Dedicated to the Filipino Martial Arts and the Culture of the Philippines Vol 7 No 5 2010 Contents FMAdigest Publishers Desk Publisher Grandmaster Gonzalez of Decuerdas Eskrima 2 Steven K. Dowd - Reflection of Grandmaster Gonzalez and DeCuerdas Eskrima - Respect FMAdigest Representatives An Interview with Adam James 9 Marc Lawrence Types of Arnis de Mano 15 In Search of Filipino Martial Arts 19 Farewell, Grandmaster Ben T. Largusa (1926 - 2010) 27 Remembered, Master Christopher Ricketts (1955 - 2010) 31 Great Grandmaster Ernesto Presas (1945 - 2010) 33 FMA Past Events 35 Voices of the Masters: Warrior Arts of the Philippines 40 Contributors Jeff Finder Mike Cardenas Ron Saturno Emmanuel Querubin Marc Lawrence Zena Sultana Babao M & M Productions 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 pub- The articles are the prop- lisher or editor. erty of the author’s that wrote them We solicit comments and/or suggestions. Articles are also welcome. and cannot be used without the The authors and publisher of this online magazine are not responsible permission of the author. for any injury, which may result from following the instructions contained in the The FMAdigest is the magazine. Before embarking on any of the physical activates described in the property of Steven K. Dowd and is magazine, the reader should consult his or her physician for advice regarding for the promulgation and promo- their individual suitability for performing such activity. tion of the Filipino martial arts and the Philippines. The information in the FMAdigest is a compilation of many sources. If there NO issue can be printed is any misinformation or information that is not given the proper credit, please and Sold for Monies, without the contact us. express permission of the Owner FMAdigest 1297 Eider Circle Fallon, NV 89406 and Publisher Steven K. Dowd. (775) 423-3253 [email protected] Publishers Desk Kumusta The FMAdigest thought to put this extra regular issue out for the end of the year clean up of last articles. First is Grandmaster Art Gonzalez and the Decuerdas - Diestro Fighting System who is one of the most secre- tive of the major Escrima lineages in Stockton, California and has laid low long enough and is ready to come out and share his knowledge with practitioners. Adam James the most senior student of Leo Fong discusses with the FMAdigest how it is to train with Leo Fong and how the Filipino martial arts has been intertwined with Leo Fongs art of Wei Kuen Do. Emmanuel Querubin discusses the types of Arnis de Mano, how this may bring about a strong basic concept to the Filipino Martial Arts Education for all practitioners to benefit in teaching new, present, and up- dating experienced students. Marc Lawrence took a trip to Hawaii to search and meet Filipino martial artists, what he has put togeth- er are practitioners that answered the call to present a little bit about their art. The passing of Grandmaster Ben Largusa and Master Christopher Ricketts just days apart from each other at the beginning of October is a great loss to the Filipino martial arts community. Zena Babao talks about some of the past experiences of Grandmaster Ben Largusa and the FMAdigest has taken some of the experi- ences of Master Christopher Ricketts as told to us. Also to mention it would be good to download Vol7 No1 and read the interview that David Foggie contributed to the FMAdigest, it is very interesting. Great Grandmaster Ernesto Presas passing away is another great name in the Filipino martial arts and will be missed by many. There were only a couple past events that were written up and passed along to the FMAdigest. However there were quite a few events that went on in September and October, but no one contributed any information on them. As you will notice there are no columns in this issue, since it was decided to put this issue out in such a short time. However visit the FMA Pulse (www.FMAPulse.com) and you will find the most up-to-date news and MyFMA.net (www.MyFMA.net) to see what everyone is talking about. Maraming Salamat Po Grandmaster Art Gonzalez and the Decuerdas - Diestro Fighting System By Jeff Finder Historic Photos Providerd By: James Muro Some people have a commanding the most influential manongs to es- presence. When they walk into a tablish and propagate the Filipino room people notice them. Arthur martial arts here in America. Ca- Gonzalez has that kind of effect, bales and Tenio had great respect moving easily with deliberate for each other, and in fact Serrada purpose. This is no coincidence, is one of the 18 arts studied by for Arthur is the Grandmaster of Tenio