This program provides the foundation of knowledge for participants to utilize in their assessments to become Certified Cognitive Kali Instructors. Review materials in your own time, participate in live sessions with our instructors & complete assignments & activities.

  • We will cover Kali content from both our online courses & the Inosanto Method curriculum..

  • We will explore & translate the science together.

  • We will gain from everyones experience in teaching movement.

  • We will observe, provide feedback & build each other up.

  • We will build a team of confident & capable instructors.

CHOOSE YOUR PLAN

We offer various ways to get involved. From monthly subscriptions to pay in full access.

Program Structure & Details

This program is based around three main modules; Kali Ability, Teaching Ability & Scientific Knowledge. Competency in all three is required to become eligible for certification. See below for more details of the new modular based program starting in 2024.

  • Modular Self Paced Program

    Once enrolled you gain access to ALL Cognitive Kali virtual programs, ALL live programs & ALL previous recordings for 1 year. Participate when you can, review what you like & build your knowledge & skill sets in your own time. We have moved to this method to accommodate all time zones & schedules due to increased international interest.

  • Complete Requirements

    Throughout the year you can complete the requirements to become eligible to be assessed to become a Certified Cognitive Kali Instructor. From posting videos of yourself practicing & teaching to short written and question based assignments each module has its own minimum requirements for completion.

  • Instructor Assessments

    This certification is not the quite same as other certifications often seen in the martial arts or wellness industry. Completing the IDP does not make you a Certified Instructor, but prepares you for testing. Once all program requirements have been completed you apply to become certified & complete the instructor assessments.

Program Leaders

Founder & Head Instructor Paul McCarthy

Paul McCarthy, has been studying movement for over 25 years, from coaching a variety of sports & running children's sports camps in the UK to studying Kinesiology at Indiana University & providing customized movement consulting for various clients in the US. His qualifications include two Masters degrees, a Brain Health Trainer certification & he is currently a Level 2 Functional Movement Systems coach. He has been the Director of the UCLA Martial Arts Program since 2009, is a Senior Associate Instructor & Black Belt in Kali with the Inosanto International Martial Arts Instructors Association & has been studying multiple martial arts for over 25 years.

NeuroCognition Advisor Adam Taggart

Adam is a Senior Research Specialist for the University of Michigan, primarily working for the Gateway to Global aging project. He completed his PhD in Kinesiology, focusing on the neuro-cognitive effects of exercise, specifically martial arts, in June of 2023. Originally training in Kung Fu & Kickboxing from a young age, Adam met founder Paul McCarthy during his first visit to the Inosanto Academy in 2012, where he also discovered a passion for Kali & Jeet Kune Do.

What to expect?

Minimum requirements will be released in early 2024 & will include completing a minimum number of Kali classes with founder Paul McCarthy, a minimum number of presentations from advisor Dr. Adam Taggart and completion of assignments in each module. A high level of community engagement is also required to become eligible for certification. A time commitment & dedication to learning in your own time is essential to completing this program successfully.

  • LIVE PROGRAMS

    We will explore; Kali, Pedagogy & Neuroscience from the intention of helping people thrive. Our broader mission is to use movement to keep our brains as healthy as possible & Kali is the main delivery system for that. We will train, observe, teach & discuss understand how to use the delivery system better. There will be multiple opportunities to participate each month.

  • EXPECTATIONS

    Personal reflection, practice & engagement within the community in your own time is necessary for you to complete each module. Participants are expected to be present & engaged with all communications, discussions & activities. There is no path to certification without a high level of engagement, as we must be able to review your knowledge & abilities in real time.

  • BENEFITS

    Participants in the IDP receive the following benefits: Access to ALL Cognitive Kali virtual courses, ALL previously recorded classes from the past 3+ years, ALL scheduled live Kali classes & ALL scheduled lectures & presentations in neuroscience & pedagogy. Access to the Private Leader Facebook group & Community Page for questions & feedback also included.

Meet some of our current certified Instructors...

