto Full Instructor in Jun Fan Martial Arts under Guro Dan Inosanto Senior Instructor/Ajarn in Thai Boxing under Ajarn Chai Sirisute CSW Coach Level 1 under Sensei Erik Paulson Brown Belt in CSBJJ under Professor Erik Paulson Silver Glove in Savate under Professor Salem Assli 5th Level in Bahala Na Escrima under Grandmaster Tony Somera 1st Degree Black Belt in Chuan Lu Boxing under Sifu Michael Frischman Level 3 Protector Certified Self-Defense Instructor For the MKG Women’s Self Defense Program Bio: I grew up in a small town in rural Minnesota. I can’t explain why but I have always been in love with the martial arts. Some of my earliest memories are of spending hours reading Black Belt magazine, Judo books and watching Chuck Norris and Kung Fu on television when I was just 6 or 7 years old. At the time there were no martial arts schools for kids anywhere near my hometown so I didn’t start an actual class until I turned 15 in 1985. Once I did though I was hooked. I eventually earned a black belt in the first style I started in 1989. Simultaneously, in 1987 I talked my parents into taking me to the ‘big city’ of Minneapolis to attend a seminar conducted by Guro Dan Inosanto at Rick Faye’s Minnesota Kali Group. Ask me about the story some time! This changed my entire perspective on what martial art could look and feel like. I discovered that belts, uniforms, rigid hierarchy, kata, kicking in the air, etc… were not required in this approach and it blew my mind. I had no idea what I saw but I knew I wanted to do it and I’d found my home. I began training with Guro Rick Faye after that and he continues to be my mentor, role model and friend to this day. I founded MKG Martial Arts International in June of 2000 as a branch of his Minnesota Kali Group. Following his example, my goal has always been to operate a martial arts school where normal people can learn and train in realistic and effective martial arts with a minimum of ego and ritual.