KAPISANANG MANDIRIGMA» Guro Bud Balani

Remembering Guro Bud Balani – Rest In Peace – Fundraiser

KM1 — Thu, 18 May 2023 08:37:48 +0000

DONATE:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/remembering-bud-balani

Remembering Guro Bud Balani

My name is Johnathan Balani, and it’s with great sadness that I’m announcing the passing of my father, Hospecio “Bud” Balani Jr. who unexpectedly and tragically passed away on May 11, 2023 at the age of 60 years old.

To those who knew him he was a great man, teacher, loyal friend, and coworker. To our family he was a great son, brother, uncle, godfather and most of all a great father. He left behind his three brothers (Phil, John, and Dale), his mother Helly, and above all his Son, Johnathan. He was dealing with a great amount of medical issues these past few years following a near fatal motorcycle accident in 2019. One year ago Bud moved to Las Vegas with Johnathan to go be with Buds mother. Beforehand, he worked as a Local 80 Motion Pictures Studio Grip for 20+ years and was a martial arts instructor of Lameco Escrima & Kali lustrisimo.

Bud leaves behind a community that has been forever touched by his kindness, passion, and unmatchable hardheadedness and love for his family, friends, and colleagues. His impact on the lives will continue to be with us for years to come. Bud will be deeply missed, his spirit will live on through the memories and countless lives he has touched throughout his journey.

This fundraiser is to help our family with covering the funeral costs, memorial services, and transportation to get him back to Los Angeles from Las Vegas to be laid to rest with his late wife and Johnathans mother, Cindy Balani. Our family and friends really want to make it possible to give Bud the service that he deserves. For anyone in the position and/or willing to donate to our cause, any amount of money helps and it will be appreciated tremendously by me and my family.

Thank you greatly.

More About Guro Bud Balani:

http://backyardeskrima.com/?cat=46

https://mandirigma.org/?p=1435

Los Angeles City Hall Celebrate 117th Philippine Independence Day/Araw ng Kalayaan with Kapisanang Mandirigma. June 12th, 2015. Los Angeles, California.

KM1 — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 21:59:37 +0000

Los Angeles City Hall Celebrate 117th Philippine Independence Day/Araw ng Kalayaan with Kapisanang Mandirigma/Mandirigma.org. June 12th, 2015. Los Angeles, California.

Los Angeles City Hall to celebrated the 117th Philippine Independence Day or Araw ng Kalayaan. The event was organizes by the Los Angeles Association of City Employees. Kapisanang Mandirigma/Mandirigma.org demonstrated a sample of the Warrior Arts of the Philippines at the event. In particular the Arts of Lameco Eskrima and Kali Ilustrisimo. This is the second time Kapisanang Mandirigma has appeared at L.A. City Hall. The last time was for the official dedication of L.A. Historic Filipinotown in 2002. The first official Filipinotown in the country. Guro Bud Balani and Guro Dino Flores was assisted by Guro Johnathan Balani, Mark Ramos and Daniel Parker. Their performance was after the flag ceremony in the main building forecourt. The Flag c Ceremony consisted of Filipino-American law enforcement officers parading with various flags of the Philippine Revolution. Los Angeles has the largest population of Filipinos outside of the Philippines. Mabuhay Ang Pilipinas!

City of Los Angeles official dedication to the celebration.

The demo team with Master Joe Tan of Modified Tapados/Vinias Eskrima Systems.

Guro Bud Balani, Dr. A.S. Flores, Guro Dino Flores

Demo Team in action headed by Guro Johnathan Balani.

Event program.

Guro Dino and Guro Johnathan demonstrating single sword techniques as Guro Bud narrates.

Filipino-American Law Enforcement Officers parading various flags of the Philippine Revolution.

The Eskrima Demo team.

Guro Bud Balani and Guro Dino Flores.

Filipino-American Law Enforcement Officers parading various flags of the Philippine Revolution.

Los Angeles City Hall and L.A. Sister Cities.

Photos property of Mandirigma.org. Photographer Dr. A.S. Flores.

Lameco Eskrima Mexico Camp 2014 in FMA Informative Newspaper – Vol3 No11 – 2014

KM1 — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 07:09:57 +0000

Lameco Eskrima Mexico Camp 2014 in FMA Informative Newspaper – Vol3 No11 – 2014

Lameco Eskrima S.O.G. in Mexico. October 3, 4, 5 – 2014.

KM1 — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 09:55:02 +0000

Lameco Eskrima S.O.G. in Mexico. October 3, 4, 5 – 2014.

Guro Dino from Kapisanang Mandirigma reflects on teaching Eskrima at the Non-Profit organizations in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles.

