Dedicated to the Filipino Martial Arts and the Culture of the Philippines

Dedicated to the Filipino Martial Arts and the Culture of the Philippines
Special Issue
2010
FMAdigest
Publisher
Steven K. Dowd
FMAdigest Representatives
Marc Lawrence
Contents
Publishers Desk
Stockton Legacy Weekend 2010 - An Historical Perspective
Legacy Seminar - The Hilton in Stockton
Legacy Tournament - San Joaquin Delta College
Blanchard Gymnasium
Comments
2
4
12
18
Contributors
Jeff Finder
Elmer Bais
Marc Lawrence
Alex France
Tasi Alo
Bob Manalo, Jr.
Joshua Newman
Frank Rillamas
Chez Tibon
The articles are the property of the author’s that wrote them
and cannot be used without the
permission of the author.
The FMAdigest is the
property of Steven K. Dowd and is
for the promulgation and promotion of the Filipino martial arts and
the Philippines.
NO issue can be printed
and Sold for Monies, without the
express permission of the Owner
and Publisher Steven K. Dowd.
The FMAdigest is published quarterly. Each issue features practitioners
of martial arts and other internal arts of the Philippines. Other features include
historical, theoretical and technical articles; reflections, Filipino martial arts,
healing arts and other related subjects.
The ideas and opinions expressed in this digest are those of the authors
or instructors being interviewed and are not necessarily the views of the publisher or editor.
We solicit comments and/or suggestions. Articles are also welcome.
The authors and publisher of this online magazine are not responsible
for any injury, which may result from following the instructions contained in the
magazine. Before embarking on any of the physical activates described in the
magazine, the reader should consult his or her physician for advice regarding
their individual suitability for performing such activity.
The information in the FMAdigest is a compilation of many sources. If there
is any misinformation or information that is not given the proper credit, please
contact us.
FMAdigest 1297 Eider Circle Fallon, NV 89406
(775) 423-3253
comments@fmadigest.com
Publishers Desk
Kumusta
This was an event if at all
possible you did not want to miss.
If you had the opportunity, but
ignored going you most definitely
missed out.
Since the passing of
Grandmaster Angel Cabales, there
has been quite a lot of controversy,
and not what you would call a
brotherhood atmosphere in the art
of Serrada. Of course there were
groups of Serrada instructors and
students that stuck together and
supported each other, but overall,
mostly you heard this or that and it
wasn’t nice.
Well this is truly an event
that brought Serrada together.
Master Darren Tibon, the promoter
of the USFMAF said “enough is
enough” and with this he commenced his work in trying to bring
any and all of Serrada to a com-
mon ground. All of Serrada was
invited to participate and all differences were to be put aside. Many
attended, some taught, some could
not make it due to prior commitments, and some just “most
likely,” are sitting back to see what
develops. Well what developed
was an outstanding event, with
a tremendous amount of Serrada
knowledge there for the taking.
Jeff Finder wrote an
outstanding historical perspective, which really brings about
some understanding of what the
practitioners of Serrada have
gone through since the passing
of Grandmaster Cabales. With so
much Serrada being taught it was
great on how each instructor took
a different perspective and all
blended into a very knowledgeable
understanding of the art.
www.usfmaf.org
Along with Master Elmer
Bais of Tres Mano Bais, Master
Marc Lawrence of South Bay
Pakamut, and Grandmaster Alex
France of Kombatan who also gave
instruction in their arts. Saturday
was an event that will not soon be
forgotten.
Then on Sunday with the
USFMAF Tournament, the action
continued, and each practitioner
got the chance to demonstrate their
skills in competition.
In the comments section
you will read the personal thoughts
of some of the attendees and find
that this is an excellent start for the
art of Serrada and it is hoped that
more of the practitioners can forget
their difference and that Serrada
will build a unity of brotherhood
for the future.
Maraming Salamat Po
Stockton Legacy Weekend 2010
An Historical Perspective
By Guro Jeff Finder
(With added comments on their seminar from: Master Elmer Bais, Master Marc Lawrence, and Grandmaster
Alex France)
They say time heals all wounds.
We’re still working on that Middle
East thing, but let it be noted that
on Saturday February 20, 2010,
a group of Serrada’s Masters and
Guros under the late Grandmaster
Angel Cabales came together in
Stockton for their first reunion
since his death 19 years ago. This
news may come as something of a
shock to those who have followed
the Filipino martial arts on the
internet over the years, but to those
who missed all that excitement,
this almost ranks up there with the
end of the Cold War.
