That’s what I was told when I left Mark Mikita’s Dojo in the middle of Venice Beach, California. Years of martial arts training and I got the shit kicked out of me by a witty French dude and the son of a famous actor. I felt like crap and a bit of a wanna-be. I wasn’t sure I was going to come back to this hell ever again.

But what makes Mark Mikita such a brilliant and inspiring martial artist? The first and most obvious thing that springs to mind is the years of training and experience. But I think there’s much more to it. He explored the world of combat in search of what he calls ‘science in a world of hurt.’ It sounds pretty damned painful but, by studying the history and roots of the arts and using statistics and research done by the police and armed forces to assess which techniques to apply when, Mark hand-picks all the techniques and insights that are valuable. In a nutshell, he is multifaceted and flexible of mind with an eagerness to explore every nook and cranny of his art.

Mark is familiar with the vascular system, human anatomy and the range of motion of joints and limbs. As part of Mark’s short lecture on the habits of the brain when learning new techniques and movements, he explained, “If a child doesn’t learn to throw a ball before a certain age, the child will never learn how to throw properly for the rest of its life. This will affect all ball games.”

For obvious reasons, I think many of us can be happy that Mark chose martial arts and not advertising. But he does possess the uncanny ability to explore adjacent fields of interest. Developing a way of creatively applying these findings so that both he and his students could benefit from them became a second nature to him. In short, he created a lethal toolbox that is constantly replenished and expanded upon.

If you read last month’s column by my esteemed colleague, Stein Jansen, you’ll have noticed a fondness for sports analogies. Well, it must be a thing with BSUR, because here comes another one.

When grandmasters like Bill Bernbach created the art & copy duo and the first planners were born either at BMP or JWT, the classical silos of an ad agency were created. A model that was highly successful for decades. But the remnants of these silos now restrict the grooming of both new and old talent. And this is despite the fact that these silos have partly given way to more diverse teams and disciplines.

Advertising didn’t change, not the art itself, but the different techniques and media at our disposal did. And quickly. Therefore, the required skill set these days is much closer to Mark Mikita’s adaptable school of thought than that of the old grandmasters. Furthermore, I have seen in Mark’s students that expanding your abilities alongside your core capabilities makes you mentally agile. That agility will ease the way into new fields of knowledge and tools. A must in times of rapid digital development.

The days of a single classical skill-set are numbered. At every level or discipline there should be a basic understanding of statistics, analytics and human behavior. No matter if you are agency or client-side you should look out for these agile learners.  These young professionals are familiar with exploring new techniques and making them their own without losing core strength. Enhancing their toolbox and honing their classical weapons in the progress.

With flexible thinkers it doesn’t matter if they are in the art, planning, account or production department. They will display an eagerness to explore and absorb knowledge naturally. Some call them T-Shaped, some call them cross-dressers. Nevertheless, these marketing and advertising professionals are the weapons of the future.

Who knows? They might be a little zen, too.

I ended up training at Mark Mikita’s Dojo after that first encounter. I left with more than just a renewed focus, but with the inspiration to apply Mark’s lessons to more arts than those of just the martial variety.

• Filipino Martial Arts
• Jun Fan Martial Arts (Methods compiled by Bruce Lee)
• Hung Gar Kung Fu/Wing Chun/Hsing-i Pakua/Tai Chi Chuan
• Japanese Jiu Jitsu/Judo/Aikido/Aiki-Jujitsu/Kenjitsu
• Tae Kwon Do/Tang Soo Do/Hapkido/Kuk Sool Won
• Indonesian Pentjak Silat
• Malaysian Bersilat
• Muay Thai/Krabi Krabong
• French Savate
• Western Boxing
• Submission Hold Grappling
• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
• European Fencing
• Firearms

Mark offers Beginner to Advanced-Level Self-Defense Training
through Group Classes as well as Exclusive Private Instruction.
His comprehensive curriculum incorporates:

• Mixed Martial Arts
• Specialized & Improvised Impact & Bladed Weaponcraft
• Special-Use Weapons & Stratagems
• Stress Inoculation Training
• Situational & Environmental Awareness Training

Joe Hyams

“Mark has put together a system that’s incredible and he is probably the best martial artist I have ever seen; certainly the best I’ve ever studied with.”

