NAME: Mike Waite
KSI RANK: Club Trainer
Trains at: Advanced Martial Arts and Fitness (AMAF), Australia
Has trained Kali Sikaran since: 2009
First FMA instructor: Jeff Allen (Modern Arnis, 2001)
Started to train Kali Sikaran because: In 2008 I got to the IPMAF Kombatan Arnis Camp in Gothenburg early so that I could explore the Kali Sikaran system and see what it was about. Punong Guro Johan Skålberg showed me Kadena de Mano combined with Panantukan on focus mitts which intrigued and excited me. But this was just a beginning.
In 2009 I met my current girlfriend again in the Philippines and the same year she came to Australia to teach at my school. Excited by the depth of the basics of the KSI system I decided to travel to Sweden in 2010. In april that following year I trained with both Punong Guro Johan Skålberg and Katalungan Guro Heikki Martikainen. We forged an agreement to bring KSI to Australia as I saw that the system was more progressive than the martial arts I’ve been training and I could see the potential for growth in Australia.
Favourite part of Kali Sikaran: My all time favourite is still the Any Sinawali but it has over the last year changed to Solo Baston because of the versatility; the similarity to any weapon, both armed and empty hand.
Strives to be better in: I’d have to say Kadena de mano and Daga. Kadena de mano increases my hand speed and with my size power is not a problem but speed and agility is. Kadena de mano is a solution for me.
Daga because every man and his dog is armed with a weapon these days. No other martial arts system teaches you to deal with those kinds of situations.
I choose to train KSI because: After training almost 21 years of different martial arts this was the most progressive and methodological I have come across. I have trained a lot of martial arts and nothing has made me go “F**K!” before. Kali Sikaran summarized up all of that knowledge and approach to martial arts training and it is a system that can influence and enhance any other system, style or code of martial arts.
Teaching philosophy: Good teachers do not try to put into, but rather seek to bring something out of every student.
Future plans in KSI training: To go to Mandirigma Camp, get a Kadua Guro and assist Punong Guro Johan Skålberg in global domination.
Future plans in general: My future plan was to bring Katalungan Guro Heikki Martikainen to Australia to grow Kali Sikaran at my school and in Western Australia with my school as HQ. It has already begun and we have opened up three locations with the exitement growing, for more details see Johan Skålbergs infectious plan for Global Domination.
Additional ranks in other martial arts: 5 Dan Zen Do Kai Karate
5 Dan (Master) Kombatan Arnis Presas Style
5 Dan BJC Muay Thai,
Black Belt in Modern Arnis
Brown Belt on Modern Bojutsu
Blue Belt BJJ
Biggest martial arts Role model/inspiration(s): Too many to list. Some I’d like to mention is Bruce Lee; the man was ahead of his time. Jackie Chan; for his use of his surroundings/props. Yoda; because he has the force. Johan is water; I’ve never seen anyone flow like him, it’s very impressive. I’ve never seen anyone do something so slow with so much power.
Competition experience: Yes.
Favourite quote/motto: They damn what they don’t understand.
Other interesting facts: My dog is a Jack Russell. 
