What Did Doug Marcaida Do to His Arm

Photos by Liz Leggett Photography

Looking at Doug Marcaida, yous might remember he's an artist of some sort with a gallery on Rodeo Drive. He's got that goatee, the suave hair, and the elegant demeanor. He's clear and refined. So what's he doing swinging swords, axes, and knives on the History Channel's Forged in Burn?

Forged in Fire (in case you've merely emerged from your underground bunker) is a competition series with three judges (including Doug), 1 host, and iv bladesmith contestants. Each episode focuses on forging a cutting tool or edged weapon from scratch. The winner walks away with a cool 10 grand in their pocket, and the episode's title championship. How cool is that? Weapons, burn down, forging, data, and fine edges are all displayed in full boob-tube luminescence. That explains why this twelvemonth marks the fifth season, and fifty-fifty spawned a spin-off series titled Forged in Fire: Knife or Death.

On the set of Forged in Fire.

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Marcaida'southward interest in the show involves force per unit area testing the weapons and evaluating each blade for combat effectiveness. Equally a master of the Filipino art of Kali, he's a natural for handling edged weapons. We recently defenseless upward with Doug between filming episodes and cutting straight to the chase with his observations of the hitting show, what martial arts he secretly wants to study, and his mental attitude toward survival.

Our Interview with Doug Marcaida

RECOIL OFFGRID: How did you get hooked up with Forged in Burn?

Doug Marcaida: I got a call from their casting producer who plant me through my YouTube videos. They were looking for an cease user of edged weapons to be a judge on the show.

What's the filming schedule similar?

DM: Information technology's taken over my time. We pic an average of 30 to forty episodes spread out through the yr and near a week per episode … so, information technology's drawn out.

That'south a lot of work. How long does it take to film one episode of Forged in Burn down?

DM: It takes nearly eight days for each episode to exist completed.

At present in the fifth flavor, why practise you call up Forged in Fire has become such a hit?

DM: I recall that our inner desire to be able to create things with our hands is projected when nosotros lookout shows like Forged in Fire. From imagination to creation in a contest format, but we happen to have burn, sparks, edged weapons, kill tests, strength tests, and sharpness tests … and did I mention edged weapons?

What's not to like, right? Handling weapons, especially sharp, pointy ones is unsafe. Did you lot accept whatsoever dicey situations where life and limb were threatened?

DM: All the time! To wield a weapon with full intent to cut or decapitate is very dangerous, specially considering it's not a weapon that I accept time to "aught in" or be familiar with. Every bladed weapon to me is as unsafe as a firearm. We tin can easily accept information technology for granted, when in fact they were created with ane purpose, which is to destroy life and limb.

Were y'all ever injured while filming?

DM: Aye, I was injured during i of our tests. I was testing a heavy blade that was not very sharp against a dry out, rubbery ballistics dummy where the shock of the cutting and impact injured my rotator cuff.

What did you practice in the military?

DM: I started out in logistics, then cross-trained into the cardio-pulmonary field. It was during my stint in the Air Force that I discovered Filipino martial arts (FMA).

What piqued your interest in martial arts?

DM: I always liked fighting and was a large fan of martial arts movies as a kid, and so I had to go my Bruce Lee moves on.

We're big fans of martial arts movies as well. What are your favorites?

DM: The Terminal Samurai is by far my favorite of all time in terms of story line and that "martial Zen" feeling. I am of grade a big fan of Bruce Lee and enjoy Tony Jaa for his amazing timing, along with Iko Uwais. I'm besides a large Kurosawa fan.

Tell us most your martial arts journey.

DM: I started as a child with basics of karate, kickboxing, and Tae Kwon Do, just information technology was ever a side hobby. Information technology wasn't until I discovered Filipino martial arts in my mid 20s that I really became serious about training. I studied nether the several grandmasters and instructors of Pekiti Tirsia Kali, San Miguel Eskrima, and Kali deLeon, along with exposure to Silat and other FMA systems.

