In the following interview
you will learn more about
Supreme Grandmaster *D*s
extensive martial arts background, and who were some of the people that
influenced his unique & elite method of martial arts titled the “D METHOD OF
SELF-DEFENSE”.
Interview
Questions for Supreme Grandmaster *D*
{Part 1}
By David
Foggie
(Q) What drew you to the martial arts, and more
specifically FMA?
(SGD) Four media productions; ‘Odd
Job’ in the James Bond series, ‘I Spy’ starring Robert Culp, and Bill Cosby,
‘Wild Wild West’ starring Robert Conrad, the movie “Tigers Revenge” starring
Professor Leo T. Fong & SGGM Angel Cabales,”Our Man Flint” starring James Colburn,
and of course the “Green Hornet” starring the legendary Bruce Lee. In regards
to FMA! my first influences were GGM Remy Presas, Maha Guru Dan Inosanto, GM
Richard Bustillo, GM Rene Latosa, and Guru Ted Lucaylucay.
(Q) Who has inspired you in the martial
arts, and how have they influenced your training,
and your development?
(A) I just mentioned Guro Dan Inosanto and GM Richard Bustillo, but the primary person who
influenced me in the world of Filipino Martial Arts is the late
SGGM Angel Cabales.
By far Guro Dan Inosanto, and GM Richard Bustillo are two of the
most prolific and inspirational martial artists in the business of combat. I
have been highly inspired by both of these gentlemen in the area of exploring
and developing my own method of self-defense. Additionally, Inosanto, and
Bustillo are the true pioneers that have more publicly exposed the various
styles of Filipino martial arts going as far back as the early seventies.
Both Guro Inosanto, and GM Bustillo
have my utmost respect. However, as far as who is responsible for my
fundamental development, and for my technical training in the arena of FMA, s,
again! I’d have to give full credit to SGGM Angel Cabales. Angel Cabales put
the actual combative touch of Escrima together for me in terms of actual live
combat. Also, both Guro Dan Inosanto, and GM Richard Bustillo are two of SGGM
Angel Cabales’ early 1970’s Serrada Escrima graduate students.
(Q) You also teach an eclectic
system called, “The D Method of Self Defense”. What led you to this and what do
you feel is the essence of it?
(A) The first developments of the “D
Method of Self-Defense” began in 1971 out of the necessity to survive in the
streets of Northern, California.
In the early 1970,s the Hawaiian born art of Kajukenbo reigned supreme on the streets
and in the Karate tournaments all across the nation as well. Certain
practitioners of this art used this system in order to control, and to bully
many innocent and unsuspecting people. I was one of the victims of these
thuggish Kajukenbo bullies; and after surviving a severe beating from five of
them; I decided to study the art of Kajukenbo in closer detail in order to
discover ways that I could counter-attack Kajukenbo’s combative techniques. The
primary essence of the “D Method of Self-Defense” is ongoing education in the
area of martial arts. The more that one understands about the infrastructure of
any particular system of martial arts, the quicker one can get to the essence
or to the nucleus of that art.
(Q) In formulating your system,
what systems and fighting arts did you draw from?
(A) In formulating my art form I
drew knowledge from Kajukenbo, Wing Chun Gung Fu, Muay Thai Boxing, Thai Chi
Chuan, Hung Gar Gung Fu, the fine art of Western Boxing, and since 1980, I have
incorporated concepts from the Filipino martial arts as well.
(Q) SGM “D”, you learned Serrada
Eskrima directly from the founder Supreme Great Grandmaster Angel Cabales. Any
fond memories you would like to share?
(A) SGGM Angel Cabales was an
extremely humble man. Also! Angel was very accepting of all those who earnestly
came to him for Serrada Escrima instructions. My fondest memory of Angel
Cabales was his down-to-earthiness.
(Q) How did you meet SGGM Angel
Cabales and what was your impression of him and his system?
(A) In 1984 in San Francisco, California,
I had scheduled a ‘Kali/Jeet Kune Do’ seminar featuring Guru Dan Inosanto. Guru Inosanto fell ill three days prior to
the seminar, and SGGM Angel Cabales volunteered to be his stand in, along with
the late Great Grandmaster’s Gilbert Tenio, and John Eliab. It was by way of SGM
Rene Latosa that I was able to come into direct contact with all three of these
Great Grandmasters. Of course when the seminar participants discovered that
Guru Dan Inosanto would not be present at the seminar they were extremely
upset, angry and very disappointed; however! once these same participants
experienced firsthand SGGM Angel Cabales’ style of Serrada Escrima, they! Like
me, were absolutely mind blown, meaning that they were extremely impressed.
