Sacramento, Ca.- On March 4, 2006, at " Langley's Karate School " a
very
special Escrima event took place that will go down in martial arts
history. On this majestic day the late Great Grandmaster Angel
Cabales
was awarded the " WSEF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ". The illustrious
award was spiritually given to him by the sponsor of the event
Grandmaster Anthony Davis, a former private advanced graduate
instructor
of GGM Angel Cabales. Additionally, GM Davis is the president and the
co-founder along with Grand Prof. Leo T. Fong of the " World Serrada
Escrima Federation ". On hand to accept the award in behalf of their
father was Gelmar Cabales, his older sister Marigel Cabales, along
with
their mother Maritess Cabales. Assisting his younger brother and
sister
as an official witness of the acceptance of the award was honorary
special gueststar Vincent Cabales Sr., and his son Vincent Cabales
Jr.
The award acknowledges GGM Angel Cabales as the primary person
responsible for the emergence of Filipino martial arts in America,
and
also, that he has officially been recognized as the " Father of
Escrima
in America " as well. GGM Angel Cabales opened the first official
Filipino martial arts academy in 1966 in Stockton, California. Some
of
the Great Grandmaster's first students at the Stockton academy
include,
Max Sarmiento, Leo Giron, Dentoy Revillar, Mike Inay, Jimmy Tacosa,
Al
Concepcion, Rene Latosa, JC Cabiero, Kathy Lee, Abel Miraflor, Art
Miraflor, Leo T. Fong, Dan Inosanto, Richard Bustillo, Ted
Lucaylucay,
and numerous of others. GGM Angel Cabales was also one of the first
escrimadors to be featured in an actioned packed martial arts film in
1972, titled; " TIGERS REVENGE ". Leo T. Fong, a former friend and
student of both Bruce Lee and Angel Cabales, was the leading actor
and
producer of this historic movie. Reciprocally receiving the " WSEF
LIFETIME APPRECIATION AWARD " was one of GGM Angel Cabales' top
graduate
master instructors, Darren Tibon. Master Darren Tibon is the founder
and
president of an escrima organization known as " Angel's Disciples ".
The
(WSEF) recognized Master Tibon as one of the most loyal and dedicated
students of GGM Angel Cabales. After GGM Angel Cabales' death on
March
3, 1991, Master Tibon along with his family members continued on in
supporting certain family members of the Great Grandmaster. With
sticks
and daggers blazing at the speed of light, Master Tibon and his
"Angel's
Disciples" demonstration team presented a dazzling display of their
skills to all of those that were in attendance at the commemoration
event. In order to further elaborate upon some of the more finer
points
of his style of Serrada Escrima, Master Tibon went on to conduct a
special hands on seminar. To add an even more official ingredient to
this unique gathering, other top notch Angel Cabales graduate
instructors; along with some of their third generational Serrada
Escrima
students came out in order to show their support, such as, Master
Jerry
Preciado, Master Wade Williams, Master Carlito Bonjoc, Master Ron
Saturno, Master Guru Michael Schwarz, Master Guru Anthony Davis Jr.,
school host Master Bob Langley, Master Jeff Finder, Apprentice Master
Fernando Cabe, and Guru Elrik Jundis. Iron Dragon/Kosho Ryu
Grandmaster
Ray Arquilla along with his wife, made a grand suprise appearance
when
both of them showed up at the commemoration function in order to pay
their respects. Inspite of all of the past and current negative
controversy that has shadowed the Serrada Escrima community, all
differences were set aside in order to share in the true spirit of
Serrada Escrima in the memory of Great Grandmaster Angel Cabales. It
was
indeed a miraculous accomplishment on the part of Grandmaster Anthony
Davis to organize, promote, and to host an event that brought
together
so many great and illustrious master's into one harmonious accord.
Stated GM Anthony Davis " It takes a unified team in order to reach
higher grounds and had it not been for all of those that came out to
support the " Legacy " of GGM Angel Cabales, this commemoration event
could not have been as sucessful as it was ". At the conclusion of
this
immaculate affair, GM Davis and his wife Mila invited all of the
commemoration participants to their home where a spectacular banquet
had
been fully prepared for all of them. It was clearly apparent to
everyone
in attendance at this special event, that they all had become a vital
part of the continuing " Golden Legacy " of the legedary Great
Grandmaster Angel O. Cabales.  For further information about upcoming
Serrada Escrima events, products, training programs, classes and
workshops, contact GM Anthony Davis at: anthonyserrada2@...