Controversy, Growth, and the Mission to Elevate Filipino Martial Arts: My Journey in the Social Media Spotlight

For those of you who’ve known me for a while, you probably know I’ve always had a solid online presence. I started out on the early discussion forums like FMA Talk and Martial Talk, and later moved to platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Filipino martial arts has always been my passion and profession, allowing me to provide for my family. But as times change, I’ve had to find new ways to reinvent myself and get my message out there.

In March, I signed with a social media company to help strategize. We talked about how to grow my reach. One quick way is using content that involves women in revealing outfits or pushing sexual innuendos—but that’s not what I stand for. Instead, we decided to focus on good content and dive into controversial topics.

We launched this strategy in early April. Back then, I had around 7,100 followers across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Fast forward to mid-September, and I now have nearly 300,000 followers across those platforms, with my content reaching close to 38 million views.

Now, some people only see a few of my videos and judge from there. I’ve had fun back-and-forths with some viewers and covered topics like how UFC has real contact but lacks context for real-world self-defense. Of course, this has brought out the trolls. But I don’t shy away from controversy or back down from online harassment.

I’ve had some solid conversations with open-minded folks who can agree to disagree, but then there are others who resort to childish behavior—like issuing fake challenges, body-shaming, and saying they’ll fight me just to troll. It’s clear that COVID has affected social interactions, with some adults behaving like adolescents. I’ve even had people claim they’ll “raid” my studio in the name of their system, which feels like a bad Bruce Lee movie plot.

There are also folks in the Filipino martial arts world trying to ride on my success. One former classmate publicly stated that Modern Arnis doesn’t hate BJJ. Well, neither do I—I’m working on my purple belt and was one of the first in my area to bring in a certified BJJ instructor in the ’90s. Another individual, who calls himself a social influencer, tried to “out” me for doing staged debates with someone from the same company. We never hid that fact; it was all in good fun, with tongue-in-cheek humor. But instead of discussing it with me directly, this person made a video to cash in on my popularity.

Has it been worth tackling controversial topics each month to get my content noticed? Absolutely. I don’t think I’ve compromised my values. The controversial posts are often intellectual or just plain entertaining. I’ve never trashed another martial art—I simply explain why I prefer Filipino martial arts. And while trolls may stir the pot, I’ve learned something important about social media: good content alone doesn’t guarantee views. You need eyes on it, and addressing controversy can do that.

Since signing with the social media company, I’ve boosted the visibility of Filipino martial arts tremendously. I’ve connected around 50 people globally with schools, even helping a potential student join Grandmaster Rodel during my last trip to the Philippines.

Sure, I get my share of negative comments, but there are just as many positive ones, if not more. And if I were doing something wrong, how would I have grown from 7,100 to almost 300,000 followers in such a short time? At the end of the day, I’m giving Filipino martial arts a bigger audience, and I’m proud of that.

Whether you agree with my approach or not, that’s up to you. I’ve grown faster than any other content creator in this company’s stable and helped others grow too. Remember, to get your content noticed, you need people talking about it—whether it’s a respectful discussion, heated debate, or even trolling.

So, whether you love or hate my content, if you’re watching—you’re still a fan.

Respectfully,
Datu Tim Hartman
World Modern Arnis Alliance