Q.) Is this site legit?
Yes! KSKmembers.com is the official Online Training Center of Guro T. Kent Nelson and KSK Martial Arts. Through this site we provide guidance to Affiliate Students & Instructors in learning and teaching both Weapons (Armas-Kali) and Empty-Hand (Kai-Shin / MMA-JKD) curriculums. We are choosing this method of communication to preserve and continually update the valuable knowledge Guro Kent has gained over his many years in the martial arts. It is our goal that the users will be able to access his knowledge in an APPROVED format to maintain the integrity of our curriculums… but if you’re still wondering, give us a call to confirm it. 517-348-2507
Q.) What do I need to watch the videos?
Not much other than the most recent version of Adobe Flash. The video will play the best using that program, at a minimum.
Q.) Do I have to store the videos on my hard drive?
No. One of the benefits of our online learning method is that all of the videos are stored on our servers. You do not have to waste drive space downloading large AVI’s or MPG’s.
Q.) Can I learn these techniques from watching your videos online?
Absolutely. Distance learning over the Internet is much more effective at accurately presenting information versus DVDs because we possess the ability to continually update the material as our martial arts studies evolve.
Q.) Is your site secure?
Absolutely. We take trust very seriously. All transactions are secure, and we do not share your personal information with anyone or any other company.
Q.) What’s the difference between a Student Membership and an Instructor Membership?
The main difference between the two is simple. The Student Membership provides you with the actual techniques of the curriculum and the tutorial videos to help you learn them.
The Instructor Membership provides you with video tutorials on not only the material, but also various drills and training methods on how to teach it. We provide you with extra tips to help make your technique even better. We also show you the most common mistakes students make in order to help give both you and your students a quicker learning curve. We also provide videos on not only the training, but also on teaching strategies, communication, administrative tips, and philosophical discussions. We want to help our instructors grow, and what better way to do that than to give them actual teaching methods and philosophies we use here at KSK.
Q: What is MMA-JKD / Kai-Shin Jeet Kune Do?
MMA-JKD is an empty-hand system/curriculum that covers ALL the areas of realistic martial arts:
1. STRIKING – Punching, Kicking, Elbows, Knees, Forearms, Slapping etc…
2. CLINCHING – Grabbing and controlling, as well as escapes from grabs.
3. MANIPULATION – Takedowns, Sweeps, Throws, Joint Locks, Chokes.
4. TRAPPING – Barrier Removal, getting past their hands and to your target.
5. GRAPPLING – Fighting & Defending yourself on the ground.
We study and identify the principles which connect all these ideas from martial arts all over the world. From countries such as The Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Japan, Okinawa, Brazil, and Thailand.
This class has one of the most comprehensive curriculums around. You’ll be amazed a what you learn, how well it connects together, the awesome people you’ll meet, and your overall improvement mentally and physically. MMA-JKD is just the nickname for this art. The full name is “Kai-Shin” Jeet Kune Do, and was formed through years of personal study and research by KSK Martial Arts founder, T. Kent Nelson.
Q: What is Armas-Kali?
Armas-Kali is a weapons system/curriculum that covers many areas of realistic weapons training:
1. IMPACT – Sticks, Bats, Clubs, Staffs etc…
2. EDGED – Knives, Swords, Machetes, Karambit
3. PUNCTURE – Knives, Swords, Machetes, Karambit, Spear etc..
4. PROJECTILE (Throwing Weapons) – Knife, Rock, Keys, Change etc…
5. FLEXIBLE – Sarong, Malong, Trappo, Rope, Belt, T-Shirt etc..
Based primarily in Filipino Kali, as well as some influence from Thailand’s Krabri Krabong, and Okinawan Kobudo.
The defining feature of Armas-Kali is the logical teaching order of the curriculum, designed to seamlessly blend the techniques and concepts of the styles it draws from. The main focus of the system is to start a student with the most simple, functional and application-based movements & techniques. Once this is established, the curriculum builds on that knowledge into more attribute-based development, this means techniques which, although still very effective, may require the student a longer amount of time and a deeper lever of understanding to master. Essentially… function first, then fancy follows.
The Armas-Kali curriculum was formed through years of personal study and research by KSK Martial Arts founder, T. Kent Nelson.
Q.) Can I use this site to help me gain rank in your Affiliate Programs?
Absolutely. The Online Learning Center was specifically designed to help Affiliate Students & Instructors learn and advance in our various curriculums and ranking programs.
Q.) Do I have to be a member of KSKmembers.com in order to gain rank in your Affiliate Program?
Yes you do. Although you do not have to be a member in order to be part of an Affiliate Training Group, you DO have to be a member in order to be eligible to gain rank.
The site not only serves as a training guide, but also as a registration of all current Students & Instructors. It is also the quickest and easiest way for us to update information and get it to our Affiliate Members. If you’re not a member of the site, you’ll never know when there’s been and update, or what it is.
Affiliate Students have to sign up and maintain a Student Membership. Affiliate Instructors and Training Group Leaders have to sign up and maintain an Instructor Membership.
Q.) How do I promote and earn rank?
Currently Rank promotion is done only in person by Guro T. Kent Nelson, during seminars, camps, workshops, special events, private lessons and group classes.
Student Ranks are evaluated based on the student’s personal performance and understanding of the curriculum, as well as training time and maintenance of previous material. Instructor Ranks are based on the individual’s ability to accurately pass on the information. This means we evaluate not only you and your communication skills, but we also look at your students and their understanding as well. Instructors are graded on their ability to Instruct… its that simple.
