MAC MARTIAL ARTS CLUB

Let’s be honest...promoting someone who hasn’t earned it teaches them nothing.

No Instructor enjoys telling a student they’re not ready for a belt exam. But a real instructor stands firm. If they don’t, they’re not teaching value. They’re just selling rank.

In a culture of participation awards, many people think showing up and going through the motions is enough. It’s not. That is not how martial arts training works.

We teach the standards. We drill the material. You go home, study, practice, and return ready to prove you’ve mastered it. Only then should promotion even be considered. Otherwise, we are failing to teach how achievement actually works.

There are no participation trophies in a good martial arts school. We push students to become better than they were yesterday. A instructor must clearly define expectations and stand firm on them. If we don’t, we fail to instill one of the most important traits martial arts builds: indomitable spirit.

That spirit is what carries students to heights they never imagined...both in their Martial Arts and in life outside the dojo.

It’s easy to spot someone who was handed a black belt instead of earning it. The fundamentals aren’t there. What’s tragic is that many of those students might have truly earned it under proper standards...and been GREAT had they had a good Instructor!

If you’re afraid to tell a student they’re not ready, you’re not helping them. Promotion should come only after the work has been done, the stan
dards met, and the skills proven.

Anything less is catering to comfort instead of building character.

That’s how I see it.

For those who know me, I’ve always chosen to keep a low profile with my FMA status because my relationship with the art has never been about titles, validation, or collecting likes on social media. FMA has always been deeply personal to me—shaped over many decades through consistent training, hard lessons, mutual respect, and real experiences on the mat and in competition. I’ve loved FMA for a long time, and throughout that journey I’ve been fortunate to bring many incredibly talented and respected instructors from around the globe to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Training with them, learning from them, clashing sticks, and competing alongside individuals who truly embody the depth, honesty, and spirit of the art has always meant far more to me than public recognition. Quietly and steadily, I’ve also helped grow one of the largest FMA competitions in Canada, not for attention, but because I believe in creating genuine opportunities for the community to come together, connect, and test themselves in an honest and respectful way.

Over the years, I’ve been asked countless times to run seminars and step into a more visible leadership role, but being in the spotlight was never really my style. I found greater fulfillment working behind the scenes—supporting others, building platforms for growth, and allowing the work itself to speak louder than any title or online presence. That said, as of 2025, I made a conscious decision to start coming out of my shell and pushing myself to do more—not out of ego, but out of responsibility to the art and to the people who have supported, challenged, and believed in me along the way. I want to help put Alberta, Canada on the map for FMA and contribute in a meaningful way to the continued growth of the community, both locally and beyond.

Many respected FMA instructors, peers, and friends have encouraged me to step forward, collaborate more, and share what I’ve learned. While I was hesitant at first, I’ve come to realize that growth often requires embracing discomfort and change. I’m deeply grateful to all my fellow FMA friends who believed in me even during the times I chose to stay quiet. With this new chapter, I’m committed to moving forward with purpose, humility, and openness—together, let’s make 2026 a year we will never forget.

Save the date: Mac Martial Arts FMA & Open Tournament — October 2026.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
See you there!

Lawrence Macaraeg

Congratulations to all the students who achieved their level 1 and 2 in Modern Arnis today.
S.O. Jay Vedoya Der Viray Reyes Anjelli Tracy Mendoza Hervin Pesa Shishir Inocalla

I’m excited to share that the Mac Martial Arts students and parents, alongside Maeghen Cotterill, took part in filming our very first commercial. Even though our feature was brief, it was a memorable experience for everyone involved and a great moment for our community.
A huge shout-out to Studio Dialog and Black line safety for doing an amazing job and bringing this project to life.

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2025 was an awesome year for Mac Martial Arts! We're super thankful for all our students, families, instructors, and the whole community who made it such a hit. From getting better at skills and growing as people to nailing performances and making unforgettable memories on and off the mats, 2025 was seriously amazing. Another big event that happened was we were able to film our first commercial along side my long time friend Maeghen Cotterill. Huge thanks to Guro's, sensei's, Tuhons, and instructors from all over the world for helping me grow Filipino Martial Arts in Calgary, Alberta, Canada – that means a ton to me.

Last year I was able to finally get out and run FMA seminars, im excited to continue running them in 2026 in Mexico, United States, Finland and Scotland.

Looking forward, we're stoked and pumped for 2026 with some big news:

• We're excited to bring back our Open Martial Arts Tournament this October in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• We're bringing more fma instructors to Calgary!
• Mac Martial Arts is also hosting its first-ever FMA Tournament in Houston, Texas this June—that's a huge milestone our team and organization.

Let's make 2026 our biggest and best year ever!

Pugay Po!
Lawrence Macaraeg