Dr Andrea Wheatley the new stickfighting 'CHAMPION!'
By Master Vincent Palumbo
On Saturday April 8th there was a tournament held in Wollongong of New South Wales, and it was sanctioned by the WORLD ESKRIMA KALI ARNIS FEDERATION representative, Mr Peter Mc Nalley. The tournament was the 2006 WEKAF INVITATIONAL NSW STICKFIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS, and it had some of the best stickfighters in the country come and compete at the games. The two representatives from South Australia were Master Vince Palumbo 8th Dan, and his student Dr Andrea Wheatley who went to fight in the women's stickfighting division at the tournament.
Vince Palumbo won 2 World Titles at the 2005 CACOY DOCE PARES ESKRIMA WORLD FEDERATION World Full Contact Stickfighting Championships in Los Angeles last year, he won the middleweight and the the openweight world titles after having 13 very demanding fights on the day! After giving a wonderful demonstration of skill, fitness and technique, he was also asked to make a guest appearance in the new movie which is yet to be released, 'CONFESSIONS OF A PIT FIGHTER' starring Hector Ecchavarria, and the movie was produced by Art Comacho.
It was actor Bob Wall from the Bruce Lee movie 'ENTER THE DRAGON' who introduced Vince to the main producer of this movie, and Mr Wall described Vince as a 'Real Deal' martial artist and fighter. Bob Wall played the part as the scar faced villain 'O'HARA', in the classic Bruce Lee movie!
Dr Andrea Wheatley is a student of Master Vince Palumbo, and she has been training for about 3 years now at the INTERNATIONAL COMBATIVE MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY on 96a Grange road at Welland in South Australia. She is one of Adelaide's leading OSTEOPATH specialists, and she has her clinic in North Adelaide! Dr Wheatley specializes in treating children that have suffered different kinds of head trauma's. Andrea has competed in the 2005 World Championships which were held in Los Angeles, and she just lost the contest in a great bout on a 'split decision' to the current female World Champion Stickfighter. Unfortunately when Andrea turned up in Wollongong to compete for the Women’s Stickfighting title, she was told that there were no female competitors for her to fight against, so feeling some what disappointed, she asked the organizers if she could compete in the Men's under 75kg division, then to her shock and dismay, the organizers discussed the idea with Master Vince Palumbo, and he also felt that she was more than capable of holding her own against the men in that division. (Andrea weighs 58kg!)
Andrea went on to have 6 fights on the day, she won the Double Stickfighting Division, and won a silver medal in the single stick fighting Division, and she also won a Bronze medal for her great effort in the Open Filipino Martial Arts Forms Division. Andrea received a standing ovation from the other competitors, and all of the crowd as well, they all acknowledged her tremendous warrior spirit on the day of the competition.
Both Andrea and Master Vince are preparing themselves to compete in the World Championships, which will be held here in Adelaide, in the month of November later on this year!
The special guest of Honor at this event, will be the youthful Grand MasterCacoy Canete of the Philippines, he is renowned for having over 100 'NO-RULES' stickfighting matches in his country, the 87 year old warrior is expected to make a demonstration of his incredible skills at the games!
Yours Faithfully,
Master Vincent Palumbo
8th Degree Black Belt in the Martial Arts.
Hidden But Not Lost
By Chris Tarwater
There has been a lot of interest in the Filipino Martial Arts community recently surrounding the third
“hidden” Presas Family
Grandmaster, Roberto Presas.
Having just returned from training in the Philippines with Grandmaster Roberto I can attest that the interest is more than just hype. As the founder of Hinigaran Arnis De Mano and the youngest brother of both GM Remy Presas and GM Ernesto Presas, GM Roberto Presas has kept the family art of Modern Arnis alive
and kicking in its homeland.
The label of Modern Arnis has been a bit confusing since the late Remy Preasas’ passing, and was disputed even before then. This is due to the fact that the label itself is the name of the Presas family STYLE of
which each of the brothers formed their own SYSTEM: Remy’s Modern Arnis, Ernesto’s Kombotan, and Roberto’s Hinigaran Arnis de Mano. They are all systems containing aspects of the Presas Modern Arnis style. So, one could in fact study Presas Modern Arnis without training in GM Remy’s style. In fact, this is not the only misunderstanding surrounding the Presas
brothers. A lot has been said about GM Roberto based on hearsay only…due mostly to that fact that no one has ever visited him in the Philippines for an interview (until myself and Guru Kurtis Goodwin did
just that).
