Great Grandmaster Braulio T Pedoy

[Mchief]

Greetings FMA practioners
How to start a thread for GGM Pedoy? Took me 2 days to think about this. Outside of the Derobio Family and Pedoy Family little is known of GGM. Pedoy. Why? How can someone like GGM. who started the first FMA school in Hawaii in 1963 not well known? You would have to meet him in person to know the reason. I will attempt to share the life of a great man and Escrimador. I will begin with the Derobio Creed:

An Escrimador must have the Wisdom and Discretion

to know when to use his art. When forced to use it

he must show Humanity against aggressors who cannot

defend against it and the Humbleness not to boost about

the Power he holds. In doing so He will gain Harmony both

with his Art and his Life.

Before I begin I would like to address the forum with a question. What do you know of GGM Pedoy and his art of Derobio?

[arnisador]

Can you give us a brief biography of him?

[Mchief]

Can you give us a brief biography of him?

GGM Pedoy was born in 1900 in the Southern Visayan Island of Leyte. He lived in the city of Ormoc until the age of 6. Life was hard and his father beat him often. For this reason he ran away from home and headed to Amandowin Mountain. GGM Pedoy walked for days, slept in the trees at night and ate fruits, whatever he could find. GGM was very deep in the mountains when he came across a small clearing. There was a shack and a garden next to it. He was tired and hungry. so he waited.

An old man woke him up and asked him who he was and what he was doing here. GGM explained what had happened. The man was General Faustino Ablen a Pulahanes rebel leader in hiding. He told GGM that it is very hard to find this place and dangerous. Ablen told Pedoy that God protected him during his travel and that he was meant to find this place.

GGM Pedoy lived with Ablen for 11 years. During those years he worked in the garden, learned about healing herbs which led to Hilot. Ablen also trained Pedoy in the art of Derobio Escrima. According to GGM. Pedoy he was the only student.

In 1917 GGM. was told by Gen. Ablen that it was time for him to leave but he must first pass the test. GGM.Pedoy had to fight Gen. Ablen with bolo's. According to GGM. the match took about 2 hours with GGM Pedoy sustaining a cut above the nose but Gen. Ablen nothing.

There was one more test he had to pass before leaving. General Ablen told Pedoy to climb the mango tree near a large pool area in the middle of a bamboo forest. When he reached the top he looked down into the pool and noticed sharp bamboo spikes at the bottom of the pool. GGM Pedoy complained about the spikes but was encourged by the General to pray for protection. But he was afraid and started to climb down. The General told Pedoy not to come down or he would have to meet the Generals Blade. GGM Pedoy climed back to the top of the tree and prayed, calmed himself down and jumped into the pool. When he hit the water there was no spikes, only bamboo leaves floating all around. GGM Pedoy felt a euphoria he never felt before. He got out of the pool and the General told him that its time to leave. GGM was told to go to Island to Island and experience life. This took 3 years and that is a story all by itself.

Hard to be brief I left a few things out. I will post a brief bio of GGM's life in Hawaii on another day.

[arnisador]

How/where did the general learn Derobio eskrima?

[Mchief]

How/where did the general learn Derobio eskrima?

According to GGM Pedoy, General Ablens training came form family members. His father and uncles. No names were mentioned by GGM Pedoy.
GGM. Pedoy did mention that the roots of Derobio has a strong Indonesian influence. You can read up on General Ablen and the Red Shirt Pulahanes group www.geocities.com/ebjustimbaste/ablen (http://www.geocities.com/ebjustimbaste/ablen) From the beginning of our school we had ask many questions about Ablen. At the time we could not verify Ablens life, until now. The time lines and what he told us about the General matches the information found on the internent. GGM Pedoy could only answer questions about his 11 years with the General. He did ask those type of questions that concerned someones lineage.
GGM Pedoy took the essence of Derobio and added movements that he learned through his travels. Either through personal combat or training with friends he found along the way.

[StixMaster]

Mahalo plenty for the historical info. Always a struggle for freedom from the oppressive dominant society. Great escrima came from it and you all are keeping it alive. Thank you again for sharing with us here FMA talk. Maraming salamat Po

[408kali]

Hi Mchief thanks for posting this! I would certainly appreciate a dedicated forum for Derobio.

I have enjoyed reading about your lineage. What an inspiring story. General Ablen is a hero of legend... as well he sounds to me to be a man of great faith.

[cityboy]

Masterchief,
Could you please explain the likeness/differences of Derobio from other FMAs? Thanks and I look forward to a dedicated forum on Derobio.
Cityboy Mike

[Mchief]

[quote=408kali;15087]Hi Mchief thanks for posting this! I would certainly appreciate a dedicated forum for Derobio.

I have enjoyed reading about your lineage. What an inspiring story. General Ablen is a hero of legend... as well he sounds to me to be a man of great faith.[/quote

General Ablen was a great leader but unknown . He fought for what he beloved in. According to GGM Pedoy Gen. Ablen had strong Anting Anting and he passed that on to GGM Pedoy. GGM Peody was taught how to get and keep the power but also not to use it unwisely. In Hawaii people from all over Hawaii came for physical and spiritual healing. I witnessed quite a few of these. I lived next door to GGM. and when my sons was sick we took them to GGM. Pedoy. He knew herbal medicine and Hilot. If you search Faustino Ablen you might find information.

[arnisador]

Thanks and I look forward to a dedicated forum on Derobio.

If we see a few active threads on the art we'll be delighted to make a new subforum for it.

-Arnisador
-FMAT Admin

[Mchief]

Masterchief,
Could you please explain the likeness/differences of Derobio from other FMAs? Thanks and I look forward to a dedicated forum on Derobio.
Cityboy Mike

It's difficult to verbalize Derobio in words without demonstrating the movements but I will attempt it. Let me explain something first to lay the groundwork. GGM Pedoy when told to travel the country did not realize the path would be filled with challenges. We cannot document GGM. Pedoy journey but we believed because he was a man of his word. If anyone met him they would know. His skill with the knife and bolo spoke volumes.