(Q) In teaching you, and other
students, what qualities do you think SGGM Angel Cabales was trying to develop?
(A) Keen reflexes and effective
natural combative responses regarding any self-defense encounter. SGGM Angel
Cabales’ primary goal regarding me was to impart to me some of his most refined
lethal stick, knife & empty hand counter techniques, as he already knew
that I was a very proficient empty hand/foot fighter.
(Q) Having trained under SGGM
Angel Cabales, what do you think was the most impressive aspect of his skills?
(A) What I just mentioned. SGGM
Angel Cabales possessed some of the fastest reflexes, or natural responses that
I have ever witnessed in action. One day while I was down in Stockton, California
along with one of my 3rd. generation students Guru Jeff “Stickman”
Finder, SGGM Angel Cabales avoided being struck on the top his head by some
very big and very heavy chimes. Cabales walked out of the front door of his
home ahead of Finder and me, and then all of a sudden the chimes hanging from
his porch roof fell unexpectedly, and were quickly zeroing in for the top of
his head. With the speed of the blink of an eye SGGM Cabales snatched the
chimes so fast with one hand that Finder and I barely saw what had taken place.
Finder and I just gave each other that amazed & be-dazzled look knowing
that we had just witnessed something very special, and rarely seen.
(Q) When SGGM Angel Cabales was
alive what his method of instruction and syllabus was? Was there a structured
method of instruction and syllabus, or was it unstructured?
(A) SGGM Angel Cabales had a very
simple, and a very well structured syllabus. When I privately trained under
Angel he started me out with the proper delivery of the first three
strikes and counterstrikes of his
system of Escrima. Along with each strike there are at least nine or more
possible counter techniques per strike, covering stick, blade and empty hand
maneuvers. In all, there are twelve (12) strikes or progressive stages
following the same formula just mentioned. Additionally, SGGM Cabales taught
specific sensitivity drills on an advanced level, and also! on a masters level
as well.
(Q) What do you feel makes Serrada
Eskrima unique from your perspective? What are its strengths etc?
(A) What really makes Serrada
Escrima unique is that it is adaptable to any other system or method of martial
arts. The strength of Serrada Escrima is that it is very easy to learn, and it
doesn’t require years and years to master. It is due to Serrada Escrima’s
simplicity of application as to why the art has become so popular and has
spread so fast all over the world.
(Q) In a nutshell what is the
essence of Serrada Eskrima?
(A) The essence of Serrada Escrima
is different for everyone that learns and applies the art. No two people are
exactly the same, and because of Serrada Escrima’s adaptability to any
individual’ character; this makes Serrada Escrima unconventional, and unique in
its approach to combat or self-defense.
(Q) What are the fundamentals of
Serrada Eskrima?
(A) The primary fundamentals of
Serrada Escrima are economy of motion, simplicity in application, and “presence
of mind”.
(Q) What are the concepts and
combat principles of Serrada Eskrima?
(A) The first concepts of Serrada
Escrima are that one must possess keen imagination, and also great projection
skills. One must exercise sincere faith in the art in order for the art to be
effective or true for that person. We cannot ignore the fact that Serrada
Escrima is based upon ancient, profound and proven combative antidotes that
have been passed down from several generations to the current generation of
practitioners. When it comes down to actual combat Serrada Escrima is a proven
art. Both SGGM Angel Cabales, and his teacher Supreme Grandmaster Guru Felicisimo
Dizon were undisputed death-match champions in the Philippines,
and in the U.S.A.
Because of my, Cabales’ and Dizon’s combative exploits; I personally do not
question the effectiveness of Serrada Escrima, nor the “D Method of
Self-Defense”.
(Q) To me it looks as if Serrada
Eskrima was originally a sword and dagger system. What is your view?
(A) Your analysis about Serrada
Escrima being originally a blade art is correct. As Angel once said, “I always
prefer to use a blade when it comes down to defending my life.”
(Q) What modality of weapons does
Serrada Eskrima use? Single stick? Punta y daga? Dagger?
