MONTOYO PROMOTED TO ORIGINAL TAPADO GM By: James U. Sy Jr.

Master Elmer V. Montoyo, Founder/President of the Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc., was promoted to Grandmaster in Original Filipino Tapado by the 1st Generation Inheritor (Tig-subli) Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido last June 28, 2008 at the Lobrido Rsidence, Prk. Langka, Bgry. Taloc, Bago City .

The promotion was awarded in a simple ceremony during GM Lobrido’s 58th birthday celebration, which was attended by the Mamar and Lobrido Clans, relatives, friends, and members of the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc.

The celebration also marked GM Lobrido’s 48th year of studying and teaching Original Filipino Tapado, an indigenous long stick fighting art founded by his late uncle Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar in 1960 in Prk. Langka, Brgy. Taloc, Bago City after studying Lagas, Oido, Layaw, and Sinamak from 4 different Arnis grandmasters.

The name Tapado derives from the Hiligaynon term Tapat, which in turn comes from Tapos “finish, end.” Contracting Tapat with the Hiligaynon suffix do, one gets a descriptive term for the degree or gravity of being finished or put to an end. Thus, Tapado is an art designed to finish a conflict the soonest.

GM Montoyo has a total of 51 years combined martial arts experience, starting off with Western Boxing under the late Coach Col. Porferio “Peryong” Arcobellas in 1957 at the Bacolod City Diamond Gloves. Montoyo started learning Shotokan Karate in 1960 at the famed White Kimono Karate Club under Levi Sembrano (3rd Class Brown Belt), then Jerry Gonzales (1st Class Brown Belt), followed by George A. Gargalicano Sensei (2nd Dan Black Belt), and finally Master Casimiro “Chingi” A. Grandeza, Founder/Chief Instructor of the White Kimono Karate-do Club, in 1963.

Montoyo was promoted to honorary Black Belt and 1st Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate in 1964 and 1966 respectively by Master Grandeza, the latter being under the sanction of the Visayas Budokyokai and the certification signed by All Japan Karate Federation (AJKF) Chief Instructor Koichi Kondo Sensei, AJKF President Kainosuke Watanabe Sensei, and WKKC Chief Instructor Casimiro A. Grandeza Sensei.

He earned his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Dan Black Belts in Tang Soo Do from GM Grandeza in 1969, 1972, and 1994 respectively under the sanction of the Philippine Moo Duk Kwan Inc. Korea Tang Soo Do Association (PMDKI-KTSDA). He was awarded his 6th da Dan Black Belt by Master Eric Breuer, 7th Dan Black Belt, under the sanction of Universal Martial Arts (USA).

He learned Kung Fu Karate Chinese Atado under Grandmaster Leong Fu, Hung Gar Kung Fu under Grandmaster Yao Hing Pui of Hong Kong, and Tai Chi Chuan under International Master Lee Fong Jong (Li Jun Feng), former National Wushu Coach of the People’s Republic of China .

Montoyo started his studies of Original Filipino Tapado under its Founder the late GM Mamar and his nephew Chief Instructor Master Lobrido in 1986 in Taloc, Bago City . He was awarded his Senior instructorship on December 20, 1998, his mastership on April 23, 2006, and his grandmastership on June 28, 2008, a total of 22 years continued practice and loyalty to Original Filipino Tapado. GM Montoyo earned the distinction as the first and only to be promoted to grandmaster in Original Filipino Tapado outside the Mamar and Lobrido Clans. Previously, the highest rank awarded in the art was master, which was bestowed to only 7 people.

GM Montoyo is also the President of the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS), Philippine Representative of Rossi Kuntao International, Board Director of the OFTLSFA, Inc., Chairman of the Muay Thai Association of the Philippines-Negros Occidental Chapter, and Consultant of the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc.

He previously served as Chief Instructor and National Forms Consultant of PMDKI-KTSDA, Negros Occidental Coordinator of the Philippine Pencak Silat Association (Philsilat)-Negros Occidental Chapter, and VP-Central Negros of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines (WFP) -Negros Occidental Chapter.