GGM. Pedoy traveled to Mindanao where he was a body guard for a Datu but before he got that position he had to fight the local champion. He beat the local champion but when the people wanted the GGM. to kill the fighter he refused. GGM. always lectured us about life and death. He said to us if we cannot resurrect life how can we take life. Only God has the power of life and death. But he said when the 11th hour comes and you must do what must be done, God will be there for you.

This is one of the basic principles of Derobio. To preserve life instead of taking life. Now how can one do this and practice FMA. Thats where the word ART comes in. Someone ask me one time "How come no one knows about Derobio?'. This was my reponse. According to GGM Pedoy disputes between Datu's were handled with the village champions fighting it out. Now if you knew my way of fighting it would give you a big advantage. GGM. Pedoy came across many, many, styles and he knew the secrecy of ones movement was essential for survival. You do not go around bragging about what you can do. There is power in humility and controlled power.

In Hawaii men knew that GGM Pedoy was an Escrimador but he never told anyone. It became known only because he stopped a fight between friends when one pulled out a knife. From than on when trouble happened he was called to help.
Eventually a small group of Escrimadors would meet on the weekends after chicken fights and practice. Their families unaware that these men were warriors in the true sense of the word. They remained friends till all passed away one by one. I had the previlage of meeting quite a few and train with them. It was for this reason that GGM decided to pass on his art because his friends were not passing their skills on. GGM Pedoy wanted people know that the Fiipinos knew more that the knife. He knew the art would die in Hawaii if not exposed to the world. So in 1961 GGM. decided to teach his Derobio Escrima to Eddie his son, but Eddie did not want to learn he wanted to learn Kenpo. So GGM said" Go, come see me when you get your black Belt". When Eddie did get his black belt GGM. told his son to come with him to the banana patch. He that told his son to attack him but he refused but GGM Pedoy insisted. He could not lay a hand or feet on the old man. GGM Pedoy countered everything that was thrown at him. From that day on Eddie Pedoy became Derobios first student.

Every question will be answered with foundational answers. I'm not saying that other arts do not have compassion. My words are not meant to compare Derobio with other FMA. GGM say " I have Derobio and that is good. Other's have their movements and that is Good". I come only from the perspective from someone who trained with a great but humble man. A true warrior and a true healer.

[LoLowasaBarangayCapt]

Saludo Mchief. What would be the ultimate challenge for a Derobio Escrimador?

Much respect,
Kini_boy

[StixMaster]

Mahalo for sharing the thoughts of GGM pedoy with us all on this forum. I too look forward to having your insight on more of your posts. Sometimes the old ways seem cruel to the mainlanders both 'haole' and Filipinos raised here in USA but GGM Pedoy's ways is what I remember growing up in Hawaii in the 'sugar' towns. I do hope they give Pedoy's Derobio a home here on FMA Talk. Aloha

[408kali]

Just my little 1/2 peso. The first thing that came to my mind when I first stumbled upon the older Derobio site and read about the compassionate aspect of the system was the "defanging the snake" technique. This technique is listed on Wikipedia as considered a humanitarian act because it's non-lethal. Pretty interesting little read.
Anyhow I'm enjoying your education Mchief and truly thankful for your time here.
Your system is a rare treasure of the Polynesian islands!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defanging_the_snake

[Mchief]

Saludo Mchief. What would be the ultimate challenge for a Derobio Escrimador?

Much respect,
Kini_boy

TO Control Ones Emotion's While Everything Around You Is In Turmoil.

An Derobio Escrimador, does not judge, has no expectations and waits for movement. He moves with his adversary not against him. He controls the ebb and flow of energy. Emotion will disturb this flow. When attacked the Derobio Mans only concern is the person in front of him. For him there is no Yesterday or Tomorrow. No family or friends. He just moves with his opponent until the opportune to disarm him.

That's our ultimate challenge and the hardest! Controlling Emotions.

[Mchief]

Mahalo for sharing the thoughts of GGM pedoy with us all on this forum. I too look forward to having your insight on more of your posts. Sometimes the old ways seem cruel to the mainlanders both 'haole' and Filipinos raised here in USA but GGM Pedoy's ways is what I remember growing up in Hawaii in the 'sugar' towns. I do hope they give Pedoy's Derobio a home here on FMA Talk. Aloha

When I trained in the old days, GGM Pedoy would order (not ask) but order one of us to attack Numerado! His defensive movements was swift, powerful and painful. When taught Agaws our joints would hurt for days. The locks he would put us in would push our pain tolerance to the max. He would tell us to follow the pain, go with the pain. It will lead us to the counter move. When you practice like this for any length of time you get immune from certain types of pain. You can immediately counter any graps. GGM Pedoy said there is a key for every lock. GGM Pedoy was known in Hawaii amongst his peers for his Agaws(mano and stick) and counter for counter movements with the garrotes, knife and bolos.

[StixMaster]

It is the 'healing' of your GGM Pedoy that makes him so'great' to me, brah. Their are very few 'healing' masters now a days. I just posted a reply on another sub-forum about how in 'lua' you could hurt but then you had to know also how to heal. So that the people out here on the internet know how well rounded Pedoy/Derobio Escrima really is. Humbly and Respectfully I ask Master Chief. Mahalo and Malama Pono

[cityboy]

Masterchief,
I can sincerely appreciate the direct lineage of the art of Derobio. It seems that there are more and more arts that are being taught by someone who paid a few bucks, attended a seminar, and now they're teaching others. How many active instructors are there in Derobio and how does one become an instructor?
Cityboy

[StixMaster]

I will see Pedoy/Derobio and MC Siangco in Sacramento this Saturday. Aloha

[ChiefShangko]

Aloha my brother, Just wanted to let you know that I have re-open the maui branch of Pedoy Escrima with Grandmaster Ty blessings. I will contact you later...Chief Lennie Siangco

[sdn8of]

Masterchief, I am glad to see you have found FMAtalk and have become very active on the site. You have a lot to offer with your years of experience and growing up training with GGM Pedoy.

I have met some Guro's in the bay area that have come across some of your former students and they only had good things to say about them and their skill.

