The Tai Chi Circle of Bacolod (TCCB) will be having a get together today, January 28, 2008 at Cocobana, Luxur Place, Bacolod City.
TCCB is a non-profit, non-competitive network of career professionals dedicated to concentrated study of the thousand years old Chinese internal art of Tai Chi Chuan “Grand Ultimate Fist” to improve one’s health and quality of life.
The group failed to have a get together last Christmas due to the busy schedule of everyone. The final date was arrived at when members agreed to have it on the 28th, instead of the 26th on the Chinese New Year, so all of the members can come. Atty. Alex Ang of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will be flying from Manila just in time for the gathering.
The Tai Chi Circle of Bacolod (TCCB) turned 8 years old last July 17, 2008, making it perhaps the longest existing training network/group of Tai Chi enthusiasts in both Bacxolod City and Negros Occidental.
The Tai Chi Circle of Bacolod (TCCB) was founded by several career professionals on July 17, 2000 in Bacolod City.
The group was formed when several would-be founding members convinced Peter John Lloren Yap to lead the training. Yap was hesitant at first because he was just doing Tai Chi for personal consumption, that is to rehabilitate an injury that he sustained in his younger days. He later agreed provided it would be a non-commercial learning group with no fees.
According to Chinese oral tradition, the legendary Taoist Chan Sang-Feng developed Tai Chi Chuan after having practiced and mastered the external art of Shaolin Chuan “Small Forest Fist.” He reportedly observed a fight between a crane and a snake. Inspite of the serpent’s combative advantage he was defeated by the bird who avoided his attacks by flowing with them and striking back with his beak. Thus, the flowing movements of Tai Chi Chuan were discovered.
The name Grand Ultimate Fist is a homage to the metaphysical principle Yin/Yang, which governs everything in the universe. Yin and Ying represent two opposing yet complementary forces that maintain equilibrium in the cosmos. An interplay of the two forces is essential since when one becomes greater, an imbalance presents itself. Grand Ultimate Fist is therefore the art that prevents imbalances and blockages in the human internal system with the proper practice of Chi Kung (energy work), meditation, performing the forms, and observing a balanced diet and lifestyle.
Tai Chi Chuan was made popular by the Chen Clan and modified by Yang Lu-Chan into Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. Today, there are many styles of the art such as Wu, Sun, Hao, and the competition routines put together by the Mainland Chinese Government.
TCCB is concentrated on the study of the Yang Chia 24-steps and the Cheng Man-Ching (Zheng Manqing) 37-steps. TCCB’s primary goal is to improve one’s quality of life through cultivation of the mind and inner peace, correct breathing, and non-impact/non-injurous physical exercise through Tai Chi Chuan, proper diet, a health centered lifestyle, and a harmonious relationship with one’s brothers and sisters in and outside the art. Many had joined the group to contain their diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, etc.
Active TCCB members include Atty. Alexander Ang of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Charles Atas, Letty Chiu, Pepe Chiu, Catherine Friend, Cecille H. Magsaysay, Guillermo “Bill” L. Gomez, Rey Granada, Pepito Khey, Humberto “Toti” Lim, Felipe Lio, Celedinio Perez Jr., Alex Su, Sagay Councilor James Tupas, Jose Uy Jr., and Stephen Young.
Interested parties may contact Jose Uy Jr. at 434-7664 and join training for FREE every MWF 8:00 P.M. at Oceanlight Import and Export, Magsaysay St., Bacolod City.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
GM MONOYO CELEBRATES 63RD BDAY By: James U. Sy Jr.
Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo celebrated his 63rd birthday with a simple get together with his Martial Arts friends last January 20, 2008 at the Universal Health Caregivers Training Center. #83A Cor. Rosario-Locsin Sts., Bacolod City.
Well wishers present were Founder/Masters Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado and James U. Sy Jr., Master Instrucor Joeffrey S. Deriada, Joy Gallos, and Janby of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., Host Founder/Chairman Abraham G. Ganzon Jr. and his Assistant of the Universal Defensive Tactics Academy (UDTA), and members of GM Montoyo’s Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA)
The simple celebration also signaled the GM’s 52nd year in the Martial Ars. He started training in 1957. Since then he had studied a variety of Martial Arts coming from Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Indonesian,Thai, and Western traditions and ended up being certified in a number of them.
His latest promotion was his 8th Degree Black Belt ranking in Tang Soo Do “Way of the Chinese hand (Hangul)” awarded by Eric Breuer Soke of the USA, 10th Degree Black Belt, under the sanction of the Universal Fighting Arts Fellowship International (UFAFI).
UFAFI is the official governing body for Breuer Soke’s Chun Kuk Moo Sul “Universal Martial Arts (Hangul).”
Montoyo is also a grandmaster in Original Filipino Tapado,having been awarded the honor by 1st Generation Inheritor (Tig-subli) Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido last June 28, 2008 at the Lobrido Residence, Prk. Langka, Bgry. Taloc, Bago City.
(GM Montoyo (yellow shirt) and GM Bebing Lobrido)He studied Shotokan Karate “Shoto’s School of the Empty Hand (Nihonggo)” from Levi Sembrano, Jerry Gonzales, Master George A. Gargalicano, and Grandmaster Casimiro “Chingi” A. Grandeza, Founder/Chief Instructor of the White Kimono Karate Club and "The father of karate in Negros."
Montoyo had learned Kung Fu Karate Chinese Atado under Grandmaster Yao Hing Poi of Hong Kong and Tai Chi Chuan under international Master Li Jun-Feng (Lee Fong-Jong), former National Wushu Coach of the People’s Republic of China .
He studied Original Filipino Tapado (OFT) under the late Founder/Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar and his nephew, then Chief Instructor Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido. He was promoted to Senior Instructor in OFT by GM Mamar and to Master and then to Grandmaster on June 28, 2008 by GM Lobrido.
The celebration was capped with a few demonstrations and discussion of Martial Arts techniques. An Inerconinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) meeting soon followed.
Friday, January 16, 2009
CONVERSATION WITH NONG BITOY By Ned R. Nepangue
(Author’s Note: The characters found in this article are all fictitious. The exchange of ideas and wit here never happened and very likely, never will. To make it “interactive” the readers are advised to imagine that they were/are around when this short chat occurred. ) This is reprinted from Rapid Journal Vol. 8 No. 1, with the author's permission
It was about 5 in the afternoon, Saturday, when I happened to see Nong Bitoy, our local eskrima legend sitting and drinking beer alone in one of the sari-sari stores in our locality. Taking advantage of the situation, I went straight to him… and our verbal juego todo ensued.
N: Maayong hapon, Nong Bits!
B: O! Ne! beer, inom ‘ta. Where have you been? Look tired.
N: Cebu coliseum. May arnis tournament ditto. Very lousy.
B: Arnis hmmm, you mean eskrima, Ne….why lousy?
N: Men in steroids playing like six-year olds. Game fixing and all that….I just don’t understand why they let that puti win, he’s so awkward.
B: why, is that something new? You know these event organizers, they just want to please these foreign brats to make more money. See, if these foreign contingents don’t make it in the official tournament, then there’s always another event for them the next day just to make them win.So, when they go home they will have things like trophy to brag around.
N: Rubbish!
B: For you kiddo, but for these guys?
N: what is entertaining is the sayaw contest…
B: It is not even part of traditional eskrima you know…
N: Perhaps, but what about the ancient kali, they must have a sayaw a la sinulog war
dance.
B: Kali? What’s that?
N: Never heard of kali, eskrima old-timer? Kali is the alleged pre-Hispanic martial art, the precursor of arnis or eskrima.
B: Who said that? I am eighty-eight years old now. I started learning eskrima since sixteen. I traveled a lot in the Visayas and to Mindanao and this is the first time I heard of kali.
N: Nong Bitoy, you are just short-changed of many technical terms, that’s why (I laughed). In fact according to some authorities, Lapulapu was a kali expert himself.
B: That I don’t know because I was born centuries after Lapulapu. All I know is that in eskrima, we use sticks and sometimes blades, we don’t use shields, no kampilan and we don’t include the practice of throwing bagakay.
N: Yeah, if Pigafetta was accurate in his Battle of Mactan report…. Then those kali men in Mactan must be good in javelin throwing too… but is it not so antiquated to include those sharpened bamboo in contemporary kali? What about the use of shields?
B: Antiquated? Why, is stick fighting not primitive? And the use of shield, look at those riot police, what are they carrying?
N: But do you agree that eskrima originated from the ancient Filipinos like Lapulapu and his barkada?
B: Wrong. I disagree! Why? Well, for your information, the earlier Filipinos were the white men, the Spaniards. Shocking , eh? Okay more beer…. (offered me a bottle). You see, the name Filipino was originally reserved only for the Spaniards who were born here in our islands. We brown men were called indios or naturals. So don’t confuise yourself with the Filipinos centuries ago and the Filipinos today. Read history books and you’ll see….truth will set your ignorant mind free.