KM1 — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 09:51:35 +0000

Guro Dino from Kapisanang Mandirigma reflects on teaching Eskrima at the Non-Profit organizations in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles.

When our teacher Punong Guro Edgar Sulite passed away, the group wanted to honor his work but in the least commercial way possible. We weren’t sure how we could do it…and looking back I am not sure why we wanted to do it that way. One day after one of our countless demos around the city, Aki from PWC approached me to do a history workshop at Glendale City College. Afterwards she asked if I would like to use the art to help at risk to kids to gangs violence and drug use. My first reaction was “are you sure?” I was thinking we are kind of a rough bunch and we are wielding sticks, knives and swords and were more like a gang ourselves. I didn’t think it was exactly appropriate at the time. I was reminded that the Rampart district (where the movie “Training Day” was set) had the highest murder rate in the city at the time and was kind of rough itself with numerous hyper violent gangs such as MS13 and 18th St. claiming the area as their turf. Thus I half heartedly accepted. Anyway, to cut a long story short – our recruiter was right. We had a surprisingly high success rate with the youth. Just a few minor glitches like gunshot wounds, knife fights, comas and molotov cocktails on roofs…but thats another story.From what I can gather, most of the rougher kids changed their ways….after maybe a little backyard method persuasion techniques. Two things were very effective. 1.Military style drilling, rules and lots of push ups for the whole class if someone was out of line – Guro Bud was an expert at this method. 2. Lots and lots of sparring. Be it Eskrima, Grappling, Kickboxing etc. If they were very bad they would have to spar everyone in class ending with me. It was truly a transformative and effective method…but probably illegal in several states…lol. Some parents told us their kids grades had gone up. Another parent told us that a school teacher said to her that her son was “The most moral student in the school” (since joining the program)…still makes me laugh.

We had an amazing experience doing volunteer work with those great Non-Profit Community organization like SIPA, PWC and FilAm ARTS. The at risk youth positive diversion program from gangs and drugs we taught from 1997 to 2004 was a big learning experience for us all. I am proud that when government funding was low or disappeared, we didn’t let it stop us. Instead myself, Guro Arnold A. Noche and Guro Bud Balani Jr. offered adult classes at the centers at an affordable rate and used the proceeds to assist in funding the youth programs. One of the adult students even got Asics to sponsor us for a semester and we got some cases of their wrestling shoes. It was a grand adventure that took us far and wide. What more could you ask for, help a few kids out, teach a few adults some culture and still train in the art you love. All that was missing was a small paycheck for the Eskrima staff…lol.

It’s funny to think that all those non-martial artist participants who went through the program where forced to learn our Eskrima lineage and history. They were exposed to Lameco and the teacher in our lineage such as GM Ilustrisimo and his 5 Pillars (GM Tony Diego, GM Yuli Romo, GM Rey Galang, GM Christopher Ricketts and PG Edgar Sulite), GM Caballero and various other arts over the years.

Our first guest instructor at the program was none other than the legendary Grandmaster Doc Lengson – which was an incredible honor for me. Not only was GM Dr. Guillermo B. “Doc” Lengson one of Master Ricketts teachers. He was also the one who advised GM Presas to add “Modern” to Arnis. GM Lenson also advised PG Sulite to use the title” Punong Guro”. Punong Guro was the first to use this term in the Martial Arts, all others since were somehow inspired by his usage. GM Lengson was the first to feature FMA on Philippine TV. One of the TV shows had a 14 year old Master Ricketts representing Sagasa Kickboxing fighting a seasoned professional boxer. With another legend GM Roland Dantes as a judge.

Other guest instructors at our program included GM Taboada, GM Gaabucayan, GM Manaois, GM Olavides, Guro Ariel Mosses, Guro Hans Tan and half of Lameco SOG. What a journey. Maybe this is why the kids responded.

Some items of recognition for our volunteer work back in the days of seemingly limitless energy.

Photo Archive: Bakbakan Kali Seminar with Master Rey Galang at the Inosanto Academy, 1997.

KM1 — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 08:39:48 +0000

Bakbakan Kali Seminar with Master Rey Galang at the Inosanto Academy, 1997.

Photo courtesy of John Jacobo.

Members of Lameco SOG with Master Rey Galang and John Jacobo from Bakbakan New Jersey. Bakbakan Kali Seminar at the Inosanto Academy in Marina Del Rey, California.

Lameco Eskrima S.O.G. in Mexico. October 3, 4, 5 – 2014.

KM1 — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 11:49:42 +0000

Lameco Eskrima S.O.G. in Mexico. October 3, 4, 5 – 2014.

