It was great to finally meet my cousin, Guro Carlito
Bonjoc, and see my other cousin, Jojo Soriben this
past weekend at Professor Pitt's studio in Oakland for
Carlito's workshop.

It was also a pleasure for me to personally meet
Professor Hundon and Professor Pitt, both of whom know
my teacher, Master Sultan Uddin, very, very well.  We
look forward to working with these great gentlemen in
the very near future.

As a rule of thumb, it is customary that we connect
with any instructor or group visiting our area,
especially since the Bay Area is our home.  We look
forward to connecting with others coming to the Bay
Area.

Respectfully,

Guro Bob Manalo, Jr.
IESA
www.tribe-iesa.com
--- msbboc <msbboc@...> wrote:

> --- In worldofserrada@yahoogroups.com, "bob_manalo"
> <bob_manalo@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Is his workshop on Wednesday, August 16, or
> Saturday, August 19?
> > Please specify the time also.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Bob
> >
> Hi all, Bob.. Correction on the seminar date. My
> seminar is Saturday
> August 19th 2006 Thank's everyone for spreading the
> word. See you all
> there.
>
> Guro Carlito
>
>
>
>
>
>
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

It was great to finally meet my cousin, Guro Carlito Bonjoc, and see
my other cousin, Jojo Soriben this past weekend at Professor Pitt's
studio in Oakland for Carlito's workshop.

It was also a pleasure for me to personally meet Professor Hundon
and Professor Pitt, both of whom know my teacher, Master Sultan
Uddin, very, very well.  We look forward to working with these great
gentlemen in the very near future.

As a rule of thumb, it is customary that we connect with any
instructor or group visiting our area, especially since the Bay Area
is our home.  We look forward to connecting with others coming to
the Bay Area.

Respectfully,

Guro Bob Manalo, Jr.
IESA
www.tribe-iesa.com

The myth of mixed martial arts

On November 12th 1993 an American no holds barred “NHB” martial arts tournament entered by the world’s top martial artists revolutionized martial arts forever, allowing the development of a new and superior fighting style, known as “Mixed Martial Arts” (MMA). MMA was not encumbered by the traditions and ineffective techniques of traditional arts, finely honed and evolved using on those techniques that were proven to be effective in the ring. At least that’s what the UFC publicity machine would like us to believe. Under closer scrutiny however, the reality is somewhat different.

The first glaring falsehood is that the competitors were far from being the recognized leading exponents of their styles, the eight competitors were largely unknown in the martial arts world and their statuses were grossly exaggerated as part of the promotion (e.g. Kimo Leopoldo was erroneously touted in UFC III as a "third degree Black belt taekwondo). In fact the only leading exponent of his style was Royce Gracie a practitioner of a modified style of Japanese Jujitsu (which later became known as Brazilian Jui-jitsu) and one of the organisers, who went on to win three of the first four UFCs.

The “no rules” claim was also untrue as biting, ‘fish-hooking’ an opponent’s face, eye gouging and throat strikes were illegal, eliminating the favored techniques of many of the more popular traditional martial arts.

Competitors who broke the rules were fined £1,000 and would loose bouts by default. As time went on more rules were introduced to protect the fighters, appease the legislators and make the fights (which rapidly turned into very dull wrestling matches) more entertaining. Today these rules consist of

• Commission approved gloves
• Weight classes
• Time limits and rounds
• Mandatory drug testing
• No head butting or kicking to the downed opponent
• No knees to the head of a downed opponent
• No downward point of the elbow strikes
• No strikes to the spine or the back of the head
• No groin or throat strikes
• No small joint manipulation

Serving to further eliminate the possibility of practitioners of traditional Asian martial arts ever winning the competitions, by disallowing practically all of their favored techniques.

The fights were held in an octagonal cage unimaginatively christened “The Octagon”, which was touted by organisers as having been specially designed by doctors and martial artists to create an enclosure that would act as a neutral arena to showcase skills of many martial arts disciplines. However, there is little evidence to support this and the design of the ring appears to be based more around providing the optimal view for spectators and the television pay-per-view viewers.