N: I’ll think about it.
B: You should, otherwise you will end up just like them. Empty slates. When somebody says this is how Lapulapu looked like and this is the way he walked everybody accepts and believes without thinking. Do you think Lapulapu looked like that statue at the Capitol?
N: That statue reminds me of a congressman in….
B: Ne’ you see I prefer to use eskrima instead of arnis, simply because that’s how we describe our martial art here. Arnis, that’s how they named theirs up north.Here in Cebu, arnis of the related words like arnisi or gi-arnisan simply means tripping somebody down.
N: And kali?
B: Only the hard headed ones insist on clinging to that myth. And do you know what’s good for them? Read Proverbs 26:3, it says, “A bride for the horse, a bridle for the ass and a rod for the fool’s back.” (then he laughed).
N: (I laughed and continued) And a bottle of beer for Nong Bitoy…. so eskrima is Spanish? Any proff?
B: Not Spanish, but Spanish legacy, a big difference there Ne’. Do you think it is just an accident that eskrima is found only among the Christianized ethnic groups, from Ilocos to Mindanao? And remember this, even though the Christians were so diversified as to language, but their eskrima shares common Spanish technical terms. Wrestling, on the other hand, is more universal from north to south. Silat is found only among the Muslims, but still not all tribes out there practice it.
N: It seems exkrima shares umbilical cord with Catholicism.
B: Exkrima has no connection with Catholicism. It was only because of its common catalyst—the Spaniards. It the theory about eskrima having pre-Hispanic origin is true, then some native out there can still show us how this supposedly ancient kali looks like. Where are they?
N: Poisoined with cyanide-laden bibingka fed to them by early zealous missionaries?
B: Maybe, maybe…..you seem to be drunk already, but you haven’t drank a bottle yet.
N: Interesting topic, that’s why. I just wonder why didn’t we discuss this in our history classes.
B: Historians, they care? Okay, is eskrima an art form?
N: Yes. It’s a martial art…meaning an art with martial or warlike tendencies. Why what’s the catch Nong Bits?
B: A kind of performing art too…..can you give me names of eskrimadores who were awarded with the coveted National Artist Award?
N: Okay, I get your point… you’re being sarcastic…or is it Edgar Allan Poe in you? But Nong Bits, it’s kinda believable that Lapulapu and his men were kali warriors. They defeated the more superior armed invaders.
B: They exaggerated it and call it a battle…sixty against a thousand or more? How many casualties the Spaniards had? Only eight, including that bongoton Magellan.
N: Had he read Sun Tzu’s Art of War, he would be reminded that knowing one’s enemy and one’s limitation already assures the winning of a hundred battles. On that very day, Magellan had only one battle and he bit the dust.
B: Good for him…imagine how stupid, they were wading through…
N: Nong Bitoy, let me turn to another topic. What are the requirements of becoming a grandmaster in eskrima?
B: Why, do you desire to become a grandmaster? (laughed) Ne’ don’t confuse yourself, we’re talking eskrima here now, not chess. Grandmaster? Are you talking about Eugene Torre? Okay, I know what you mean…to be a master, it’s either you have mastered the details of an art, in and out, or you own a slave. To be a grandmaster is to be one step higher, it also like being a grandfather meaning once mastering the art you teach it to others and make them masters of the same art too. They, once mastered also teach the same to others. How’s that Ne’? you don’t cheat and take advantage of a dying old man, have him sign a certificate you have just printed somewhere, conferring you the title of grandmaster.
N: Why, did it happen?
B: It happened. Now, the question is—is this guy fake? No! He has the certificate to show. Another case is about a group who elevated their teacher’s status to a kinkoy title Omnipotent Grandmaster, who in turn, for a fee, promoted them to grandmasters. Here’s more Ne’, a big promoter threatened to embargo somebody’s grandmaster title because the latter did not report to the former the foreign students he was teaching. This promoter was the same guy, who conferred the same title earlier. I am not sure by what virtue was vested in them…but these people obviously can just give and take away titles of a grandmaster. But Ne’, there’s nobody out there to prevent you from calling yourself a grandmaster, and don’t think PRC does.
N: So if that is how easy it is… would you please give me the title, grandmaster ( I laughed)
B: Why, yes! But nothing is for free…you pay for all these bottles of beer.
N: But what style should I put there in the certificate?
B: Eskrima, what else? I am an eskrimador, not a master ninja.
N: But eskrima sounds vague nowadays. It must have a brand name, say, Eskrima de Campanella sin Atras Combate. And the logo like…
B: A salivating rabid dog, I strongly suggest.
N: You’re really creative…so why don’t we see bahad-type engagements nowadays?
B: Because the prison cells so crowded and the food…
N: I don’t get it..
B: It’s reclusion temporal if you kill somebody in a duel or bahad for that matter, that is imprisonment of 12 years and 1 day to 20 years. If nobody is killed, then both of you will get arresto mayor, 1 month and 1 day to 6 months. It is the Revised Penal Code. Ne’
N: That is why tournaments are a good alternative….
B: No! It should be a fair, no game-fixing tournament…but I don’t think we have it in eskrima. Sa judges pa lang, they are not even trained how to accurately judge.
N: Oh, come on….
B: See it for yourself…see how they hit each other…se how they manipulate the players…champions by default, etc.
N: Do you think eskrima can provide the best self-defense?
B: No, I don’t think so…for me, the best self-defense is good health. And nowadays because of SARS, it’s Vitamin C and disposable masks.
N: There you are again…then?
B: I am just using the literal meaning of self-defense. Defense can be artistic or expressed in not-so-usual a manner, that’s the time a martial art can be considered a self-defense. In a martial art you can be alone and need not interact with somebody. But in self-defense it’s you interacting with somebody or something. To expound further let me add…self-control is also self-defense. See this? This is my eleventh bottle…four more and I have enough (laughed) Want to know more good no-nonsense self defense? Having more money, liquidity is another form of good self-defense. Hiring a good lawyer is another good one, don’t forget. You see, many people are just so naïve limiting their definition of self-defense, as if life itself is that dull and simple, no it’s not.
N: I’m impressed, you’re really good.
B: No, I am just very old.
N: Is drinking good for eskrimadores?
B: Ehem, why yes. Well, actually it depends on what school of thought one is into.
N: So yours is more on the Left-Hand Path?
B: Some contend that eskrimador should never drink during practice sessions. But they forgot that a practice session is a big camaraderie with drinks, sumsuman, singing and all that. Such a gathering is conditioning, a preparation is you will, just in case when you are in a drinking scenario where many a fracas happens. Do you think you can easily kick ass without losing your balance when you are alcohol saturated? From another point of view, this is a mental training too. On the other hand, the opposite camp also has a valid point. But that’s life Ne’, a kaleidoscope of perspectives.
N: and perversion…
B: Noooo… its moderation…moderation when you drink and you don’t drive when you drink. Don’t drive away gentle manners when you drink. Don’t just urinate here and there…there might be a live wire somewhere.
N: Profound. So practicing eskrima or martial arts is good for health?
B: We can know oif one has health if he is healthy. If you got a black eye, lose a tooth because of an activity, then that same activity is not good for your health. Simple. So the answer to your question is no! If eskrima is really good for health and promise longevity, then it will follow that every eskrimador will likely reach 100 years life span to say the least. Look, some even died in their thirties.
N: So it’s not good for health?
B: When a martial artist doesn’t see his broken nose in front of the mirror even if it’s there, he has hallucinations. Then the same martial artist continues to think that he is healthy even with his bleeding broken nose, he has illusions. Believing that broken nose is okay is a delusion.
N: Are you saying that to be healthy, we need to avoid activities like eskrima?
B: What I am saying is –it is not good for your health, if you happen to break your nose. You jog believing it is good for your health, but when you stumble and break your nose.
N: Life’s exciting huh?
B: Glad you’re seeing it that way.
N: Is it not encouraging more violence in this violent world when we promote martial arts, be it eskrima, kung fu or silat?
B: I don’t know but encouraging passive masochism, for me is even hazardous. Even Mr. Gandhi himself was saying that his non-violence does not admit running away from danger and leaving dear ones unprotected, that between violence and cowardly flight, he preferred violence to cowardice.
N: Why is the emphasis nowadays on the sport aspect of eskrima?
B: People don’t go to McDonald’s or Jollibee because they serve nutritious food, people go there with their children because the food there taste good and eating there feels good. This is also true in eskrima today. People don’t practice eskrima primarily to know self-defense, they are there for other reasons. The better strategy for eskrima is to subdivide it, say, sports, cultural activity and for self-defense, just like what they are doing in silat. The current one-track approach will only further dilute eskrima into stupid-looking head hunting.
N: Why didn’t the eskrima bigwigs and their politician patrons think of that?
B: You are asking Ne’? They don’t really love eskrima. They just want to organize events, grandstand and make money the easy way.
N: that’s a sweeping statement.
B: Yes, Sweeping it is…but look at the dirt – a few are not even contented, they are spreading myths.