Kapisanang Mandirigma founders Guro Ariel Flores Mosses, Guro Arnold Noche, Guro Bud Balani and Guro Dino Flores mentioned in the Virtual Filipino Martial Arts Museum’s “Top 200 Living Guro’s” List

KM1 — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 00:52:58 +0000

Kapisanang Mandirigma founders Guro Ariel Flores Mosses, Guro Arnold Noche, Guro Bud Balani and Guro Dino Flores mentioned in the Virtual Filipino Martial Arts Museum’s “Top 200 Living Guro’s” List

Exerpt from:

http://www.filipinomartialartsmuseum.com/index.htm

Welcome to the Filipino Martial Arts Museum, the virtual museum and repository of knowledge of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) systems, styles, masters, history, literature and virtual artifacts. The writing ranges from incisive to light-hearted to even controversial, and the literary and virtual exhibits encompass all aspects of Filipino martial arts systems and disciplines including arnis, kali, eskrima, dumog, buno, hilot and other indigenous arts of the Philippines.

Authors are well-known experts in their fields as well as volunteer writers. Article submissions are encouraged. The authors of these articles have consented to have their articles reprinted and republished in whole or in part, as long as the author’s name, website reference address and this website are acknowledged.
I would like this site to become the most comprehensive online reader-written encyclopedia on FMA. It is meant to be a contemporary or living as well as an archival museum. Send your submissions for The Top 200 Living Masters, The Top 100 FMA Schools and other FMA Museum Who’s Who series, and then see your submissions published online. We also accept original articles and online book publications.

http://www.filipinomartialartsmuseum.com/index.htm

http://www.filipinomartialartsmuseum.com/FMA_masters-systems-schools/FMAguros-living-list.html

