“As you think, so shall you become.” ~ Bruce Lee
Guro Lynn Varghese is a talented instructor in the martial community, a dear friend and influential woman. Currently she inspires women to express themselves, learn self defense and have fun while learning the effective martial arts of the Philippines, Korea, Indonesia, China, Japan, Brazil and Thailand. She does all of this in St.Charles and St. Louis Missouri, leading and teaching alongside a handful of instructors at a dojo coined Apex Martial Arts Academy. Founded over 25 years by Guro Joe Craig and Guro Roy Hagan, Apex was born with a mission to provide the St. Louis metropolitan area with the opportunity to be exposed to and train in a variety of martial arts styles. Apex is an Insonato Academy Affiliated School and one of just a few schools to introduce the Inosanto method of Filipino Martial Arts (Kali, Serrada, Teovel’s Balintawak, Pekiti Tirsia, Pencak Silat, Bruce Lee’s Jun Fan Gung Fu, Jeet Kune Do and Muay Tai) to the Midwest.
Guro Lynn is one of the top instructors for the women’s, young adult and children’s programs at Apex and is creator and organizer of a number of martial arts training programs, seminars and for charity demonstrations. She is the creator of Chicks With Sticks, a program that introduces a fun way for women to learn FMA while burning calories and learning self defense as well as a Ladies Cardio Kickboxing course whose title says it all. Not only has she gone far in becoming a top instructor while inspiring more women to become a part of the martial world; but she has an inspiring story of her own about how a working mother can beat all odds, stomp out stereotypes and follow her dreams.
So Guro Lynn. Tell me a bit about yourself and your history in martial arts up till now.
I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. I really was not that athletic person who excelled at every sport offered in school. I did participate in several softball leagues as a kid. Never during that time did I even consider Martial Arts.
I got my Bachelor of Arts Degree from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO, majoring in Christian Ministries and Minoring in Art and eventually obtained a Associates Degree from DeVry University to become a Registered Health Information Technician and have been at Mercy Medical Center for almost 18 years, 8 of those years as a Coding Specialist II.
Got married in 1993 and had my only child in 1998. One of my life experiences was in 2003, when I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Three surgeries later, I was found to have a benign tumor and during the third surgery a VP (Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt) was placed inside of me.
When my son Ben was 10 years old he decided to take up training at Apex Training Center. He trained for 6 years, eventually quitting to pursue sports within High School. During that time I came to like what I was seeing within the martial arts that he was learning. Saying to myself, “I think I can do that and it looks like a fun way to stay fit”. Alzheimer’s runs in my family, as well, so I thought it would help me mentally as well.
I started my training in 2012, actually in my basement using Guro Dan Inosanto’s DVD Collector’s Series (Training in the Martial Arts 3 Disc Set). I would train every day for 30 minutes or more – learning all the Sinawali Drills and taking a lot of notes. My formal training, with Ben as my training partner, started in late 2012 and have been training every since. I knew after my health scare in 2003, that I should cherish every day and make it count. I can be a stubborn woman and when I see something I want to pursue, I go for it! Life is too short to miss out on opportunities; tomorrow is never a guarantee.
Currently, I am an Associate Instructor in Filipino Martial Arts, an Apprentice Instructor in Jeet Kune Do, Instructor in the Apex Integrated Method and Student-Teacher in Kali Silat.
Is there anyone in martial arts that you consider a role model?
There are several people who have been and continue to be role models and mentors in my life. Just a few of them are Guro Joe Craig (my current Sifu), Simo Lynda Hatch, Guro Rick Faye, Guro Linda Ramsay, Guro Diana Rathborne, Guro Michelle Kuzma, Guro Suzanne Luna Spezzano and of course Guro Dan Inosanto.
I understand you run a number of women’s martial arts classes. How do you think Filipino martial arts can benefit women?
Yes. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach my Chicks with Sticks Class (Filipino Martial Arts), Ladies classes in Boxing and Cardio exercise. Also, I am privileged to teach, along with other Apex Instructors, Girl Scouts and women in the St. Louis and surrounding areas Self-Defense.
In regards to Women and training within the Filipino Martial arts and the benefits therein, there are several points that come to mind. First, it trains the hands to move in opposition to one another, but in a way that does not cause chaos, but fluid beauty. When you train in Filipino Martial Arts, you have to forget the concept of left or right. Items such as scarves, brooms, cell phones and objects found in every day life, can become a weapon for self-protection. We use the sticks, staff, and training knives as mediums that will eventually translate to empty hand movements. Secondly, Filipino Martial Arts lends itself to learning to control distance, either creating more distance or closing it off in very effective ways. Third, I personally have found that it sharpens the mind, the reflexes and balance, while raising ones confidence in regards to self-protection. Lastly, Filipino Martial Arts has taught me a lot about myself as a Martial Artist. As I continue to learn and grow within the art and put Lynn’s personality stamp onto the art, I am amazed at how my body and mind responds.