N: You are referring to the bothoan stuff and the ten Bornean datus and, of course, the kali-silat connection.?
B: Bornean datus’ tale has no historical basis. These unggoys know that! How many Henry Scotts do they need to convince them?
N: One thousande and one, I suppose. But Nong Bits, they say only a handful have access behind the secrets. Deeper research is just not possible for oursiders.
B: Do you understand what is a secret, Ne’? That’s something that even your closest friend and your pet Chihuahua doesn’t know. If this is secret why mention this again and again? Why does this secret society not punish the people who exposed and commercialized their supposed secret? They are just desperate and running out of alibis because they know that they are about to be exposed as charlatans. Butthis is not an isolate case – do you remember the supposed Paleolithic.Tasadays? Secret – do you know who are the illuminati, Ne’? Well, that’s what secret is all about, you don’t even know that it exists. You don’t write about it, you don’t dare to commercialize it like what they are doing to their kali.
N: Why is it that we are full of these lies?
B: It is said, “the people want to be fooled, so let’s fool them.” That’s why Lapulapu is now an eskrimador. A celebrated eskrima event organizer once quoted that it was he who “made Lapulapu a popular eskrimador.” If now nobody knows where MacArthur discarded his kwako, how much more of Lapulapu’s bahag? Get my point? Ne’, I don’t see these as lies or its promoters liars….I think these people are just full of clouded imagination and misguided creativity.
N: But all these bulls will make the world think that we Filipinos are…
B: Exactly!
N: Is it true that arnis is for Luzon, eskrima is for the Visayas and Kali for Mindanao?
B: Observe closely who are promoting this kali myth: are they from Mindanao themselves? If they are from Mindanao, take note, their ancestors were also Visayans who went to Mindanao decades ago. I traveled around Mindanao for years and found no kali there. Now, who are you going to believe, those people who didn’t even set foot in Mindanao or me? Blades is not exclusive for kali men, since in eskrima or arnis blades are used too. Luzon also use the word eskrima, estoque, estocada, baston and garrote. Technically speaking there’s no difference between eskrima and arnis.
N: They say that bladed weapon training in eskrima is classical while kali is ancient
B: What’s that suppose to mean? So how do we know it’s classical or ancient?
N: Classical style shout, “touche’!” while in ancient stylists, “hala bira!”
B: Crazy, di ba Ne’? They cannot even describe to us the technical difference between classical and ancient. What about modern?
N: Modern—has back-up music, usually the Enter the Dragon or Eye of the Tiger…. So why are a few eskrimadors getting rich while others remain poor?
B: Let me put this bluntly… the rich ones have more brains than pangamut, the poor ones have more skills than pangotok. The rich ones—they organize events and hire the poor ones to impress the foreigners with their skills. Ne’, eskrimadors are not created equal.
N: So there’s really money in eskrima huh?
B: You bet! Do you know how much is the 28-inch rattan costs in the States., Ne’? Where do you think I get the money for my beer? I charge 900 dollars per head for my two-week intensives. But Ne’ I am the kind who doesn’t short change a student. It is just fortunate I can speak straight carabao English – I didn’t need an interpreter or a middleman.
N: How did they get your name?
B: Si Tito, my grandson, he made a website about me…that’s where they get my name and contact number. When your business is not in the Internet, then you’re out of business. This is reality. At least a few souls will have a chance to learn and know the undiluted eskrima. This is my contribution.
N: But Nong Bitoy, it is not fair, we know that two weeks of training is not enough.
B: True, very true…but who among these puti are willing to train longer? They are always in ahurry to go home and open their own school to make money! We know that they’re used to instant gratification…instant coffee, instant certification, picture taking…they are more ready to take video shots than to train physically.
N: It is healthier than to expose their flesh to your olisi…So how do they address you, Master?
B: Some master, yes…some think I am Chinese, so they call me sifu.
N: Datu Bitoy?
B: Lakan, datu, sultan. O, these people made these noble titles appear very cheap. Just imagine, there was one couple, they called me, professor…Ne’, I am just a high school graduate.
N: So when are you going to stop teaching eskrima, so that they can call you professor emeritus?
B: I really don’t understand what you are talking about.
N: Can I interview you next time Rapid Journal, Nong Bits?
B: Ah don’t bother, Ne’, just jot down all the things I said awhile ago…your readers will learn many things. So excuse me kay mangihi ko.
It was about 5 in the afternoon, Saturday, when I happened to see Nong Bitoy, our local eskrima legend sitting and drinking beer alone in one of the sari-sari stores in our locality. Taking advantage of the situation, I went straight to him… and our verbal juego todo ensued.
N: Maayong hapon, Nong Bits!
B: O! Ne! beer, inom ‘ta. Where have you been? Look tired.
N: Cebu coliseum. May arnis tournament ditto. Very lousy.
B: Arnis hmmm, you mean eskrima, Ne….why lousy?
N: Men in steroids playing like six-year olds. Game fixing and all that….I just don’t understand why they let that puti win, he’s so awkward.
B: why, is that something new? You know these event organizers, they just want to please these foreign brats to make more money. See, if these foreign contingents don’t make it in the official tournament, then there’s always another event for them the next day just to make them win.So, when they go home they will have things like trophy to brag around.
N: Rubbish!
B: For you kiddo, but for these guys?
N: what is entertaining is the sayaw contest…
B: It is not even part of traditional eskrima you know…
N: Perhaps, but what about the ancient kali, they must have a sayaw a la sinulog war
dance.
B: Kali? What’s that?
N: Never heard of kali, eskrima old-timer? Kali is the alleged pre-Hispanic martial art, the precursor of arnis or eskrima.
B: Who said that? I am eighty-eight years old now. I started learning eskrima since sixteen. I traveled a lot in the Visayas and to Mindanao and this is the first time I heard of kali.
N: Nong Bitoy, you are just short-changed of many technical terms, that’s why (I laughed). In fact according to some authorities, Lapulapu was a kali expert himself.
B: That I don’t know because I was born centuries after Lapulapu. All I know is that in eskrima, we use sticks and sometimes blades, we don’t use shields, no kampilan and we don’t include the practice of throwing bagakay.
N: Yeah, if Pigafetta was accurate in his Battle of Mactan report…. Then those kali men in Mactan must be good in javelin throwing too… but is it not so antiquated to include those sharpened bamboo in contemporary kali? What about the use of shields?
B: Antiquated? Why, is stick fighting not primitive? And the use of shield, look at those riot police, what are they carrying?
N: But do you agree that eskrima originated from the ancient Filipinos like Lapulapu and his barkada?
B: Wrong. I disagree! Why? Well, for your information, the earlier Filipinos were the white men, the Spaniards. Shocking , eh? Okay more beer…. (offered me a bottle). You see, the name Filipino was originally reserved only for the Spaniards who were born here in our islands. We brown men were called indios or naturals. So don’t confuise yourself with the Filipinos centuries ago and the Filipinos today. Read history books and you’ll see….truth will set your ignorant mind free.
N: I’ll think about it.
B: You should, otherwise you will end up just like them. Empty slates. When somebody says this is how Lapulapu looked like and this is the way he walked everybody accepts and believes without thinking. Do you think Lapulapu looked like that statue at the Capitol?
N: That statue reminds me of a congressman in….
B: Ne’ you see I prefer to use eskrima instead of arnis, simply because that’s how we describe our martial art here. Arnis, that’s how they named theirs up north.Here in Cebu, arnis of the related words like arnisi or gi-arnisan simply means tripping somebody down.
N: And kali?
B: Only the hard headed ones insist on clinging to that myth. And do you know what’s good for them? Read Proverbs 26:3, it says, “A bride for the horse, a bridle for the ass and a rod for the fool’s back.” (then he laughed).
N: (I laughed and continued) And a bottle of beer for Nong Bitoy…. so eskrima is Spanish? Any proff?
B: Not Spanish, but Spanish legacy, a big difference there Ne’. Do you think it is just an accident that eskrima is found only among the Christianized ethnic groups, from Ilocos to Mindanao? And remember this, even though the Christians were so diversified as to language, but their eskrima shares common Spanish technical terms. Wrestling, on the other hand, is more universal from north to south. Silat is found only among the Muslims, but still not all tribes out there practice it.
N: It seems exkrima shares umbilical cord with Catholicism.
B: Exkrima has no connection with Catholicism. It was only because of its common catalyst—the Spaniards. It the theory about eskrima having pre-Hispanic origin is true, then some native out there can still show us how this supposedly ancient kali looks like. Where are they?
N: Poisoined with cyanide-laden bibingka fed to them by early zealous missionaries?
B: Maybe, maybe…..you seem to be drunk already, but you haven’t drank a bottle yet.
N: Interesting topic, that’s why. I just wonder why didn’t we discuss this in our history classes.
B: Historians, they care? Okay, is eskrima an art form?
N: Yes. It’s a martial art…meaning an art with martial or warlike tendencies. Why what’s the catch Nong Bits?