You see, GM Roberto Presas has not been permitted to leave the Philippines since the death of GM Remy, a travel advisory has been issued labeling him a flight risk. This has become quite a hurdle for a GM who
wishes to share and promote his art outside of the Philippines. But, as the locals say “if Mohammed cannot come to you, you must go to Mohammed,” and this is exactly what we did.
While staying at the Presas family resort in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, (owned by Ernesto Presas where he holds summer camps every 2 years) we were treated to 3 fresh cooked meals a day and 4-6 hours of intense training in the 80-85 degree weather. Training in a traditional atmosphere which stressed respect, discipline, and dedication to the art, we trained until we could hardly stand and then we trained some more. GM would correct us—“footwork”, “faster”, “clean strikes”, “forward stance”, and
“control”. Especially control.
“Without control,” Grandmaster would often say, “you do not have the art. You have techniques but no style.” This is “Presas style, old style” he kept
reminding us. And while the system itself seems relatively basic it has been pared down for combat while maintaining the art…nothing is as simple as it appears.
Composed of 6 basic strikes, 6 blocks, 6 disarms, linear and circular footwork, single cane, double ane, empty hand, siniwalis, and espada daga techniques, the system even includes katas. The drills are taught in a systematic way meant to drill the basics into your body until they become instinct. Starting with static footwork and predetermined strikes and working up to circular/freestyle footwork coupled with random strikes, this is truly an art of control.
While drinking from the source of the well insures the freshest drink so to speak, traveling to the Philippines may not be practical for everybody. And although GM Roberto himself cannot leave the Philippines, he has named two Direct Representatives here in the states: Guru Kurtis Goodwin and Guro John Daniels both located in Portland, Oregon, and both having traveled to the Philippines to train with him. Anyone interested in training directly with GM Roberto or his representatives here in the states can contact:
API International Combat Arts
5347 NE Sandy Blvd.
Portland, OR 97213
http://www.kurtisgoodwin.com
National Martial Arts Day and 1st Annual API Stick Fighting TournamentOctober 15, 2005 in Portland Oregon
Instructors: Guru Kurtis Goodwin and Guro John Daniels
On October 15, 2005, API International Combat Arts Association participated in National Martial Arts Day. With a signed proclamation from City of Portland Mayor Tom Potter acknowledging 10/15/05 as National Martial Arts Day in Portland, this first year went off with a bang. The day started with a free seminar to the public. Participants included existing students with friends, others from neighboring schools and people from the local community. The instructors were Guru Kurtis Goodwin and Guro John Daniels. Each instructor brought a different style to the event. Guro John Daniels began the day with some stick drills. He started with warm ups with the stick then followed by several sets of sinawalis. Guru Kurtis Goodwin taught drills from Kuntao Silat. The first three moves of the first form were shown with many applications. People walked away with a smile on their faces. Next: The humble beginnings of stick fighting tournaments in Portland Oregon......... The next event was incredible. With a room full of spectators and fighters, API's first stick fighting tournament was born. With full gear, padded sticks and 3 one-minute rounds, our fighters gave it their all. The fighters had to juggle many tasks during these fights. What have I been taught and what has stuck? Will it be applied in a more intense/real situation? Not to mention, endurance and fighting with all that gear. All participating fighters being taught by Guru Goodwin and Guro Daniels brought a great representation of the Philippines to the ring: All 3 Presas Grandmasters, Grandmaster Cacoy Canete, Sifu Dan Inosanto, Sifu Al Dacascos, Datu Kelly Worden, to name a few. After 3 rounds, our winner was Keith Cox. It was refreshing to see the sportsmanship and respect our fighters had for their teachers and fellow fighters.
Guru Goodwin and Guro Daniels intend for the stick fighting tournaments to be a yearly event if not more. There are current talks with people out-of-state interested in participating in future events. With events coming up in January and June 2006, a resurgence of stick fighting is here in Portland, Oregon. For more information, please visit www.kurtisgoodwin.com. Stay tuned......
