At Dog Brothers Martial Arts Bloomington/Normal, we believe in the power of real contact stick fighting. Our approach combines fun, fitness, and functional self-defense techniques to empower our students. Weapons based martial arts training will enhance your survivability in a self defense encounter.
Our beginner's classes are designed to teach the fundamentals of martial arts and stick fighting. We focus on form, technique, drills and basic conditioning to build a solid foundation for our students. Before we send you out to apply the next step of what you have learned we make sure you are prepared.
Once you have mastered the basics, we continue to offer a more challenging training experience. To get to that point we focus on progressive resistance sparring. By progressive we mean gradual and light to start with. As you develop over time, we help you to determine your goals. This is done in a way that challenges you but keeps you safe as you gain the skills and confidence that comes from the process.
While the stick skills translate to the empty hand, we know that punching, kicks, knees and elbows all happen in a fight where a weapon is present. We also know standing clinch and ground-based fighting consistently occurs in self-defense situations. We provide you with a system for street level self-defense that includes weapons and unarmed tactics.
We do offer one-on-one private lessons for students who want a more personalized training experience. Our expert instructors will work with you to develop a customized training plan that meets your unique needs and goals.
DBMA plays well with other systems like, BJJ, Muay Thai, Boxing, Krav Maga, Wrestling, TKD, Karate, Jeet Kune Do, Silat and Firearms Training to name but a few. It is especially useful for adding weapons-based awareness and techniques to striking and grappling based martial arts systems.
All techniques that are taught have been tested in full resistance environment by our instructors. Nothing is taught that hasn't been shown to work under duress. It is particularly useful if you are in Law Enforcement, Corrections, the Military or Security. "We speak use of force". As a matter of fact one of our apprentice instructors has literally written the book on that.
The core of training at DBMABlono is based in the Filipino Martial Arts, principally Dog Brothers Real Contact Stick Fighting- through DBMA Guro Marc Denny and DBMA Europe Guro Benjamin Rittiner.
This form of fighting takes place primarily between two practitioners who agree to enter into a no-holds-barred match, no judges, no referees, no trophies, there is one rule only "be friends at the end of the day", while wearing very little protective gear and fighting with single or double sticks and all of the techniques that modern MMA afford us (think punch, kick, knee elbow, headbutt, clinch, throw and grappling) we work to perfect our abilities against a resisting opponent.
Matches at our yearly Gatherings of the Pack use a variety of weapons including rattan sticks and staff, aluminum swords, aluminum practice knives.
Defensive gear usually consists of light gloves, soft knee and elbow pads, and a fencing mask for head protection. If the fight goes to the ground the mask is sometimes removed, and the competitors make a choice to fight in a way where no one spends the night in a hospital and all participants leave with the same IQ that they arrived with.
The kali sticks can be any length, circumference and density as long as the opponent approves. The average length of the sticks is between 30 and 36 inches and fighters can fight with one or two sticks; staffs range from 40 to 70 plus inches. The participants are not expected to have matching weapons; in fact, experimentation is encouraged. A competitive round lasts from two to three minutes, but the ringmaster may let the fight go on longer until it reaches a conclusion. Higher levels of training involve fighting multiple aggressors. (plus1 situations)
Training with DBMA Blono does not mean you have to fight like this, but it does serve us as our launch pad for street-based self-defense and acts as our North Star for training methodology. Everyone starts with padded weapons when they begin to learn to sparring techniques. We start slow and very light in a metronome like progression. Curriculum is written and training goals are clear.
In the classroom during training application of techniques regularly occurs at varying degrees of progressive aggression, with intent and violence closely monitored, your safety is paramount in importance.
DLO is a sub system within Dog Brothers Martial Arts
The DLO curriculum addresses the interface of gun, knife, and empty hand. This is the civilian version of the program that Guro Marc teaches elite military units, federal law enforcement, state, and local law enforcement entities.
The tools, tactics, and techniques of this area of study are organized and taught in the context of:
*MUC: Managing Unknown Contacts
*Legal, moral and spiritual issues
*FOF: Force-on-force drills and scenario training
*This material is sorted into three predominant categories, Dealing with Mongo, A Cranky Crowd and a Pack of Jackels hunting you.
No “martial arts and crafts” here! Real time is no time for maiden voyages! If you are going to rely upon this material when things go sideways, it needs to be tested in the adrenal state, and you need to know it works from the jump.
Instructor Terry "c-Shadow Dog" Crutcher
In Dog Brothers Martial Arts Terry is a Brown Dog Tag Instructor in DBMA Under (PG) Guro Marc "Crafty Dog" Denny and also trains under DBMA Guro Benjamin "Lonely dog" Rittiner who heads Dog Brothers Europe and Lab 42
The Dog brothers are a Sweaty Band of Psychopaths who swing sticks at each other.
In the Context of the Tribe Terry is C- Shadow Dog.
Terry Is a Lakan Guro in the Inosanto Blend Kali system under Guro Dan Inosanto
Terry is also an Apprentice Instructor in the Art and Science of Jun Fan Gung Fu under Sifu Dan Inosanto
At DBMABloNo.com, we believe that martial arts training is about more than just physical fitness and self-defense - it's about developing and growing in a community where you are comfortable being your true self.
Our training facility is equipped with everything you need to take your martial arts training to the next level, including a full-sized training mat, punching bags, and a bunch of other stuff your spouse-boyfriend-girlfriend wouldn't let you buy.
The first month is free. Come try it out and see if it is what you have been looking for.
After the first month it is $50.00 a month.
No contracts, No hidden fees, no worries.
If you need some sort of financial accommodation, just ask.
Special needs martial arts classes at the Lincoln Leisure Center through the Bloomington Parks Department on Tuesdays form 5:30-6:45 during our spring, fall and winter semesters. In the summer you can find us at the O'Neal pool training in the water.
Developing Power
Flexibility keeps us going through the long term
Jab mechanics
Sound Bowl Healing
End of fall semester festivities 2024
Fall 2025 SOAR Martial Arts