This book is about some the many Masters and Grandmasters of the FMA: Filipino Martial Arts. Some are well known others are relatively obscure, some are famous, others are known only by their skill but they all have in common their love for the Filipino Martial Arts and their connection through training, friendship, heritage or lineage with GM Bram Frank. Some are the heroes of the Philippines and the spirit of Arnis like the late Professor Remy Presas, part of American martial art history with the FMA and JKD like Guro Dan Inosanto or like GM Bram Frank a faithful practitioner and instructor of the arts. Their stories are told in pictures and with a bio of who they are and what they've done! Regardless of gender these people give their lives, souls and energy to the Filipino Martial Arts. This is the first in a series of volumes of these wonderful people! This is the first book written by a non Filipino with a forward by a Filipino President: President Benigno Aquino III. Mabuhay

Kabaroan is the Filipino martial art and system of fencing and self-defense. Specifically, it is the traditional way of fighting with hand weapons or hand-arms (armas de mano), such as bolos, swords called kampilans (cutlasses), spears, iron-wood sticks, and fire-hardened staves. This comprehensive weapon system is broken down into techniques of Sensilla, Bambolia and Compuesta with methods known as Tiradin and Todasan. No wonder the May 1990 issue of Black Belt Magazine saw fit to write on its front cover that Kabaroan is "The Best of Filipino Arnis." Illustrated with over 400 photographs, this book offers deep insight into the history, art, training and techniques of Kabaroan Eskrima as taught by GM Ramiro Estalilla, Jr. All FMA practitioners need to learn this rare and unique Eskrima system.

Cebuano Eskrima: Beyond the Myth boldly unravels with compelling and provocative hypothesis on the Hispanic origins of the Filipino Martial Arts known as eskrima, arnis and estokada The last vestiges of the extinct European medieval fencing could be found indirectly linked to Filipino eskrima The authors present prima facie evidence on the fraud of the supposedly precursor art called kali A more plausible theory on the origins of eskrima are presented in startling detail from its early beginnings as a defense against Moro pirates and slave traders and its later fusion with Spanish fencing through the Jesuit warrior priests during the pivotal years 1635-1644, the height of Spanish rapier fencing in Europe during the Renaissance It also presents a comprehensive chronology on the development of eskrima in Cebu, a meticulous commentary of Cebuano pioneers and innovators of eskrima and elucidates the pre-eminence of Visayans in the art of eskrima / arnis / estokada As both authors are practitioners of this martial art, technicalities in eskrima never before detailed in other materials on the subject are carefully discussed in the book Other interesting topics related to eskrima like the esoteric practices and healing modalities are also explained in fascinating detail.

There has been a lack of reliable academic studies regarding Filipino martial arts (FMA) that have uniquely developed in the Philippine archipelago. This anthology assembles pioneering scholarly materials valuable for any interested in the Filipino combatives, as well as chapters specifically on the practice. Mark Wiley stands out as a leading scholar/practitioner of the Filipino arts. This book contains three chapters by him. In the first, he conducted linguistic and historical research to present the developmental background of the ancient Filipino kali and European fencing systems, thus illuminating the evolution of classical eskrima. In chapter two, Wiley attempts to classify Filipino martial arts and explore the ethos of Filipino martial culture by deriving information directly from the contemporary grandmasters who have maintained an oral transmission of information concerning the evolution and development of their respective martial systems. Part of Wiley’s research also led him to seek out special repositories of artifacts. Museums collections rarely include much on Southeast Asian weapons. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology has nearly 1,000 martial artifacts in storerooms from the Philippines, including swords, knives, spears, shields, helmets, and armor discussed in Wiley’s third chapter. On a practical side, Steven Dowd presents the art of Carlita Lañada who studied martial arts as passed down within his own family in the Philippines. He calls his rendition Kuntaw Lima-Lima, an art whose techniques are reminiscent of Okinawan karate styles, with hints of Chinese gongfu. Presented are the underlying principles, and a sayawan (form) with applications. Majia Soderholm’s chapter is about Visayan Corto Kadena Eskrima and some of its concepts and training methods with regard to free-sparring with swords. It is a Filipino martial system encompassing empty-hand and non-bladed and bladed weapons. Peter Hobart presents a wonderful tribute to Remy Presas, the founder of Modern Arnis. This retrospective is comprised of the stories and memories of many of those who knew him. Topics include Presas’ theory and practice of arnis, such as importance of flow, and memories of his last seminar. The chapter by Ruel Macaraeg dives into the topic of piracy in the Philippines. His study reconstructs the pirates’ martial practices through comparative historical analysis of their weapons, costume, and organization in order to draw conclusions about their relationship to martial cultures in the Philippines and across the region. In the final chapter, Ken Smith discusses a few of his favorite techniques from Modern Arnis. His insights—as well as the information found in the previous chapters—contribute to the academic understanding of Filipino martial traditions as well as the actual practice of kali, escrima, and arnis. We hope you’ll enjoy the reading.

This a compendium of the world's greatest council of Grandmasters. These Grandmasters both past and present represent an amazing history of the martial arts. It contains their bios told as they want it heard and seen along with pictures past and present of these Grandmasters. The WHFSC World Head of Family Sokeship Council brings together Grandmasters and Sokes from every style of martial arts to a yearly meeting, with an awards dinner, Hall of Fame and seminars sessions given by the Grandmasters themselves. Included in the book are some of the upcoming masters in the martial arts.

Filipino Combat Systems chronicles the creation, evolution and core concepts of one of the fastest growing martial arts in the world. It overcomes the shortcomings inherent in martial art instruction manuals by focusing not on technique, but on the strategy and philosophy of movement behind the technique. Written by a first generation student under the authority and supervision of the system’s Founder and Grand Master, this work is an excellent introduction to the system. FCS is one of the most practical combat oriented martial systems in existence, bridging the gap between the ancient fighting arts and the modern world.

Filipino Martial Arts illustrates the basic strikes, blocks, counters, and disarms of the Serrada Escrima fighting system. A highly effective, well-rounded warrior art, Serrada Escrima uses basic stick-fighting movements that are equally applicable in both unarmed and knife fighting. Profusely illustrated, this martial arts manual describes not only the techniques but also the history and philosophy of the Filipino martial arts and their relevance in the fighting and mixed martial arts world today. Filipino Martial Arts: Cabales Serrada Escrima is an essential addition to any martial arts library.