B: A kind of performing art too…..can you give me names of eskrimadores who were awarded with the coveted National Artist Award?
N: Okay, I get your point… you’re being sarcastic…or is it Edgar Allan Poe in you? But Nong Bits, it’s kinda believable that Lapulapu and his men were kali warriors. They defeated the more superior armed invaders.
B: They exaggerated it and call it a battle…sixty against a thousand or more? How many casualties the Spaniards had? Only eight, including that bongoton Magellan.
N: Had he read Sun Tzu’s Art of War, he would be reminded that knowing one’s enemy and one’s limitation already assures the winning of a hundred battles. On that very day, Magellan had only one battle and he bit the dust.
B: Good for him…imagine how stupid, they were wading through…
N: Nong Bitoy, let me turn to another topic. What are the requirements of becoming a grandmaster in eskrima?
B: Why, do you desire to become a grandmaster? (laughed) Ne’ don’t confuse yourself, we’re talking eskrima here now, not chess. Grandmaster? Are you talking about Eugene Torre? Okay, I know what you mean…to be a master, it’s either you have mastered the details of an art, in and out, or you own a slave. To be a grandmaster is to be one step higher, it also like being a grandfather meaning once mastering the art you teach it to others and make them masters of the same art too. They, once mastered also teach the same to others. How’s that Ne’? you don’t cheat and take advantage of a dying old man, have him sign a certificate you have just printed somewhere, conferring you the title of grandmaster.
N: Why, did it happen?
B: It happened. Now, the question is—is this guy fake? No! He has the certificate to show. Another case is about a group who elevated their teacher’s status to a kinkoy title Omnipotent Grandmaster, who in turn, for a fee, promoted them to grandmasters. Here’s more Ne’, a big promoter threatened to embargo somebody’s grandmaster title because the latter did not report to the former the foreign students he was teaching. This promoter was the same guy, who conferred the same title earlier. I am not sure by what virtue was vested in them…but these people obviously can just give and take away titles of a grandmaster. But Ne’, there’s nobody out there to prevent you from calling yourself a grandmaster, and don’t think PRC does.
N: So if that is how easy it is… would you please give me the title, grandmaster ( I laughed)
B: Why, yes! But nothing is for free…you pay for all these bottles of beer.
N: But what style should I put there in the certificate?
B: Eskrima, what else? I am an eskrimador, not a master ninja.
N: But eskrima sounds vague nowadays. It must have a brand name, say, Eskrima de Campanella sin Atras Combate. And the logo like…
B: A salivating rabid dog, I strongly suggest.
N: You’re really creative…so why don’t we see bahad-type engagements nowadays?
B: Because the prison cells so crowded and the food…
N: I don’t get it..
B: It’s reclusion temporal if you kill somebody in a duel or bahad for that matter, that is imprisonment of 12 years and 1 day to 20 years. If nobody is killed, then both of you will get arresto mayor, 1 month and 1 day to 6 months. It is the Revised Penal Code. Ne’
N: That is why tournaments are a good alternative….
B: No! It should be a fair, no game-fixing tournament…but I don’t think we have it in eskrima. Sa judges pa lang, they are not even trained how to accurately judge.
N: Oh, come on….
B: See it for yourself…see how they hit each other…se how they manipulate the players…champions by default, etc.
N: Do you think eskrima can provide the best self-defense?
B: No, I don’t think so…for me, the best self-defense is good health. And nowadays because of SARS, it’s Vitamin C and disposable masks.
N: There you are again…then?
B: I am just using the literal meaning of self-defense. Defense can be artistic or expressed in not-so-usual a manner, that’s the time a martial art can be considered a self-defense. In a martial art you can be alone and need not interact with somebody. But in self-defense it’s you interacting with somebody or something. To expound further let me add…self-control is also self-defense. See this? This is my eleventh bottle…four more and I have enough (laughed) Want to know more good no-nonsense self defense? Having more money, liquidity is another form of good self-defense. Hiring a good lawyer is another good one, don’t forget. You see, many people are just so naïve limiting their definition of self-defense, as if life itself is that dull and simple, no it’s not.
N: I’m impressed, you’re really good.
B: No, I am just very old.
N: Is drinking good for eskrimadores?
B: Ehem, why yes. Well, actually it depends on what school of thought one is into.
N: So yours is more on the Left-Hand Path?
B: Some contend that eskrimador should never drink during practice sessions. But they forgot that a practice session is a big camaraderie with drinks, sumsuman, singing and all that. Such a gathering is conditioning, a preparation is you will, just in case when you are in a drinking scenario where many a fracas happens. Do you think you can easily kick ass without losing your balance when you are alcohol saturated? From another point of view, this is a mental training too. On the other hand, the opposite camp also has a valid point. But that’s life Ne’, a kaleidoscope of perspectives.
N: and perversion…
B: Noooo… its moderation…moderation when you drink and you don’t drive when you drink. Don’t drive away gentle manners when you drink. Don’t just urinate here and there…there might be a live wire somewhere.
N: Profound. So practicing eskrima or martial arts is good for health?
B: We can know oif one has health if he is healthy. If you got a black eye, lose a tooth because of an activity, then that same activity is not good for your health. Simple. So the answer to your question is no! If eskrima is really good for health and promise longevity, then it will follow that every eskrimador will likely reach 100 years life span to say the least. Look, some even died in their thirties.
N: So it’s not good for health?
B: When a martial artist doesn’t see his broken nose in front of the mirror even if it’s there, he has hallucinations. Then the same martial artist continues to think that he is healthy even with his bleeding broken nose, he has illusions. Believing that broken nose is okay is a delusion.
N: Are you saying that to be healthy, we need to avoid activities like eskrima?
B: What I am saying is –it is not good for your health, if you happen to break your nose. You jog believing it is good for your health, but when you stumble and break your nose.
N: Life’s exciting huh?
B: Glad you’re seeing it that way.
N: Is it not encouraging more violence in this violent world when we promote martial arts, be it eskrima, kung fu or silat?
B: I don’t know but encouraging passive masochism, for me is even hazardous. Even Mr. Gandhi himself was saying that his non-violence does not admit running away from danger and leaving dear ones unprotected, that between violence and cowardly flight, he preferred violence to cowardice.
N: Why is the emphasis nowadays on the sport aspect of eskrima?
B: People don’t go to McDonald’s or Jollibee because they serve nutritious food, people go there with their children because the food there taste good and eating there feels good. This is also true in eskrima today. People don’t practice eskrima primarily to know self-defense, they are there for other reasons. The better strategy for eskrima is to subdivide it, say, sports, cultural activity and for self-defense, just like what they are doing in silat. The current one-track approach will only further dilute eskrima into stupid-looking head hunting.
N: Why didn’t the eskrima bigwigs and their politician patrons think of that?
B: You are asking Ne’? They don’t really love eskrima. They just want to organize events, grandstand and make money the easy way.
N: that’s a sweeping statement.
B: Yes, Sweeping it is…but look at the dirt – a few are not even contented, they are spreading myths.
N: You are referring to the bothoan stuff and the ten Bornean datus and, of course, the kali-silat connection.?
B: Bornean datus’ tale has no historical basis. These unggoys know that! How many Henry Scotts do they need to convince them?
N: One thousande and one, I suppose. But Nong Bits, they say only a handful have access behind the secrets. Deeper research is just not possible for oursiders.
B: Do you understand what is a secret, Ne’? That’s something that even your closest friend and your pet Chihuahua doesn’t know. If this is secret why mention this again and again? Why does this secret society not punish the people who exposed and commercialized their supposed secret? They are just desperate and running out of alibis because they know that they are about to be exposed as charlatans. Butthis is not an isolate case – do you remember the supposed Paleolithic.Tasadays? Secret – do you know who are the illuminati, Ne’? Well, that’s what secret is all about, you don’t even know that it exists. You don’t write about it, you don’t dare to commercialize it like what they are doing to their kali.
N: Why is it that we are full of these lies?
B: It is said, “the people want to be fooled, so let’s fool them.” That’s why Lapulapu is now an eskrimador. A celebrated eskrima event organizer once quoted that it was he who “made Lapulapu a popular eskrimador.” If now nobody knows where MacArthur discarded his kwako, how much more of Lapulapu’s bahag? Get my point? Ne’, I don’t see these as lies or its promoters liars….I think these people are just full of clouded imagination and misguided creativity.
N: But all these bulls will make the world think that we Filipinos are…
B: Exactly!
N: Is it true that arnis is for Luzon, eskrima is for the Visayas and Kali for Mindanao?
B: Observe closely who are promoting this kali myth: are they from Mindanao themselves? If they are from Mindanao, take note, their ancestors were also Visayans who went to Mindanao decades ago. I traveled around Mindanao for years and found no kali there. Now, who are you going to believe, those people who didn’t even set foot in Mindanao or me? Blades is not exclusive for kali men, since in eskrima or arnis blades are used too. Luzon also use the word eskrima, estoque, estocada, baston and garrote. Technically speaking there’s no difference between eskrima and arnis.