A question frequently
asked of Serrada practitioners has
been “What is wrong with Serrada?” There’s a myth that Serrada
folks aren’t supposed to get along
with each other. Actually, though,
most Serrada people do get along
just fine. If you look around the
martial arts landscape, what happened in Serrada isn’t that unusual.
As the generation that opened
these arts to the public passes
away, there is often competition
amongst those left behind to establish their own identities.
Many of Angel’s older
graduates had already left to follow their own paths while he was
alive. Dentoy Revillar, Al Concepcion, Mike Inay, Dan Inosanto,
Richard Bustillo, Rene Latosa
and others trained with Angel but
went on to carve their own legacy
in the FMA world. During his last
decade, however, Angel produced
2
a new generation of talented and
ambitious Escrimadors. These
young Masters and Guros were
still in their twenties or early thirties at the time of Angel’s passing,
just embarking on their martial
careers. Many of them lived in
or near Stockton and were close
to Angel Cabales. As a result
there was a critical mass of talent
packed into a relatively small area,
and with him gone, things needed
to sort themselves out.
Small towns can feel like
fishbowls, with little excitement to
rival the distractions of big cities.
In temperament Stockton feels
even further from Los Angeles
than the many hours it takes to
drive the distance. LA has its boulevards and beaches; Stockton has
farmland and the port. Its grittiness isn’t the glitter of Hollywood
it’s the waterfront of San Pedro.
Places like this tend to be pretty
tough, where the street-wise value
a winning edge. Like a “fastest
gun in the West”, Angel Cabales
had a reputation with sticks and
knives and word got around. The
young men who came to train with
him were looking for a piece of
that magic for themselves.
In this small town atmosphere, Escrima wasn’t a once-aweek pastime, it was a daily activity that was pursued for years, not
just during evenings at the academy but informally at back yard
barbeques and gatherings in parks.
With its large Filipino population
and deep cultural heritage, training in Stockton is perhaps more
like the Philippines than anywhere
else in the U.S. Angel would have
his students perform demonstrations with him regularly at Filipino
events in Stockton and neighboring
towns. Other local Escrima groups
such as Bahalana would be doing
the same. There were rivalries, but
also intricate intersecting lines of
familial and social connections.
This environment would produce
some of the finest home-grown
Escrimadors in the U.S.A.
By the mid 80’s Angel was
mentoring a new crew of strong
young men who pushed each
other to attain excellence in the
art. Many knew of Angel because
they had grown up alongside his
kids or were somehow related
to the family. Some of the more
prominent Stockton names from
this era include Jimmy Tacosa,
Ronnie Saturno, Carlito Bonjoc,
Sultan Uddin, Jerry Preciado, Gabe
Ascuncion, Frank Rillamas, Wade
Williams, David Mah, and the late
Tony Texeira and Mariano Ber-
modes. From Fairfield and the San
Francisco bay area came; Anthony
Davis and his association which included Tasi Alo, Robert Castro, the
late Covey Jones, and Jeff Finder.
This was a golden age for
Angel’s career, but like any golden
age, this too had the seeds of its
own downfall. So often when
people are drawn together around
an individual, the social glue that
holds them together is only as
strong as the personal loyalties
they hold towards that person.
Those striving to reach the top in
any field tend to be competitive to
get there, and that is certainly no
less true in something as distinctive
as the fighting arts. In a talent-rich
environment, when people seek
recognition for their accomplishments, it can rub others the wrong
way, and friendships can go as bad
as any divorce. Angel himself was
well aware of the undercurrents
among his students, but coming from a background where the
strongest survived, he believed in
letting things work out on their
own. With his passing in 1991, the
center fell apart, and with it, the
Serrada family.
Now none of this is particularly remarkable nor necessarily a
bad thing. Martial arts are continuously reformulating and evolving.
Unfortunately for Serrada the timing of Angel’s death was bad, with
the burgeoning popularity of the
internet and especially the development of online forums. Serrada’s
conflicts got played out in a very
conspicuous manner, often by newer practitioners who didn’t know
Angel personally and had their
own partisan loyalties. Though the
core issues only involved a handful of individuals or their adherents, the soap-operatic qualities of
online feuding reflected poorly on
the community as a whole while
further pushing people apart.
It should be noted, however, and probably to the amazement of some, that despite all the
negativity expressed, the Serrada community did not resort to
mayhem and violence. Even in a
small community, where people
are likely to cross paths, nobody
got whacked. There were times
along the way, such as at Tony
Texeira’s funeral, when hometown
rivals quietly came together to pay
respects, and in that spirit peace
prevailed.
Fast forward ... Years pass;
people mature. They have jobs,
families, and hopefully with life
experience comes acceptance and
wisdom. Perhaps not all broken
friendships should be resurrected,
but from acceptance comes tolerance, and from there, who knows?