(A) Serrada Escrima is essentially
a transitional system of combat, meaning that Serrada Escrima techniques will
work well with or without any weapon(s).
(Q) Was SGGM Angel Cabales skilled
in double sticks?
(A) SGGM Angel Cabales was very
proficient with whatever he was holding in his hand(s) at the time. SGGM Angel Cabales
made very little distinctions between certain types of weapons. According to Angel,
when it comes down to real combat you cannot be too picky in regards to what
type of weapon you prefer to use. As Angel’s system was primarily based upon
espada y dagga tactics I did not ever witness him using double stick
techniques. But this is not to say that he couldn’t use double stick
techniques.
(Q) One of the central drills in
Serrada Eskrima is “lock and block’. Could you please explain its aim, and what
it entails?
(A) Once a student has become
proficient in the (12) combination patterns of Serrada Escrima, a drill known
as “lock and block” is introduced to the candidate. Essentially, the lock and
block drill is designed to decrease the time span that it takes to transition
from one counter technique to the other. One must quickly, and effectively
nullify or counter an oncoming barrage of strikes or attacks without the time
to prepare one’s self physically or mentally.
(Q) What exactly is “flow
sparring”?
(A) This is another type of stick
or knife drill that is designed to heighten the sensitivity, speed, precision
and non thinking reflex action which helps a person to react instantaneously to
any type of combative encounter.
(Q) Tell us about the other
martial arts you learnt and who taught you?
(A) As mentioned before I am
pretty proficient in other forms of martial arts such as; Kajukenbo, Thai
Boxing, Tai Chi Chuan, Western Boxing, etc. My primary formal instructors are
as follows: Master Sifu Phil Cornin of the Kajukenbo system of martial arts.
Master Sifu Phil Cornin was a formidable tournament fighter, and street
fighter. Phil Cornin’s instructors were Prof. Al Reyes Sr., Prof. Tony Ramos
Sr. and Bruce Lee.
Sifu Cornin fought and defeated
several top notch fighters such as Chuck Norris,
Benny Uquidez, and Louis Delgado.
My Tai Chi Chuan instructor was
the late Grand Professor John K. Wong; the founding father of ‘Wu Shing Tai Chi
Chuan.’ Lastly! My past and current Western Boxing coach is Jesus Lopez Sr.
Jesus Lopez Sr. is a former boxing champion from Mexico City. As I’ve been teaching
self-defense since 1971; I’ve literally taught well over a thousand people the
different aspects of my particular method of martial arts. I have worked
extensively with various law enforcement agencies from California
to Germany’
various elite {GSG9} Special Forces Divisions.
Two of my former students have won
major titles in the arena of ‘Filipino Sport Stick Fighting.’ These two former
students’ names are WSEF Master Guru Jeff “Stickman” Finder, and WSEF Meister
Guru Uwe Gutschow from Berlin,
Germany. Master
Finder took first place at the stick fighting championships held in the Philippines in 1989, and in 1996, Meister Uwe
Gutschow won first place in the heavyweight division at the “World
Escrima/Kali/Arnis Federation IV World Championships” held in Carson, California U.S.A... Both GM Richard Bustillo
& SGM Cacoy Canete both witnessed my students victories at these particular
stick fighting tournaments, as they both were the primary sponsors of these
special events held in the U.S.A., and in the Philippines as well.
(Q) Did you find your previous
training to be a benefit or a hindrance to learning?
Serrada Eskrima?
(A) Definitely all of the various
styles of martial arts that I’ve studied have been very beneficial to my more
intricate understanding concerning Serrada Escrima. A real good example is my
background in the area of Tai Chi Chuan. By incorporating the principles of
relaxation from Tai Chi Chuan into my Serrada Escrima strikes, and deflection
blocks, I am able to more naturally generate internal power, and whip appeal
into my Serrada Escrima tactics in a more effortless way.
(Q) Did your training under SGGM
Angel Cabales take place at the school or privately?
(A) The majority of my {7} years
of private training took place at SGGM Angel Cabales’ various residences in Stockton, California.
As Angel agreed to teach me his art form personally and privately, I did not go
to his academy that often.
(Q) So many of the well known
instructors of FMA were taught by SGGM Angel Cabales such as Dan Inosanto,
Richard Bustillo, Mike Inay, Rene Latosa, and Graciela Casillas. Do you feel
his contributions to FMA are at times overlooked?