For more information on rank promotion, Click HERE.
Q.) How long will it take me to reach Black Belt level?
That is completely dependent on the amount of time and dedication the student puts in. Each student has different attributes, abilities, learning speeds and work ethics. Therefore there is no set time frame. However, we will put the effort into you that you put into us.
Q.) Do I have to be a Black Belt, or already be an Instructor to have an Instructor Membership?
No you do not. The purpose of the Instructor Membership is not only to help you as a Student, but also give you the tools to start to learn how to teach, and pass the knowledge correctly.
Q.) Does signing up under the “Instructor Membership” automatically make me an instructor?
No it does not. It gives you access to various drills and training methods for learning the techniques found in the Student Membership. Basically, it gives you the tools to start to learn how to teach.
When you sign up under an Instructor Membership it means you are learning to be an Affiliate Student and Instructor. Both are ranked separately.
Signing up under the Instructor Membership makes you ELIGIBLE to be endorsed as an Official Training Group Leader. An endorsement by Guro T. Kent Nelson, or sponsorship by another recognized KSK instructor, means that you will be listed on the KSK website as an Official Training Group.
Q.) What Does being “Endorsed” as a Official Training Group Leader mean?
An endorsement by Guro T. Kent Nelson, or sponsorship by another recognized KSK instructor, means that you will be listed on the KSK website as a recognized official Training Group. We will help guide people in your area who want to train, to you. Training Group Leaders also get preference when scheduling seminars and workshops.
You are still a “Student”, but also considered a “Training Group Leader”. Just like you were doing before, you collect the information, take it to the members of your group (your training partners) and you all work the material together. You are responsible for providing a clean and safe training environment for the members of your group.
Q.) I know that the KSK curriculums contain techniques and ideas from various systems such as Inosanto-Lacoste Kali, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Jeet Kune Do, Silat and more. Does getting a rank, Student or Instructor, mean I’m ranked in those systems as well?
No it does not. Although our curriculums do contain material from other arts, the whole idea behind KSK Martial Arts is to form curriculums that blend these techniques & ideas, teach them in an order that makes sense and connects them properly. You are studying not only the material, but our specific arrangement of it as well. Therefore we only offer rank in our curriculums.
Q.) Are these techniques on your DVD’s?
A small number of videos come from some of our previous DVDs, but the majority of the videos are shot specifically for KSKmembers.com
Q: What kind of lineage does your school, and your instructor(s) have?
All the way to the TOP! We are very blessed to have an incredible lineage for all the arts that we offer. You can trace our roots back to some of the most prominent martial artists in history.
Guro/Sifu/Sensei T. Kent Nelson holds Instructor Licenses in Jeet Kune Do (JKD), LaCoste-Insoanto Kali and Maphilindo-Madjapahit Silat under the legendary Guro/Sifu Dan Inosanto. Inosanto is probably one of the most important martial artists of the 20th and 21st century. He is most well known for being the best friend and top student of the late Bruce Lee (founder of JKD) and was given the responsibility of continuing the development of Jeet Kune Do and sharing it with the world after Lee’s death. Guro Inosanto is also the person responsible for the introduction of both the Filipino Martial Arts (Kali, Eskrima, Arnis) and Silat to the United States. Having over 30 teachers in Kali & Silat, Guro Dan has founded both LaCoste-Inosanto Kali and Maphilindo-Madjaphit Silat, which has influenced almost every major Kali & Silat system in the US today.
Achieving a 1st degree Black Belt in our MMA-JKD class signifies you to be physically capable of all the skills needed to be accepted into the Inosanto Instructor Program for Jeet June Do, and will most likely earn you a recommendation from Guro T. Kent Nelson. This places your JKD lineage directly back to the founder, Sijo Bruce Lee.
Achieving a 2nd Degree Black Flag in our Armas-Kali class signifies you to be physically capable of all the skills needed to be accepted into the Inosanto Instructor Program for Filipino Martial Arts (LaCoste-Inosanto Kali) and will most likely earn you a recommendation from Guro T. Kent Nelson. This places your Kali lineage directly back to Guro Dan Inosanto, the person responsible for the introduction of these arts to the United States.
Our MMA-JKD grappling material comes from two main influences, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Combat Submission Wrestling (CSW). Guro Kent began studying the art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in 2010, and is currently studying under Professor Chet Schemahorn, who has the honor of being the very first person to ever earn a Black Belt directly from the Gracie family as an Affiliate Student. In 2007 Guro Kent began studying CSW privately with Coach Shawn Kitzman, and trains with CSW founder, Sensei Erik Paulson, when possible.
Guro Kent is also a student of Anciong-Buot Balintawak Eskrima, and is currently studying under Sifu David Hatch, who was the senior student to Manong Ted Buot, nephew and top student of the systems founder Anciong Bacon. Hatch was Buot’s longest running private student, and took on the task of organizing the Balintawak system after Buot suffered a stroke. With Ted Buot’s help and blessing, David Hatch solidified and documented the Balintawak curriculum and ranking system. Sadly, Monang Ted Buot passed away in 2013. Guro Kent has been studying the Balintawak privately with Hatch since 2008, and was granted authority to lead his own Balintawak Training Group in 2012. Guro Kent’s continual study of Balintawak is now a major contributing factor in the evolution of the Armas-Kali curriculum.
KSK Martial Arts founder, Guro T. Kent Nelson, studies under very strong lineages which trace directly back to the originators of each martial art we offer… and if you study with us, you will too.