I am truly blessed to have met and trained with your family and school. I am still practicing the basics and am also now training in Serrada escrima. I know you had good things to say about the Serrada system and that is one of the reasons I sought out a school. I am enjoying my training in Serrada escrima and am able to utilize much of what I learned from Derobio because some of the movements and philosophies are the same.

In your experience Masterchief what (if any) FMA styles are similiar to Derobio?

J.R. Penera

[arnisador]

In your experience Masterchief what (if any) FMA styles are similiar to Derobio?


I know this is always a hard question to answer, but it would be helpful to those of us with little experience of the art!

[Mchief]

It is the 'healing' of your GGM Pedoy that makes him so'great' to me, brah. Their are very few 'healing' masters now a days. I just posted a reply on another sub-forum about how in 'lua' you could hurt but then you had to know also how to heal. So that the people out here on the internet know how well rounded Pedoy/Derobio Escrima really is. Humbly and Respectfully I ask Master Chief. Mahalo and Malama Pono

Exactly! That's why I attended The International School of Bodywork. I studied, Tui Na, Shiatsu, and many other modalites , including Indian Hot Stone Therapy . Healing is so very important, physical and spiritual. My grandmother who was Hawaiian used Lomi Lomi and chants when she was helping people. She used cocount oil, various herbs that she grew herself and tea leaves. GGM Pedoy was a master of Hilot and herbal medicine. He had anting anting that helped him discern spiritual issues. He was a complete martial artists.

[Mchief]

Masterchief,
I can sincerely appreciate the direct lineage of the art of Derobio. It seems that there are more and more arts that are being taught by someone who paid a few bucks, attended a seminar, and now they're teaching others. How many active instructors are there in Derobio and how does one become an instructor?
Cityboy

There's only a handfull of active Red Shirts ( Full Instructors) that is teaching Derobio Escrima. No matter what your back ground is in the martial arts everyone starts as a white shirt. I've had black belts not make it through the first week of training and I have students with no martial arts experience become instructors and Asst. Maestro's.

When I arrived in San Diego in 1991 with my family, I knew no one. But with the help of my wife, Gail and a , Prof. Pete Salas of the Chinese Kenpo Federation whom I befriended on a chance meeting we established the school in Chula Vista. There were many potential students that came to train at my home. Most did not stay because they thought the training was to hard or to repetitive. But I think they did'nt like it when I hit them on the hand and made them drop their sticks and when they dropped the sticks made them do push ups.

So besides my 3 sons, there are only 2 students that made it to Full Red Shirt Instructors. Its not easy to become an instructor. I tell my students that if they ever ask me when will they be tested that would be the last day with Derobio. In fact I just had a test on Saturday the 25th. The last time I had a promotion was 9 months ago. When the student gets tested and if he passed he knows that the promotions was truly earned.

So to answer your question, "How does one become an instructor?
It all depends on you. I tell my new students that although this is a commercial school my intention is to make you quit in 6 months. If you are here in 6 months I know you have the heart thats needed to practice Derobio. I seek quality vs. quanity.

[Mchief]

Just my little 1/2 peso. The first thing that came to my mind when I first stumbled upon the older Derobio site and read about the compassionate aspect of the system was the "defanging the snake" technique. This technique is listed on Wikipedia as considered a humanitarian act because it's non-lethal. Pretty interesting little read.
Anyhow I'm enjoying your education Mchief and truly thankful for your time here.
Your system is a rare treasure of the Polynesian islands!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defanging_the_snake

If you take away the thumb, you kill the hand. If you take away the hand you kill the arm. If you take away the arm you kill half the man. At least the attacker can live on albeit with only one arm. Than you invite him to your school and teach him how to defend himself with one arm .In Derobio we train with both our hands. Whatever your strong arm can do your other side can duplicate. This helps with body balance to.

[Mchief]

Aloha my brother, Just wanted to let you know that I have re-open the maui branch of Pedoy Escrima with Grandmaster Ty blessings. I will contact you later...Chief Lennie Siangco


Aloha Brah! I'm very happy you reopened the school. Say hi to evryone. If you need me call me.

Braddah
Chris

[Mchief]

Masterchief, I am glad to see you have found FMAtalk and have become very active on the site. You have a lot to offer with your years of experience and growing up training with GGM Pedoy.

I have met some Guro's in the bay area that have come across some of your former students and they only had good things to say about them and their skill.

I am truly blessed to have met and trained with your family and school. I am still practicing the basics and am also now training in Serrada escrima. I know you had good things to say about the Serrada system and that is one of the reasons I sought out a school. I am enjoying my training in Serrada escrima and am able to utilize much of what I learned from Derobio because some of the movements and philosophies are the same.

In your experience Masterchief what (if any) FMA styles are similiar to Derobio?

J.R. Penera

Jr good to hear from you. I'm very happy you found a good school to train. Keep up your training and maybe someday you will be an instructor in the Serrado System . Excellent! As I told you before you left we are all one tree with many branches. Hope to see you when your in San Diego.

[Mchief]

I know this is always a hard question to answer, but it would be helpful to those of us with little experience of the art!

Many years ago a student of Serrado came to visit me and we worked for about a week. I liked what I saw and heard from this Serrada Student and he liked Derobio. Its like 2 long lost cousins meeting for the first time. It was a really great experience for me. I can share a little bit about Derobio Movements.
1) short sticks 24'' to 28 '' single stick. ( we are originally a blade art.)
2) short ,sharp fiqure 8 movements
3) move outside and inside with ease
4) when defending inside we move to the outside of the attack quickly
5) move very low and underneath the power, behind and power
6) our footwork is key for us
7) our checking hand is in motion all the time ( to Derobio the checking hand is the most important hand)
8)our Sumbrada moves can translate inside to outside in 1 motion
9) once our weapon moves it does stop until we disarm the opponent
10) we use our right and left hands to move the weapon
11) Derobio is a counter for counter martial art
12) I believe Serrada is has Visayan Origin.

