FMATalk LIVE!

We chat with Master Jon Escudero of Lightning Scientific Arnis Israel.  We'll be chatting about his upcoming US tour and the importance of weapons training in the modern world.

Visit his website:  http://www.lsai.co.il/

Our hosts will be Guro Federico Malibago, Guro John Bednarski, Guro Mark Basel and anyone else we can convince to join in on the madness.

Listen to this show live and streaming this Sunday at 8 PM Central Standard time at: http://mixlr.com/fmatalklive

This show is sponsored by http://philippinecombatarts.com http://bahadzubu.org/

We have Master Darren Tibon of Angel's Disciples and the USFMAF on the show.  Master Tibon comes from a long line of martial artists.  He began his martial arts study at the young age of seven, studying Goju-ryu karate.  In 1981 he began his training in the legendary art of Grandmaster Angel Cabales, Serrada Escrima, from advanced students under GM Cabales.  In 1987 he was privileged to study directly under GM Cabales further refining his knowledge and skill in Serrada Escrima.

With GM Cabales death, in 1991, Master Tibon and his good friend Master Jerry Preciado founded the Angel's Disciples Escrima Association focused on retaining the principles bestowed upon GM Cabales' students as passed down to Master Tibon.  Their association is also a powerhouse in the tournament scene, fielding many winning fighters throughout the California FMA tournament circuit.

He also hosts and promotes the Stockton Legacy Seminar and Tournament series, a series dedicated to honoring the various Grandmasters of Stockton. The next Stockton Legacy Seminar and Tournament is coming up this April 5th.

Visit his website:  http://www.angelsdisciples.net/

Find his DVD series at:  http://www.empiremediallc.com/

Our hosts will be Guro Federico Malibago, Guro John Bednarski, Guro Mark Basel and anyone else we can convince to join in on the madness.

Listen to this show live and streaming this Sunday at 8 PM Central Standard time at: http://mixlr.com/fmatalklive

This show is sponsored by http://philippinecombatarts.com http://bahadzubu.org/

Photo by Elle Gamboa

Coming up this week we are excited to have Virgil Mayor Apostol.  Virgil Mayor Apostol has dedicated himself to the research, development, and promotion of Filipino cultural and healing traditions. He descends from a paternal and maternal bloodline of healers and from the teachings of respected elders. He continues to refine the traditional healing art of Ablon as a science, while his research into Filipino spiritual practices rounds out his holistic approach to health and wellness. His background in the Filipino martial arts, especially those styles of Northern Luzon, and wooden club swinging exercises from India also enhance his practical knowledge as a healer.

His book, Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral Traditions, which is now in its second print, was released by North Atlantic Books back in 2010. He also coauthored Healing Hands of Hilot back in 1998. Apostol holds weekly classes in wooden club swinging, conducts healing workshops, participates in various cultural programs and projects, educational speaking engagements, and has enjoyed interviews for newspapers and magazines, blog-talk radio programs, and on TV.

Contact info:

Rumsua: Ancestral Traditions

www.rumsua.org

Unified Health Concepts www.UnifiedHealthConcepts.abmp.com/home

Our hosts will be Guro Federico Malibago, Guro John Bednarski, Guro Mark Basel and anyone else we can convince to join in on the madness.

Listen to this show live and streaming this Sunay at 8 PM Central Standard time at: http://mixlr.com/fmatalklive

This show is sponsored by http://philippinecombatarts.com http://bahadzubu.org/

We talk about the new Stick Fighting World championships with it's commissioner Datu Tim Hartman. Guro John gives us an overview of the deadly Piper Knife method from South Africa.    

Our hosts will be Guro Federico Malibago, Guro John Bednarski, Guro Mark Basel and anyone else we can convince to join in on the madness.

 Listen to this show live and streaming at: http://mixlr.com/fmatalklive

Listen on iTunes and give us a good rating and leave a comment!

This show is sponsored by http://philippinecombatarts.com http://bahadzubu.org/

Coming up this week we are excited to have Maha Guro Brian "Buzz" Smith - founder of American Maharlika Kuntaw Association one of the first organized Filipino Martial Arts associations in the US.  Buzz began his Martial Arts training in 1968 when he stumbled onto a Green Beret, home on leave from the Viet Nam conflict, training on a beach near his home. Buzz became an active training partner, playing the aggressor and learning defensive tactics while being thrown to the sandy beach.  In 1969 Buzz enlisted in the Navy and was stationed at the Great Lakes naval Training Center near Chicago.  On base, he discovered, was a Tae Kwon Do class.  All of his free time was spent there learning TKD.  By the time he finished his Naval Training School, Buzz had attained the rank of Green Belt.  His next duty station was a ship bound for the South China Sea (Viet Nam).  His overseas homeport was Subic Bay, Philippines, where he continued his studies by joining the base Kyokushin Kai Karate Club and the Combat Judo Club.  Within a year he had attained the rank of Green Belt in Karate and a Brown Belt in Judo.