Tae Kwon Practice days.

Why did you end up choosing Eskrima/Kali, or did it choose y'all?

DM: It chose me. [Laughs] When I was introduced to information technology in my mid 20s I fell madly in love with the art, and I seemed to have a flair for it. But I never learned it in my homeland equally a child growing up in the Philippines. I learned it in the U.Due south. while I was in the Air force. The irony of it all.

Your English is excellent for a child growing up in the Philippines. How former were you when y'all came to the U.S.?

DM: I was 17 when I came to the U.South.

Yous teach Marcaida Kali, what is that and why is it different from other systems of FMA?

DM: It is my interpretation of martial arts. The way I am able to explicate doing what I beloved to do. It'due south a mix of all my lessons learned, but more so, the process. I teach learning methods. And the final test is to create your own system and call it by your name. Marcaida Kali is but a term people use to associate it with me.

Pekiti Tirsia ceremony with Grand Tuhon Lep Gaje, 1997.

In your OFFGRIDweb.com interview, you stated that with martial arts nosotros should, "seek to develop the good attributes aside from the physical skills and bring back what adept qualities martial preparation develops in a person." What are these good qualities?

DM: Respect, honor, and integrity — the basic things that should guide our physical, mental, and spiritual being. We need to know why we do things and how these things take to be guided with respectable and honorable apply. Martial arts should make u.s.a. ameliorate, not bitter.

What'southward the biggest do good of training in martial arts?

DM: Information technology's hard to say what are the most important attributes, aside from physical skills adult by the practice of martial arts. Concentration and awareness are probably at the top of the list. From a social standpoint, equanimity is peradventure the most important virtue a martial creative person tin can have; that is, to exist able to live in the world without prejudice or fear.

With the Philippine Force Recon Battalion edged-weapon grooming graduation.

Every art has strengths and weaknesses. What are the weaknesses of your art?

DM: Though nosotros have an empty-paw component in our art, I believe that time spent on any one thing will get your strength. So since FMA is weapons-based, I encounter that the empty-hands portions — if not trained often — can go the weakness. But what wields the weapons? I would besides say that in weapons training, the ground is the last identify you desire to be; and so, ground-grappling would be the weakness. I don't spend enough time on the ground to make it our forcefulness.

What about the strengths of Kali?

DM: It is a fact of nature that all forms of action are limited by circumstance. In the case of martial arts — size, strength, historic period, dedication — they all play a central part. Kali is subject to these limitations equally are all other martial arts. Its peachy strength is its ability to weaponize practically everything, thus making the surrounding world a tool — a means of equalizing most disadvantages. The ability to apply this resource without abusing information technology distinguishes the fully accomplished practitioner of Kali from those who are merely attracted to the most flashy aspects of the art.

What was your training schedule like when you started in martial arts?

DM: When I really was into it (withal am), my determinative years were spent with 6-hour-long grooming sessions on Saturdays and another two hours, twice a week. I gave up my unabridged Saturdays for the training sessions. Three hours of conditioning, till fire out. So three hours of technical drills and specifics. The thought was to be then exhausted that the technical were done with simply the right muscle groups teaching us to learn to exhale and stay relaxed. Not to power through anything and to trust the weapon.

Articulation U.S. Philippine Marines edged impact combatives training.

No wonder you lot are and so good. What is your schedule of training at present?

DM: Three times a week I train and teach 2 guys at 5 a.yard.

When SHTF, how of import is grooming? What about physical fitness?

DM: You default to what your comfort level is. This is muscle memory, taken from the repetition of grooming. Training is basic for every attribute of the art. In regards to a violent attack, it embraces the whole range from preventing to surviving information technology. Concrete fitness is as useful in martial arts, as it is in the preservation of a sound cardiovascular organisation. If yous do non accept the concrete attributes to exercise what you learned, and then it tin't be executed. I guess that is why I like Kali. The weapons human activity equally the ultimate force multiplier. Yous do non have to be super strong or flexible to use an border or bear on weapon, yet you tin can accept the same results as one who is younger and stronger.