This generation has seen the rise of professional female Martial artists and more women can be found in dojos and gyms than ever before. That being said do you think women are becoming more interested in Filipino martial arts today just as much as they are in martial arts like karate, tae kwon do, kung fu and others?. If so, why do you think that is?
As I train ladies in Filipino Martial Arts, I see women wanting to learn the art for different reasons. Some come for the self-defense aspect that FMA can provide, thus raising their confidence in a world that is highly unpredictable at times when it comes to crimes against women. Others come for the cardio exercise that it provides, some for the mental sharpness that it can create and many come for the social bond it can create among other women.
Filipino Martial Arts is such an amazing art for women to learn, given the benefits I have outlined above. There are more I am sure that could be listed. I am speaking from my own experience and the encounters that I have had with other women who train with me.
My goal when I train my ladies is to expose them to the wonderful martial arts that I know. Allowing them to learn, grow, be encouraged and challenged. For them to realize that martial arts does not have to be intimidating, but can be fun, functional and motivational on many levels. Several of the ladies, that I am blessed to teach, use the art for cardio exercise, increase of mental acuity and self-protection. I have found that woman and young ladies control where they take the martial art they train in. Training as the continual novice all the way to an instructor level. They can tailor when, what, how long and where they take the art.
How do you think the arts of sophisticated weaponry like kali and balintawak can be helpful to women on the street who may not be able to access materials such as eskrima sticks and machete’s?”
Kali is a bladed art, but has an empty hand emphasis as well. If someone does not have access to eskrima sticks or machetes/swords, there are other ways to train without these items. I used to practice my sinawali drills with 2 wooden spoons in my kitchen. Also, I would use small dowel rods that I bought from the hardware store to practice movements and strikes. While the Filipino people were under Spanish rule, they used dance to keep the art alive. So there are many ways to practice. That being said, I am confident that once a woman learns the basics of Kali, it will serve her well on the streets to defend herself.
I strive to take the basic techniques of the arts that I train in and incorporate into my self-defense workshops. All the attributes that we develop in the workshops are empty hand. Teaching the ladies that they can protect themselves with everyday items. Not all items used for self-protection are tactical. Your body language and voice can be used to deter a possible attacker. I teach them to learn the basics of self-protection: Prevention, Awareness and Avoidance.
I often hear that when you move with weapons in your hand, it expedites the development of your natural attributes such as speed, power, coordination, timing, spatial relationships and footwork. Do you find this to be true according to your experiences?
Yes, I believe that to be a true statement. I think that a true practitioner knows their strengths and limitations in any art that they choose to train in and practice. As a woman I know that I have disadvantages that can be an advantage for a man, however, I have advantages that maybe do not come so easy to a man. In understanding this, I can tailor my speed, timing, coordination, etc. to fit me. I have to set realistic expectations while training, based on who I am physically and mentally.
Do you think self study, adaptation, self expression and the ideology of what works, and what doesn’t work is particular to JKD/Jun Fan Gung Fu alone or this an inherent part of Filipino Martial Philosophy as well?
I have seen in my training over the years, that JKD and FMA, when trained together, are like two halves of a whole. FMA and JKD are about putting your stamp or mark on the art. Keeping true to the concepts that are undergirding the art itself. My movements will not be the same as the rest of those at Apex; due to the way I process mentally the art. My short stature and lack of upper body strength, will cause me to adapt the way in which I deliver the art. One is not better than another, but it is my imprint and my expression of the art, which I think is what makes both of these arts so appealing to men and women.
Sifu Joe Craig is so consistent in reminding me that I have to use my strengths that are inherent to whom Lynn is, not anyone else. There are always alternate ways to show the art, but in a way that suits who I am mentally and physically.
Do you think the commonalities between FMA and Bruce’s own ideas are at least partly what drew him to Filipino Martial arts? I have noticed that feinting, direct/indirect attacks, range (long, medium, short) techniques are principles employed by both fighting styles.
Yes, I can see how Sigung Bruce Lee would have been drawn to the Filipino Martial arts. There are a lot of similar features that both arts incorporate that make them so effective. Distance, timing, speed, angulation and the list can go on and on. These arts are very complimentary to one another.
Thank you for your time and for answering my questions. Is there anything else you would like to add Lynn?
Just wanted to thank all my Apex Family who has been so instrumental in my martial arts journey. Apex has afforded me so many opportunities to teach and train others, which I am truly grateful for, would not want to train anywhere else. Their encouragement, instruction, patience and friendship are invaluable!
Lord willing, I plan to continue to train and teach in Martial Arts as long as possible. Always a student: learning and growing.
Find Out More
Apex Martial Arts Academy offers authentic instruction in a full range of indigenous martial arts and is proudly affiliated with a stellar group of renowned instructors and lineages, including the World Famous Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts in Los Angeles California. Find out more about classes, seminars and lineage here: http://www.apexmartialarts.com/
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