FMA Informative Issue No #186

Informative Issue No. 186
2015
Rene Cristobal
The Trails and Tribulations of Martial arts Training
Discovering Pencak Silat
Talking with Rene Cristobal
Accomplishments of the Heart
Silat Garangan Bela Diri
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While the FMA Informative representative was in the Philippines in 2015, He met up with Grandmaster Frank
Aycocho for a little Birthdays celebration. While at the restaurant Grandmaster Aycocho introduced the FMA
Informative representative to Rene Cristobal.
In talking to Rene he FMA Informative representative found that he
is well mannered, quite but friendly and professional and a very interesting
person once opening up in conversation. In talking of course the martial arts
came up and Rene told about his life in finding the martial art that was as one
would “say made for him”.
How many practitioners start training in a martial art and fid that it is
suppose too represent one kind of art, but in actuality is another? Well the
FMA Informative believes the Rene di when he started. One must understand
that when Rene stared his training it was martial law, the PKA was the ultimate Organization to be in, so many senior practitioners joined to be part of
the in-crown as one would say, for at the time the PKA was very powerful,
with President Marcos and the government behind it.
Well like any practitioners life has its ups and downs, some are graced
to be able to continually practice an art, others have to think more about survival of life in the necessities of life like rent, food, etc.
This is where Rene found himself, even though he had make a living he
still had the desire to train, going back and forth between training and a job to
make a living, he trained other arts, however his first art, which he was told
was Karate, he found that it was more like a Silat / Kuntao type of art.
Finally as the years passed he had the opportunity and grasped it and
found and was able to train in the art that he discovered was to become his ultimate passion, and that was Pencak Silat. And so it is now that he continues
to grow and prosper in a martial art that as far as he is concerned is his ultimate art for the challenges of life and bringing about his mental and spiritual
well-being.
The FMA Informative thought this was a good story and thought that others that found themselves unhappy in the martial arts they have trained in gave up and moved on, instead of searching for the art that would
really challenge them physically and mentally that would bring them passion for that art.
Remember there is a martial art out there that is made for each person, however that person just has to
find it, and understand the concepts and principles of that art instead of knowing just the basics and then putting
their thoughts into what they learned to feel comfortable and ending up really not having the basic concepts or
principles of the original art and having nothing.
The Trails and Tribulations of Martial arts Training
Rene Cristobal commenced
his training in Karate in 1970
with Grandmaster Jimmy Galez
the founder of the Sphinx Karate
Clan (a Filipino Kung-fu/Karate
art which has Kuntao movements,
however Grandmaster Galez always called it an art of Karate and
joined the Philippine Karate Association (PKA) so the group could
compete in tournaments. It was
Rene’s foundation in martial arts
learned a lot until he made Black
belt and but he faded in and out of
training because he had to focus on
a regular job and earned a living.
As time passed on, by 1976
Rene met at word Rudy Laxamana
of Shotokan Karate, and joined
the Shotokan Karate Association.
However that did not last long for
Rene was able to return to Sphinx
training, but during this time it
seemed that Sphinx was on the
verge of fading out from the lime
light of martial arts. And soon
enough, on once again Rene too
faded out and away from martial
arts.
Rene has always been
hungry for knowledge, and really
wondered if Sphinx was really
Karate when its actions favor
the leaps cross leg stances and
the seemingly movements as that of Kung
fu or more accurately,
Kuntao. Some people
believed it was Pencak
Silat or indeed Kuntao
but the Founder Grandmaster Galez has called
it Karate ever since and
joined the Philippine
Karate Association and
have his students compete in tournaments.
Grandmaster Galez
would never say it was
anything but Karate.
Although after further
researches he learned
that “Sphinx” was actually a “Lutaw” art. An
original style influenced
by (in this case) Chinese “Kung Fu” moves
(similar to what Kuntao
and Pencak Silat have
evolved from).
During those
days, anyone having
knowledge in martial
arts seems to attracts a
career in the movies so
he joined the Sons of
Stunts (SOS) group a
stuntman organization
Motorcycle stunts
antee regular appearances and of
course income. Yet all this time he
would continue to train in the martial arts to keep in shape, although
not a fully dedicated student of
any martial art group. At times he
would return to SOS to do movie
stunts when needed. Years later
Rene joined the Barracuda Stuntman group under Stunts and Fight
Director Baldo Marro until he was
invited to the Titanic Stunts group
under Bong Revilla (who is now
a Senator in the Philippines) later
on. Simultaneously Rene would
conduct training for the Golden
Kris Security Services and other
law enforcement groups while still
doing movie stunts and also it was
the time that he joined the Black
Master Karate Combat Judo Association of the Philippines under
the United Karate-do Federation
of the Philippines to have a legit-
imate affiliation since Sphinx was
in hybernation.
With all this going on in the
back of his mind Rene actually felt
of lost identity, his mind could not
get off the subject of the Sphinx
style. And in truth and reality it
was different than Karate in his
belief. He reached the point of creating his own style or technique as
a result of his previous knowledge
he learned from Sphinx.
Discovering Pencak Silat
Heatseeker
that did stunts for various movies
in 70s. But once again Rene went
back to his normal day job because
shooting contracts does not guar-
In 2013 Rene discovered
Pencak Silat and found that this is
what he was looking for. He believed the system was much closer
to his own form. One that has more
freedom in enhancing and advancing his own techniques because
he felt natural in it, and it is something he can consider his home and
where he belongs.