Grand Master Cacoy Canete’s
2005 World Eskrima Championships
On June 11th, an Australian Team of Full Contact Stickfighters led by their 8th Degree Black Belt Instructor and player/coach Master Vince Palumbo, all went to Los Angeles so as to go compete in the Cacoy Doce Pares World Federation’s Full Contact Stickfighting Championships held at the Taft High School Gymnasium complex, which is located in Woodland Hills, California. There were ‘ESKRIMA’ delegates representing their countries from all over the world, and they were there to compete in this ‘International’ full contact stickfighting event. This tournament also attracted some very famous martial arts personalities such as Bob Wall, Eric Lee, Richard Norton, Pete ‘Sugarfoot’ Cunningham, Cecil Peoples, Spice Williams, and the special guest of honour, legendary stickfighter from the Philippines, Supreme Grand Master Cacoy Canete 12th Dan. The fight action was fast and furious, and the skill level of the competitors was excellent in all of the weight divisions for male and female ‘ESKRIMADORS’ (Stickfighters!). Master Vince Palumbo had a very gruelling day of fighting, and he went on to win 2 world titles for the stickfighting, he won the middleweight and openweight world titles after 12 hard fights on the day. He also earned silver medals for open forms, self defence demonstration, knife fighting division, and the 3 man team sparring category. (Master Vince was named as best competitor of the tournament!) Master Vince’s student of 9 years, Miss Nadia Blake, won a world title in the women’s lightweight full contact stickfighting division, after 6 hard fights on the day. (Nadia works as a lawyer by day!) The Australian team consisted of Master Vince Palumbo, Nadia Blake, Mario Pastro, Litza Pastro, Mark Martini, Rochelle Martini, Andrea Wheatley, Vickie Simos and Vlad Mihal. (All the team earned placings in their respective men’s and women’s divisions and categories!) Master Vince Palumbo is one of the highest ranked Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima practicioners in the world, and he has been graded to the level of 8th Degree black belt in this Filipino martial art, he is a long time student of GM Cacoy Canete. When the 86 year old Grandmaster gave the onlooking crowd, an exciting demonstration of his style of Eskrima, he specifically asked for Master Vince Palumbo to assist him with his demonstration of his art, and the onlookers were all in awe of Master Vince’s amazing ability to fly through the air with the greatest of ease, and do excellent breakfalls on the concrete surface.(No matting!) So impressed by Master Vince’s efforts on the days events, were some people in the audience that are currently making a martial arts movie called “PIT FIGHTER” in the old Los Angeles Jail, and it stars Hector Echavarria and Armand Assante. This group asked if Master Vince would like to appear in the movie, and demonstrate some of his stickfighting skill for the camera, so he spent 17 hours on location, and he played the part of a baton wielding prison guard, and he had to rough up the lead actor Hector Echavarria. Just recently, Master Vince Palumbo was contacted by legendary martial arts actor from the movie “Enter the Dragon” fame, Mr Bob Wall, who played the part of the scar faced villain ‘O’Hara’! And he wrote wrote a special congratulations email to Master Vince, and he said, that he was very honoured to witness and meet a ‘REAL DEAL’ martial artist/fighter!
The
Question of Practicality
When
training with any kind of weapon, the question always seems
to come up “How practical is it to learn to use weapons
when in all likelihood, you will not have the weapon on
you if you were to be assaulted? Putting aside the fact
that many of us simply enjoy the training, and that many
DO use mental skills learned from any style of martial arts
training every day of their lives in their approach to every
aspect of their life, how can weapons training be directly
applied to a street situation? Lets assume that you don’t
have a stick on you and there is no similar item within
reach.
I remember
watching the late Grandmaster Remy Presas during his seminars
and camps and whipping through technique after technique
exclaiming “You must make the connection” and
“ You must make the translation!” I admit that
it took me some time to understand that these comments,
in fact, help to answer the question of practicality! Part
of the beauty of Arnis is that you can take the moves learned
with a stick and apply them empty-hand. The empty-hand application
may call for a strike, a lock, or a throw, but it is still
a direct translation from stick to empty-hand! The first
obstacle that I noticed as a teacher in making the connection
was simply getting students to understand that the direct
connection is even there!! Once a percentage of students
understand this connection, HOW do you get them to MAKE
the connection so they can do it themselves?? This is where
I noticed another large failing in many training curriculums.