1 Dino Flores Lameco Los Angeles, CA, USA
2 Hospecio Balani Lameco Los Angeles, CA, USA
3 David Gould Lameco
4 Leonard Trigg Lameco
5 Arnold Noche Lameco Los Angeles, CA, USA
6 John Jacobo Bakbakan Maryland, USA
7 Roger Agbulos Lameco North Hills, CA, USA
8 Marc Denny Dog Brothers CA, USA
9 Eric Knauss Dog Brothers CA, USA
10 Tim Hartman Modern Arnis USA
11 Kelly Worden Modern Arnis WA, USA
12 Myrlino Hufana Modern Arnis WA, USA
13 Jeffrey Delaney Modern Arnis Canada
14 Randi Schea Modern Arnis
15 Jay de Leon Modern Arnis, Los Angeles, CA, USA
16 Alvis Solis Seneres Arnis TX, USA
17 Ron Balicki Inosanto Kali Los Angeles, CA, USA
18 Diana Balicki Inosanto Kali Los Angeles, CA, USA
19 Ramon Rubia San Miguel Eskrima CA, USA
20 Mel Lopez Villabrille-Largusa
21 Greg Alland Dekiti-Tirsia-Siradas
22 Mary Ann Presas Modern Arnis San Pablo, CA, USA
23 Demetrio Presas Modern Arnis San Pablo, CA, USA
24 Remy Presas, Jr. Modern Arnis San Pablo, CA, USA
25 Tom Bolden Modern Arnis NY, USA
26 Jerome Barber Modern Arnis NY, USA
27 Percival “Val” Pableo Doce Pares
28 Graciella Casillas CA, USA
29 Raffy Pambuan Pambuan Tulisan Arnis FL, USA
30 Steven Dowd Arnis Balite Fallon, NV, USA
31 Hock Hochheim Modern Arnis, Kombatan TX, USA
32 Jorge Penafiel Balintawak Cincinatti, OH, USA
33 Larry Alcuizar Doce Pares Los Angeles, CA, USA
34 Felix Valencia Lameco Santa Barbara, CA, USA
35 Anthony Davis Cabales Serrada CA, USA
36 Sultan Uddin Cabales Serrada CA, USA
37 Darren Tibbon Cabales Serrada CA, USA
38 Jason Inay Inayan Eskrima San Jose, CA, USA
39 Jena Inay Inayan Eskrima San Jose, CA, USA
40 Ray Dionaldo Sayoc Kali FL, USA
41 Edwin Mosqueda Doce Pares
42 Nate Defensor Doce Pares Chicago, IL, USA
43 Conrado Manaois Manaois Eskrima Los Angeles, CA, USA
44 Dan Anderson Modern Arnis WA, USA
45 Rocky Pasiwk Modern Arnis
46 Ron Harris Original Filipino Tapado New Orleans, LA, USA
47 Tim Waid Pekiti-Tirsia TX, USA
48 Leslie Buck Pekiti-Tirsia TX, USA
49 Erwin Ballarta Pekiti-Tirsia TX, USA
50 Gaudencia Ruby Comjuka TX, USA
51 Phil Rapagna Lameco, Inosanto Kali Los Angeles, CA, USA
52 Victor Gendrano Inosanto Kali Los Angeles, CA, USA
53 Stephen Aron Inosanto Kali Glendora, CA, USA
54 Menandro “Anding” de Leon Arnis de Leon Garland, TX, USA
55 Jaime Abregana Hawaii, USA
56 Vincent Cabales Cabales Serrada CA, USA
57 Vincent Cabales, Jr. Cabales Serrada CA, USA
58 Carlito Bonjoc Mata sa Bagyo CA, USA
59 Mark Wiley Cabales Serrada
60 Tom Bisio San Miguel Eskrima
61 Rafael Kayanan Sayoc Kali
62 Tom Kier Sayoc Kali
63 Jeff Chung Sayoc Kali
64 Paul Vunak Inosanto Kali CA, USA
65 Burton Richardon Inosanto Kali HI, USA
66 Steve Grody Lameco
67 Steve Tarani
68 Blaise Loong
69 Cass Magda CA, USA
70 Rick Tucci Inosanto Kali Princeton, NJ
71 James A. Keating Comtech Walla Walla, WA, USA
72 Ed Goco Galang Las Vegas, NV, USA
73 Michael Replogle Modern Arnis USA
74 Felix Roiles Doce Pares Los Angeles, CA, USA
75 Spencer Gee Pananandata NY, USA
76 Bruce Ricketts Kali Ilustrisimo San Diego, CA, USA
77 Maurice Gatdula CA, USA
78 Mar de Leon Tumba-tumba Arnis San Diego, CA, USA
79 Chris Siangco Pedoy Derobio Eskrima San Diego, CA, USA
80 Ernie Reyes, Jr. San Jose, CA, USA
81 Alex France Kombatan CA, USA
82 Alex Ercia Kombatan CA, USA
83 Arthur Gonzalez De Cuerdas Stockton, CA, USA
84 Teofisto “Toby” Tobosa Tobosa Kali/Eskrima Hawaii, USA
85 Bram Frank Modern Arnis FL USA
86 Jeff “Stickman” Finder Cabales Serrada CA, USA
87 Dennis Servaes Cabales Serrada CA, USA
88 Khalid Khan Cabales Serrada CA, USA
89 Eddie Lastra Lastra System CA, USA
90 Rico Acosta NY, USA
91 Carl Atienza Atienza Kali NJ, USA
92 Allain Atienza Atienza Kali NJ, USA
93 Apollo Ladra Pasadena, MD, USA
94 Bobby Ladra Pasadena, MD, USA
95 Pedro Israel IMB WA, USA
96 Madeline Coffin Cabales Serrada Seattle, WA, USA
97 Michael G. Davies Cabales Serrada Sacramento, CA, USA
98 Ariel Mosses Las Vegas, NV, USA
99 Jon Cuenca Las Vegas, NV, USA
100 Victor Rivera
101 Christopher Turla LESKAS WA, USA
102 Tony Somera Bahala Na CA, USA
103 Richard Van Donk De Cuerdas CA, USA
104 Wileen Arellano Bakbakan NJ, USA
105 James Muro Inayan Eskrima San Jose, CA, USA
106 Jon Ward Inayan Eskrima San Jose, CA, USA
107 Cory Hanosh Inayan Eskrima San Jose, CA, USA