in creating his Decuerdas Decuerdas Escrima and the Decu- system. erdas-Diestro Fighting System, While the two styles are until recently the most secretive considered by some to be “brother of the major Escrima lineages in arts”, sharing the same numbering Stockton, California. system and emphasizing com- Escrima is deeply embed- pactness and efficiency of move- ded in the roots of the Stockton ment, Decuerdas is even more fang and disarm the opponent. Not community. Art Gonzalez remi- direct than Serrada. This is an art incidentally, the tip of the defend- nisces about the time as a teen- designed to kill quickly, whether er’s stick might end up embedded ager when he bought a martial art one-on-one or against multiple in the throat of the attacker off of magazine, and to his amazement opponents, so situational aware- the same move. realized that two of the Masters ness is important. This is why fast, One feature of Decuerdas featured in it worked for his father, simple counters are emphasized is the way in which they break who was a farm contractor. Those as one cannot waste time squar- down timing and rhythm into one, two men were Angel Cabales ing off against one person in such two or three beat drills. A one-beat of Serrada, and Gilbert Tenio of an encounter. The fastest disarm might be an intercepting punch, Decuerdas, recognized as two of is a strike, allowing one to finish where the move is both offensive or move on, and drills are and defensive at the same time. devised to teach position- A two-beat could be a parry and ing within the flow of punch combination, while a three- multiple person attacks. beat will be the familiar Filipino These are practiced under martial arts troika of parry/grab/ a variety of environmental strike. There is even a zero-beat conditions to better pre- timing, which simply evades and pare students for possible strike, completely bypassing the real-world encounters. opponent’s attempted attack. Movements are While outsiders think of extremely simple yet dev- Filipino martial arts in terms of the astatingly effective. For stick, Decuerdas is indeed a com- example, an outside de- plete art. Besides the single stick, fense with a stick against it has a strong emphasis on espada a number one strike could y daga. Training also encompasses be a simple shift offline, use of knife, sword, shield, spear accompanied by a single and flexible weapons. Empty hand powerful strike downward techniques are taught for the street, Gilbert Tenio and Art Gonzalez to immediately kill the 2 particularly against armed assault, one’s boundaries. Clarity comes when one may not have a weapon from understanding concepts of one’s own available. Watching and underlying principles, creat- Grandmaster Gonzalez in motion ing infinite possibilities rather reminds me strongly at times of top than a finite set of techniques. Kenpo/Kajukenbo practitioners, Art Gonzalez trained then a moment later has me think- under both Grandmaster Gilbert ing of Silat. Tenio and his designated suc- Though the art is designed cessor John Eliab for 22 years. for deadly encounters, Grand- Arthur describes them as having master Gonzalez emphasizes the very different temperaments. philosophy that having the power Gilbert, he says, was very rough, to kill allows one the capacity to be someone who delighted in dem- compassionate as well. Since every onstrating the effective power Grandmaster Tenio, Art Gonzalez, hit targets either muscles, joints of his art. John Eliab, on the other and John Eliab or organs, it is just as important hand, was more refined and articu- to know how to fix the effects of late, and was responsible for help- for which he alone is responsible. strikes, locks, chokes and throws ing develop the style into a more His promotion was not as how to apply them in the first systematized teaching methodol- without some controversy. Due to place, and so Decuerdas is deeply ogy. Art was also exposed to many Decuerdas’ underground nature, versed in the Filipino healing art of of the old Eskrimadors whose Art Gonzalez was not well known. Hilot. Conversely, familiarity with names have been lost in the mists Besides Decuerdas, Stockton has human anatomy through studying of time, who lived in the Stockton multiple schools of Bahalana and healing techniques makes fighting area and were invited by Gilbert Serrada, as well as mixed systems skills that much more dangerous. Tenio to visit his academy to share like Dentoy Revillar’s SLD (which Beyond the physical as- their skills and experiences with stands for Serrada, Largo Mano pects, Decuerdas also takes into his students.