As a result of the restrictions of the rule base and the environment, two specific sports martial arts styles became the favored mixed for the competitors. Muay Thai, for the stand-up striking and Brazilian Jui jitsu, for the grappling. Both had already been optimized for this sort of competition by focusing training on winning fights in environments similar to the UFC Octagon.

In a relatively short space of time and largely as a result of the revenues generated from pay-per-view television, UFC rapidly became a multi million dollar industry in the United States resulting in many martial arts schools in the US redefining parts of their training programs as MMA to cash in on the growing demand from fans to be able to say that they trained in the same styles as the UFC fighters.

Along with that a number of myths were passed on to the fans by the UFC franchise as “facts” supporting UFC as the ultimate testing ground for the effectiveness of martial styles in self defense situations, most prominent amongst these were:

• 95% of fights go to ground: this oft quoted statistic is based on speculation and the fact that the majority of UFC fights end up with the fighters on the ground grappling for a submission hold. However, in the vast majority of situations were you are likely to defend yourself the ground is significantly less safe than the soft canvas of the Octagon and is more often than not full of hazards such as broken glass, furniture, paving stones etc add to that the fact that more often than not in a self defence situation you are likely to be facing more than one opponent and the favored strategy of Octagon fighters becomes a suicidal one in the streets
• Techniques not allowed in UFC fights are ineffective: This one is also a favorite of UFC advocates on internet forums. It is of course complete nonsense, and nonsense that can very quickly be dispelled. A sharp blow to the eye effectively blinds your opponent for more than the duration of a fight, (rarely longer than 60 seconds outside the controlled environment of a sports competition), if you doubt the effectiveness of strikes to the neck and their importance in self defense, the safest option is to get somebody to slap you hard on the side of the neck, although excruciatingly painful you’ve got a good chance of picking yourself up of the ground within a couple of minutes suffering from little more than damage to your pride. A downward elbow strike to the back of the neck or a blow to the throat however, is not something you should experiment with as there is a significant chance that you could suffer long term or even fatal harm as a result. There are few men in the world lucky enough to not know the devastating effect of a blow to the groin
• Fighters are not able to apply techniques that they have not practiced in full contact sparring: Although it is certainly true that in order to learn to fight effectively you need to have some experience of full contact fighting to learn how to deal with the “adrenaline dump” that will naturally occur in a self defense situation, many martial arts styles have supplemented this with other training methods allowing fighters to apply devastating or potentially lethal techniques in real situations and these training techniques have been tried and tested in real mortal combat over hundreds of years
• Sparring is the only effective training method: As above, although sparring is an essential part of any fighters training other training methods have been developed in traditional martial arts and tested on the battlefield over hundreds of years and proven to be effective
• To be a rounded fighter you need to spend a lot of time learning grappling: The reality is that it is impossible to address every possible situation unless you have a lifetime to do so and are unhindered by commitments to anything but your training. A luxury not available to the many millions of individuals across the world who spend some time training in martial arts with self-defense in mind.

Much more important scenarios such as:

• Being attacked by more than one opponent.
• Being attacked by an assailant who is armed.
• Being attacked from behind or from your periphery.
• Being attacked in an hostile environment.
• Being attack by an opponent with an unnaturally high pain threshold due to intoxication from alcohol or illicit drugs.
• Being attacked by an opponent with a significant height, weight or strength advantage.

Are all scenarios that are typically not addressed in MMA training, which is completely focused on winning competitions in the very artificial environment of the Octagon.

The basic reality is that most traditional martial arts were developed for real combat in real self defence situations and the fact that there is often so little emphasis on grappling is because grappling is at best an unwise strategy to adopt in self defence situations and at worst could be a fatal error. The only safe strategy for self defence is to focus on putting your opponent on the ground creating the opportunity to get yourself away from the threat to a place of safety.

Mixed martial arts training is optimised for winning competition fights not for defending yourself in the real world. If you're aim is to be a competitive fighter then it is probably your best option, however, if your aim is to learn how to defend yourself against violence in your everyday life you should be aiming to find a good traditional martial arts school.

by Daniel Land.

Article date: August 2006.