Joining the PhilSilat Sports
Association he felt that he would
be more in alignment in Pencak
Silat. Attending seminars and
training sessions Rene continuously worked to align himself with the
art and the system he considered…
“Found!”
In the two years that Rene
has trained in Pencak Silat he has
found that it has the good medi-
um to enhance physical fitness
for all ages because of its simple
basic forms, and also has more
down to earth self-defense technique. Its fundamentals are in its
crudest basic form. As the basics
can evolve into a “classic”
or advanced form as your
wisdom of the art matures.
Thinking that the basic form
is the backbone and pattern
of any knowledge he did not
rely nor believed so much
in the advanced techniques
training for they seemed to
veer away from the very
essence of the art, and that
the advance forms should
be something that is yet to
be discovered by the practitioner himself. (As what the
“Lutaw” artists have experienced).
As a renowned poet said: One does
not lend his wings to another but
rather leads him to the threshold
of his own knowledge.” – Kahlil
Gibran.
Now it must be noted that
Pencak Silat in the Philippines is
Philsilat and that are about more
than 800 Silat styles in the whole
of South East Asia to date, that it
is of course because each style has
their own methods of training and
concept.
Take note for example that
some “Kung fu” like forms and
movements of Silat has a particular purpose such as a technique
in deception and not just for the
blows or kicks until the referee finds his “preferred correct” form before he awards
it to the deserving protagonist
and halts the clash. At this
point the player had already
been subjected to various
blows (although not valid)
before the “proper strike is
achieved and declared.
This is however, with
exceptions to that of the full
contact karate rules where in
purpose of artistic gestures which
many practitioners premised. He
believes that the “Langkah” and
“Pasang” (steps and hand gestures)
can relate to a form of deceiving
your opponent. A spiritual concept
translated to its material form…..
The so called “Tenaga Dalam”
(black magic) as some would believe.
Pasang
Talking with Rene Cristobal
When asked what Rene had
to say to someone that is in search
of a true and ideal martial art that
in their heart would be the martial
art for them and excel in. Rene
gave a simple answer: It’s always
a matter of an individual’s preference where one is most comfortable with. To him Pencak Silat has
the very ingredient to survive in
a street brawl, and because of its
deep concern for safety in training
while delving into the closest concept of sports competition…. All
one really needs is a good teacher
for a student to really appreciated
the art of Pencak Silat.
Pencak Silat has 3 methods
of learning / training.
shin guards and optional head
gear, it is the closest to reality in
combat you can get without getting seriously hurt of injured. You
are allowed to strike the armor
1. The artistic art of the style
“Sent”
2. The self-defense part of the art.
“Bela Diri”
3. Testing the water – the art
of combat sport. “Tanding” or
“Ohlaraga”
Rene believes combat sport
(Tanding) is explosive yet aware
of the practitioner’s safety. Protected by an armor suit, mouth guard,
Bela Diri
with full force (one necessity in
any kind of combat) compared to
other disciplines where in you can
only touch the “kimono” or avoid
excessive force. This according to
him can sometimes result to inaccurate referee or judge’s decision.
The so called proper” strike can
leave an element of confusion
(and probably an argument) as the
requirement states “proper form”
in execution of one single attack.
However, the “proper form” is not
always successfully executed in the
first strike resulting into numerous
a student is trained in body hardening… However, logic would
tell him that how could he defend
Accomplishments of the Heart
Rene Cristobal has also trained under Grandmaster Frank
Aycocho of Aycocho Martial Arts in Arnis-Kuntao to supplement his
skills in Pencak Silat. Master Frank a Filipino with a Peruvian origin
introduced the arts of Kali and Kuntaw to Rene. As a result, he earned
the gold medal in his first ever live stick competition in the Master’s
category...
himself comfortably in the streets
if he was already injured during
training.
Pencak Silat to him is an
“intelligent combat sport” because
it is not only about punching and
kicking but also catching the leg to
drop the opponent down while all
these is executed in 6 seconds or
successions of strikes. You also get
extra scores if you have successfully defended a strike and effectively
countered.
To avoid premature attacks
during the fight, the often misinterpreted fancy “hand gestures” before and after a skirmish has to be performed too!
This is to ensure discipline
among the fighters during the
fight and avoid a brawl.
Pencak Silat also has its
artistic side. Seni Jurus is similar to Wushu forms and Kata.
These forms are ideal if you
are practicing alone and with
no equipment. It’s extremely challenging to perform its 100
steps and accomplish it in just 3
minutes.
Rene Cristobal successfully achieved
“Advanced 5th level Black Belt in Arnis-Kuntao”
under the tutelage of Grandmaster Frank Aycocho
Currently Rene Cristobal has
attained level lll and served as “National Referee/Jury” at a Philsilat Sport
Association event sponsored by no less
than the Philippine Sports Commission.
He is a qualified/certified Pencak Silat
coach license lll and trains players to
compete in the national level. He also
appeared in international Martial Arts
movies and a motorcycle stunts. He
heart is divided between Pencak Silat
and Motorcycle Trail Riding (both
passions that he has nursed through his
younger age) but would never abandon
either of these two passions to date…
Referree
Pencak Silat National Team
The gentleman beside Rene is International referee and Coach Alex Patano.
Grandmaster Frank Aycocho, Rene, Pencak Silat 2011 World Silver Medalist Chris Yabut, South Korea Pencak Silat Founder Hyongki Cho
Motorcycle Trail Riding
Pencal Silat demonstration in one of the leading colleges
World Citi Colleges, Caloocan, Manila, Philippines
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