• 10 Grades

    White belt to black belt, one clear step at a time.

  • 130 Video Lessons

    Every technique and drill demonstrated for you.

  • Printable PDF Syllabus

    Download it, print it and tick off each grade.

Filipino Martial Arts Shouldn't Be Hard To Learn

Filipino Martial Arts is one of the most effective weapons systems on the planet. Sticks, knives, staff, flexible weapons. It all connects.

But let's be honest. It's also one of the hardest arts to learn.

There are dozens of styles and lineages. Thousands of drills. Different terminology in every system

And most of it gets taught in a random order, one drill this week, something completely different the next, with no clear idea of where it's all heading.

So what happens? 

People get confused. 

They collect drills but can't link them together. 

They train for years and still don't know what they actually know. 

And a lot of them simply give up.

I've seen it time and time again. 

And it's a real shame, because FMA is an incredible art to train and to teach.

25 Years Of FMA. One Clear Path.

I've spent the last 25 years training and teaching Filipino Martial Arts under two legends Grandmaster Anton St James & Guro Bob Breen.

 



What I've aimed to do with this syllabus is simplify and systematise all of that experience into one progressive syllabus that anyone can learn quickly.

  • No guesswork. 
  • No random drills. 
  • Just a clear path from picking up a stick all the way to black belt.


Every grade builds on the one before. 

You learn the foundations with a single stick, add the double stick, then bring in the knife, empty-hand defence, stick grappling, the staff, the tabak toyok (nunchuks) and the kerambit, in the order that makes them easy to learn.

The whole goal of this syllabus is simple: to take a complex art and make it something you can actually learn, remember and use. 

Trust me, once you see how it all connects, FMA starts to make sense.

What Makes This Syllabus Different

Real FMA, organised so it's easy to learn, easy to remember and easy to teach.

  • Progressive By Design

    Each grade builds on the last, so every new skill has solid foundations underneath it. Nothing is thrown at you before you're ready.

  • Simplified, Not Watered Down

    This is real FMA. Single and double stick, knife work, disarms, locks, takedowns and more. It's just organised so it's easy to follow.

  • One Grade Per Page

    Every grade sits on its own page, with large, clear text and a tick box for every technique. You always know exactly what to work on next.

  • Everything Connects

    Angles become blocks, blocks become disarms, disarms become locks and takedowns. You'll see how the whole art fits together.

  • Learn It Quickly

    Clear grades and clear goals mean less confusion and faster progress. Short, focused steps translate directly into real skill.

  • Ready To Teach

    Instructors can drop it straight into their school. A complete white to black belt weapons syllabus, with grading sheets ready to use.

What's Inside The Syllabus

-10 grades
-9 disciplines
-130 techniques and drills
-From white belt to black belt.

  • Grade 1 – White Belt: fundamental grips, stances, footwork and your first strikes and blocks, plus your first partner drills.

  • Grade 2: more angles of attack, new blocks, your first long range combination and your first disarms.

  • Grade 3: the full set of angles, disarm timing, double stick variations and your first knife defence.

  • Grade 4: new striking methods, long range flow drills, locks and disarms, and an introduction to knife work.

  • Grade 5: advanced striking patterns, mid range partner drills, disarm counters and more knife defence.

  • Grade 6: close range stick work, takedowns, double stick and your introduction to stick & knife.

  • Grade 7: flowing disarms, more close range work, stick & knife counters, chokes and knife defence.

  • Grade 8: advanced locks and counters, stick & knife combinations, and an introduction to staff and tabak toyok.

  • Grade 9: close range tie ups, staff vs stick, advanced knife defence and your introduction to the kerambit.

  • Grade 10 – Black Belt: every weapon, every range, brought together in integrated drills, plus advanced staff, ground work, kerambit and tabak toyok.

Who Is This Syllabus For?

  • Instructors & School Owners

    Add a complete weapons programme to your school, with clear grades your students can work towards.

  • FMA Students

    This syllabus is perfect for current FMA students who are looking for a clear & practical path to training Filipino Weapons.

  • Complete Beginners

    No experience needed. Grade 1 starts with how to hold the stick.

Here's Everything You Get...

Everything you need to learn, train and teach the system.

Inside you'll find 130 video lessons that demonstrate every technique and drill step by step, a downloadable and printable syllabus with all 10 grades laid out one grade per page

Plus a PDF guide to training Filipino Martial Arts to help you get the most out of every session.
GET THE SYLLABUS
Only £80 / $120 For Lifetime Access
Filipino Weapons Syllabus White Belt to Black Belt by Matthew Chapman, printable PDF cover
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Mittmaster Matt Mittmaster Matt
MEET YOUR TEACHER

Mittmaster Matt

Hi, my name is Mittmaster Matt.

I'm a martial arts student for 35 years, an instructor for 20 years, and creator of the Mittmaster Pad Training system.

Over the past 35 years, I've trained in and graded to black belt/instructor level in...

🥊Kickboxing
🥊Muay Thai
🥊Jeet Kune Do
🥊Filipino Boxing
🥊Combat Submission Wrestling
🥊And won a British Welterweight Title in MMA.

During the same period, I sought out the best instruction possible traveling to many countries to train with some of the world's best instructors including multiple trips to the USA, Canada, Thailand & Europe.

My passion is helping other Martial Artists improve their pad work through my online courses

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do I need any FMA experience?

    No. Grade 1 starts with the basics, how to hold the stick, stances and footwork, and builds up from there.

  • I already train in another martial art. Is this for me?

    Absolutely. Many of the skills translate directly into kickboxing, boxing, MMA and JKD, especially footwork, timing and close-range control.

  • What equipment do I need?

    To start, a pair of soft training sticks. As you progress you can purchase other weapons. Always use safe training versions.

  • Can I train on my own?

    Many drills, like the angles, footwork and strikes, can be practised solo. The partner drills (sumbrada, siniwalli, disarms and locks) work best with a training partner.

Start Your Journey From White Belt To Black Belt In Filipino Weapons

Get the complete 10-grade Filipino Weapons Syllabus today and know exactly what to train, step by step, all the way to black belt.