N: They say that bladed weapon training in eskrima is classical while kali is ancient
B: What’s that suppose to mean? So how do we know it’s classical or ancient?
N: Classical style shout, “touche’!” while in ancient stylists, “hala bira!”
B: Crazy, di ba Ne’? They cannot even describe to us the technical difference between classical and ancient. What about modern?
N: Modern—has back-up music, usually the Enter the Dragon or Eye of the Tiger…. So why are a few eskrimadors getting rich while others remain poor?
B: Let me put this bluntly… the rich ones have more brains than pangamut, the poor ones have more skills than pangotok. The rich ones—they organize events and hire the poor ones to impress the foreigners with their skills. Ne’, eskrimadors are not created equal.
N: So there’s really money in eskrima huh?
B: You bet! Do you know how much is the 28-inch rattan costs in the States., Ne’? Where do you think I get the money for my beer? I charge 900 dollars per head for my two-week intensives. But Ne’ I am the kind who doesn’t short change a student. It is just fortunate I can speak straight carabao English – I didn’t need an interpreter or a middleman.
N: How did they get your name?
B: Si Tito, my grandson, he made a website about me…that’s where they get my name and contact number. When your business is not in the Internet, then you’re out of business. This is reality. At least a few souls will have a chance to learn and know the undiluted eskrima. This is my contribution.
N: But Nong Bitoy, it is not fair, we know that two weeks of training is not enough.
B: True, very true…but who among these puti are willing to train longer? They are always in ahurry to go home and open their own school to make money! We know that they’re used to instant gratification…instant coffee, instant certification, picture taking…they are more ready to take video shots than to train physically.
N: It is healthier than to expose their flesh to your olisi…So how do they address you, Master?
B: Some master, yes…some think I am Chinese, so they call me sifu.
N: Datu Bitoy?
B: Lakan, datu, sultan. O, these people made these noble titles appear very cheap. Just imagine, there was one couple, they called me, professor…Ne’, I am just a high school graduate.
N: So when are you going to stop teaching eskrima, so that they can call you professor emeritus?
B: I really don’t understand what you are talking about.
N: Can I interview you next time Rapid Journal, Nong Bits?
B: Ah don’t bother, Ne’, just jot down all the things I said awhile ago…your readers will learn many things. So excuse me kay mangihi ko.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
GM MONTOYO AWARDED HIS 8TH DAN By: James U. Sy Jr.
Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo of Bacolod City was recently awarded his 8th Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do by Eric Breuer Soke of the USA , 10th Degree Black Belt, Founder of Chun Kuk Moo Sul.
The promotion was made under the sanction of the Universal Fighting Arts Fellowship International (UFAFI), the official governing body for Chun Kuk Moo Sul “Universal Martial Arts (Hangul).”
The promotion was given in recognition of GM Montoyo’s lifetime dedication to the Martial Arts, especially to Tang Soo Do.
To date GM Montoyo have 52 years combined experience in the Martial Arts, having started with Western Boxing under the late Coach Col. Porferio “Peryong” Arcobillas in 1957 at the Bacolod City Diamond Gloves gym.
Montoyo started learning Shotokan Karate “Shoto’s School of the Empty Hand (Nihonggo)” in 1960 at the White Kimono Karate Club (KKC) under 3rd Class Brown Belt Levi Sembrano, then 2nd Class Brown Belt Jerry Gonzales, followed by George A. Gargalicano Sensei, then 2nd Dan Black Belt, and finally Master Casimiro “Chingi” A. Grandeza, Founder/Chief Instructor of WKKC, 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 Founder/Chief Instructor Master Casimiro “Chingi” A. Grandeza.
Montoyo earned his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Degree Black Belts in Tang Soo Do from Grandmaster Casimiro “Chingi” A. Grandeza, today recognized as “The Father of Karate in Negros” and “The first Filipino grandmaster of Korean Tang Soo Do,” in 1969, 1972, and 1994 respectively under the sanction of the Philippine Moo Duk Kwan Inc.-Korea Tang Soo Do Association (PMDKI-KTSDA)
GM Grandeza was awarded his 6th Degree Black Belt by Moo Duk Kwan “ School of Martial Virtue (Hangul)” Founder/Grandmaster Hwang Kee after passing the Masters’ Training Course in Seoul , Korea in the 1960s. GM Grandeza produced some of the best fighters during the early days of Karate in Bacolod and Negros Occidental, among them Asian Karate heavyweight champion Jaime “Jimmy” Magbanua.
Master Montoyo went on to found his own system, Filipino Tang Soo Do, and his own school, the Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tangh Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc. He was promoted to 6th Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do by Master Eric Breuer, then 7th Degree Black Belt, in 2000.
Grandmaster Eric Breuer had trained under some of the best teachers in the Martial Arts, among them Grandmaster Chuck Norris (Chun Kuk Do, 1984 to 1993), Grandmaster Donald Duncan (Free Style Jujitsu, 1970 to 1993), Master Robert Beaudoin (Tang Soo Do, 1973 to 1978), Master Hwang Hun-Chul (Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, 1978 to 1983), and Grandmaster Joe Rossi (Rossi Kun Tao, 1990 to 1998). GM Breuer is the Current Grandmaster of Rossi Kuntao and the Founder of Chun Kuk Moo Sul and Universal Fighting Arts Fellowship International (UFAFI).
Master Montoyo had learned Kung Fu Karate Chinese Atado under Grandmaster Yao Hing Poi of Hong Kong and Tai Chi Chuan under international Master Li Jun-Feng (Lee Fong-Jong), former National Wushu Coach of the People’s Republic of China .
Master Montoyo had also studied Original Filipino Tapado (OFT) under the late Founder/Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar and his nephew, then Chief Instructor Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido. He was promoted to Senior Instructor in OFT by GM Mamar and to Master and then to Grandmaster on June 28, 2008 by Grandmaster Lobrido, who became the 1st Generation Inheritor of the art after the Founder’s death in 2005.
GM Montoyo had served as the Negros Occidental Coordinator for the Philippine Pencak Silat Association (Philsilat) as well as an official of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines (WFP)-Neg. Occ., Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP)-Neg. Occ., and arnis Philippines-Bacolod/Negros. He is the Philippine representative for Rossi Kuntao International of Breuer Soke.
GM Montoyo is recognized as a grandmaster by the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) and is a Consultant to the Original Filipino Tapado Long stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc., Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., and the Universal Defensive Tactics Academy (UDTA).
The promotion was made under the sanction of the Universal Fighting Arts Fellowship International (UFAFI), the official governing body for Chun Kuk Moo Sul “Universal Martial Arts (Hangul).”
The promotion was given in recognition of GM Montoyo’s lifetime dedication to the Martial Arts, especially to Tang Soo Do.
To date GM Montoyo have 52 years combined experience in the Martial Arts, having started with Western Boxing under the late Coach Col. Porferio “Peryong” Arcobillas in 1957 at the Bacolod City Diamond Gloves gym.
Montoyo started learning Shotokan Karate “Shoto’s School of the Empty Hand (Nihonggo)” in 1960 at the White Kimono Karate Club (KKC) under 3rd Class Brown Belt Levi Sembrano, then 2nd Class Brown Belt Jerry Gonzales, followed by George A. Gargalicano Sensei, then 2nd Dan Black Belt, and finally Master Casimiro “Chingi” A. Grandeza, Founder/Chief Instructor of WKKC, 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 Founder/Chief Instructor Master Casimiro “Chingi” A. Grandeza.
Montoyo earned his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Degree Black Belts in Tang Soo Do from Grandmaster Casimiro “Chingi” A. Grandeza, today recognized as “The Father of Karate in Negros” and “The first Filipino grandmaster of Korean Tang Soo Do,” in 1969, 1972, and 1994 respectively under the sanction of the Philippine Moo Duk Kwan Inc.-Korea Tang Soo Do Association (PMDKI-KTSDA)
GM Grandeza was awarded his 6th Degree Black Belt by Moo Duk Kwan “ School of Martial Virtue (Hangul)” Founder/Grandmaster Hwang Kee after passing the Masters’ Training Course in Seoul , Korea in the 1960s. GM Grandeza produced some of the best fighters during the early days of Karate in Bacolod and Negros Occidental, among them Asian Karate heavyweight champion Jaime “Jimmy” Magbanua.
Master Montoyo went on to found his own system, Filipino Tang Soo Do, and his own school, the Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tangh Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc. He was promoted to 6th Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do by Master Eric Breuer, then 7th Degree Black Belt, in 2000.
Grandmaster Eric Breuer had trained under some of the best teachers in the Martial Arts, among them Grandmaster Chuck Norris (Chun Kuk Do, 1984 to 1993), Grandmaster Donald Duncan (Free Style Jujitsu, 1970 to 1993), Master Robert Beaudoin (Tang Soo Do, 1973 to 1978), Master Hwang Hun-Chul (Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, 1978 to 1983), and Grandmaster Joe Rossi (Rossi Kun Tao, 1990 to 1998). GM Breuer is the Current Grandmaster of Rossi Kuntao and the Founder of Chun Kuk Moo Sul and Universal Fighting Arts Fellowship International (UFAFI).