–Joe Hyams

Author, "Zen In The Martial Arts"

Crispulo "Ising" Atillo

“My best student is here in the USA. He is Mark Mikita. All my secrets, I taught him, and I have already awarded him as Master and Grandmaster. He's the best!”

–Grandmaster Crispulo "Ising" Atillo

Dan Inosanto

“I’ve known Mark Mikita for 20 years and he really is an extraordinary martial artist.”

–Dan Inosanto

Training Partner of Bruce Lee

Sam Sheridan

“Mark Mikita is the real deal. He understands, into his bones, what he is teaching.”

–Sam Sheridan

Author of "A Fighter's Heart" and "The Fighter's Mind"

Burton Richardson

“If you have the chance to train with Mark Mikita, do it. Touch hands with him and you will be inspired, as was I, to be your best.”

–Burton Richardson

Jeet Kune Do Unlimited

Laurent Delsol

“The Mikita School of Martial Art is a truly great place to train and grow as a martial artist. Mark Mikita has my utmost respect and devotion.”

–Laurent Delsol

Free Carradine

“I set out to find a masterful teacher who fully embodied the warrior-sage ideal... who would've ever thought I would find one, in LA no less?  His name is Mark Mikita... and now you have found him too.”

–Free Carradine

Den Bradshaw

“Whether you are new to Martial Arts, or are already a veteran instructor, if you want to get your fighting skills to the next level, and work with the very best, Mark Mikita is your man.”

–Den Bradshaw

Ian Armstrong

“Mark is a lexicon of martial arts knowledge with an understanding of history, anatomy, biomechanics and human nature that truly sets him apart. He is a thinking man’s martial arts teacher...”

–Ian Armstrong MD

Neurosurgeon

James Bamford

“In my opinion, Mark Mikita is the foremost instructor of non-sport, practical, effective Martial Arts in North America today.”

–James "Bam-Bam" Bamford

President, Stunts Canada

Ritchie Yip

“In the world of Martial Arts, I’ve never met anyone who rivals Mark Mikita's talent, skill and ability to teach.”

–Ritchie Yip

Founder of InFighting

Loki Jorgenson

“As far as I'm concerned, Mark is one of the legends of modern Filipino martial arts.”

–Loki Jorgenson

Dog Brother & Maelstrom Martial Arts Instructor

Damon Wayans Jr.

“Mark Mikita is the Best Martial Arts Teacher EVER!”

–Damon Wayans Jr.

Actor & Comedian

Mark Mikita has been teaching professionally since 1978. A lifelong practitioner, he has earned an international reputation as a consummate martial artist and a patient and inspiring teacher. Mark's unique approach offers a real paradigm-shift from defensive to more effective counter-offensive thinking and training.

Delving deeper, Mark holds that to truly master any practicable martial art, the student must grasp the unstable dynamics of a combative relationship, for that is where the real art lives — in the often frightening, real-time relationship of exigency to strategy; of strategy to tactics; of tactics to weapon choice and, finally, of weapon to target — and both his school and his personal art reflect this insightful perspective.

Strongly encouraging his students to regularly venture out of their comfort zones to continually test and develop their ability to function under stress, Mark teaches effective, battle-proven strategies for successfully managing every aspect of a violent encounter.

His small, mixed-level group classes are informal and extremely detail-oriented, and he teaches every one of them himself.

As to what goes on in a typical class, partnered practice is the norm, with various armed and unarmed drills, sparring and self-defense scenarios taking up approximately 80-90% of class time. Mark uses the remaining time to expound on the core principlesof whatever technique or tactic is being covered, often delving into applied sciences or looking back, sometimes over centuries, to investigate the environmental, cultural and historical factors that initially led to its development, thus imparting not only the ingenious methodologies the originators came up with to solvethe problems they faced but also, and perhaps more importantly, the process they employed.

Armed with such knowledge, Mark's students are charged with the responsibility of keeping it sharp... and keeping it sheathed in all but the most exigent circumstances.
Finally, there’s one thing you definitely won’t find at Mark’s school, and that’s politics...

In his book, Zen In The Martial Arts, Mark’s longtime student, Joe Hyams, wrote that a martial arts school is “a microcosm of life.”  Hence, despite its well-packaged claims to the contrary, the so-called martial arts community has its fair share of cowards masquerading as men of honor, and the factional scheming and often slanderous backbiting they are invariably responsible for has wrecked more great schools and martial arts friendships than anything else.