This brings us to the significance
of recent events.
The Legacy Tournament/
Seminars was the brainstorm of
Master Darren Tibon, Co-Founder
of Angel’s Disciples and a successful promoter through the
USFMAF. He decided to promote
this as a “Legacy” event because
he felt it was long overdue for Angel’s students to come together as
a way to show respect and honor
for their teacher, and to showcase
the legacy of grandmaster Cabales
through those who are now working to perpetuate his art.
This invitation was open to
all, without restriction, for everyone to simply come together for
the day. For various reasons there
were those who would not make
it. Some live too far away or had
schedule conflicts. Some simply
never responded or didn’t get the
message, while a few, unfortunately, still mistrusted the idea that
Serrada could come together in
peace.
They could not have been more
wrong
There is a certain feeling
that permeates the air at special
events, a brightness that lightens
the spirit of those present. I’ve felt
this twice before within Serrada;
at the two-day seminar I attended
which started me in this art in
1985, and at the seminar Angel did
at the School of the White Tiger in
Oakland in 1987 to promote it as
an official Cabales Serrada Academy, and all I can say is:
Brothers, It’s Been Too Long!
Many of the same people
who demonstrated and taught
under Angel at both of those earlier
events were now featured instructors in their own right. If one word
could describe the atmosphere they
brought to the room, it would be
collegiality, a word which “connotes respect for another’s commitment to the common purpose and
ability to work toward it” (Wikipedia). In this case, the unifying
theme was love for this art, conveyed by those who have indeed
carried on their piece of Angel’s
legacy for all these years.
3
Legacy Seminar - February 20, 2010
The Hilton in Stockton
2323 Grand Canal Blvd
Stockton, CA.
By late 2009 a lineup of instructors had agreed to teach segments at the seminar. This was not simply
a Serrada affair, as other participants included Punong Guro Steven Dowd (Arnis Balite; a late scratch due to
weather), Master Elmer Bais (Tres Manos), Master Alex France (Kombatan) and Master Marc Lawrence (Pakamut). For Serrada practitioners in particular, however, this seminar was a unique opportunity to see what other
instructors of this art were doing, what had changed or developed over the years and what had remained the
same.
Instructors:
Guro Elmer Bais - Tres Manos Bais
Master Frank Rillamas - Serrada
Guro Jeff Finder - Serrada
Grandmaster Alex France - Kombatan
Master Marc Lawrence - Pakamut
Master Ronnie Saturno - Serrada
Master Jerry Preciado - Serrada
Master Gabriel Asuncion - Serrada
Master Darren Tibon - Serrada
Surprise visit from Grandmaster Sulta Uddin - Serrada
The seminar began as
scheduled at 9am with the opening
segment taught by Master Elmer
Bais, who did an excellent job
covering the core concepts of Tres
Manos Bais for his father, Grand
Maestro Jon Bais, who had to be
elsewhere during this event. In a
way this fit the “legacy” theme of
the weekend, for Elmer is the next
generation heir in that lineage.
Guro Bais started his
seminar off with demonstrating
and explaining Largo - to Media
Master Bais demonstrating
4
- Kurto. Picture attached showing
how to counter a Largo to Largo.
Emphasizing the back stance
while hitting the hand and getting
away in the line of force.
He also discussed the
counter of Largo to Media emphasizing the augmented block of
media, stepping to the right side.
Continuing he discussed the Kurto
(short strike of Bais Tres Manos)
and the variation of strikes ending up in one technique called
TRANGKADA were opponent are
ending up in a lock position, from machete vs.
machete, to machete vs.
empty hand, and from
empty hand to empty
hand. Guro Bais demonstrated the versatility
of one technique against
the different variation of
strikes that can bring the
opponent to submission.
Guro Bais demonstrated the 8 basics
strikes and quick retaliation and to
over-whelm the opponent, using
the baston and the basic movements of the knife, that new practitioners can apply to dominate their
opponent
Next up was Serrada Master Frank Rillamas, a late fill-in for
Steven Dowd who found himself
unable to get across the Sierras due
Master Frank Rillamas
demonstrating with Gelmar Cabales
to a winter storm. Frank demonstrated techniques for several of the
basic angles, explaining fundamental principles behind the movements such as directness, efficiency
and full body mechanics.
Guro Jeff Finder followed
by teaching several variations of
Angel’s disarms, showing details
for both stick and empty hands
and how these are fundamentally
related.
Guro Jeff Finder
Kombatan Grandmaster Alex France was the final
presenter of the day’s first session, showing some of that
style’s weapon stripping techniques and follow-up striking
patterns, a contrast to those of Serrada.