This is just a small view of what we do I still did not touch on Agaws, and Dumog and Panantukan moves.
Can you please share any similarites with Derobio? I would be very interested.
Thank You

[cityboy]

Mastchief,
Sounds like you run a very difficult school. Difficult may not be the proper word. More like as you said...quality vs quantity. Only the students that are sincere in learning stay. You mentioned in your previous thread that you recently tested your students. What does a Derobio test entail? I've observed tests from other martial arts. Some perform katas, show application of techniques, and maybe a little sparring. Others are based upon time in the system. There are many things that can be tested...heart, mind, technique, application, emotion, etc.... I could go on forever. I guess my question is: In what ways is the Derobio student tested? Thanks for enlightening all of us in the art of Derobio.

[StixMaster]

Serrada the check hand is very important, Serrada is basically a counter to counter system, it has sumbrada, dumog, counters to locks and is also multi-range oriented, but they use a shorter stick, Eskabo Daan uses a shorter stick also, 18"-24" in length. Sometimes it can be sort of like 'stick boxing' and yet it has quick direct strikes to the 'fang', just like back in Hawaii kine way!! Then the transition to empty hands is no problem, nothing much changes. You see GM Angel Cabales is from Cebu, so he is probably Visayan, when we was growing up in Hawaii most of the filipino people in Hawaii were Visayan. The shorter stick gives one better control of the stick especially in 'corto' range, you can hit with the tip better when close. usually they measure their stick from the individual person's armpit to wrist. Lots of similarities, we will talk more on Saturday when I see you Master Chief. Aloha to you Lennie, I glad you're there in Maui, now I got to come home to see you, I'll see your brother this Saturday in Sacramento. Aloha, the coach.

[robertlk808]

Many years ago a student of Serrado came to visit me and we worked for about a week. I liked what I saw and heard from this Serrada Student and he liked Derobio. Its like 2 long lost cousins meeting for the first time. It was a really great experience for me. I can share a little bit about Derobio Movements.
1) short sticks 24'' to 28 '' single stick. ( we are originally a blade art.)
2) short ,sharp fiqure 8 movements
3) move outside and inside with ease
4) when defending inside we move to the outside of the attack quickly
5) move very low and underneath the power, behind and power
6) our footwork is key for us
7) our checking hand is in motion all the time ( to Derobio the checking hand is the most important hand)
8)our Sumbrada moves can translate inside to outside in 1 motion
9) once our weapon moves it does stop until we disarm the opponent
10) we use our right and left hands to move the weapon
11) Derobio is a counter for counter martial art
12) I believe Serrada is has Visayan Origin.

This is just a small view of what we do I still did not touch on Agaws, and Dumog and Panantukan moves.
Can you please share any similarites with Derobio? I would be very interested.
Thank You

Master Cheif, there is a small discussion on another forum about Hawaii FMA, do you mind if I quote your post on the other forum @
http://www.fmaforum.org/index.php?showtopic=2332

[Mchief]

Master Cheif, there is a small discussion on another forum about Hawaii FMA, do you mind if I quote your post on the other forum @
http://www.fmaforum.org/index.php?showtopic=2332

No. We are here to share our experiences.

[arnisador]

Yes, fmaforum.org is another good resource for the FMAs!

[StixMaster]

However this forum does indeed serve its purpose in being source of FMA info for especially Americans interested in FMA or considering training in FMA. In Derobio the object lesson was to defend against or almost real attacks. You see in America sometimes things gat watered down because the training is perceived as cruel or sadistic but to the contrary it actually prepares one for real situations where I paraphrase, staying calm while all this aggressive action is directed at me. How does one truly become the 'eye of the Hurricane' ? It is by having teachers like Master Chief Siangco, helping a student experience a more realistic training for a real weapon to weapon confrontation or where you find yourself facing a person with a weapon and you don't have one type of scenarios and that the movements they teach you are time tested ones that have worked for generations, then Derobio fits the ticket. Besides Villabrille,in Hawaii the other mentioned and yet not spoken was of Pedoy's escrima they all knew each other. Just like the stories I heard about GGM Angel Cabales of Stockton via Cebu, is that they were get to the point kinds of styles and yet gives you an advantage as to continue to hurt the aggressor or to now show mercy and stop. As Master Chief points out it is designed to make opportunities not to hurt the aggressor but to flow with them thus controlling the situation. It is beautiful for a Hawaii local boy from Oahu to hear and see on these forums the name Pedoy Escrima, I grew up around this. Thanx again Arnisador for hospitality here. Mahalo and Aloha

[LoLowasaBarangayCapt]

Saludo Mchief. My impression of new students practicing the art of Derobio Escrima seems to fall in two categories: 1) New students may think their introduction to Derobio is "cruel & sadistic" especially after being tested. 2) New students embrace the art of Derobio for the fact that what they are learning is time-tested from GGM Braulio Pedoy in the early 1900's(PI) to it's early beginnings in Hawaii. I for one am a traditionalist by nature and embrace the later of the two. Born in Hawaii but raised in Cali, I can see that some mainlanders tend to think like those in the first category. Because of my nature, I prefer the art of Derobio to be taught in it's purest form preserving tradition & culture. I look forward to all your teachings because of it's lineage, authenticity, and real-life applications.

Maraming salamat Po,
kini_boy

[LoLowasaBarangayCapt]

See #35.

[Mchief]

Mastchief,
Sounds like you run a very difficult school. Difficult may not be the proper word. More like as you said...quality vs quantity. Only the students that are sincere in learning stay. You mentioned in your previous thread that you recently tested your students. What does a Derobio test entail? I've observed tests from other martial arts. Some perform katas, show application of techniques, and maybe a little sparring. Others are based upon time in the system. There are many things that can be tested...heart, mind, technique, application, emotion, etc.... I could go on forever. I guess my question is: In what ways is the Derobio student tested? Thanks for enlightening all of us in the art of Derobio.