An instructor can tell a student there is a connection,
but how do you lead the student to make it, and be able
to do it? Here are some suggestions:
In our
curriculum, after the student learns the stick vs. stick
disarms, we take the stick out of the students hand and
ask them to do the same disarms empty-hand vs. stick. They
must perform the disarm using the same concept as the stick
disarms. Usually, at first, they look pretty puzzled, but
after some thought, and some coaching, they begin to “make
the connection.” I help them to make the connection
in other ways by asking them to do an empty-hand form but
with sticks in their hands, do stick forms using other weapons,
and use sticks drills against other kinds of weapons. For
example, bo staff against arnis siniwali. I have found that
students that undergo this kind of training have far greater
insight into their training and the art than students that
simply memorize the moves. I remember that the professor
would show us an empty-hand technique, which seemed new
to me, and with a smile he would say “you know this
already.” With some thought, I started to be able
to relate it to a stick technique that he had already shown
us. During my first private lesson with Professor Presas,
he went on about the importance of the empty-hand although
many considered Arnis as only a “stick” art.
If you have just started your sticks training and you haven’t
“made the translation” yet, get excited!! Some
of your best training lies ahead!
Article
submitted by Frank Shekosky, a senior instructor in Modern
Arnis and co-founder of StickArts.com
"GURO
DANIELS inducted into the Northwest Martial Arts Hall of
Fame"
GURO
JOHN BRUCE DANIELS has been inducted into the Northwest
Martial Arts Hall of fame. A noted martial artist of over
20 years experience, Guro Daniels spends much of his time
training with various schools adding a unique blend and
quality to each schools' curriculum. Having trained for
years under the highest quality instructors Guro Daniels
is developing a growing following in the martial arts community.
Very few instructors have earned certification in as many
styles and systems under such names as Grand Master Ernesto
Presas, Grand Master Roberto Presas, Sifu Al Dacascos, Grand
Master Cacoy Canete and Sifu Dan Inosanto. The list doesn't
stop there. Guro Daniels is constantly training expanding
his knowledge and skills. He has had the honor of Grand
Master Ernesto Presas live in his house for four years and
has trained in the Philippines with Grand Master Roberto
Presas and other great Grand Masters. Guro Daniels has many
stories and experiences that captivate students and create
a picture of a world class martial artist that is very personable
and easy to talk with.
His
dedication to the arts is inspiring. He is featured in the
June edition of INSIDE KUNG FU magazine for his work to
help bring back the Native American combative arts to the
Lone-Pine Paiute-Shoshone Reservation. Guro Daniels next
seminar will be at the reservation April 24th from 4pm to
8pm. INSIDE KUNG FU magazine will be there to interview
him and cover this event! All are welcome to attend. For
more info please call the Ridgecrest OVDC Tribal TANF site
at 760-375-9363.
"Combat
vs Art"
In the
Filipino martial arts you have the translation of techniques
from weapon to empty hand. This is one of the unique qualities
we have, and one that sets the Filipino systems apart from
others. You use the same techniques, weapon vs weapon, empty
hand vs weapon, empty hand vs empty hand, with little or
no modifications. What a beautiful, compact, effective fighting
system.
The
better one sees the translations, the more one sees. The
simpler it gets. The more efficient, thus more effective.
Simplicity is one of the keys for effective combat. The
more complicated the moves, the less likely it will work.
You must stay focused on the end result, maximum damage,
with the least amount of effort. Damage incorporated!
And
then there is the most important translation of all. Translating
the "Art" to the "Combat"! What came
first, the Art or the Combat! There is no debate here!
The
art came after and for a few reasons. One being that instructors
wanted to teach for a living, and wanted to appeal to the
masses. The people would not be going into combat, they
would be just training for recreation. If the training was
to hard and intense, with contact and risk of injury, only
few would be willing and able to continue with the training.
Thus the "Art" was born. Make no mistake about
it, there IS a difference from the "Art" and the
"Combat".
The
art is a more passive way of expressing technique and training.
It is where you will see the more complicated moves and
techniques put together in sophisticated drills and forms.
Being practiced stick to stick, no contact. Beautiful to
look at when expressed by one proficient in the "Art".
Oh you would be amazed at what some can do with the stick.