Hello Master Khan:

Videos of GM Vincent Cabales doing Cabales Serrada Escrima have been
posted to www.YouTube.com.  Once you enter YouTube.com, go to
the "Search For" block and enter "Cabales Serrada".

Four videos were filmed on August 31, 2006 at GM Vincent Cabales
Serrada Escrima Academy on Harding Way, next to Gong Lee's in
Stockton.  You can see GM Cabales sparring with students.

Also, a video of the late and great GM Angel Cabales has been posted
for all to enjoy.

Sifu MT

BUENA PARK MARTIAL ARTS
Presents
ALL THINGS COME TOGEThER KALI AND SERRADA SEMINAR
Eskrima, Kali and Serrada Stick work

Sifu Joe Jackson
Master Ron Saturno
Master Carlito Bonjoc

This seminar is hands on and open to all!

You will learn basic and advance weapons techniques from several
different styles of Eskrima

Saturday, September 9th, 2006
7914 Valley View Buena Park, Ca. 90620

Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=7914+Valley+View,+Buena+Park,+CA+90620

$35.00 at the door and $30.00 paid in advance
School, Group and Family rates are available!!

For more information contact:
Rick Davenport Ph-714-292-8071
Rick.Davenport@...
Mike Jackson Ph-714522-7776
www.pakuabp@...
www.MartialFitness.biz

Here is something to learn:

Dont ever be friends with boss. Just be polite,
and do your work he assigns you and plan your
own future (learn at the job, and plan that
you can afterwards get even more pay sometime
later because of advanced qualifications).

  If you become FRIENDLY with boss, then the
boss is gonna respond, but one day he is
going to think YOU STOLE TIME FROM HIM, and
you stole his MONEY !!

  Another thing to consider: in this society
you cannot go anywhere if you dont know RICH
people. And they judge you in 3 seconds by
your dress and shoes and how you carry yourself.
Once they accept you, you start getting money.
Once you start getting some money, you are
given even MORE money. So be scared and plan
only for the first 3 seconds of the meeting.

  If you do someone a FAVOR, and you really
took care of his wellness, dont expect much
in return. Because if he doesnt like you, he
will just cancel out your favor anyway. He has
to subconsciously like you first.

  The ordinary society is very much like this
and they are faster than martial arts people,
who become slow because of ponderous study
in which they involve themselves.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=serrada&search=Search

http://www.youtube.com


--- In worldofserrada@yahoogroups.com, "sifu_sansoo" <sifu_sansoo@...>
wrote:
>
> Hello Master Khan:
>
> Videos of GM Vincent Cabales doing Cabales Serrada Escrima have been
> posted to www.YouTube.com.  Once you enter YouTube.com, go to
> the "Search For" block and enter "Cabales Serrada".
>
> Four videos were filmed on August 31, 2006 at GM Vincent Cabales
> Serrada Escrima Academy on Harding Way, next to Gong Lee's in
> Stockton.  You can see GM Cabales sparring with students.
>
> Also, a video of the late and great GM Angel Cabales has been posted
> for all to enjoy.
>
> Sifu MT
>

One person throws strike, another applies basic counter,
then continues with strategy, going inside to out, or
reverse, OR continues with his own counter-attack further
with target of skull or knee or doubling up on same arm
that he blocked initially.

Practice this at medium speed to get control and understanding
of the lines.

Then, also, as the 2nd person is countering your strike
that you delivered, you disturb his counter, and let him
figure out the solution.

First 30 min. do the Basics in their absolute form. Then,
after that 30 min. repeat the same basics you just did,
adding a strike to the skull or a strike to the low area
(knee/legs) in between the movements of the basic counter.
After more 30 min. do the same basics once again in
multiplications of different counter moves and be in
free thought yet still adhere to the Principle of
the Serrada.

Rambo IV: In The Serpent's Eye is gearing up to shoot for several
weeks in Thailand early next year, and Thai Film officials are happy
to tell Hollywood that the Asian nation is open for filming. USA
Today notes Thai Film officials are also proudly trumpeting the
pending arrival of Denzel Washington who is coming to Thailand for a
few days of shooting on American Gangster, in which he'll play a
drug lord.