There are 9 levels before one can be tested for Red Shirt ( Ablen Red shirt Pulahanes), 3 levels white shirt, 3 levels black shirt and 3 levels Blue. The colors have deep meanings that I won't go into at the moment. Each level has a beginning, intermediate and advanced tier. When you test for 1st level white you only test on that material. When you test for 2nd. level white you retake the 1st level than the 2nd. Its a tier testing system. Say you are testing for 1st. level blue shirt which is the Asst. Maestro tier you would have to start from 1st level white all the way through 3rd level black. That is 6 levels of material. Now at each level that student must demonstrate proficiency in movement and history of Derobio. Than I put that individual in our circle that is ringed with instructors and other advanced students that are not testing. He must again demonstrate the movements against attackers that are striking with intent. So if you have 15 attackers and each are striking Doce Teros that puts the student in a situations he has never been in before. But this is the thing that students test does not start until I give him the blue shirt test. I know he knows the material. That not the issue.
I WANT TO SEE HIM DEFEND HIMSELF WHEN HE CANNOT THINK STRAIGHT, BARELY MOVE HIS ARMS, DEAD ON HIS LEGS. I AM TESTING HIS HEART. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY STUDENTS. IF THEY CAN GO THROUGH 3 HOURS OF THIS AND PASS I DON'T WORRY. I don't test everyone like this. It depends on age and health. I take them to their own limit.

I teach people of all ages and physical skills. If you come to the school in great health and conditioning, good for you. If you come to the school weak, sickly and timid, thats OK too. I tell them to excercise at home here you practice Escrima. Every movement from beginning to the end of class is based the Derobio Basic Fundmentals. They are not paying me to watch them do jumbing jacks, squats, pushups etc. At 6 pm sharp we start. I don't even have them stretch. You like stretch you come early to class.
WHY! DO YOU HAVE TIME TO WARM UP BEFORE AN ATTACK?
No, so why warm up before class. You get a cramp work it out! But I do give my students the opportunity to step against the wall and rest. Only he can feel his body and no one will fault him for that. When he is ready he reenters the training. This might seem harsh to some but this is the way I trained. My sons get nervous sometimes because we now have a commercial school. My wife gives me that, don't go to far look but at the end everything works out. I don't have a big school. All I have is students with big HEARTS!

[StixMaster]

It is so hard for students to benefit from true realistic training when so many safety factors get in the way of real training. Many of us truly cherish the way we were raised to understand combat in real terms. Now with the advent of tournaments with safety equipment more of the techniques and training will be lost as I heard once said " tournaments develop bad habits in real fighting" because truly it is not real. I understand the need for safety however isn't the reason most people train in martial arts is so they are prepared for a real confrontation that one cannot simply walk away from ?? The Pedoy/Derobio style of escrima offers so much for the discerning student.

[StixMaster]

Because Pedoy/Derobio is so real, I think thats why 'hilot'(healing) is part of their training. To me this distinguishes Derobio from other styles that I have come across in FMA over these last 35 years. I think that 'healing'(hilot) is important to FMA and should not treated as a separate component but part of the whole FMA system. To me the teachers that teach 'hilot' are the styles that I feel represent FMA to its fullest. Mabuhay Ang Eskrima and Salamat Po

[cityboy]

Masterchief Chris,
I have a couple quick questions on the art of Derobio... What ranges of combat does Derobio cover? Many of the arts specialize in a specific range i.e. short or long range. MMA is taking the form of mostly striking and grappling arts, how does Derobio compare? Does it have a striking component? A grappling component? How about kicks? Sorry for the many questions. I'm interested in finding an art that covers different ranges as well as fighting standing up and on the ground. One never knows where the fight will start and end up. Thanks for your insight and wisdom.
Cityboy

[Ryno]

Video please?

[StixMaster]

This might help http://www.fightauthority.com/martial-arts-training-fights/filipino-martial-arts/great-grandmaster-braulio-tomada-pedoy/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3ectTDmRjQ & http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1499428601

[StixMaster]

Master Chief, Are there any Derobio instructors in Europe? If so where in Europe ??? Mahalo

[robertlk808]

Hey Stixmaster you must be reading the other forum too! LOL. Thanks.

Hope to see more people post there too.

[Mchief]

Master Chief, Are there any Derobio instructors in Europe? If so where in Europe ??? Mahalo

There are no Derobio Escrimadors in Europe. We don't have many instructors in Derobio.

[StixMaster]

I really noticed in GGM Pedoy's pictures how tight and compact his poses are. Not much of any openings, keeps his arms close to his body which in bolo fighting is important not to give one's opponent any extra targets. I can see how counter oriented Pedoy/Derobio truly is. Good to have a forum. Aloha

[arnisador]

Yes, I noticed the tight and crouched positions too! It reminds me of some Chinese and Indonesian systems in some ways.

Does it sacrifice mobility?

[Mchief]

I really noticed in GGM Pedoy's pictures how tight and compact his poses are. Not much of any openings, keeps his arms close to his body which in bolo fighting is important not to give one's opponent any extra targets. I can see how counter oriented Pedoy/Derobio truly is. Good to have a forum. Aloha

We keep it low and tight when we are close range. If you check out Chief Chaz Siangco on You tube you can see how low we go.

[Mchief]

Yes, I noticed the tight and crouched positions too! It reminds me of some Chinese and Indonesian systems in some ways.

Does it sacrifice mobility?

We offer a small target. The attacker is forced to move and look for us. We are never in the same spot or position for very long. On approach we use long range movements, when we ecounter we use medium range movements than we move in close to cut or disarm.

[derobioboodah]

This is awesome. As one of MChief's students, it is great to hear such awesome responses and questions. Not a lot of people know of Derobio and now I am glad the knowledge and the history is being shared. I have been with the Chiefs for about 6 years now and now a Asst. Maestro 1st Level Blue. I can tell you about the testing because I went through it. Every tier from white to black. Then 1st Blue. It lasted about 2hours I think. I was so beat up afterwards I don't even know. Testing in Derobio is something that can not compare to any other experiences I have been through. Testing for Black Belt in Kenpo was hard but Derobio Escrima testing can not be explained in words. You have to experience it. Even then its hard to explain. If anyone has any questions from a student's perspective, it would be an honor to talk with you..

Boodah (name given by the Chiefs) =D My real name is Brian.. Aloha and Mahalo..

[Mchief]

Video please?