108 Rupert Bisquera Cacoy Doce Pares San Jose, CA, USA
109 Ron Lew Cacoy Doce Pares San Jose, CA, USA
110 Carlos Patalinghug Cacoy Doce Pares USA
111 Virgilio Apostol Hilot CA, USA
112 Leo Fong CA, USA
113 David James Vee-Arnis-Jitsu NY, USA
114 Arsenio “Sonny” Padilla Kali Ilustrisimo Canada
115 Badger Jones Modern Arnis, Siling Labuyo Arnis Canada
116 Vic Ferrer Sikaran Saskatoon, Canada
117 Romelle Espiritu Kali De Leon Canada
118 Dan Rutano Estokada Kali Canada
119 Oliver Salvador Estokada Kali Canada
120 Gil Lafantasie Estokada Kali Canada
121 Dante Alhambra Alhambra Arnis and Sikaran Canada
122 Tom Sulit Sikaran Canada
123 Roger Paclibar Paclibar Arnis Canada
124 Rommel Tortal Pekiti-Tirsia
125 Sinuhe Martinez Modern Arnis Mexico
126 Jan-Jan Presas Kombatan Manila, Philippines
127 Manuel Caballero Caballero Orihinal Uno-Dos-Tres Cebu, Philippines
128 Rodrigo Maranga Combat Eskrima Maranga Cebu, Philippines
129 Ondo Caburnay Lapunti arnis de abanico Cebu, Philippines
130 Dennis Canete Cacoy Doce Pares Cebu, Philippines
131 Nilo Limpin Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
132 Ronnie Ricketts Bakbakan Manila, Philippines
133 Monsour del Rosario Bakbakan Manila, Philippines
134 Miguel Zubiri Bakbakan Manila, Philippines
135 Nathan Dominguez LESKAS Manila, Philippines
136 Bot Jocano LESKAS Manila, Philippines
137 Manolo Luis del Rosario LESKAS Philippines
138 Jon Escudero LESKAS Philippines
139 Sioc Glaraga Modern Arnis Philippines
140 John Russell Visayan Martial Arts Australia
141 Henry Jayme Visayan Martial Arts Cebu, Philippines
142 Samuel Ibe Mantas Daga Philippines
143 John Villasin Balintawak Cebu, Philippines
144 Jimson Dearos Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
145 Rei Samson Modern Arnis Mountain Province, Philippines
146 Paolo Motitta Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
147 Noel Penaredondo Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
148 Michael Gubat Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
149 Armando Soteco Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
150 Marcelo “Cocoy” Oyales Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
151 Nile Jordan Modern Arnis Cordillera, Philippines
152 Antolin “Ace” Rosales Modern Arnis Philippines
153 Romy Macapagal Kali Ilustrisimo Philippines
154 Alberto “Jhun” Dacayana Philippines
155 Isagani Abon Rapido Realismo Philippines
156 Galo D. Lalic Kalintaw Philippines
157 James U. Sy, Jr. Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis, Original Tapado, Yasay Sable, Conceptual Martial Arts Bacolod City, Neg. Occ. Philippines
158 Nelson D. Vargas Silab Kanto Filipino Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines
159 Ronaldo Garciano Garciano Arnis Kilat Serrada Dagupan, Pangasinan
160 Rohnee Tiong Gumpal Garciano Arnis Kilat Serrada Dagupan, Pangasinan
161 Abner Anievas Modern Arnis Hong Kong
162 Nathan Walker Modern Arnis Saudi Arabia
163 Ghazzi Al-Turaifi Modern Arnis Saudi Arabia
164 Manuel Maer Modern Arnis Saudi Arabia
165 Mohammed Issa Al Issa Modern Arnis Saudi Arabia
166 Raymond Floro Kali Ilustrisimo Australia
167 Graham Jamieson Black Eagle Eskrima Australia
168 Vincent Palumbo Doce Pares Australia
169 David Foggie Modern Arnis Australia
170 Edessa Ramos Modern Arnis Zurich, Switzerland
171 Jorgen Gydesen Modern Arnis Germany
172 Hans Karrer Modern Arnis Germany
173 Uli Weidle Pekiti-Tirsia Germany
174 Alfred Plath Modern Arnis Germany
175 Uwe Schwarz Cacoy Doce Pares Germany
176 Bob Breen England
177 Danny Guba England
178 Krishna Godhania Balitok / Warrior System England
179 Peter Lewis England
180 Pat O’Malley Rapid Arnis England
181 Shamim Hague England
182 Bill Lowery England
183 Jeff Espinous Inayan Eskrima France
184 Galo “Jun” Matagay Modern Arnis Italy
185 Tim Kashino Modern Arnis Italy
186 Flaviano Cabuang
187 Philip Gelinas Pekiti-Tirsia
188 Emanuel Hart Inayan Eskrima
189 Trovador Ramos TRACMA
190 John Chow Kalis Ilustrisimo Orihinal Repeticion Australia
191 Jerry Evangelisan Dekiti-Tirsia Manila, Philippines
192 Jun Martinada NARAPHIL Manila, Philippines
193 Brian Zawilinski Modern Arnis USA
194 Orly Junio Lightning Scientific Arnis Philippines
195 Narciso L. Alojado - Original Filipino Tapado, Conceptual Martial Arts Bacolod City