Guest Instructor Javier Corral

Javier Corral combines his work as a health psychologist with his doctoral research in clinical psychology, and his work as a martial arts instructor. His martial arts background includes Filipino martial arts, civilian and professional self-defense systems, and Historical European Martial Arts. As a link between his interests, he found Cognitive Kali, and began training in this method with Paul McCarthy. He currently teaches Cognitive Kali workshops at the University of Burgos in Spain.

Apprentice Instructor (Level 1) Glenn Swindlehurst

Glenn is currently a university lecturer in initial teacher training in the UK, specializing in Physical Education. He has been studying martial arts for over 30 years and holds instructor qualifications in Filipino Martial arts (FMA/Kali), Jun Fan Gung Fu/JKD and Japanese Ju-Jitsu.

Guest Instructor Greg Hainer

Greg's passion for martial arts begins with the philosophies of Bruce Lee in particular. He regularly trains in & holds ranks across a multitude of disciplines such as Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai, Kali, Savate, Kickboxing, Shooto-MMA, Ju Jitsu, & Silat. He has had the opportunity to learn from such legendary martial arts instructors as; Yorinaga Nakamura, Dan Inosanto, Salem Assli, Taky Kimura & many others. Currently, Gregory is a Martial Arts Instructor at UCLA and is an Apprentice Level 2 Instructor with Cognitive Kali. Gregory’s other passions include music & sound. He has been an award winning professional in the music, audio, & post sound industries for over 30 years & as an educator for over 10 years. He has worked for & with many of the top entertainment studios in Hollywood & now has his own boutique recording, post sound, & music facility (SCORPIO SOUND) in Los Angeles.

FAQ

  • When does the instructor program start?

    With our new module based program, once you are signed up you can complete the program at your own pace. There will multiple opportunities to participate in & complete required programs throughout the year!

  • How much is the instructor program?

    Depending on your level of commitment we will have a variety of price points to get involved. From monthly subscriptions to installment plans, we are sure to be able to accommodate most budgets. Classes start at $9.99, module certificate programs start at less than $18/month & full programs starting at less than $50/month. All can lead to becoming a certified instructor.

  • What are the requirements to participate in the instructor program?

    There are no requirements to participate in the Instructor Development Program! Everyone & anyone is welcome to join our leader community. Those that complete the program within a year are eligible to apply to become a Certified Cognitive Kali instructor.

  • What kind of time commitment is there for the Instructor Program?

    We will have several classes & presentations throughout each month & during the year. Instructor candidates can complete requirements for each module at their own pace & in their own time. Candidates should anticipate committing to a few hours a month to participating in live classes, watching recordings & completing assignments.

  • What kind of requirements are there to complete?

    We pride ourselves on being a true certification program that is a little more difficult to pass than your typical weekend course, where just participating in a few classes is enough. Candidates must demonstrate a knowledge of three main areas; teaching martial arts, Kali ability & knowledge of the science the program is based upon. To demonstrate this, candidates will submit videos of Kali & teaching performance, engage with the community via various virtual platforms (Facebook groups, digital community spaces, Google classroom etc...), submit written assignments & take science based quizzes. This sounds like a lot, but over the course of several months it is easy to achieve to a well organized & committed candidate. Do you think you have what it takes to join our instructor team?

  • When are the programs scheduled?

    We have some programs scheduled right now & more will be added later. Click on Live Programs from the top right menu options & you will see everything that is available right now. More programs will be added throughout the year! In general there will be plenty of weekend opportunities & some weekday opportunities. We will try to schedule at various times to accommodate our international candidates. All program times are in Pacific Standard Time. Some in person programs will be scheduled in Los Angeles & the surrounding area, if you are interested in hosting a program please contact us at [email protected]

PROGRAM CONTENT

Below are all of the resources provided to you while a candidate in the Instructor Development Program.

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MAXIMIZE YOUR LEARNING...

Whether in Kali, Kinesiology or general martial arts training, private 1:1 (or small group) coaching sessions will provide you with the training needed to ensure success! Also check out our bundled Certificate Programs for those looking to boost their knowledge in specific areas.