(A) Yes I do! Considering the fact
that SGGM Angel Cabales opened up the first official Filipino martial arts
school in America
in 1966, you would think that American martial arts publications would have
given him top notch billing on the covers of their magazines by now.
Unfortunately, even after all of SGGM Angel Cabales’ efforts and contributions
in the arena of promoting Filipino martial arts in America, he still has not been
totally acknowledged by his many graduate students, and other FMA peers.
However, in other countries such as; Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and
Turkey, the Angel Cabales legacy has been fully embraced, and highly recognized
due to much of my promotional efforts in these three particular countries.
(Q) What can you tell us of his
training under Felicisimo Dizon?
(A) SGGM Angel Cabales told me
that initially he wanted to become a professional boxer, but he soon discovered
that he was not cut out for boxing. The fervor that SGGM Cabales possessed
within him to be a champion fighter is what ultimately drew him to Supreme
Grand Master Guru Dizon. Cabales said at first Dizon just ignored his requests
to be taught his style of Escrima; but as Cabales continued to be persistent in
his pursuit to learn from Dizon, Dizon finally conceded to teach him. At
fifteen years old,
Angel Cabales speedily worked his
way up the ranks in Dizon’s school. Soon afterwards Angel Cabales became the
official defender of Dizon’s Escrima school defeating all challengers. As time
progressed on, ultimately Dizon accepted Cabales as his friend, and as his
right-hand man.
(Q) What is known of Felicisimo
Dizon (his life, style, etc)?
(A) SGGM Cabales told me that
Dizon was a kind, and a very gentle man, and that he was an arch defender of
womanhood. Cabales recalled many incidences where Dizon saved women from the
clutches of would-be rapists and other criminal elements. According to Cabales,
Dizon possessed what is known in the Philippines as “anting-anting” or
super natural powers. Angel Cabales witnessed firsthand Dizon’ telepathic and, his
clairvoyant abilities. When it came to actual combat, Cabales said that Dizon
could predict just how a fight would pan out before it actually happened.
As Cabales, and Dizon were close
partners they experienced several fights and challenges together against other
stick and knife fighters, and in every encounter Dizon and Cabales were the victors.
Cabales stated that Supreme Grand Master Guru Felicisimo Dizon had never been
defeated in any combative encounter that he was aware of.
(Q) Dizon’s style was known as “De
Cuerdas”. Did SGGM Angel Cabales ever elaborate about what it entailed and what
innovations did he make?
(A) Yes he did! Cabales stated
that Dizon’s system of Escrima known as “De Cuerdas” which means (of rope) in
Spanish is primarily a blade art. Cabales elaborated to me that the Cabales
Serrada System of Escrima is a modification style of De Cuerdas. Also, Cabales
said that he modified Dizon’s system of “De Cuerdas” because there are many De
Cuerdas techniques that Dizon could perform that he could not perform. Thus! is
why SGGM Angel Cabales added new innovations such as empty hand techniques,
“Lock and Block Drills” and the science of “Picking” within the art of “De
Cuerdas”. SGGM Angel Cabales explained to me that his style of Serrada Escrima
is a relative art to
“De Cuerdas”, and that all of the
other systems of Filipino stick and knife fighting can be found within both “De
Cuerdas”, and within Serrada Escrima.
(Q) From what I know, Dizon was a
compadre of Antonio Ilustrisimo. Since Ilustrisimo, Dizon and Cabales knew each
other; did Angel ever talk about them?
(A) To be honest, I never heard SGGM
Angel Cabales mention anything about GM Ilustrisimo; however, because Cabales
never mentioned anything to me about GM Ilustrisimo, but that doesn’t mean that
he did not know of him.
(Q) Since SGGM Angel Cabales’
passing, have you retained Serrada as he taught you or have you evolved it
further?
(A) Both! For all those who want
to learn the “Cabales Serrada System of Escrima” exactly as Angel personally
taught it to me; I offer them Angel’s original teachings. And then for all those
who desire to learn my more updated system of self-defense called the “DC
Serrada System of Escrima” I offer my own modification style. Keep in mind that
SGGM Angel Cabales also created his own modification style of Escrima as well.