Master Montoyo had learned Kung Fu Karate Chinese Atado under Grandmaster Yao Hing Poi of Hong Kong and Tai Chi Chuan under international Master Li Jun-Feng (Lee Fong-Jong), former National Wushu Coach of the People’s Republic of China .
Master Montoyo had also studied Original Filipino Tapado (OFT) under the late Founder/Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar and his nephew, then Chief Instructor Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido. He was promoted to Senior Instructor in OFT by GM Mamar and to Master and then to Grandmaster on June 28, 2008 by Grandmaster Lobrido, who became the 1st Generation Inheritor of the art after the Founder’s death in 2005.
GM Montoyo had served as the Negros Occidental Coordinator for the Philippine Pencak Silat Association (Philsilat) as well as an official of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines (WFP)-Neg. Occ., Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP)-Neg. Occ., and arnis Philippines-Bacolod/Negros. He is the Philippine representative for Rossi Kuntao International of Breuer Soke.
GM Montoyo is recognized as a grandmaster by the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) and is a Consultant to the Original Filipino Tapado Long stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc., Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., and the Universal Defensive Tactics Academy (UDTA).
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
TO OUR BELOVED VISITORS AT VFMA
We would like to apologize for the delayed response for your querries but we hope it's not yet that late to make a reply.
For junby,
There is a distinctrion between protective, competitive, and artisitc martial arts. If you're interested in the first one, age is not a deterent to training. Age is more important in competitive martial arts. Please contact Mr. Narciso "Hansy" Alojado at the Center for La Sallian Ministries (CELAM) at the University of St. La Salle (USLS). Would also appreciate if you can provide us with your blog so we can have a courtesy visit also. Thank you for the interest.
For Tom,
Please check your email for the person to contact for Filipino Martial arts (FMA) in Dumaguete. Please feel free to inform us of developments. Thank you.
For Master Nelson V {MAP Tagbilaran City},
We will inform you if there is an event here and possibly link you up with the organizer. Thank you.
For Sapphire
F.I.G.H.T. is now headed by Russell Mohametano Sensei. Universal Defensive Tactics (UDTA) is managed by its Founder Abraham Ganzon Jr., the first certified Krav Maga instructor in Western Visayas and Bacolod City. He had hired some staff instructor for the course, among them Grandmaster Danilo "Dan" Cardinal.
For Warrior In Scrubs,
Please give us time to check. If we remember it right Judo in Iloilo is headed by somebody from the AFP. Please leave your contact info. Thanks.
For Maun Sensei,
Thank you for the kind words and the contributions and more power!
For paula21,
If you have any videos of Jimboy in a recent event, we will be happy to post it for you. please provide info for the event for explanation/caption purposes.
To one and all, thak you for dropping by. For those who wants to make article submissions, please feel free to do so, subject to editorial evaluation. Mabuhay tayong lahat!
For junby,
There is a distinctrion between protective, competitive, and artisitc martial arts. If you're interested in the first one, age is not a deterent to training. Age is more important in competitive martial arts. Please contact Mr. Narciso "Hansy" Alojado at the Center for La Sallian Ministries (CELAM) at the University of St. La Salle (USLS). Would also appreciate if you can provide us with your blog so we can have a courtesy visit also. Thank you for the interest.
For Tom,
Please check your email for the person to contact for Filipino Martial arts (FMA) in Dumaguete. Please feel free to inform us of developments. Thank you.
For Master Nelson V {MAP Tagbilaran City},
We will inform you if there is an event here and possibly link you up with the organizer. Thank you.
For Sapphire
F.I.G.H.T. is now headed by Russell Mohametano Sensei. Universal Defensive Tactics (UDTA) is managed by its Founder Abraham Ganzon Jr., the first certified Krav Maga instructor in Western Visayas and Bacolod City. He had hired some staff instructor for the course, among them Grandmaster Danilo "Dan" Cardinal.
For Warrior In Scrubs,
Please give us time to check. If we remember it right Judo in Iloilo is headed by somebody from the AFP. Please leave your contact info. Thanks.
For Maun Sensei,
Thank you for the kind words and the contributions and more power!
For paula21,
If you have any videos of Jimboy in a recent event, we will be happy to post it for you. please provide info for the event for explanation/caption purposes.
To one and all, thak you for dropping by. For those who wants to make article submissions, please feel free to do so, subject to editorial evaluation. Mabuhay tayong lahat!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
BAGO CITY SHINES IN PROV’L MEET By: James U. Sy Jr.
The Mayor Ramon D. Torres-sponsored Bago City Arnis Team took home 4 gold and 4 silver medals during the 2008 Provincial Meet held last December 10, 2008 at the Panaad Park and Stadium, Brgy. Mansilingan Bacolod City.
Trainer of the Bago Arnis Team was Grandmaster Jose “Joe” Mancesa of the Negros United Fighting Arts Academy (NUFAA) while Coach was Eliseo T. Yanong Sr.
The gold medalists were Edgardo Doctora Jr. , Rica Jerez, Christine Malapsay, and Jepat de la Torre.
The silver medalists were John Rodolf Martinez, Jude Guarra, Gerard Jalbuena, and Rialou de los Santos.
These athletes except for Malapsay, along with Leah Alit and Joan Inventor, took the gold or silver medal in their respective categories during the Area Meet held last November 19, 2008 at the La Carlota High School, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.
Doctora, Guarra, Jalbuena, Jerez, de los Santos, and de la Torre took the championship titles while Alit, Inventor, Francis Marpil, and Martinez took the silver.
Jude Guarra is the nephew of P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” Guarra of the Guarra Style Modern Arnis.
Of the Bago Arnis athletes, Doctora and Malapsay will compete in the Regional Selection this coming February 2008.
Hon. Mayor had supported the development of Sport Arnis since the start of 2008 and the city under the venerable executive is now reasserting its status as an Arnis power in the province of negros Occidental.
Aside from being the Western Boxing capital of the Philippines, Bago City is known as the birthplace of some of the most effective systems of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) in the whole archipelago.
Bago is home to the long stickfighting art of Original Filipino Tapado (OFT) of the late Founder/Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar, Yasay Sable of the Yasay Clan, Guarra Style Modern Arnis of GM Eslao Guarra, Oido de Caburata of Grandmasters Abraham and Sabas T. Gubaton, Arjuka of Founder/Grandmaster Isaac T. Guarra, and Alasabate Sciencia represented by GM Mancesa among others.
Original Filipino Tapado is now headed by 1st Generation Inheritor Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” Lobrido and Yasay Sable by Grandmaster Paterno “Pater” V. Yasay.
GM Mancesa teaches a system which is the synthesis of the teachings of his three teachers, primary of whixh is the Alasabe Sciencia of the late Grandmaster Dominador “Doming” Recto of Hinigaran.
All these great Arnisadors had been documented by the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. of Founders/Masters James U. Sy Jr. And Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado.
Trainer of the Bago Arnis Team was Grandmaster Jose “Joe” Mancesa of the Negros United Fighting Arts Academy (NUFAA) while Coach was Eliseo T. Yanong Sr.
The gold medalists were Edgardo Doctora Jr. , Rica Jerez, Christine Malapsay, and Jepat de la Torre.
The silver medalists were John Rodolf Martinez, Jude Guarra, Gerard Jalbuena, and Rialou de los Santos.
These athletes except for Malapsay, along with Leah Alit and Joan Inventor, took the gold or silver medal in their respective categories during the Area Meet held last November 19, 2008 at the La Carlota High School, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.
Doctora, Guarra, Jalbuena, Jerez, de los Santos, and de la Torre took the championship titles while Alit, Inventor, Francis Marpil, and Martinez took the silver.
Jude Guarra is the nephew of P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” Guarra of the Guarra Style Modern Arnis.
Of the Bago Arnis athletes, Doctora and Malapsay will compete in the Regional Selection this coming February 2008.
Hon. Mayor had supported the development of Sport Arnis since the start of 2008 and the city under the venerable executive is now reasserting its status as an Arnis power in the province of negros Occidental.
Aside from being the Western Boxing capital of the Philippines, Bago City is known as the birthplace of some of the most effective systems of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) in the whole archipelago.
Bago is home to the long stickfighting art of Original Filipino Tapado (OFT) of the late Founder/Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar, Yasay Sable of the Yasay Clan, Guarra Style Modern Arnis of GM Eslao Guarra, Oido de Caburata of Grandmasters Abraham and Sabas T. Gubaton, Arjuka of Founder/Grandmaster Isaac T. Guarra, and Alasabate Sciencia represented by GM Mancesa among others.