196 Felix A. Altarap Yaming Bacolod City

197 Fr. Jerson Balitor Oido de Caburata Murcia
198 Nelson Carmona Original Filipino Tapado Bago City
199 Joeffrey S. Deriada - Original Filipino Tapado Bacolod City

200 Irving P. Elefante Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis Valladolid
Andrew Filardo Arnis and Boxing New York
John Brown Bahad Zubu Utah

Laban Laro – Invitation Only Sparring, June 22nd. Aranda/Ricketts Memorial Gym

KM1 — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 04:59:44 +0000

Laban Laro – Invitation Only Sparring, June 22nd. Aranda/Ricketts Memorial Gym

An Event Honoring the Sparring Tradition Founded by the Five Pillars of Ilustrisimo and the Original Bakbakan Philippines.

Participating Organizations: Bakbakan Philippines – USA HQ, Ilustrisimo USA, Lameco SOG, Kapisanang Mandirigma.

Event Supervised by: Guro Brandon Ricketts, Guro Bud Balani, Guro Ariel Flores Mosses, Guro Dino Flores.

The FMA Informative publishes Punong Guro Edgar G. Sulite and Master Christopher Ricketts Memorial Seminar Special Issue, March 2013

KM1 — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 07:52:31 +0000

The FMA Informative publishes Punong Guro Edgar G. Sulite and Master Christopher Ricketts Memorial Seminar Special Issue, March 2013

The FMA Informative was very lucky to be able through the cooperation of Guro Dino Flores to be able to bring just a hint of the knowledge that was put forth and the skills that were demonstrated on March 16 and 17, 2013.
At the Lameco S.O.G and Kali Ilustrisimo Memorial Seminar the instructors were the dedicated instructors of Punong Guro Edgar G. Sulite and Master Christopher Ricketts. They were: Guro Dino Flores, Guro Bud Balani, Guro David Gould, Guro Bong Hebia, Guro Ariel Flores Mosses, and the son of Master Christopher Ricketts Guro Brandon Ricketts.
First you will read about the participant Dr. Bryan Stoops reflections on his experience in the 12 Week Backyard Lameco Eskrima course and the 2 day Lameco S.O.G and Ilustrisimo Eskrima Seminar.
Then on another aspect Guro David Gould his thoughts on the 2nd Lameco Eskrima “SOG” Memorial Seminar held in Los Angeles, California.

Visit www.fmainformative.info and download a copy.

Download a copy – www.fmainformative.info/Informative_Issues/2013/FMA_Informative-Issue68.pdf

Participant Dr. Bryan Stoops reflects on his experience in the 12 Week Backyard Lameco Eskrima course and the two day Lameco S.O.G and Ilustrisimo Reunion Seminar. March 2013

KM1 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:49:46 +0000

Participant Dr. Bryan Stoops reflects on his experience in the 12 Week Backyard Lameco Eskrima course and the 2 day Lameco S.O.G and Ilustrisimo Reunion Seminar.

***

For 12 weeks, I had been taking an introductory class in Lameco Escrima with Guro Dino Flores in Southern California. The classes were conducted in the same backyard in which many of the late Punong Guro Edgar Sulite’s select students would train when there was no scheduled class. With just under a decade of FMA training under my belt, and some certifications from well-known names, I was impressed (and a little shocked) with how demanding the training was in terms of getting everything just right, down to the smallest detail, without those minor details becoming trivial. Guro Dino wants the best out of and for his students.

I missed a few of the classes due to other commitments to some of my other instructors (and one day because the babysitter was sick), but I was able to attend a good percentage of the classes. There were a handful of other dedicated students also taking the class. I tend to give my instructors my best when I have a little time with them, and I feel comfortable (when I’m uncomfortable, I know I have the tendency to move a little stiffly), so getting to know my instructor a little better and getting to know my fellow students helped me really enjoy my training.

Along with rich, progressive, physical training, Guro Dino also had great stories about PG Sulite, the late Master Christopher “Topher” Ricketts, and Grand Master Ilustrisimo. Part of the work of Guro Dino and his Mandirigma Research Organization is to preserve the legacy of his instructors and their systems of martial arts. I have dedicated a great deal of my time, money, and energy to the martial arts, particularly the Filipino Martial Arts, so to be involved in that preservation (even in a very small way), felt very humbling and at the same time important. I was glad I could be there to take the class and take on a basic understanding of the life’s work of those instructors who are no longer with us.

A few weeks before the end of the 12 week class, Guro Dino notified his students that there would be a special Lameco and Ilustrisimo seminar to be held in the backyard on Saturday, March 16th (right after our last class of the 12 week session) and at another location in Glendale on Sunday the 17th. I signed up for both days fairly quickly after receiving notice of the event, as the seminar struck me as a great opportunity to train with some excellent people, and a wonderful way to celebrate the completion of the 12 week class.