In the words of legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden,“While you, the leader, can teach many things, character is not taught easily to adults who arrive at your desk lacking it. Be cautious about taking on reclamation projects regardless of the talent they possess. Have the courage to make character count among the qualities you seek in others.” Mark has that courage.
Accordingly, anyone looking to join his school - be they a complete novice or high-ranking black belt - is expected to arrive at his proverbial desk with an accurate moral compass and the fortitude to follow it.

Group Instruction

Group Classes

The Mikita School of Martial Art offers regular, on-going group classes.  You have two options: One Class A Week or Unlimited.

Payment Options

One Class A Week : $150.00USD - monthly Unlimited : $250.00USD - monthly

4-Student Semi-Private

4-Student Semi-Private Lessons

With the benefit of more tailored instruction and one-on-one time with Mark Mikita, the 4-student semi-private instruction allows you to build a highly beneficial training partnership with three other dedicated students while getting direct instruction and 'hands-on' time with Mark. BONUS: With your Semi-Private membership, unlimited group classes are complimentary.

 

Payment Options

One Weekly Semi-Private Lesson (Shared with 3 Other Students) : $147.00USD - monthly Two Weekly Semi-Private Lessons (Shared with 3 Other Students) : $247.00USD - monthly Three Weekly Semi-Private Lessons (Shared with 3 Other Students) : $297.00USD - monthly

The prices above apply to training conducted in the school. For instruction at your home/office, please contact Mark.

2-Student Semi-Private

2-Student Semi-Private Lessons

Perhaps the fastest way to learn, sharing a private lesson with Mark and one other student as your training partner will give you the opportunity to EXPLODE as a martial artist. You will have 100% of Mark's attention as you and your partner get to work on techniques, drills and skills. BONUS: With your Semi-Private membership, unlimited group classes are complimentary.

Payment Options

One Weekly Semi-Private Lesson (Shared with One Other Student) : $248.00USD - monthly Two Weekly Semi-Private Lessons (Shared with One Other Student) : $423.00USD - monthly Three Weekly Semi-Private Lessons (Shared with One Student) : $597.00USD - monthly Unlimited Semi-Private Conditioning (up to 7/week, 2 Students) : $1,250.00USD - monthly

The prices above apply to training conducted in the school. For instruction at your home/office, please contact Mark.

Private Instruction

Private Instruction

With Private instruction, you will have direct, one-on-one training with Mark Mikita. There is no substitute for touching hands with a master, as the arts he teaches are considered direct-transmission arts.

Payment Options

One Private Lesson A Week : $497.00USD - monthly Two Private Lessons A Week : $847.00USD - monthly Three Private Lessons A Week : $1,197.00USD - monthly Unlimited Private Conditioning (up to 7/week) : $2,500.00USD - monthly

The prices above apply to training conducted in the school. For instruction at your home/office, please contact Mark.

Joe Hyams
World War II Combat Veteran
Martial Arts Pioneer
Author of Zen In The Martial Arts
Former Private Student of Ed Parker, Bong Soo Han and Bruce Lee

Joe trained with Mark from 1987 until his passing in 2008

Crispulo "Ising" Atillo
Grandmaster of the Atillo Balintawak Eskrima System
Renowned Stick Fighter
Fought and won the last legally sanctioned death match in the Philippines, 1983

It is exceedingly rare to find a person who embodies all three of these traits, as does my martial arts brother, Mark Mikita.

Mark’s physical and intellectual talent alone would’ve taken him to the top, but his extraordinary skill and understanding come from that rare mix of talent, passion and massive amounts of training. If you have the chance to train with him, do it.

He has a brilliant mind, a critical eye and an honest tongue, not to mention an amazing breadth of knowledge, and the prowess to go with it.

Touch hands with him and you will be inspired, as was I, to be your best.”

Burton Richardson
Jeet Kune Do Unlimited
Longtime Private Student and Training Partner of Mark Mikita

Through a lifetime of intelligent, driven, directed study, Mark mastered his subject. Mastery not just in the physical sense, but also in terms of essence, understanding, truth.

Training under Mark reminds me of reading Bobby Fischer's chess games, there is elegance and economy, but most of all, I am reminded continuously of the essentials – the bloody heart – of what we are about as fighters and students of self-defense.

Sam Sheridan
Author of A Fighter's Heart and The Fighter's Mind