Original Filipino Tapado is now headed by 1st Generation Inheritor Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” Lobrido and Yasay Sable by Grandmaster Paterno “Pater” V. Yasay.
GM Mancesa teaches a system which is the synthesis of the teachings of his three teachers, primary of whixh is the Alasabe Sciencia of the late Grandmaster Dominador “Doming” Recto of Hinigaran.
All these great Arnisadors had been documented by the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. of Founders/Masters James U. Sy Jr. And Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado.
WORLD BALINTAWAK SEMINAR
NovEMBER 8-9, 2008
World Balintawak Seminar
Fiesta Henderson Casino/hotel
From left to right: Grandmaster Sam L. Buot (Balintawak), Grandmaster Jorge V. Peñafiel (Balintawak/Putakti), Grandmaster Christopher Ricketts (Kalis Ilustrisimo), Grandmaster Bobby Tabimina (Balintawak), Grandmaster Bobby Taboada (BAlintawak, Grandmaster Nene Gaabucayan (Balintawak), Grandmaster Raffy Pambuan (Pambuan/Tulisan Maginoo Arnis), and Master Sammuel Scott of Baltimore, MAryland (FMA, KArate/Kung fu).
#2 Balintawak/Putakti System Core Group under Founder/Grandmaster Jorge V. Peñafiel
World Balintawak Seminar
Fiesta Henderson Casino/hotel
From left to right: Grandmaster Sam L. Buot (Balintawak), Grandmaster Jorge V. Peñafiel (Balintawak/Putakti), Grandmaster Christopher Ricketts (Kalis Ilustrisimo), Grandmaster Bobby Tabimina (Balintawak), Grandmaster Bobby Taboada (BAlintawak, Grandmaster Nene Gaabucayan (Balintawak), Grandmaster Raffy Pambuan (Pambuan/Tulisan Maginoo Arnis), and Master Sammuel Scott of Baltimore, MAryland (FMA, KArate/Kung fu).
#2 Balintawak/Putakti System Core Group under Founder/Grandmaster Jorge V. Peñafiel
Friday, January 9, 2009
ESCRIMA LUMINARY IRENEO OLAVIDES By Perry Gil S. Millari
MARTIAL TALK
By Perry Gil S. Mallari
Life and Style Section,
Manila Times Nov. 26, 2008
(Posted with the permision of Mr. Millari.)
I always consider it a great privilege meeting old-school escrimadores—those vanishing breed of Filipino martial arts practitioners who have learned their art the painful, old fashion way.
I had a memorable dinner with escrima luminary Manong Ireneo Olavides last weekend. I used the traditional Filipino title of respect “manong” to address him because he refused such titles as “master” or ‘grandmaster’ be attached to his name. The 64-year-old Olavides, better known as Manong Eric in FMA circles is revered as the heir to the late juego todo (no-holds-barred stick fighting match) champion Grandmaster Jose D. Caballero. Caballero’s style is known by the name De Campo 1-2-3 Orihinal.
I have high regards for De Campo as a stick fighting art mainly because it has been proven in actual all-out escrima matches of the olden days. Olavides today is teaching a system he named JDC-IO (sometimes pronounced “jadecio”), which was taken from the initials of the name of his mentor “Jose D. Caballero” and his own name “Ireneo Olavides.”
My personal observation of De Campo is that it possessed a unique body mechanics unlike most systems of escrima. I should say that its rebounding strikes are surgical and insidious. My interview with Olavides has affirmed a few of my personal opinion concerning the Filipino martial arts, this include my view that the techniques of escrima should work for weak individuals (the people who needs self-defense knowledge the most) and that an escrimador should focus on hitting rather than trapping or grappling so as to maximize the potential of the stick as an impact weapon.
While Olavides took pride in surviving the “old-school” method of training and fighting, he recalls encountering difficulty adapting Caballero’s way verbatim. “I don’t have the robust physique of my mentor so I had a hard time fitting in to his training methods,” he narrates. Olavides should be given the credit of organizing and streamlining the De Campo system’s original curriculum, a task that he is very qualified to accomplish given his credentials as a college professor and defensive tactics instructor. He has also infused to JDC-IO principles he learned from other martial arts, specifically tai chi.
He has a very interesting insight on the seemingly simple subject of holding the stick. He says that “being one with the stick” means the weapon has become a mere extension of your limb. “If you have become one with the stick, then you don’t treat it as a slave, gripping it desperately as if it would slip out of your hand any moment,” he relates cryptically. Much like the yin and yang of tai chi, Olavides intones that the proper way of holding the weapon should be “soft yet hard.” With nearly 40-years of swinging weapons under his belt, his palms are smooth as that of a woman not betraying its deadly potential.
I also consider Olavides a rarity in the current trend of crass commercialism in the world of martial arts. Given the reputation of his art, he could have easily churned out thousands of dollars by conducting seminars overseas or handing out diplomas to martial arts instructors who want to beef up their credentials. Olavides instead opted to go low profile concentrating on producing quality instructors that would preserve the integrity and heritage of his beloved art. “The best way to describe the JDC-IO organization now is its tightly knit and personal,” he says, concluding, “Much like a family.”
By Perry Gil S. Mallari
Life and Style Section,
Manila Times Nov. 26, 2008
(Posted with the permision of Mr. Millari.)
I always consider it a great privilege meeting old-school escrimadores—those vanishing breed of Filipino martial arts practitioners who have learned their art the painful, old fashion way.
I had a memorable dinner with escrima luminary Manong Ireneo Olavides last weekend. I used the traditional Filipino title of respect “manong” to address him because he refused such titles as “master” or ‘grandmaster’ be attached to his name. The 64-year-old Olavides, better known as Manong Eric in FMA circles is revered as the heir to the late juego todo (no-holds-barred stick fighting match) champion Grandmaster Jose D. Caballero. Caballero’s style is known by the name De Campo 1-2-3 Orihinal.
I have high regards for De Campo as a stick fighting art mainly because it has been proven in actual all-out escrima matches of the olden days. Olavides today is teaching a system he named JDC-IO (sometimes pronounced “jadecio”), which was taken from the initials of the name of his mentor “Jose D. Caballero” and his own name “Ireneo Olavides.”
My personal observation of De Campo is that it possessed a unique body mechanics unlike most systems of escrima. I should say that its rebounding strikes are surgical and insidious. My interview with Olavides has affirmed a few of my personal opinion concerning the Filipino martial arts, this include my view that the techniques of escrima should work for weak individuals (the people who needs self-defense knowledge the most) and that an escrimador should focus on hitting rather than trapping or grappling so as to maximize the potential of the stick as an impact weapon.
While Olavides took pride in surviving the “old-school” method of training and fighting, he recalls encountering difficulty adapting Caballero’s way verbatim. “I don’t have the robust physique of my mentor so I had a hard time fitting in to his training methods,” he narrates. Olavides should be given the credit of organizing and streamlining the De Campo system’s original curriculum, a task that he is very qualified to accomplish given his credentials as a college professor and defensive tactics instructor. He has also infused to JDC-IO principles he learned from other martial arts, specifically tai chi.
He has a very interesting insight on the seemingly simple subject of holding the stick. He says that “being one with the stick” means the weapon has become a mere extension of your limb. “If you have become one with the stick, then you don’t treat it as a slave, gripping it desperately as if it would slip out of your hand any moment,” he relates cryptically. Much like the yin and yang of tai chi, Olavides intones that the proper way of holding the weapon should be “soft yet hard.” With nearly 40-years of swinging weapons under his belt, his palms are smooth as that of a woman not betraying its deadly potential.
I also consider Olavides a rarity in the current trend of crass commercialism in the world of martial arts. Given the reputation of his art, he could have easily churned out thousands of dollars by conducting seminars overseas or handing out diplomas to martial arts instructors who want to beef up their credentials. Olavides instead opted to go low profile concentrating on producing quality instructors that would preserve the integrity and heritage of his beloved art. “The best way to describe the JDC-IO organization now is its tightly knit and personal,” he says, concluding, “Much like a family.”
Sunday, January 4, 2009
SAY IT BUT SAY IT RIGHT BY: Maxwell J. Maun
We encounter many difficult things in life. One of them is in our dealings or relationship with many people we interact with most particularly with our fellow Christian brethrens. It is a fact that some professing Christians in someway do act or show indifference to manifest displeasure, disgust, disagreement with others. These are normal reactions coming from normal human beings. However, we Christians must be guided with the principle of "being angry but sinning not". We can show displeasure or disagreement the right way by controlling or taming our tongue. St. James, in his letters compared the tongue to a rudder of a big ship. It is a small part of the ship but is able to steer and direct the large part of the vessel. Our tongue can either say blessings or curse. It can utter words of encouragement or words of destruction and discouragement.
Our ideas or discourses maybe correct but the manner we assert or say things to stress our points do matter a lot. It is not a matter of just being right but a matter of saying things the right way. Many parents mean the right things but say it the wrong way. So, also are the children mean to express the right things to heir parents only saying them the wrong way too.