Like a chess match, you do this, then i'll do this, and
punish you with this, counter for counter, and so forth.
Like an intricate puzzle. Amazing to watch! And it draws
many people, they want the same proficiency with the stick,
and after all, theres no intimidation of getting hit! The
emphasis is on the "Art".
But
how do you know you can fight, if you never fight!
The
"Combat" on the other hand is ALOT different.
You cant prepare for combat by training the art. This will
become apparent very fast, when one steps up and fights
with minimal equipment, fencing mask, gloves and real sticks
and experiences the adrenaline rush, when the opponent in
front of you is trying to take your head off for REAL! Or
when you take a full power shot to the body......... Thats
gonna leave a mark!
This
is where you discover alot about yourself, and the realalities
of combat. Its only a part of the training, but an important
part. The realalities you learn from these experiences flow
back to your other training, and you make proper adjustments
so that even your basic fundamentals can be more realisticly
and effectively practiced. From your basic body dynamics
of striking, blocking and footwork, to your flow drills
and your tapi-tapi. The way you train is the way you will
react.
Some
may say that to train like this is barbaric at best, and
lacks technique. I say it is the REAL arnis, more pure.
Real fighting isnt pretty, and executed with perfect technique.
Oh theres technique involed, most importantly the real and
combative application of technique.
"Dedication.
Determination, Destruction" Guro Andrew "Tattoo"
Filardo M.F.A. Academy, New York
A.P.I.
Blademaster’s Course
“Play
with it and have fun” is the simple concept underlying
Guru Kurtis Goodwin’s approach to teaching the art
of the knife. Combining 20+ years of experience with blade
systems such as Silat, Arnis, and Kali, Guru Goodwin teaches
traditional aspects of each system as he has learned them
as well as his own signature style. More specifically, his
monthly seminars alternate between single knife, double
knife, reverse grip, double reverse grip, empty hand, etc,
etc, etc. They consist of techniques alternating between
patterns taught by Presas family Arnis and those taught
by Guru Chas Clements, Guru Steve Gartin, Guro John Daniels
and Sifu Dan Inosonto.
Most
recently I attended one of the Blademaster’s seminars,
and we began with a basic 6 count pattern borrowed from
Master James Keating (of COMTECH), which allows you to get
comfortable alternating your grip between consecutive strikes
through simple techniques such as the gate swing. This warm
up drill flowed nicely into the Poison Flower Djuru from
Kuntao Silat which deals with multiple attackers from multiple
angles and also allows for alternate grips such as reverse
grip. Once we were comfortable with the two drills, Guru
Goodwin explained the concept of Kembangen. Kembangen is
your personal expression with the blade, and he encouraged
us to add aspects of the six count drill and the Poison
Flower Djuru to our own Kembangen.
Following
this we paired up to work on Palasut and Hubud drills, both
of which represented Presas style Arnis and Sifu Inosanto’s
Kali. In Palasut we return to the reverse grip, and learn
to strike and redirect an armed attacker while anticipating
another strike. Hubud taught us how to parry with a knife
and follow up with an attack of our own. Guru Goodwin then
suggested both of these techniques also be “played
with” and mixed between with the six count drill and
the Poison Flower Djuru. The concept of Kembangen is very
important to Guru Goodwin. After each technique we studied
during the seminar he would allow us time to “play
with it” and apply aspects we felt comfortable with
to what we already had. The Blademaster’s Course is
very welcoming because of this sense of acceptance of different
styles. No one style is taught as the best, rather each
is seen as having something to offer to the whole, allowing
any practitioner to study and apply what Guru Goodwin has
to offer regardless of their primary style. Amazingly, he
is able to accomplish this without risking the integrity
of any of the systems he teaches and for that alone he has
my respect and attention.
Chris
Other
Great Articles
www.fmadigest.com
Sinawali-Kali's
Devastating Double Stick Fighting Method
by Dan Dansenburg
The
Crippling Kicks of Escrima-Sticks and Kicks Give Filipino
Stylists a Deadly One-Two Punch
by Mark V. Wiley
Way
of the Warrior Arnis Grandmasters, Part 1: Crispulo Atillo
by Keith Vargo
Casillas'
Corner-The Art Must Live
by Graciela Casillas
Dan
Inosanto Remembers Leo Giron
by Antonio E. Somera
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