During one of his liberty jaunts to the city of Olongapo, visiting one of the many dives that attract sailors,

Buzz was exposed to one of the Filipino Martial Arts in action.  A waiter was being threatened by a large sailor for stealing money from a table.  Buzz heard the sailor's friend tell the waiter to take the money as payment for their order of beer.  But before Buzz could come to the waiter's aid the small Filipino boy had the sailor on the floor with very little effort.  Without a fight the sailor had been beaten.  When quizzed on what style of Art had been used, the waiter said it was "Filipino", and that he was just a beginning student in the Art.  Buzz asked where to find the school and was told that it was for Filipino's only.  Intrigued, and not to lose this chance, Buzz continued to pester the Filipino to teach him or to take him to the school.  Realizing that Buzz was not the typical arrogant American and was truly interested, the Filipino agreed.  Buzz was taken to the Kuntaw Gym and introduced to the instructor, Carlito A. Lanada.  After many questions, Buzz was allowed to train at this school, the training hall or Bothoan at 109 Fendler Street in Olongapo.

For the next three years Mr. Smith would make this his home whenever he was not out on the line replenishing US ships in his capacity as a Navy sailor.  He was one of three Non-Filipino's allowed to do so.  Within three years Buzz had earned the rank of Black Belt, one of the first non-Muslim, non-Filipinos to be awarded a Black Belt in the Art.

Buzz left the Philippines with a charge from his Guro (Instructor) to propagate the Art and further his studies of the Filipino culture and systems.  In 1974 Mr. Smith returned home and determined not to lose what he had gained in the Philippines, began to train in his own back yard. Neighborhood kids would come and watch these workouts; soon he was teaching the art to several teens from his block. He expanded his teaching to the community center to allow for training during foul weather and to reach more youths. Soon the art was being offered as a community service class at the local high school. In 1974 Mr. Smith united his growing student following under the American Maharlika Kuntaw Association.

In 1979 Buzz was appointed the U.S. Director of the International Kuntaw Federation by Master Lanada, a position he held for three years.  In 1982 he established the first Filipino Martial Arts course ever offered for college credit in the U.S.A., at Northwestern Michigan College, in Traverse City.  He currently holds the rank of 7th Degree Black Belt in Kuntaw NG Filipinas,  he has been recognized as one of the top 10 competitors in the MICHIGAN KARATE CIRCUIT and the CAN-AM KARATE CIRCUIT since he started competing in 1975. An all-round competitor, Buzz competed in every division available; weapons, self-defense, board breaking, team demo, forms, and fighting and has proven his abilities. Buzz has been called the "Most prolific winner on the Can-Am Circuit" by its Director Rudy Timmerman.

Mr. Smith has been the most competitive representative of Kuntaw in the United States. He has, in the past, trained in Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. He has trained with Dan Inosanto the late Bruce Lee's top student and head of The Jeet Kune Do organization. He has held seminars in the Filipino arts in Florida, West Virginia, Ohio, and Canada.  He was one of four Americans to be invited to the 25th. anniversary of the Seibukan Dojo (Japan's largest Goju Ryu school) in Nobeoka, Japan. He went to participate in several televised demonstrations of martial arts skills from all over the world, and to teach his art.  Only a small number of representatives from Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, England, and the United States were invited. He has been an active competitor in the Michigan and Can-Am Karate Circuits since 1976. With over 1000 trophies and awards to attest to his ability. He also submitted a training program to the Council Lodge Institute for law enforcement and security officers of the Indian Nation. This program was accepted but was not implemented do to insurance problems. Training seminars were to be held in Las Vegas, Reno, New Mexico and Florida.  

Buzz also has been a stunt man and fight scene choreographer for several stage presentations and three motion pictures.  “Lost Treasure of  Sawtooth Island” with Ernest Borghnine, also in “Folklore”, a dark movie about powers from the earth and from nature., as well as Scourge a movie set in a post apocalyptic world where Buzz was one of the lead characters.                  

His list of Instructors is a veritable "Who’s Who".

Carlito Lanada - Co-founder Philippine Karate Association, Great Grand Master and Head Instructor of Kuntaw NG Pilipinas.

Remy Presas - Grand Master- Modern Arnis, Founder of Modern Arnis U.S.A.

Rene Latosa - Founder of Philippine Martial Arts Society.

Leo Gaje - U.S. Representative of NARAPHIL/NARUSA Pekiti Tirsia Kali/ Silat. Grand Master PTK

Dan Inosanto - Bruce Lee's protégé and current Head of the Jeet Kune Do System, world-renowned Filipino Martial Arts Expert.

Tim Tacket - JKD Vanguard Instructor.

Tom Bisio - World Champion full contact stick fighter.

Eric Lee - Once called "The Little King of Kata" Won Hop Kuen Do.

Pendekar  Paul De Thouars - Grand Maser of Serak System of Pentjak Silat.

           

Bobby Tabouda- Grand Master Balintawak

Buzz recently closed his school, the Northern Martial Arts Academy- a 4500 sq ft building , the largest martial arts school in northern Michigan, due to health issues.