Since the Legacy Tournament was one of the few
tournaments that allows:
(1) Straight thrusts (to the midsection only for safety purposes) and
(2) Competitor’s choice of weapons (in the Cultural Challenge division)
Grandmaster France went through various counters
against, the straight thrust with a stick and straight thrust with
the knife.
Using:
• Double Sticks (Doble Baston)
• Long Stick & Knife (Espada y Daga)
• Single Stick (Solo Baston)
• Knife (Daga)
• Empty Hands (Mano-Mano)
Grandmaster Alex France
www.ksk-fma.net
Against the stick, counters involved getting out of
the line of attack, parrying, defanging, and other disarming,
counterstriking and takedowns.
Against the knife, emphasis was made on NOT
running away, since this was for tournament but rather on
choosing a superior weapon, then defanging or making sure
the opponent is stunned before attempting most types of
disarm. Disastrous consequences for not stunning one’s opponent before attempting certain knife disarms were shown.
www.philippinemartialartsacademy.com
5
Group shot of those who taught the first half of the Legacy Tournament for Elmer Bais, Master Frank Rillamas, Guro Jeff
Finder, Grandmaster Alex France, Master Marc Lawrence.
Following an hour lunch
break, Pakamut Master Marc
Lawrence kicked off the afternoon
session at 2 pm with joint locks
and controls. Master Lawrence
demonstrated some of his teacher’s
(Grandmaster Felix Roiles - Pakamut), method of stick grappling.
The stick grappling portion was taught with lecture on
the concepts and demonstration
of the techniques. Chez Tibon and
Gelmar Cabales both of Angels
Disciples, volunteered for the
demonstration of the techniques.
Master Lawrence showed scissor
locks, figure four locks and triangle locks with the stick. This was
done using a regular 28 inch stick
and 22 inch Serrada length stick.
Master Lawrence had
everyone who wanted to try the
techniques pair up and work with
a partner. Everyone was instructed
to tap out when they felt pain and
6
Locking
Lock Drop
Takedown
to go slow with their partner when
performing the technique. This
kind of practice, if done incorrectly
can cause serious injury.
In a way it reminded me
of days I’d train with Angel, when
he’d take me to lunch and then put
me through my paces with a full
stomach!
Serrada Master Ronnie
Saturno provided a chance to catch
our breath as he sat us down for a
lecture on pressure points and the
physiology of targeting. Ron has
a deep grasp of his material from
both a Western anatomical perspective and from traditional Chinese
medicine, a potent combination
indeed.
The rest of the afternoon
was filled with a series of Serrada
instruction, starting with Master
Jerry Preciado, then Master Gabe
Ascuncion. The final segment of
Master Saturno lecture on pressure points and the physiology of targeting
The importance of the left hand in a
defensive technique is shown here.
Master Asuncion shows Bryan Thomas how to position himself for an inside defensive technique with the help of Grandmaster Alex France
Master Asuncion shows youngster Isaeh Fabella how to
defend against a basic #3 Serrada strike
7
the day was handled by Darren
Tibon’s son, Guro Chez Tibon, yet
another nod to the legacy of
the art being passed on to the
next generation.
While classes were
going in the front of the
room, the energy in the back
of the room was warming up
as well, as old acquaintances
hung out together for the first
time in years. Special guests
included Serrada Guro David
Mah and GKT Grandmaster
Master Darren tidon demonstrating with his son Chez
Chez Tibon teaching some basics of Serrada
Those who instructed during the 2nd half Legacy Seminar includes Grandmaster Sultan Uddin, Master Jerry Preciado,
Master Ronnie Saturo, Master Gabriel Asuncion, Guro Jeff Finder and Master Darren Tibon.
8
Tasi Alo, who trained with Angel
through Anthony Davis’ Association. Last, and certainly not least,
was a surprise appearance by IESA
Founder Master Sultan Uddin who
came up from Los Angeles for his
first return to Stockton since Angel
passed away!
Something I’ve often noted
over the years when meeting old
Serrada friends is a warm appreciation for experiences shared in
common. Take that and multiply
it by the number of old academy
graduates there, and you may get
a sense of the fellowship present. As the afternoon wore on, the
lines between the front and back
of the room became increasingly
blurred as people and energy just
flowed. A number of the old-timers
crossed sticks together for the first
time in twenty or more years, yet
once again falling into rhythm born
of many, many hours of practice
together.
For Serrada’s newer
(though not necessarily younger)
generation, witnessing the skillful
performances in the room was a
chance to absorb both old and new;
old in the sense of confirming the
commonality of Serrada training,
new in the sense of experiencing
fresh insights to that material. It’s
no surprise some participants were
overwhelmed by the intensity of
the day, with at least 250 years of
www.southbayfmaclub.com
www.angelsdisciples.net
www.martialvillage.org
cumulative experience in the room
just from Angel’s direct students!