On Saturday, March 16th, we gathered in the backyard for our last class, and the seminar immediately following. The collective knowledge of the presenters/instructors was pretty amazing. Guro Dave Gould opened the seminar with a warm-up focused on footwork. Guro Dave had everyone huffing and puffing. After the warm-up, all of the presenters had an opportunity to teach. I’ll go instructor by instructor, and share my impressions:

Guro Dino Flores – In discussing Guro Dino’s style/teaching with others, my comment was usually something like, “Guro Dino wants everything picture perfect, which makes you (the participant) really focus on your form, and exact, specific details.” It’s refreshing to come into systems that force you to slow down and not let your ego get in the way. Guro Dino always has a logical progression to what he teaches. Guro Dino presented some single stick material the first day and double sword material the second day.

Guro Bud Balani – It’s always productive to see an overview of how a system approaches disarms. On the first day, Guro Bud presented several stick disarms from both the forehand and backhand sides. Many of the disarms led to stick-assisted chokes, or joint locks. Guro Bud has a very straight forward, no-nonsense style to both the techniques and his teaching style. I’m sure everyone in attendance left with at least one or two new disarms to explore. I had to miss Guro Bud’s session on day 2 (which I’ll explain).

Guro Dave Gould– Guro Dave presented a progressive approach to single blade versus single blade on Saturday. Guro Dave strikes me as one of those scary people: a big person who moves with the speed and deliberateness of a small person, with all of the benefits that come from being big and strong. I enjoyed the manner in which he sequenced the material. Unfortunately, I had to miss Guro Dave’s session on Sunday.

Guro Bong Hebia – On both Saturday and Sunday, Guro Bong was on the verge of almost apologizing for teaching such a small block of material over the two days, but I was really taken with what he had to show us (four knife hold-up counters, three for gun, and an empty hand progression that made a lot of sense). There is nothing wrong with having a focus, and with Guro Bong, we were very focused on those particular techniques. Guro Bong kept telling us stories about how he had to run single movements of the techniques over and over with PG Sulite.

Guro Brandon Ricketts– What a difficult position to find yourself in: Your father is revered by many, and upon his passing, you’re thrust into a leadership position in your father’s system. I found Guro Brandon to be very relaxed and easy-going, which made learning from him very enjoyable. I have overheard Guro Dino mention that Guro Brandon is involved in some kind of dance group in his free time; the dance influence is very evident in the graceful nature of Guro Brandon’s movement. Getting to train with Guro Brandon both days felt like a unique opportunity for which I was very grateful.

Guro Ariel Flores Mosses – Unfortunately I had to leave and I did not get the opportunity to train in this segment.

I live just about 40 miles inland of the area of Los Angeles in which the seminar was held. The first day, I left my home around 10 am and got home around 9 PM. My wife told me that my three-year-old daughter had been asking where I was all day. On Sunday, we took a break after having trained for about 5 hours. I realized that in two days, I had gotten in about 13 hours of training, and I wanted to go home and get in some time with my children before the weekend ended. As I drove home, I had the sense that I had been part of a very special class and a very special seminar.

My martial arts training was hit and miss when I was younger. I did three years of Tae Kwon Do, stopped for years, and then three years of Shaolin Kempo in college. I always read martial arts magazines from the time I was about 7, and I was always fascinated by the FMA’s. The first FMA VHS tape I ever bought just happens to be PG Edgar’s single stick tape from Unique Publications. I bought it while I was teaching Kempo in my early 20’s. One day I brought in the one Kali stick I had bought with the video tape to the Kempo School. My head instructor asked me what I was doing, and I told him I was going to try and teach what I had been researching. I was shut down, but I spent a lot of time watching that VHS tape over and over.

Years later, to be involved with Guro Marc “Crafty Dog” Denny and the Dog Brothers and to have Guro Inosanto say so many nice things about PG Edgar, I’ve always felt drawn to Lameco. I teach some of the Lameco that Guro Crafty has put into the DBMA system in my FMA Phase curriculum, and Lameco 3 through 6 (single stick patterns) have always been a major part of my single stick game (most of my students are used to my catching them with redondos in sparring). PG Edgar is in the top five of my list of people with whom I wish I could have trained (in fact, he used to do seminars at Sifu/Guro Bud Thompson’s school, my first Kali/JKD school) before their passing.

Throughout both days of the seminar, 8 by 10 pictures of PG Sulite and Master Ricketts were on a nearby table. The presence of the pictures was not morbid, nor was it overly reverent. The presenters clearly were in good spirits to be representing their teachers, and to all be together. Looking at the instructors spending time together made me think of my martial arts family, people spread all over the world that I get to see a few times a year that I feel closer to than some of my blood relatives. Martial arts are about people discovering the best versions of themselves. I feel lucky to have been at the seminar with such an authentic group of people.