A student of mine will start posting clips soon. He has years of video that he will edit. We will also post GGM Pedoy speaking of his past of Gen, Ablen and see him move in home videos.

[Mchief]

We offer a small target. The attacker is forced to move and look for us. We are never in the same spot or position for very long. On approach we use long range movements, when we ecounter we use medium range movements than we move in close to cut or disarm.
Movement is not sacraficed at all.

[Mchief]

[quote=arnisador;15937]Yes, I noticed the tight and crouched positions too! It reminds me of some Chinese and Indonesian systems in some ways.

Does it sacrifice mobility?[/quote
Mobility in close range is enhanced by our footwork. Once we address our attackers rhythm and or movements he will have to keep up with us. We practice our footwork to keep up with our handspeed. Its imposible but we try. Now if you cannot move quick ,IE old age, foot injury, leg injury we have ways to counter this by sticking to the attacker like glue, going inside quick with hand speed and close off the attackers angles and distance.
Did you ever try to catch a chicken? Did you ever have the pleasure or displeasure of having an octupus wrap its tentacles around your arm, neck, head or legs? Have you ever had someone lock you up so tight and so fast that it steals your breath?

[robertlk808]

I posted this at the General Forum in the Hawaii FMA thread.

Hopefully you dont mind if I post it again in here..

************************************************** *

Another goodie from Eskrima Digest, this may have been posted before..

Quote:
Message: 1
From: Ray Terry <rterry@idiom.com>
To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net (Eskrima)
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 15:23:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Eskrima] GGM Pedoy
Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net

Interview with Derobio's GreatGrandMaster Braulio Pedoy, from 1977.

(FAH = Fighting Arts of Hawaii)


FAH: Where in the Philippines did you come from?

PEDOY: I came from Ormoc, Leyte.

FAH: When did you come to Hawaii?

PEDOY: I arrived in 1924. My destination was Olaa Plantation on the Big Island.

FAH: Why did you come to Hawaii?

PEDOY: My friend told me, "We go Hawaii. Hawaii is good -- easy to make
money." The temptation was in my mind, a conflict already with what my
Master told me on how I should live my life.

FAH: So you worked the plantations all your life?

PEDOY: No, I spent many years as a fisherman, and during the WWII, I was a
security guard for the Army. After that, I worked 11 years for Gaspro.
>From that time until now, I haven't worked. That is my history from the
time I came to Hawaii. But if you go to my history in the Philippines,
there is a whole different story to tell. I went from island to island,
like my Master told me, to further my studies in Escrima. In every village,
there are different movements and counters. Kali has very different
movements than Derobio.

FAH: How long did you go from island to island?

PEDOY: Over three years.

FAH: How old were you when you did this?

PEDOY: I was 17 years old. I was 20 when I decided to go to Hawaii.

FAH: How long had you been training with your Master?

PEDOY: Since I was 6 years old until I was 17. And from there I went island
to island. First, however, my Master told me to study about the ocean, and
of the philosophy of the sea. If you were to climb to the top of a tree and
look into the ocean, you would see different shades of blue. The darker the
blue, the deeper the water. In the lighter areas it is shallow, rough, and
noisy. Many are at this level, close-minded people with conflicting goals
in life who tend to use their mouths loosely. We must look towards the
deeper water where it is calm and peaceful, where your morals run deep and
only pure thoughts come out of your mouth. Thus, you can observe for
yourself what is shallow and what is deep. In every one of us the Lord
provided seven gateways for us to observe the environment. Each of us has
two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and a mouth. Only the mouth can get us
into serious trouble with our fellow man -- thus, one should be very careful
in what one says. Give good advice, don't lie, and never gossip, for it
might not be true. Then you can get your humbleness from that.

FAH: When you came to Hawaii, were you a Master already?

PEDOY: Yes, I had developed already. I had been all over the Philippine
Islands.

FAH: How did you meet your Master?

PEDOY: My father was a very mean person. Everyday he gave me lickings. So,
at 6 years of age, I ran away. I went along the main trail until I came to
a fork in it; one way to the big city, the other to the mountains. If I was
to go to town, my father might still yet catch me, so I went the other way.
I just walked with no destination. I just walked, walked, and walked. For
4 days, I roamed the forest. Then I saw a small shack where someone had, at
one time or another, built a fire. So I sat down and waited, for I thought
to myself, someone lives in this place, thank God. Later in the evening,
that man came back, and he was very surprised to see me. He asked how I had
come to this place, and I pointed to the pass in the mountains I had come
through. He said, "I know other people come from the opposite way to this
place, but no one can pass through your way -- it's too dangerous."

FAH: What was so dangerous about the pass?

PEDOY: There were plenty of poisonous snakes that get bigger than men. But
at the time, I didn't see any snakes during the day and at night I climbed
high into the branches of the trees. My Master told me, "God guided you to
me. He wanted you to learn how to defend yourself -- so he brought you to
me, for that is the talent I have to give to you."

FAH: What was your Master doing in this out-of-the way place?

PEDOY: My Master was a wanted man with a large reward offered for him.
That's why he hid deep in the forest. He was a general during the
revolution against the Spanish. and again later during the Filipino-American
War. When the United States won and the Filipinos were required by law to
salute the American flag, he would not. To the Filipino flag, he would
salute, but to no other country's flag he would show respect. Too many of
his men had died fighting for independence in the battlefields. That's why
the authorities put him in jail. That man had great powers -- no jail could
hold him. The guards were there, yet no one saw him escape.

FAH: And he went to the mountains?

PEDOY: Yes, he ran away to the forest. He was a man of great powers, powers
he received from heaven through his prayers. Snakes wouldn't go near him,
animals wouldn't eat the rice he planted. There was plenty of wild boars,
deer, and birds. But nothing touched his rice. We wouldn't chase them away
either, just leave them alone. And when it was time to harvest, we would
thank the Lord for our food. See what power's he had?

FAH: So when you were 17, you left your Master?

PEDOY: Yes, but before I was to return to civilization, I was told to study
the movements of the trees and of the ocean, to observe carefully the
motions of the branches in the wind. You must be able to get away from the
force of the blow and return to an equal, balanced position. Thus, to be an
Escrimador you have to carefully study the land and sea while also searching
for those unusual things in nature God has created. After 11 years, I went
back to my father's place.

