The Kapisanang Mandirigma Eskrima Training Institute
Photo courtesy of Arnold Noche.
This photo was taken in 1997. It was at the Dog Brothers Gathering in Hermosa Beach, California. Arnold was in town from NYC.
Some of the people in the photo: Arnold Noche, Dino Flores, Ron Balicki, Diana Inosanto, Sebastian, Al, Perla, JP, Crafty Dog, Hans Tan, Nick Papadakis, Sung Han, Felix and Dogzilla.
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.
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.
Exerpt from:
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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.
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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
Arnold A. Noche is one of the remaining
CROSSING land bridges that once linked the Philippine archipelago to the Asian
mainland, ancient fighters introduced to Filipinos a form of martial arts believed to have
come from India and now called kali, eskrima and arnis de mano.
Yes, those rattan canes – and the graceful moves that make them lethal – are that
old, according to generally held notions as to the origins of the Pinoy warrior art.
With a deep sense of history, a Filipino-American based in California since the
late ’60s considers his mastery of kali (considered the pre-Spanish name for arnis or
eskrima) as a bridge to the country of his birth – and hopes that more Fil-Am’s would join
him in paying ambidextrous homage to their shared cultural roots.
Arnold Noche has been
taking time from his business each
week, driving up to 48 kilometers
from his home in the Gardena
suburb, to conduct two-hour training
sessions for kali enthusiasts of all
ages at Filipino community centers
in Los Angeles.
“There’s something about a
stick in the hand that is very
Filipino”, noted Noche
Noche and other “backyard”
eskrimadors started the Kali Klub
project in 1999 and have since taught an average of 250 students a year, around 90
percent of them Fil-Am’s aged 5 to over 40.
Kali Klub sa FilAm ARTS
Since 2004, Kali Klub has been conducting classes in partnership with FilAm
Arts (Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts & Culture), a
nonprofit, multidisciplinary arts organization located on N. Vermont Avenue in LA.
Dealing with Confusion
“I could have taught my (Fil-Am) students something else to help them deal with
whatever confusion they may have about their cultural identity. But I am an eskrimador,
and this is my way of helping them understand the complexities of being a Fil-Am,”
Noche said.
His family moved to the States when he was only 2 years old. At age 8 he began
studying karate and, at age 12, picked up his first kali sticks – henceforth earning bruises
and scars in a discipline that would “control my life.”
At 40, Noche runs his own management consultancy and multimedia firm
ATF1898 – a proud reference to the year Filipinos declared their independence from
Spain. But in a recent Inquirer interview in Manila, he said he would rather be counted as
a member of the “Filipino warrior class.”
He was referring to the disciples of an ancient art that had been in progression
long before foreign powers reached Philippine soil. Employing real swords or knives in
its original form, kali survived by being “secretly practiced” during colonial times when
Filipinos were prohibited from carrying weapons.
“It has been handed down from one generation to another, and has eventually
made its way around the world. Now it is not only practiced by thousands of martial
artists but also favored by elite military and law enforcement groups,” Noche said.
Action Flicks
Further proof of its global appeal, he noted, is the growing number of Hollywood
action flicks that feature kali movements in their fight sequences.
Matt Damon, for example, in an interview on the hand-to-hand combat style of
his “Jason Bourne” character, pronounced it as “kay-lee,” he said. Vin Diesel had also
acknowledged training in kali for his sci-fi flick, “The Chronicles of Riddick.”
“Mission Impossible 3″ and “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life”
featured brief fight scenes with the lead stars Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie,
respectively, “using Filipino fighting sticks,” Noche said.
And Noche has this to say about Star Wars” Yoda: “My impression was that his
moves (with the dazzling light saber) were more Filipino than samurai.”
Through the centuries, the kali system — believed to have started in the Visayas -
diversified through many individual masters around the country who continually added to
its repertoire of attacks and defenses.
Basic Principle
But the basic principle remains: “For weaponry to serve as extensions of the hand
for maximum impact and reach,” Noche explained.
And the weapons refer not only to the more familiar canes, but also to daggers,
whips, chains, “a mere pen or a rolled newspaper.” The movements would remain the
same, with the fighter merely adjusting his range.