“I am a warrior in the Filipino arts- not a master, just a foot soldier doing my best to understand, propagate, and promote that which stole my heart in 1970 and holds it still today.”

Visit his website for more information: http://www.kuntaw.org/

Our hosts will be Guro Federico Malibago, Guro John Bednarski, Guro Mark Basel and anyone else we can convince to join in on the madness.

 Listen to this show live and streaming at: http://mixlr.com/fmatalklive

This show is sponsored by http://philippinecombatarts.com http://bahadzubu.org/

Live (on tape) from the Philippines.  We have the privilege to spend the afternoon with Grandmaster Rene Tongson of ABANIKO TRES PUNTAS and Modern Arnis.   Also GM Tongson takes us over to GM Rodel Dagooc's o(Modern Arnis) home and factory where we get an impromptu tour.

GM Rene Tongson:  philippineclassicalarnis.com

GM Rodel's Website:  http://www.arnismartialarts.com/

Live (on tape) in the Philippines - Professor Felipe Jocano of the University of the Philippines and Lightning Scientific Arnis International.  We had a chance to visit the Professor at U. P. and have a tasty lunch and some good conversation.

Link to a bibliography for further research into Filipino history and culture:

http://home.earthlink.net/~federicomalibago/bibliography.html

Our hosts will be Datu Tim Hartman, Guro Federico Malibago, Guro John Bednarski, Guro Mark Basel and anyone else we can convince to join in on the madness

This show is sponsored by http://philippinecombatarts.com

This week we interview the Carin Brothers outside the doors of their training facility in Cebu, Philippines. The brothers are senior masters of the style of their father Vicente "Inting" Carin Sr.,

Eldest son of Inting. A GrandMaster in the Doce Pares system. Founder, Executive Director and Chairman of Eskrima Carin.

Namesake of Inting. Holds a Master rank in the Doce Pares system. Founder, Director and Chief Instructor of Eskrima Carin.

http://www.eskrimacarin.org/

Our hosts will be Guro Federico Malibago, Guro John Bednarski, Guro Mark Basel and anyone else we can convince to join in on the madness.

Listen to this show live and streaming at: http://mixlr.com/fmatalklive

This show is sponsored by http://philippinecombatarts.com http://bahadzubu.org/

This episode is a special recorded interview with SGM Diony Canete.  Dionisio belongs to the second generation of the  famous Martial Art advocates, the Cañete brothers of Cebu City, Philippines. He is the youngest son of GM Eulogio (Ylong) Cañete, the principal organizer of Doce Pares, who headed the organization since its founding in 1932 until his death in June 1988. 

Dionisio began his lessons in the Filipino Art in 1946 at the age of eight from his father and brother Iluminado, the eldest of the five children (4 sons and a daughter) of Eulogio and Irenea Aventurado.

He studied under GM Felimon "Momoy" Cañete and later with GM Ciriaco "Cacoy" Cañete, both brother of his father. He also trained with GM Vicenter Carin and Maximo Cañete.

In 1950, during the Golden age of Boxing in Cebu, he was attracted to the sport and for five years regularly sparred and trained with several good amateur and professional boxers at that time. In 1957, together with his brothers, Diony was introduced to Kodokan Judo.  In 1960, immediately upon his election as one of the officers of Doce Pares, rules on the acceptance of students and membership were liberalized. They started to promote and develop Arnis to a wholesome spectator's sporting event.

In 1969 at the age of 22, he passed the Bar Examinations and became a fully-fledged Lawyer.

In 1975, He initiated the formation of the Cebu Eskrima (Arnis) Association. All major Arnis clubs in Cebu banded together for the first time. In succeeding to organize and band together all the top Arnisadors, Diony, in effect, sort of "Civilized" the fighting-oriented Masters and curbed them to learn to co-exist for the sake of the Filipino Art.

Our hosts will be Guro Federico Malibago, Guro John Bednarski, Guro Mark Basel and anyone else we can convince to join in on the madness.

Listen to this show live and streaming at: http://mixlr.com/fmatalklive

This show is sponsored by http://philippinecombatarts.com http://bahadzubu.org/

Back from a three week journey to the Philippines, for our last live show of the year, join the show hosts as we talk about training and traveling in the Philippines.  We will not only discuss some of the upcoming recorded episodes of FMATalk Live, but also we will also go over tips for Westerners traveling to the Philippines.  Learn valuable lessons that our hosts have learned the hard way, on how to make your training trip to the Philippines memorable, affordable, and fun.  From what to bring, where to go, what to do, and what to bring back, we will help you make your next Philippine trip a once in a lifetime adventure.

Our hosts will be Guro Federico Malibago, Guro John Bednarski, Guro Mark Basel and anyone else we can convince to join in on the madness.

GMA Network Kapuso Foundation Link

http://www.gmanetwork.com/kapusofoundation/

Listen to this show live and streaming at: http://mixlr.com/fmatalklive

This show is sponsored by http://philippinecombatarts.com http://bahadzubu.org/