My Name is Michael
Coconis. I am a level two instructor under Master Tacosa. I have been training in
the martial arts since I was 9 years old, and I am 34 now. I first started in
western boxing, training with my father, and then went to train for about 17
years in Tae Kwon Do. In training in Wichita, Kansas, I reached a 3rd
degree (Sam-Dan) black belt under a Korean master here. During my training in
Tae Kwon Do with this master I also trained in Hapkido, Wing Tsun, Fushan
Shaolin Wing Chun, Hong Kong Wing Chun, Futshan Bak Mei Pai, Kali/JKD (Inosanto
and Vunak method), Serrada Eskrima, and Arnis De Mano. In training in these
other arts my Korean master did not approve and told my father and me “Tae
Kwon Do is all you need, everything is in this art and that’s all you will
ever need." Well this was very against my better judgment, especially training
in other arts and realizing the combat effectiveness of these arts compared to
TKD. With continual training my Father brought our Hapkido Master in from
Franklin, New Jersey and held a seminar here at Wichita State University to
spread the art to the community here. Our Tae Kwon Do master at that time
disapproved greatly and excommunicated us from his school here, after
threatening our Hapkido Master not to come to Wichita. Well, the Hapkido
training seminar went very well and being away from this closed-minded Korean
master was a great relief. In 1985 (age of 12) I was introduced to Serrada Eskrima by one of
Master Tacosa’s level-one instructors. He put on a demonstration at a Karate
school in town, so we went to observe. I fell in love with the art instantly. I
loved the movement, the speed, and the processes of the art. I trained under
this man for 5-6 years before he left to New Mexico and was fortunate to have
trained in front of Master Tacosa at least once before he left. When my teacher moved to
New Mexico I was lost but continued to train very hard in the arts. I found in Wichita
and surrounding areas, Arnis De Mano and some Kali and JKD, I trained in these arts until I
really found I was missing a lot. These arts were very pretty but they lacked
'true' reality as compared to Serrada in my eyes. This was all I had for the Island arts. I
concentrated on the Chinese arts and Korean arts until I finally found Master Tacosa again in
1999. My eyes were reopened and knew that though I have
trained in many arts and hold levels in many arts, I knew nothing.
I come to find I still no nothing, as once the path to
learning is no longer personally evident, you have truly become nothing. Master Tacosa
is an inspiration and a great friend, I will follow and
perpetuate TCE for the rest of my life.For a look at my accomplishments I would like to state
only my background that matters to you:
I hold a Level-Two Instructor's Certification in the art of Tacosa Cadena Eskrima from Master Jimmy Tacosa. I also currently teach only private classes in Futshan Bak Mei Pai as instructed to me directly from Sifu Li Yang Jian of Foshan China. I have completely dedicated my life to the perpetuation of these two rare arts and the hunt.
I have spend many years studying various arts and through much training and
in seeking the truest of fighting systems I completely concentrate my time to
the two systems I found are the most effective for me
throughout my path of seeking. As for the detailed history of my background,
that is for you to discuss with me in person if you so wish to inquire, as what
one has accomplished is rarely seen through words.
I am offering TCE Seminars in all of the
Southwest
United States, and private or small group classes in and
around Phoenix. For more information on booking a TCE seminar
or instruction in your area, call
me at (602) 920-9724 or send email to: tsefreeflow@yahoo.com Mabuhay ang Tacosa Cadena Eskrima! J. Michael Coconis, US Coordinator Pacific Eskrima
Academy
Tacosa Cadena Eskrima, Phoenix, AZ
www.komudokwan.com/escrima.html
www.komudokwan.com/FutshanBakMeiPai.htm
Phoenix, Arizona (USA)