FAH: Did your father recognize you after 11 years?

PEDOY: Yes, he tried to hit me with a stick. I just took it away. I didn't
hit him back. He asked me how I survived all these years. I told him I
found a man and we lived together in the forest. I stayed two or three
weeks with my father, then I went away. I didn't tell him that I was going
from island to island to practice, I just left. He never learned anything
of what I had learned.

FAH: Didn't you regret leaving your Master after 11 years?

PEDOY: My Master told me that this was no place for me to live all of my
life. He said I would have to leave after my examination.

FAH: What examination?

PEDOY: My final test to become Master of the Derobio system of Escrima.
Each of us had two sharp bolo knives. We were to fight in actual combat.
My Master told me, "If you can kill me, kill me. I in turn will try my best
to kill you. If either of us gets wounded badly, the other has to kill him
because there is no doctor, we would only suffer. So better defend yourself
well, or else." Before the examination, I prayed for days, asking my Lord
Jesus Christ, to protect me. The battle was long and tiring; each of us
used our best fakes and counters. When it was over, he was unhurt, whereas
I suffered cuts on my hands and face. But only the tip of his bolos cut me,
not deep enough that I let down my defense.

FAH: When was the first time anyone knew you were a Master in Escrima?

PEDOY: Oh, I never showed anyone I knew Escrima. But when there was
trouble, my neighbors found out I knew how to defend myself. Especially
with newly-arrived Filipinos, when there was trouble, out came the knife.
When they would use it, I would take it away. That's how they know I know
Escrima. But I never taught anybody before, only Eddie (his son).

FAH: And that was the first time you taught?

PEDOY: Yes, the first person I taught was my son, and only after he had
taken Karate. One time, however, some officers of the Honolulu Police
Department asked to learn. I showed them how easy it was for me to hit them
with my sticks. Soon they stopped coming over. Do you know why I started
training Eddie? Because I thought to myself about the Chinese martial art
of Kung Fu, about the Japanese with their Judo and Karate, and about the
Americans with their boxing. I know the Filipino community in Hawaii has
some good Escrimadors, but they never show or share their talent. That's
why I began teaching Eddie -- so that we could preserve a valuable part of
the Filipino culture and heritage, and to give an opportunity to the younger
Filipinos who don't have Escrimadors in their families a chance to learn
Escrima, thereby increasing their pride in themselves and their heritage. I
then told Eddie to find instructors and to teach them well. Teach them to
pray, because that is also an important part of being an Escrimador. And
when you get your instructors ready, open a public Filipino Martial Arts
School. That is how our school began over five years ago, when we first
opened in Waipahu. Today I have nine full instructors under my son, who of
course is my chief instructor.

--__--__--

[Mchief]

I posted this at the General Forum in the Hawaii FMA thread.

Hopefully you dont mind if I post it again in here..

************************************************** *

Another goodie from Eskrima Digest, this may have been posted before..

Quote:
Message: 1
From: Ray Terry <rterry@idiom.com>
To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net (Eskrima)
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 15:23:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Eskrima] GGM Pedoy
Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net

Interview with Derobio's GreatGrandMaster Braulio Pedoy, from 1977.

(FAH = Fighting Arts of Hawaii)


FAH: Where in the Philippines did you come from?

PEDOY: I came from Ormoc, Leyte.

FAH: When did you come to Hawaii?

PEDOY: I arrived in 1924. My destination was Olaa Plantation on the Big Island.

FAH: Why did you come to Hawaii?

PEDOY: My friend told me, "We go Hawaii. Hawaii is good -- easy to make
money." The temptation was in my mind, a conflict already with what my
Master told me on how I should live my life.

FAH: So you worked the plantations all your life?

PEDOY: No, I spent many years as a fisherman, and during the WWII, I was a
security guard for the Army. After that, I worked 11 years for Gaspro.
>From that time until now, I haven't worked. That is my history from the
time I came to Hawaii. But if you go to my history in the Philippines,
there is a whole different story to tell. I went from island to island,
like my Master told me, to further my studies in Escrima. In every village,
there are different movements and counters. Kali has very different
movements than Derobio.

FAH: How long did you go from island to island?

PEDOY: Over three years.

FAH: How old were you when you did this?

PEDOY: I was 17 years old. I was 20 when I decided to go to Hawaii.

FAH: How long had you been training with your Master?

PEDOY: Since I was 6 years old until I was 17. And from there I went island
to island. First, however, my Master told me to study about the ocean, and
of the philosophy of the sea. If you were to climb to the top of a tree and
look into the ocean, you would see different shades of blue. The darker the
blue, the deeper the water. In the lighter areas it is shallow, rough, and
noisy. Many are at this level, close-minded people with conflicting goals
in life who tend to use their mouths loosely. We must look towards the
deeper water where it is calm and peaceful, where your morals run deep and
only pure thoughts come out of your mouth. Thus, you can observe for
yourself what is shallow and what is deep. In every one of us the Lord
provided seven gateways for us to observe the environment. Each of us has
two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and a mouth. Only the mouth can get us
into serious trouble with our fellow man -- thus, one should be very careful
in what one says. Give good advice, don't lie, and never gossip, for it
might not be true. Then you can get your humbleness from that.

FAH: When you came to Hawaii, were you a Master already?

PEDOY: Yes, I had developed already. I had been all over the Philippine
Islands.

FAH: How did you meet your Master?

PEDOY: My father was a very mean person. Everyday he gave me lickings. So,
at 6 years of age, I ran away. I went along the main trail until I came to
a fork in it; one way to the big city, the other to the mountains. If I was
to go to town, my father might still yet catch me, so I went the other way.
I just walked with no destination. I just walked, walked, and walked. For
4 days, I roamed the forest. Then I saw a small shack where someone had, at
one time or another, built a fire. So I sat down and waited, for I thought
to myself, someone lives in this place, thank God. Later in the evening,
that man came back, and he was very surprised to see me. He asked how I had
come to this place, and I pointed to the pass in the mountains I had come
through. He said, "I know other people come from the opposite way to this
place, but no one can pass through your way -- it's too dangerous."