Practise you think a person who trains in the martial arts has an advantage during a violent situation?

DM: Anyone who trains correctly volition become aware and so create preventive measures. Preparation volition give you possible answers to fierce situations. Training and preparing for violence gives you a improve hazard compared to someone who has never even thought of violence and simply relies on their natural instincts once it occurs. We are all different, so some are natural at dealing with violence and some are not. Given that you choose to learn something so you tin deal with it makes you that much improve at dealing with that situation.

On the beach, h2o sparring with blood brother.

During whatsoever crisis, similar a survival state of affairs, how can martial arts be of help?

DM: If your martial fine art teaches y'all crisis management, and it is trained properly then aye, we are all different and train differently. But one thing martial arts bailiwick does teach is a risk to focus on whatsoever you are learning. Training the listen to control the body helps you deal with a crunch much better. It's non merely the self-defence force techniques of martial arts that come into play. Breathing helps control emotions and keeps you focused and relaxed. Y'all'll be able to assess things improve and make the right choices. The martial practices requite workout, simply mind, body, and spirit should work equally a whole. This increases your chances of surviving a crisis in my opinion.

Y'all teach a lot of seminars. What is information technology that people are looking to learn?

DM: My guess is to move and do the things they come across me doing. I, in turn, endeavour to teach them the methodology of how I learned these things and how I train them, as opposed to memorizing techniques.

If someone wants to protect home and hearth, what should they practice?

DM: Educate yourself about everything that has to do with your abode. Acquire near entry and get out points, weapons of opportunity around the house, safety rooms, emergency plans, and where to encounter in case things happen. Brand a plan, but make sure y'all actually train your plans. Noesis without the ability to execute will limit your effectiveness.

We concur, practicing your programme is critical. Do you have to spend a lot of time training?

DM: If yous know how to incorporate training into your daily life then you are training all the time. There is no limit to the amount you should train in something you lot want to exist good at.

Above: Doug Marcaida blade designs and collaborations with KaBar Knives, Pull a fast one on Knives Italy, Max Venom, Bastinelli Knives, Russian Blades, and Jason Knight.

How does one go well-nigh incorporating training into their daily life?

DM: "Train the way yous will fight, so you volition fight the way you train." I will take it farther — you lot should, "Live the mode you lot will fight, then that you will fight the way y'all alive." Unless you are in a sport where y'all are sure the fight will take place in a ring, yous need to realize that the dojo (training hall) is probably the safest place to exist. Fights happen exterior and mostly while you are but living your life. So if living your life is a constant; meaning how you move, how you do things, how you lot think all the fourth dimension, and that is what you want to protect, and then railroad train those very same things to exist functional in a fight. Here'due south an case, if I normally swing my hands as I walk, can I turn that swing into strikes? If I normally walk and stomp on an insect, tin I plow that stomp to be a strike? If a wrist lock is a plow of a wrist, is that motility similar to turning a door knob? If using a spear in combat is most creating a barrier in combat, can chairs, tables, or the obvious broom be used? These are the same principles that I encounter in everyday living. These are the things that I do every 24-hour interval, so training is an all the time thing.

With all this training, have you been in an altercation where you used your skills? If so, what happened and what did you acquire?

DM: I plead the 5th. Simply I did larn that ego is the real enemy. Information technology gets you into trouble where trouble could accept been avoided and even if you win a fight, you lost at harmony in life. Could information technology have been prevented? Near of the fourth dimension the answer is yes.

UFC and MMA has a large post-obit now. What are your views of the UFC and MMA?