ADVERTISEMENT


Wanasiri Morakul, Director of the Thai Film office says the Rambo
crew will work for several weeks in the country's northern provinces
as John Rambo is brought out of retirement to help find a group of
missionary aid workers who have disappeared in Myanmar. 80% of the
film will be shot in the Thai jungles and in Bangkok, and the movie
will inject somewhere around $5 million into the local economy. The
film office asked the production company to take care with the
violent sequences, fearing the movie could exacerbate friction
between Thailand and neighboring Myanmar, but nothing was forbidden.

Thailand's diplomatic relations with Hollywood stand in need of some
repair: Shooting on the Nicholas Cage thriller Big Hit in Bangkok
was suspended temporarily when the military coup began last month.
Cage reportedly kept a jet ready for a quick getaway from the
Southeast Asian nation if things got too dicey.

Film production is crucial to the Thai economy. Over 372 shoots took
place in Thailand this year, and film production brought the
equivalent of $37 million to the country.

Hello, I was wondering if anyone has any contact info on locations in
the SF Bay Area where the art is taught. Thanks much, Konstantine.

To all Serrada practitioners, and to all the martial arts world
everywhere. Keep healthy, and keep fit.

World Of Serrada elects Guro Ron Saturno as the Serrada Eskrima
Man Of The Year. Congratulations to a serious, detailed,
instructor who has a powerful Serrada.

THE WORLD SERRADA ESCRIMA FEDERATION

                                       "An Organization on the Move"



It has indeed been a monumental year for the "World Serrada Escrima
Federation". The "Federation" as it is affectionately called by one
of its co-founders GM Anthony Davis has definitely been profoundly
instrumental in setting the future tone of the Davis/Cabales Serrada
System of Escrima. To spearhead events off, on March 4,2006, GM Davis
organized and hosted an historical commemoration awards seminar on
behalf of his Great Grandmaster teacher Angel Cabales. Serrada
Escrima students and other top notch personalities attended this
illustrious affair in order to acknowledge their dedication and
eternal respect for all that the "Father of Escrima" accomplished in
the field of Filipino martial arts during his lifetime.

Receiving the "WSEF lifetime Achievement Award" on behalf of their
father Angel Cabales; was Gelmar Cabales, Marygel Cabales, along with
their mother Marytess Cabales, who all accepted the special award
together on behalf of the legendary Serrada Escrima Great
Grandmaster. On hand to witness the presentation of the WSEF Angel
Cabales award was honorary guest-stars Vincent Cabales Sr., along
with his son Vincent Cabales Jr. Additionally, at this same
event, "Angel's Disciples" co-founder Serrada Escrima Master Darren
Tibon received the "WSEF Lifetime Appreciation Award" for his and his
wife's above and beyond the call of duty services given to Angel
Cabales' family members long after Angel's death in 1991.

Almost immediately after the "Angel Cabales Commemoration" event took
place, GM Anthony Davis awarded two of his private students with
Escrima master, and Escrima advanced degrees. Iron Dragon/Escrima
instructor Bob Langley of "Langley's Karate School" in Sacramento,
California, was promoted to Master Instructor status by GM Anthony
Davis, and in conjunction with Langley's promotion, Guru Cedric
Campbell was presented with his "Serrada Escrima Advanced Degree."
Directly after elevating his two private students, GM Davis was off
to southern Germany where he then conducted several intensive
advanced Davis/Cabales Serrada Escrima workshops. On the historic and
the ancient monastic German island called the Reichenau, and in the
old German city/village called Radolfzell, GM Davis taught some of
the more refined aspects of his system of Serrada Escrima. The
participants in all of the workshops expressed their sincere
gratitude and appreciation to GM Davis by giving him standing
ovations at each of the workshops that he conducted. The German
students expressed in whistles and cheers just how greatful they were
for the long distance that GM Davis had to travel in order to
personally teach them the Davis/Cabales Serrada System of Escrima.