Throw in the second generation
Guros and Masters such as Bob
Manalo, Chez Tibon and Gelmar
Cabales (and after all, this was a
legacy event) and you could undoubtedly tack on another 40 years
cumulative experience!
It’s a sign of a successful
event when participants don’t want
to leave. Sultan Uddin had originally planned just to drop in for a
short time, yet there he was, hours
later into the evening, sharing the
glow of camaraderie. If there is a
universal message to deliver for
those who were there to those who
didn’t make it, it is this: your presence was missed.
The Cold War did not end
in a day, and Serrada has still not
had its Berlin Wall moment, but
thaws happen one degree at a time.
The significance of an event like
this isn’t about completion but
about continuity, to celebrate the
present while honoring the past,
nurturing the seeds for a better
future.
9
10
11
Legacy Tournament
February 21, 2010
San Joaquin Delta College Blanchard Gymnasium
5151 Pacific Ave.
Stockton, CA.
Awards Presentation at the Legacy Tournament
Grandmaster Pete Morales receives
Lifetime Achievement Award from USFMAF
Darren Tibon, Gene Tibon, Grandmaster Peter Morales,
and Anthony Wade
12
Darren Tibon receives certificate from Coach Kidd Jason’s Open Martial
Arts World Weapons Association
Grandmaster Tasi Alo
Warm heartfelt congratulations to one of the latest grand masterships recently awarded to Grandmaster
Darren Tibon by the World Serrada Escrima Federation & Martial Arts International at the Legacy Tournament
in Stockton, California. Grandmaster Darren Tibon is the President of the USFMAF and has been working
tirelessly in the promotion of the Filipino martial arts as a whole promoting brotherhood through tournament
competition.
Once again Grandmaster Anthony Davis and the WSEF/MAI, with the promotion certificate and letter being awarded by Grandmaster Tasi H. Alo - GKT / WSEF and Sensei Roger H. Gehring - GKT- were in
the unique position to award such a prestigious honor to an equally prestigious and honorable individual. The
letter spells out the kind of character that Grandmaster Darren Tibon has. Thank you to all the Serrada Masters
that came together for the Filipino martial arts Seminars and Legacy Tournament as we all look forward to our
future gatherings in UNITY!
Anthony Wade, Darren Tibon, Chez Tibon, Gelmar Cabales
pose for honorary Grandmaster Award given to Darren Tibon
13
USFMAF Volunteers and sponsors pose with awards
14
Tournament Results
Competition
Level
Winners
Forms
Forms
Boys/Girls
Boys/Girls
Winzel Brillante Doce Pares
Mathew Lawrence South Bay Pakamut
Padded Point
Padded Point
Boys Beg/Int Mike Lawrence
Boys Beg/Int John Villegas
Bryan Callahan
Mens Beg
Michael Banks
Mens Beg
Padded Point
Padded Point
Style
Place
1st
2nd
South Bay Pakamut
Tres Manos Bais
1st
2nd
Angels Disciples
Tres Manos Bais
1st
2nd
Continuous Live Stick Boys Beg/Int
Continuous Live Stick Boys Beg/Int
Winzel Brillante
Mathew Lawrence
Doce Pares
South Bay Pakamut
1st
2nd
Continuous Live Stick Boys/Jr Beg
Continuous Live Stick Boys/Jr Beg
Continuous Live Stick Boys/Jr Beg
Mike Lawrence
Jon Dahl
John Villegas
South Bay Pakamut
Doce Pares
Tres Manos Bais
1st
2nd
3rd
Continuous Live Stick Men Beg
Continuous Live Stick Men Beg
Continuous Live Stick Men Beg
Bryan Callahan
Michael Banks
Ray Melechor
Angels Disciples
Tres Manos Bais
South Bay Pakamut
1st
2nd
3rd
15
Live Stick point
Live Stick point
Live Stick point
Live Stick point
Men Beg
Men Beg
Men Beg
Men Beg
Michael Banks
Brian Everett
Bryan Callahan
Ray Melechor
Tres Manos Bais
Tres Manos Bais
Angels Disciples
South Bay Pakamut
1st
2nd
3rd
3rd
Knife-Point
Knife-Point
Knife-Point
Men Beg
Men Beg
Men Beg
Bryan Callahan
Brian Everett
Ray Melechor
Angels Disciples
Tres Manos Bais
South Bay Pakamut
1st
2nd
3rd
Cultural Challenge
Mens Beg
Marc Lawrence
Brian Everett
Bryan Callahan
Mateo Massellones
South Bay PakamutTres
Manos Bais
Angels Disciples
Combative Martial Arts
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Mathew Lawrence, Winzel Brillante pose for forms division
16
Chez Tibon, Mike Lawrence. Jon Dahl, John Villegas, Darren Tibon pose for continuous stick division
Darren Tibon, President of USFMAF
What could I say, it was phenomenal! You would have had to be there to feel
the power and true brotherhood that developed at the Legacy Seminar held at the
Stockton Hilton Hotel on June 20, 2010. Thanks to Guro Elmer Bais for stepping in
for his father Grand Maestro Jon Bais who had to leave to the Middle East on active
duty a few days before the seminar.