DM: I am a big fan of the sport. What I love is the idea to be well rounded; that one should learn to cover all bases that but one fine art cannot provide. What I find disappointing is the way some athletes carry themselves in public. Their aggressive nature is what martial arts tries to control, and they think information technology's OK to act this way in public. Those who are exposed to true violence, where life and death is a affair of opportunity, know that yous don't act this way. No one is bulletproof or stab-proof. Merely every bit public figures how they behave themselves affects the impressionable fans who will take on their persona because perception is reality to them. Too, there'south aught wrong in practicing martial arts equally a sport as long as one understands the divergence between playing and fighting for ane's life and limb. Intent is the primal.

If yous were to learn a new martial arts, what would it be and why?

DM: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Russian Sambo. I have ever wanted to put a lot of time in to acquire, but take not had the pleasure of doing so.

Practise yous consider yourself a "prepper?"

DM: Yes. I try to prepare for things that may or may not happen in my life.

What should the boilerplate prepper/survivalist prepare for?

DM: Take yourself out of your condolement zone. What would you lot do if you lot do not accept the things you depend on daily to live? How would you then survive? Your answer to that volition requite you lot lessons about yourself that you may or may not be aware of. Information technology will show you your strengths and weakness. Maybe yous're a tech-savvy person, simply when technology is out the window, what then? Can you live without sure things? Nosotros all say we tin can practise without, but how does your mindset deal with the stress when y'all are without? Some of usa can't handle it and go through withdrawals. Endeavour going without your smartphone for even a few hours and spotter your response. There are some who go stressed. [Laughs] What things are really necessities over niceties? Once you expose the weakness, prepare to strengthen it.

The Bastinelli Knives Le Picouer scalpel.

What's been keeping you busy lately?

DM: Forged in Fire, knife designing, and martial program writing.

Martial program writing? What is that?

DM: Ever since I transitioned into media, I have not been able to go along my work every bit a military contractor for my edged and impact weapons instruction. I desire to continue this even if it's in the "train the trainer" chapters, which ways write the programs so others can teach them.

Any cool knife design you're working on at present or accept completed recently?

DM: The Kortada Knife and the Kortada Dagger are two of my current designs that I am releasing. The kortada equally the word sounds, means "to cut." This blade design is based on a ginunting (scissor) pocketknife I was exposed to when I was training with the Force Recon Marines. My version has a more acute edge to allow for thrusting, but keeps the geometry to do what it was named to practice — to cutting.

A man in his element — Doug looking over several of his knife design collaborations.

About Doug Marcaida

Age: 52

Occupation:Martial artist, knife designer, media personality

Base:Rochester, NY

Pinnacle 5 recommended reading list:

• The Alchemistby Paolo Colhoe
• On Killingby Dave Grossman
• The Gift of Fearpast Gavin De Becker
• Just Ii Secondsby Gavin De Becker
• The Little Princepast Antoine de Saint

Family unit:Wife, Joelle and 3 sons: Alex, DJ, and Jaden

Favorite Motion-picture show: The Terminal Samurai

Favorite quote:"Information technology's non about how many you can hurt, but how many you can protect"

Most Constructive Pickup Line:I'one thousand married

Favorite Knife:The ones I design.

Favorite Firearm: M1911

Military machine Background: U.S. Air Forcefulness

Martial Arts Background:Kali

Website:dougmarcaida.com

Doug's EDC(clockwise from top left)

• Pika Karambit
• Le Picoeur
• Fox DART
• DMaX neck knife
• Mako folder
• MK Ultra Kukri folder (not pictured)

Doug'southward ring pocketknife designs from elevation to bottom: Pika karambit satin finish (Bastinelli Knives), Le Picouer scalpel (Bastinelli Knives), The Fox Dart XT (Fob Knives Italy), Pika karambit black cerakote (Bastinelli Knives), DmaX karambit cervix knife (Max Venom), Mako Knife folder (Bastinelli Knives).

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Source: https://www.offgridweb.com/preparation/doug-marcaida-spotlight-into-the-fire/

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