Let us ask ourselves these questions; first "What is my intention of saying this"? Second, "What is the best way of saying it"? Third, "Will saying it build the correct relationship"? We can always show our disagreement or displeasure without contempt, disrespect or hatred towards others. "SAY IT BUT SAY IT THE RIGHT CHRISTIAN WAY WITH LOVE AND RESPECT".
Our ideas or discourses maybe correct but the manner we assert or say things to stress our points do matter a lot. It is not a matter of just being right but a matter of saying things the right way. Many parents mean the right things but say it the wrong way. So, also are the children mean to express the right things to heir parents only saying them the wrong way too.
Let us ask ourselves these questions; first "What is my intention of saying this"? Second, "What is the best way of saying it"? Third, "Will saying it build the correct relationship"? We can always show our disagreement or displeasure without contempt, disrespect or hatred towards others. "SAY IT BUT SAY IT THE RIGHT CHRISTIAN WAY WITH LOVE AND RESPECT".
2008 BULIG SA KUBOS HUGE SUCCESS By: James U. Sy Jr.
The 2008 Bulig sa Kubos II (Assistance to the Needy) was successfully held by the Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-MAIN (BFMAA-Main) under its Chief Instructor, Purok Bulak President Joery C. Amante, in cooperation with the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. of Founders/Masters James U. Sy Jr. and Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado under the sanction of the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) of Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo last December 28, 2008 at the Amante Residence, Prk. Bulak, Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City .
42 families received Christmas packs containing 1 kilo of rice, three canned goods (meat loaf, sausages, and pork and beans), noodles, and old clothes. A raffle for different goodies was held for 27 poverty-stricken children of the purok.
The program also included parlor games for children with many prizes at stake. There was also a paagaw of candies and coins.
The recipients were carefully selected by Amante based on the quality of their lifestyles.
Bulig sa Kubos is a semi-annual project started by Amante in 2002 and held every school opening and every Christmas at his residence. The project had been supported by the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. and held under the sanction of the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) under President Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo since 2005. Generous sponsors from the University of St. La Salle had supported the outreach since its inception. Recipients came from the puroks of Bulak, Canaan , and Sambag.
Sponsors were James U. Sy Jr., Mary Salve L. Pe, Ma. Cristita P. Lim, Lafayette “Laf” A. Diamante, Lorema H. Tacsagon, Christine u. Sy, and Herminia U. Sy of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., Joselito and Cristina bianan, Julius Dohinog, Climaco Lumanog, and Jorande Daguman of Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-MAIN (BFMAA-Main), and Emma Kaw, Tess Golez, and Roni Gonzales of the University of St. La Salle 9USLS).
Recipient families for the Christmas pack were represented by Neneng Alabata, Lucresia Alegre, Rosemarie Amante, Teresita Amante, Erica Anbay, Marjorie Anierdes, Jenny Arnaiz, Arminda Asidoy, Bernadeth Bituon, Norma Cabalida, Yoli Cabalida, Dita Calderon, Arlan Casuyon, Romeo Casuyon, Landa Cornillo, Lanny Dajao, Dodong, Dorena Donguines, Elian, Erlita Enoposa, Nonoy Fabillo, Neneng Fajardo, Josephine Galang, Mercy Galang, Rex Galang, Lourdes Guanzon, Mildred Integ, Socorro Lapaz, Carmle Lentija, Lita Mahinay, Marcelina Manapsal, Flordeliza Oñates, Adelina Otero, Bong-Bong Padasay,Harry Padasay, Raquel Padios, Carmelita Pehid, Purita, Rebecca Santillan, Gloria Sy, Nimfa Torrecampo, and Ofelia Valdevieso.
The children who were included in the raffle were May Anne Alabos, Nicole Ariaga, Jenny Ann Blanco, Johnny Bosico, Victor Cabalida Jr., John Paul Bartolome, Bebe Cornillo, John Paul Coseno, Concerman, Jenny Mae Didal, John Paul Dionela, Andrei Galang, Marian Fate Lascania, Nice Loberisco, Dodong Lumuntad, Aljan Mahinay, Hadjie Manlapao, Jocelyn Padasay, Bogart Padios, Ronilo Padios Jr., Richard Pehid Jr., Bobby Sanchez, Christon Sevilla, Jenny Ann Torrecampo, Urbano, and two others.
Black Falcon Martial Arts Association- Main refers to the group headed by Joery C. Amante, 4th Degree, starting when he was designated Chief Instructor by the Founder, Ernesto Joseph sensei, in 1997. Amante teaches Wushu Sanshou, Sipa Sumbag, Western Boxing, and Muay Thai to poor teens of his purok and surrounding areas for the purpose of giving them a chance to be part of the Philippine National Team which by extension will give them a better life.
Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. is a non-profit martial arts network/brotherhood of career professionals founded by Masters James U. Sy Jr. and Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado on October 1, 2002 in Bacolod City to research, study, document, systematize, establish, stimulate interest in, promote, and propagate indigenous and foreign based Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), especially those from Negros, as well as other Asian and Occidental Martial Arts. The Core group Instructors teach Original Filipino Tapado, Oido de Caburata, Yasay Sable, Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis, Togle Style Modern Arnis, Galvarole Style Dynamic Arnis, etc.
42 families received Christmas packs containing 1 kilo of rice, three canned goods (meat loaf, sausages, and pork and beans), noodles, and old clothes. A raffle for different goodies was held for 27 poverty-stricken children of the purok.
The program also included parlor games for children with many prizes at stake. There was also a paagaw of candies and coins.
The recipients were carefully selected by Amante based on the quality of their lifestyles.
Bulig sa Kubos is a semi-annual project started by Amante in 2002 and held every school opening and every Christmas at his residence. The project had been supported by the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. and held under the sanction of the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) under President Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo since 2005. Generous sponsors from the University of St. La Salle had supported the outreach since its inception. Recipients came from the puroks of Bulak, Canaan , and Sambag.
Sponsors were James U. Sy Jr., Mary Salve L. Pe, Ma. Cristita P. Lim, Lafayette “Laf” A. Diamante, Lorema H. Tacsagon, Christine u. Sy, and Herminia U. Sy of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., Joselito and Cristina bianan, Julius Dohinog, Climaco Lumanog, and Jorande Daguman of Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-MAIN (BFMAA-Main), and Emma Kaw, Tess Golez, and Roni Gonzales of the University of St. La Salle 9USLS).
Recipient families for the Christmas pack were represented by Neneng Alabata, Lucresia Alegre, Rosemarie Amante, Teresita Amante, Erica Anbay, Marjorie Anierdes, Jenny Arnaiz, Arminda Asidoy, Bernadeth Bituon, Norma Cabalida, Yoli Cabalida, Dita Calderon, Arlan Casuyon, Romeo Casuyon, Landa Cornillo, Lanny Dajao, Dodong, Dorena Donguines, Elian, Erlita Enoposa, Nonoy Fabillo, Neneng Fajardo, Josephine Galang, Mercy Galang, Rex Galang, Lourdes Guanzon, Mildred Integ, Socorro Lapaz, Carmle Lentija, Lita Mahinay, Marcelina Manapsal, Flordeliza Oñates, Adelina Otero, Bong-Bong Padasay,Harry Padasay, Raquel Padios, Carmelita Pehid, Purita, Rebecca Santillan, Gloria Sy, Nimfa Torrecampo, and Ofelia Valdevieso.
The children who were included in the raffle were May Anne Alabos, Nicole Ariaga, Jenny Ann Blanco, Johnny Bosico, Victor Cabalida Jr., John Paul Bartolome, Bebe Cornillo, John Paul Coseno, Concerman, Jenny Mae Didal, John Paul Dionela, Andrei Galang, Marian Fate Lascania, Nice Loberisco, Dodong Lumuntad, Aljan Mahinay, Hadjie Manlapao, Jocelyn Padasay, Bogart Padios, Ronilo Padios Jr., Richard Pehid Jr., Bobby Sanchez, Christon Sevilla, Jenny Ann Torrecampo, Urbano, and two others.
Black Falcon Martial Arts Association- Main refers to the group headed by Joery C. Amante, 4th Degree, starting when he was designated Chief Instructor by the Founder, Ernesto Joseph sensei, in 1997. Amante teaches Wushu Sanshou, Sipa Sumbag, Western Boxing, and Muay Thai to poor teens of his purok and surrounding areas for the purpose of giving them a chance to be part of the Philippine National Team which by extension will give them a better life.
Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. is a non-profit martial arts network/brotherhood of career professionals founded by Masters James U. Sy Jr. and Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado on October 1, 2002 in Bacolod City to research, study, document, systematize, establish, stimulate interest in, promote, and propagate indigenous and foreign based Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), especially those from Negros, as well as other Asian and Occidental Martial Arts. The Core group Instructors teach Original Filipino Tapado, Oido de Caburata, Yasay Sable, Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis, Togle Style Modern Arnis, Galvarole Style Dynamic Arnis, etc.
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