Thank you goes out to Master Frank Rillamas, Guro Jeff Finder, Grandmaster
Alex France, Master Marc Lawrence, Master Ronnie Saturno, Master Jerry Preciado,
Master Gabriel Asuncion, Grandmaster Sultan Uddin, Guro David Ma and the entire
support base which made this weekend not only great, but very monumental.
Special thanks to Coach Kidd Jason, Bilal Wamin, Billy Harrison, JR Mandavil for coming in from Southern California to film the entire event. A special thanks
to Grandmaster Tasi Alo and the GKS crew for supporting this event and thanks to
all the volunteer staff for taking their time to do what they do best! Last but not least,
thank you to my family, Darlene, Chez, Gelmar and my brother Gene Tibon for the
kind of weekend that touched the souls of all of us.
www.usfmaf.org
17
Comments
Saturday morning February 20th, we had just finished an intense and grueling workshop covering fundamentals of Dumog with Panginoong Guro Sultan Uddin and were preparing to leave the Bay Area for a drive
up to Stockton. Grandmaster Darren Tibon was hosting the Legacy Seminar featuring some of the top Serrada
teachers and practitioners who trained directly under the late Great Grandmaster Angel Cabales, the Father of
Eskrima in the U.S.A. and Founder of the Cabales / Serrada system of Eskrima.
On the drive up, I recall my early years as a student in San Francisco. It was very exciting for me, not
only to be there with my teacher and my two training partners - Punong Guro Elicio Benetua and Punong Guro
Rainier Abad - but also to get the chance to meet and associate with others whose names I had heard about or
seen in videos from Panginoong Guro Sultan Uddins personal library.
When we arrived in Stockton and entered the hotel, the reception was warm and fraternal. It was all
smiles, handshakes and hugs. It felt like a family member had just made it home for a big family reunion!
It was great being there with these Filipino martial arts legends - Panginoong Guro Sultan Uddin,
Grandmaster Darren Tibon, Master Gabe Asuncion, Master Ron Saturno, Master Jerry Preciado, Guro David
Ma, Guro Jeff Finder. To see and feel the fellowship amongst these knowledgeable warriors was incredible. You
see… it had been 19 years since they had all been together.
There are no words to describe the sharing of knowledge and history. To witness the movements, of our
dynamic and deadly art during that afternoon, it was worth more to me than 10 times the price of a PacquiaoMayweather fight! As Master Ron Saturno stated, there was over a century of knowledge in that room.
Looking back, I feel very fortunate to be a part of that historical day. I am thankful to be a student under
Panginoong Guro Sultan Uddin, and a part of IESA, and to be a part of the Serrada family of the Filipino martial arts.
Bob Manalo, Jr.
Punong Guro
International Eskrima Serrada Association (IESA)
www.tribe-iesa.com
On Saturday, February 20th, a group of Filipino martial arts masters presented a series of seminars in
Stockton, CA. Master Darren Tibon of the US Filipino Martial Arts Association, who organized the event and
the tournament which followed it on Sunday, titled it the Legacy Tournament -- referring to the legacy of the
late Great Grandmaster Angel Cabales, who first openly taught Filipino martial arts in the United States.
Master Darren brought together Guro Elmer Bais (Bais Tres Manos), representing his father, Grand
Maestro Jon Bias, who had been unexpectedly called away, Master Marc Lawrence (Pakamut), Grandmaster
Alex France (Kombatan), and five Serrada instructors, all of whom were long-time direct students of Angel
Cabales, as was Master Darren himself: Master Frank Rillamas, Guro Jeff Finder, Master Ron Saturno, Master
Jerry Preciado, and Master Gabriel Asuncion.
It is rare to have the opportunity to see so many highly skilled presenters in a single year, let alone in a
single day, and each seminar was an eye-opener. Guro Elmer Bias showed some basics from his family’s Tres
Manos style, which I had never seen before. His clear and careful demonstrations highlighted the art’s blade
orientation, which was very evident in his passing and checking moves.
