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).

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!

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.

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

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.”

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".

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.