One of the host of GM Davis' workshops in Germany, Wing Tsun
instructor Sije Juliane Reuter of the "Spirit of Asia" martial arts
school, was presented with an original Serrada Escrima Seminar
participant certificate. Additionally, GM Davis' primary German
representative/instructor Petra Eischeid was awarded the
Davis/Cabales Serrada System of Escrima Masters Degree. After six
long intensive years of study and dedication to the Davis/Cabales
System of Escrima, GM Davis personally awarded Gura Eischeid with one
of the highest degrees within his system of Escrima. GM Anthony Davis
was overwhelmingly requested to return to Germany again next year in
order to further advance, and to teach the art of the Davis/Cabales
Serrada System of Escrima there.

One week after GM Davis' return from Germany, he had to fly to St.
Louis, MO, in order to appear as a special guest star at a function
produced by his midwest representative Master Guru Mike Schwarz. The
event known as the "WMAU BLOWOUT" was co-produced by the "World
Martial Arts Union" (WMAU), and by the 'World Serrada Escrima
Federation (WSEF).' While in St. Louis, MO, GM Davis was well
received by the president of the WMAU, Hanshi James Perkins, and by
his top assistant Renshi Whited.

Renshi Whited had this to say about the St. Louis function, " I just
want to thank Guru Mike Schwarz for the awsome weekend at the Midwest
Blowout, even though we did not get the turnout we expected, I still
got the chance to talk and to listen to some of the greatest people
in Escrima Serrada. Grandmaster Davis was vibrant and energetic, and
was very helpful in allowing me to learn some things from him...I
look forward to more time with both Guru Schwarz and Grandmaster
Davis in the future." Also on board at this gala was Angel Cabales
Master graduate instructor Chuck Cadell. Other participants at the
event were Guru Erol Weber, and Mike Schwarz' student Ursula Bojanek.
Additionally, GM Davis along with assistant instructor Mike Schwarz
tested and promoted Ursula Bajanek to her next level of advanced rank
within the system of Davis/Cabales Serrada Escrima.

Prior to GM Davis leaving St. Louis, he and GGM Angel Cabales were
presented with unexpected awards of recognition by Master Guru Mike
Schwarz. The "2006 WORLD COMBAT ARTS UNION AWARDS" acknowledges that
GM Anthony Davis, and that GGM Angel O. Cabales are now
officially "Hall of Fame & Lifetime Achievement Inductees".

Says GM Anthony Davis " Yes! it was indeed a very productive and a
very monumental year in the world of Serrada Escrima, as there were
also other major Serrada Escrima campaigns and events taking place
right along side of mine; long live the art of Serrada Escrima."

Just like a re-constructred James Bond in Casino Royale,
a retro-Bruce Lee film could also be made, keeping in
mind the retro-grading of the whole population now
becoming slightly poor in economical means and
standard of living. A retro-Bruce film will skip parts
of his actual history because many things will not
be quickly understood by the new population. So, it will
show how Bruce Lee became interested in martial arts.
Maybe, had a fight at his high school. He thus joined
a taekwondo school in order to learn martial arts to
defend himself against skate-boarding villain gang.
Soon, Bruce started practicing in front of a mirror
in his room, and improving on his looks and attitude,
and the way he stood. Girls started noticing him. One
Chinese girl was specially interested in him. Although
she looked more Hawaiian. She had a old grandfather
who knew Kungfu. Bruce took secret lessons from his
girlfriend's grandmaster grandfather in the backyard
of the master's house. Soon, Bruce added his typical
yells to his movements. Tournament time was approaching.
Bruce Lee got up early in the morning to run and
train, then with his Filipino friend Rafael (clone
of Dan Inosanto) he practiced punching and kicking
wearing his TKD uniform. After winning the tournament
where he fought the members of the skate-boarding
gang, he went after the gang chief and beat him also.
Soon, Bruce, Rafael and the girlfriend went hand
in hand, slow motion into the horizon.

A powerful rush towards an opponent, and you can
uproot his stance. Then, he is in a odd physical
position and cannot apply any "techniques" he
has trained in. Most of the technique-based
arts from Indonesia/Philippines were made by
lightweight practitioners, who could work off
the geometry. In America, you may have to fight someone
who could be a big football player or a big wrestler
type and you do require power to fight such a
body type.