Master Frank Rillamas was the first Serrada presenter. His speed and efficient motion were a pleasure to
watch as he demonstrated some of the basics of the style. A very active and precise live hand, with sharp stacatto checks and often a thrust to an undefended area at the end of a defensive sequence were easily seen in his
movements.
Guro Jeff Finder began his Serrada session by teaching several disarms against both stick and knife. A
lot of people say disarms don’t work, he commented, “and they don’t, if you don’t train them...” Disarms often
18
end in joint locks, and Guro Jeff presented several, including a pair of full-body locks. The precision and care he
brought to fine points made this a particular pleasure.
He was followed by Grandmaster Alex France, working with a student, Bryan Thomas. The blade
orientation was again evident in their smooth flowing Kombatan techniques, as was the emphasis on attacking
the opponent’s closest threat -- defanging the snake -- and on defenses that moved smoothly from the hand and
wrist up the arm and finally to the head or body in a series of linked strikes.
Stick-grappling take-downs and control moves were Master Marc Lawrence’s subject, and his background of training law enforcement personnel was evident in his focus on what can be done without the use
of lethal force, integrating the stick as leverage in a takedown or lock. (“Do I have control?” “Yes, SIR!”) As
would be the case often throughout the day, an empty-hand chicken-wing lock Frank Rillamas had shown earlier seemed to flow into Master Marc’s presentation of similar stick-grappling locks, which the leverage offered
by the stick made even more convincing.
Before we broke for lunch, two of Master Darren’s students -- his son Chez Tibon and Great Grandmaster Angel’s son Gelmar -- showed some pick-flow sparring and a Serrada form. Their power and precise control
were very evident, and they have some of the fastest hands I’ve seen.
I had only had the opportunity to see Master Ron Saturno present only briefly before this event, and I
had been deeply impressed by the speed and power of his Serrada. Today he showed a completely different aspect of his art, focusing on acupuncture points. It was clear that although he presented a tremendous amount of
knowledge, the time was enough only to barely scratch the surface.
Master Jerry Preciado’s precision as a Serrada teacher reminded me of Jeff Finder, as did his comments
on the benefits of mental practice. His obvious pleasure at seeing some of the other Serrada masters -- notably
Master Sultan Uddin, who I believe had come on impulse, having just arrived from Los Angeles -- underlined
Master Darren’s focus, which he spoke of several times during the day, on the legacy of Great Grandmaster
Angel Cabales and the importance of joining together to promote the Filipino martial arts.
Master Gabe Asuncion offered what he termed “pure Serrada basics.” I heard one of the other masters
comment “Gabe showed me my first numbers,” and several heads nodded. It was easy to see why. Here again
was an extremely skilled, clear, and direct presentation.
Master Darren, Chez Tibon, and Gelmar Cabales closed the day with demonstrations of advanced techniques, mainly picking (enganyo) and counter-for-counter, that drew in the other Masters present. I remember
hearing Ron Saturno call across the room to Gabe Asuncion, “Can you believe we’re showing this?” Though the
whole day had been a pleasure, this portion was especially so. The open spirit, warmth, and generosity of the
instructors shone through.
Well over a hundred years of teaching experience was openly offered this day, many thanks to Master
Darren Tibon, for organizing this event, and to all of the instructors who shared their knowledge and love of
their art.
With deep respect.
Joshua Newman
I was glad to see a brotherhood collaborating to a common cause. It was like a Gathering of Martial
Arts minds that came together as one, very knowledgeable,experienced and willing to share. It was a lot of fun.
Thank you and God Bless,
Frank Rillamas
19
I was part of this gathering that was due to take place. Special thanks to my father, Master Darren
Tibon. He really made it happen. Those that came to support and express what they learned so long ago, as a
labor of love, I salute you. This section of the Hilton consisted of people that dedicate a good portion of their
lives to the Filipino martial arts. I’m proud that I can say, “I was present and involved in these basic, advanced,
and master level motions of knowledge.” There is no place I’d rather been. The aura of the seminar was superior, not quite the average feeling I get when it’s time to share and show a little bit of martial arts. As for the
following day tournament, I find the ability to center referee can become the perfect experience once you’ve
opened yourself up to it. Getting into the groove of the fight “to me” is key. Following the fighters’ movements,
recognizing weapon contact by what you see and hear is fun and exciting. Center referee does have the best
seat in the house and I enjoyed every fight I had the privilege to monitor on February 21, 2010.
Guro Chez D. Tibon
20
The Hilton in Stockton
2323 Grand Canal Blvd
Stockton, CA.