FAH: What was so dangerous about the pass?

PEDOY: There were plenty of poisonous snakes that get bigger than men. But
at the time, I didn't see any snakes during the day and at night I climbed
high into the branches of the trees. My Master told me, "God guided you to
me. He wanted you to learn how to defend yourself -- so he brought you to
me, for that is the talent I have to give to you."

FAH: What was your Master doing in this out-of-the way place?

PEDOY: My Master was a wanted man with a large reward offered for him.
That's why he hid deep in the forest. He was a general during the
revolution against the Spanish. and again later during the Filipino-American
War. When the United States won and the Filipinos were required by law to
salute the American flag, he would not. To the Filipino flag, he would
salute, but to no other country's flag he would show respect. Too many of
his men had died fighting for independence in the battlefields. That's why
the authorities put him in jail. That man had great powers -- no jail could
hold him. The guards were there, yet no one saw him escape.

FAH: And he went to the mountains?

PEDOY: Yes, he ran away to the forest. He was a man of great powers, powers
he received from heaven through his prayers. Snakes wouldn't go near him,
animals wouldn't eat the rice he planted. There was plenty of wild boars,
deer, and birds. But nothing touched his rice. We wouldn't chase them away
either, just leave them alone. And when it was time to harvest, we would
thank the Lord for our food. See what power's he had?

FAH: So when you were 17, you left your Master?

PEDOY: Yes, but before I was to return to civilization, I was told to study
the movements of the trees and of the ocean, to observe carefully the
motions of the branches in the wind. You must be able to get away from the
force of the blow and return to an equal, balanced position. Thus, to be an
Escrimador you have to carefully study the land and sea while also searching
for those unusual things in nature God has created. After 11 years, I went
back to my father's place.

FAH: Did your father recognize you after 11 years?

PEDOY: Yes, he tried to hit me with a stick. I just took it away. I didn't
hit him back. He asked me how I survived all these years. I told him I
found a man and we lived together in the forest. I stayed two or three
weeks with my father, then I went away. I didn't tell him that I was going
from island to island to practice, I just left. He never learned anything
of what I had learned.

FAH: Didn't you regret leaving your Master after 11 years?

PEDOY: My Master told me that this was no place for me to live all of my
life. He said I would have to leave after my examination.

FAH: What examination?

PEDOY: My final test to become Master of the Derobio system of Escrima.
Each of us had two sharp bolo knives. We were to fight in actual combat.
My Master told me, "If you can kill me, kill me. I in turn will try my best
to kill you. If either of us gets wounded badly, the other has to kill him
because there is no doctor, we would only suffer. So better defend yourself
well, or else." Before the examination, I prayed for days, asking my Lord
Jesus Christ, to protect me. The battle was long and tiring; each of us
used our best fakes and counters. When it was over, he was unhurt, whereas
I suffered cuts on my hands and face. But only the tip of his bolos cut me,
not deep enough that I let down my defense.

FAH: When was the first time anyone knew you were a Master in Escrima?

PEDOY: Oh, I never showed anyone I knew Escrima. But when there was
trouble, my neighbors found out I knew how to defend myself. Especially
with newly-arrived Filipinos, when there was trouble, out came the knife.
When they would use it, I would take it away. That's how they know I know
Escrima. But I never taught anybody before, only Eddie (his son).

FAH: And that was the first time you taught?

PEDOY: Yes, the first person I taught was my son, and only after he had
taken Karate. One time, however, some officers of the Honolulu Police
Department asked to learn. I showed them how easy it was for me to hit them
with my sticks. Soon they stopped coming over. Do you know why I started
training Eddie? Because I thought to myself about the Chinese martial art
of Kung Fu, about the Japanese with their Judo and Karate, and about the
Americans with their boxing. I know the Filipino community in Hawaii has
some good Escrimadors, but they never show or share their talent. That's
why I began teaching Eddie -- so that we could preserve a valuable part of
the Filipino culture and heritage, and to give an opportunity to the younger
Filipinos who don't have Escrimadors in their families a chance to learn
Escrima, thereby increasing their pride in themselves and their heritage. I
then told Eddie to find instructors and to teach them well. Teach them to
pray, because that is also an important part of being an Escrimador. And
when you get your instructors ready, open a public Filipino Martial Arts
School. That is how our school began over five years ago, when we first
opened in Waipahu. Today I have nine full instructors under my son, who of
course is my chief instructor.

--__--__--

Mahalo Robert

I still have the original magazine article that was printed in 1975.

[robertlk808]

MChief, this question is from another forum..

http://www.fmaforum.org/index.php?showtopic=2424&st=60


Is Derobio escrima still present in the PH? Maybe from the family from Faustino Ablen? If Im not wrong he was from Ormoc and maybe there is something to be found.....

[StixMaster]

Thats a great idea to see if there are any traces of Gen. Ablen's Derobio in PH. The Pedoy style of Derobio is how I view it. GGM Pedoy had his 'mana' in this style which is part of Hawaii's martial art history, thru the true lineage that teaches GGM Pedoy's Derobio Style you are getting his 'mana' and 'manao' by the authentic training methods and concepts you learn and practice at their schools. Perhaps some further research couldn't hurt just be aware of 'propaganda' bias towards the Red Shirt Pulahanes,one website called Gen Ablen the Bin Laden of his day in PH ! Thanks for the question and Aloha

[robertlk808]

MChief were there any pictures to accompany the interview? How long was that magazine around? Did they interview any other local Escrimadors?

[Mchief]

MChief were there any pictures to accompany the interview? How long was that magazine around? Did they interview any other local Escrimadors?

I have pictures from the magazine. I will post to this forum. The mag started in the early 70's. I 'm not sure when it folded. Other Masters interviewed, I don't think so. We had one of our students with a connection to the editor of the magazine. The magazine focused on Karate and Judo etc. We were the first non mainstream martial art to be interviewed. I will get the pictures posted soon.
Mchief