***

Guro Doctor Bryan Stoops is a certified instructor of the Filipino Martial Arts in the Inosanto/LaCoste System under Guro Dan Inosanto, and Sifu/Guro Bud Thompson (one of Guro Inosanto’s “Old School” Full Instructors from the original Kali Academy). Guro Bryan is also a full Dog Brother (“Guide Dog”) with 49 career Dog Brothers stick fights, and an official Teacher of Dog Brothers Martial Arts under Guro Marc “Crafty Dog” Denny. Guro Bryan also represents Master Virgil Cavada as a certified Module 1 Instructor in the Applied Eskrima Method of Balintawak.

Outside of the FMA’s, Bryan also teaches Jeet Kune Do, (under Sifu‘s Inosanto and Thompson) Thai Boxing (Master Chai), Wing Chun (Sifu Francis Fong), Savate (Professor Nic Saignac), Mixed Grappling (Professor Roy Harris), and Maphilindo Silat (Guro Insoanto). Bryan Stoops has taught public high school in southern California for the past ten years. His master’s degree project was a DVD designed to help new K-12 teachers use the philosophy of Jeet Kune Do to become functional in the classroom. Bryan earned his Doctor of Education Degree from the University of La Verne in 2011.

Lameco S.O.G Seminar, Los Angeles, March 16th & 17th, 2013

KM1 — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:00:03 +0000

Lameco S.O.G Seminar

A VERY rare opportunity to train with several members of Lameco SOG and Ilustrisimo under the same roof. Some of the instructors are from out of town and some rarely teach the general public – this will be a very educational experience.

SEMINAR ONE
Date: Saturday, March 16th, 2013
Place: Eagle Rock (North East L.A.), CA.
Time: Noon till 6pm
Intructors: Guro Bong Hebia, Guro Dave Gould, Guro Bud Balani, Guro Dino Flores.
Possibly more Instructors more to be announced.
Special Guest Instructor: Guro Brandon Rickets of Ilustrisimo USA
VIP Guests: Guro Choy Flores (Lameco SOG), Guro Gary Quan (Lameco SOG),
Guro Bill Arranda and Master Joe Tan. Possibly more Special Guests to be announced.
Participant Capacity: ONLY 16
Spectator Capacity: 6

SEMINAR TWO
Date: Sunday, March 17th, 2013
Place: Glendale, CA.
Time: 9am till 4pm
Intructors: Guro Bong Hebia, Guro Dave Gould, Guro Bud Balani,
Guro Dino Flores, Guro Ariel Mosses, Guro Brandon Ricketts.
Possibly more Instructors to be announced.
Special Guest Instructor: Guro Brandon Rickets of Ilustrisimo USA
VIP Guests: Guro Choy Flores (Lameco SOG), Guro Gary Quan (Lameco SOG),
Guro Bill Arranda and Master Joe Tan. Possibly more Special Guests to be announced.
Participant Capacity: 33
Spectator Capacity: 12

Participant Cost PER Seminar: $100.
If Pre-Paid before March 7st: $85.
If Pre-Paid for both days before March 7st: $150.

Spectator Cost PER Seminar: $75.
If Pre-Paid before March 7st: $60.
Spectator Both Days Pre-Paid before March 7st: $100.

For more information go to:
www.backyardeskrima.com and go to the “contact” link.

Kapisanang Mandirigma presents an Introductory Course in Backyard Lameco Eskrima. Jan 5th until March 16th, 2013, Los Angeles, California.

KM1 — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 05:56:52 +0000

Kapisanang Mandirigma presents an Introductory Course in Backyard Lameco Eskrima. Jan 5th until March 16th, 2013, Los Angeles, California.

This course will introduce you to the the Foundations and Combat Applications of Lameco Eskrima, the Philippine Warrior Art System founded by Punong Guro Edgar Sulite. Topics includes Knife, Stick, Sword, Sword and Dagger and Empty Hands.

Classes will be conducted primarily by Guro Dino Flores. Guest Instructors; Guro Bud Balani, Guro Gary Quan and Guro Ariel Mosses will make appearances when available. Other Guest Instructors may also make an appearance during the course.

Classes will be kept small in order to ensure quality instruction.
This is a very rare opportunity. This course has not been taught in over five years since the Kali Klub sa Filam Arts.

This course also serves as a prerequisite to any future classes that are only open to members and individuals that have completed this course.

For further course details go to: http://backyardeskrima.com and email us directly from the “Contact” page.

Please give us a little background on yourself when requesting information. Maraming Salamat.

Kapisanang Mandirigma Founding Member Hospecio Balbuena Balani, Jr. segment from the book “Masters of the Blade” by Master Rey Galang, 2006

KM1 — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:13:08 +0000