(Q) There has been controversy in
Serrada Eskrima since the death of Angel. Would you like to comment?
(A) Most of the controversy within
the fraternity of adherents of Serrada Escrima stems from financial motivation,
and greed. Personally speaking anyone who studied Serrada Escrima directly from
SGGM Angel Cabales has their own unique experiences with him, and how each
Angel Cabales recipient wants to interpret their version of Serrada Escrima is
entirely up to them.
(Q) Why do you think there have
been so many political problems?
(A) Again, it mostly boils down to
the fact that Serrada Escrima has become more popular within the world of
martial arts, and therefore! That means that the art has become a very
lucrative, and a more marketable product.
(Q) Many people claim to know
Serrada Eskrima. What should a prospective student look for?
(A) A prospective student should
always check a persons lineage, and credentials in regards to where and who
that person learned Serrada Escrima from. Also! keep in mind that just because a
person studied or learned the art of Serrada Escrima it doesn’t necessarily
qualify that person as being a good, and a thorough teacher of Serrada Escrima.
Some people are more geared for demonstrating, and fighting than they are for
teaching. Just because a person is a good fighter doesn’t necessarily mean that
they are good conveyors of passing on profound knowledge.
(Q) When you were training under SGGM
Angel Cabales did you foresee how popular Serrada Eskrima and other FMA systems
would become?
(A) Yes I did! Especially the art
of Serrada Escrima. In a nutshell, Serrada Escrima is the “Jeet Kune Do” of
Filipino martial arts. Jeet Kune Do is the most popular, and is the most famous
martial arts system in the entire world. In many ways the combative aspects of
Serrada Escrima along with the combative aspects of ‘Jeet Kune Do’ are
synonymous. That’s why I suspect Guro Dan Inosanto combined the two art forms
together along with other effective systems of fighting. You can see Dan
Inosanto use Serrada Escrima stick tactics against Bruce Lee in the film “Game
of Death”.
Additionally, because of this fact
many of Bruce Lee’s original core students studied, and incorporated the
Serrada System of Escrima into their own personal styles of JKD; such as, GM Richard
Bustillo, Professor Leo T. Fong, and many more others as well.
(Q) What about disarming
techniques. Why is it that FMA stress learning, and developing disarming
skills?
(A) As I have worked extensively in
the field of law enforcement for many years as a private consultant, I have
found that it is essential to have a workable knowledge of disarming
techniques. In the field of law enforcement if an officer of the law encounters
a person who is wielding a weapon, the first rule of law is to verbally try to
disarm that person. The next major step is to physically attempt to disarm, and
then to restrain a person (s); and this is the area where disarming techniques
becomes so essential to know. The same set of rules applies to the average
citizen as well. Also, there can be serious legal repercussions if a law
enforcement officer does not do his or her job correctly in regards to
over-kill tactics.
(Q) What was the view and approach
of SGGM Angel Cabales in teaching disarming tactics and their practicality in
combat?
(A) SGGM Angel Cabales’ viewpoint
and approach in teaching disarming techniques, is based upon the fact that it
is not always necessary to kill or to strike an opponent down in order to
control them. Therefore! if you can successfully disarm a person this should be
one’ first rule of self- defense whether they are law enforcement officers, or
the average citizen.
(Q) I always stress to students
that the time must be right and the opportunity available to use disarms.
(A) You are very correct; as
timing constitutes winning half of the battle.
(Q) If someone only wants to learn
Serrada Eskrima, do you teach them?
(A) Yes I do! This is because as a
teacher it is important to deal with each individual as an individual.
Everybody has different needs and requirements, and a master teacher should be
able to cater to almost anyone’s special needs.
(Q) Can the concepts and
principles of FMA become valid and applicable for those interested in
contemporary self defense training?
(A) Without a doubt! This is
because Filipino martial arts can be applied, and adapted into any type of
format when it comes down to contemporary self-defense training.
(Q) Do you feel that after a
student has learnt Serrada Eskrima or any system, it is natural for them to
eventually adapt and evolve into their own requirements, physique etc?
(A) To me, and to many other
martial arts practitioners this is the main essential goal of mastering any
form of martial arts, to become your own man or woman sort of speak.
{L-to-R} German Associate Grandmaster Guru Ronald Ruppin
& Supreme Grandmaster *D*
{To
Be Continued}