(209)957-9090
The Hilton Stockton hotel is the premier full service Stockton, Calfornia hotel in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, California.
This beautiful Stockton, CA hotel is located near the University of
the Pacific. Within minutes from the Stockton Arena, Bob Hope Theater and the Haggin Museum
The Hilton Stockton hotel is close to a number of other exciting areas and is the preferred choice for both business and leisure
travelers visiting our city for a wide variety of events including:
The Hilton Stockton hotel boasts 198 rooms and suites in an
upscale business area of Stockton....
If traveling on business, the Hilton hotel in Stockton, CA is located less than an hour drive from the San
Francisco International Airport, the Sacramento International Airport and 10 miles from the Stockton Metropolitan Airport. The San Joaquin Valley is home to the following:
• Central Valley Industrial Park
• St. Joseph’s Medical Center
• Port of Stockton
• El Dorado and Grupe Business Park
• San Joaquin County Office of Education
• Airmetro Business Park
• Opus Logistics
• Duck Creek & Stockton Triangle Industrial Park
The Hilton Stockton Hotel Features:
• Brand new on-site restaurant, The Orchard Grill. Stop by for some of our many dining options or stay
in and order from our room service menu. The Orchard Grill will delight your palette with the best of California
Cuisine featuring a delicious paring of local Lodi and California wines
• Enjoy a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee at our Starbucks® coffee bar located in the main lobby
• 3 Suites, five all interior floors, one executive floor and a private Concierge Lounge
• Complimentary wireless Internet in all of our sleeping rooms and public areas. At a nominal fee, wired
and Wi-Fi wireless access is available in the conference rooms
• Workout in our fully equipped fitness center and take advantage of the newest fitness equipment
• A complimentary business center is available to assist with all of your business needs 24 hours a day
With over 13,000 square feet of flexible and versatile meeting space, the Hilton Stockton, California
hotel can host small business meetings or large elaborate Weddings, Conferences, Tradeshows, Seminars, Reunions and Quinciañeras. Let one of our experienced and professional consultants help plan your next event.
If you are visiting Stockton for a taste of its rich culture, fine dining, sports, recreation or on business
travel, stay at the Hilton Stockton, CA hotel because travel should be more than just A to B. Travel should take
you places™.
21
San Joaquin Delta College
Joseph Blanchard Gymnasium
5151 Pacific Ave.
Stockton, California
San Joaquin Delta College is the successor of the
Stockton Junior College. College of Pacific rented space and
equipment only. Pacific instructors taught the classes, but
were employed and responsible to the Stockton Board of
Education.
The physical separation of Stockton College and
College of the Pacific was followed in 1951 by the resumption of lower division classes at Pacific.
Long decades without a permanent home created a desire at San Joaquin Delta College to make its new
campus something special. Two key decisions were endorsed by College trustees in the fall of 1968. Though the
campus would be one of the largest in California, the student population would be divided into five instructional
centers. The design of each center included a central open courtyard, snack bar and study lounge. The goal is to
encourage students and faculty to develop activities according to their own interests, creating a healthy campuswide diversity.
Students with greatly different backgrounds and career interests, musicians and mechanics-meet in the
hallways, lounges and sometimes classrooms and learn to respect each other’s values.
22
1700 E. Louise Ave, Lathrop, CA 95330
(209) 983-0910
www.cbcsteelbuildings.com
Register your FMA School
Click Here
Post your Event
Click Here
Advertise with the FMAdigest
An Ad in the Filipino Martial Arts Digest can create Business. Your Advertisement for Filipino martial
arts equipment, books, videos etc, can be included in the Filipino Martial Arts digest.
Website Advertisement - Free
FMAdigest on-line Magazine Advertisement - $5 per Issue
Advertise@fmadigest.com
23
The FMAdigest has been designed to provide access to articles, information, events,
news, seminars, techniques, etc… pertinent to the Filipino Martial Arts and the Philippines.
The Filipino Martial Arts Digest besides providing information on Filipino martial
arts has an online digest which you can subscribe too for Free and comes out quarterly,
also with Special Editions that are on particular systems or styles, and Special Issues on
events of the Filipino martial arts.
Do not miss out! Download past issues and subscribe today so not to miss future issues.
Advertise
Seminars, Workshops, and Tournaments
Submit
Articles on FMA Instructors.
Articles on Systems or Styles.
Articles on FMA History.
Articles on Philosophies, and Techniques
Past FMA events.
Also Articles about the Philippines
-People
-Places
-Culture
Email Submissions - ArticleSubmission@fmadigest.com
Register Your School
Do Not Miss Out!!
Visit: www.fmadigest.com