“Filipino martial arts (FMA) is the only one I know where you train on day one
already with a weapon in your hand. Other martial arts begin training empty-handed and
you get to use more intricate weapons as you progress,” he said.
While maintaining that no particular combat method can be theoretically
considered superior to another since it all depends on a fighter’s skills, Noche pointed out:
“In (FMA) I do have weapons in my hands, but losing them doesn’t mean I could no
longer do damage.”
Take note, he said, that a hand that holds a rattan stick also forms a closed fist -
which means that this hand can be used either to strike an enemy with the stick or, at
closer range, to punch him.
And even with the hands full, the kali system is fluid enough to incorporate
maneuvers for tripping or throw-downs (just as in judo or aikido) or for choking an
opponent. This is an example of how the method, from being fundamentally based on
frontal blows, has “evolved” with every master who improved on it.
The Noche Style
Noche’s own style – the Lameco
Eskrima – is just one of the many branches in
this evolution. Before he became a “guro”
(teacher) to his students, Noche found his
own, much revered “punong guro” (master) in
another California-based Fil-Am, the late
Edgar Sulite.
Founded by Sulite, Lameco stands for
largo (long-range fighting), medio (medium-
range) and corto (close-range) – or what
Noche called the “synthesis” of these three
orientations.
“We were part of Edgar’s backyard group,” he recalled, referring to his two fellow guros now running the Kali Klub, Dino Flores and Hospecio ‘Bud’ Balani. “When Punong Guro died (of natural causes) in 1997, it would have been easy for us to bury the art with him.”*
“Keeping it alive is one thing, how to keep it alive is another,” he said. “We can either go the commercial route (become full-time instructors, charge for private trainings,
or hit the seminar circuit), or go the community route.” Noche had obviously taken the latter path, charging no personal fees for Kali
Klub. “Everything we charge (as tuition) goes back to the program,” he said. The students are asked to provide their own black training attire, rattan sticks and safety goggles – “in addition to dedication, discipline and an open mind.”
No Mainstream Draw
But for all that he’s willing to share about his passion, Noche easily sensed during his recent visit to Manila that kali – even as a sport or fitness regimen – had never enjoyed a mainstream draw in the very nation that supposedly developed it. “As a balikbayan, I can see that it has a following here but you still have to find it. It is not
commercially available; it’s taught in some schools but it can still go far,” he said.
Last year’s Southeast Asian
Games in Manila finally included
arnis – but this “new” event hardly got
any media coverage. While Filipinos won three gold medals in arnis, the home crowd still
reserved its loudest cheers for the other more popular fighting disciplines, especially tae
kwon do.
Also, no local movie star has been able to popularize arnis the way a Bruce Lee or
a Jackie Chan brought Chinese martial arts to the world. And yet here now is Noche
reporting that “kay-lee” has entered Hollywood lore.
But Noche has made sure no student of his mispronounces anything; even with
non-Fil-Ams in the class, Kali Klub preserves the original Filipino terms for specific
drills and maneuvers (“armas” for weapons, “salok” for uppercut, “sagasa” for run over,
etc.) And with every “palo” (hit) or “ilag” (evasion) that he teaches his fellow Fil-
Am’s, this guro helps them rediscover their now distant ancestral heritage lest this
kinship, like the primeval land bridges, erode in time.
General Pantaleon Garcia, one of the trusted Cavitenyos appointed by General Emilio Aguinaldo as commanding general of all Filipino forces in Central Luzon during the time of the Katipunan and the Revolution.
July 27, 1856 – August 16, 1936
Lameco Eskrima SOG Los Angeles • Kali Ilustrisimo Los Angeles The Kapisanang Mandirigma Institute teaches several forms of Philippine Warrior Arts. Although they are related they are kept and taught separately in order to maintain purity and original intent of each program. LAMECO ESKRIMA SOG METHOD / LAMECO BACKYARD ESKRIMA - Lameco Eskrima - S.O.G. Method. The Fighting method of Punong Guro Edgar Sulite as taught to his "Invitation Only" group. Also known as … [Read More...]