Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 02:48:21 +0200 From: eskrima-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: Eskrima digest, Vol 15 #135 - 1 msg X-Mailer: Mailman v2.0.13.cisto1 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Errors-To: eskrima-admin@martialartsresource.net X-BeenThere: eskrima@martialartsresource.net X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.13.cisto1 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net X-Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net List-Unsubscribe: , List-Id: Eskrima-FMA discussion forum, the premier FMA forum on the Internet. 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Provided in memory of Mangisursuro Michael G. Inay (1944-2000). See the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) FAQ and the online search engine for back issues of the Eskrima/FMA digest at http://MartialArtsResource.com Mabuhay ang eskrima! Today's Topics: 1. Bandalan (Eskrima-FMA) --__--__-- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 17:17:24 -0700 From: Eskrima-FMA To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Subject: [Eskrima] Bandalan Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net 'Eskrima' Grand Master in the US By SANNY LEVISTE Filipinas Magazine Alfredo "Fred" Bandalan is the first Filipino American to become a Doce Pares Grand Master. The legacy of Bandalan's grandfather The old man was so predictable. He would walk through his vegetable gardens, the pineapples and the fighting cocks on his way to the barn. In the barn, the young boy, Fred, would surreptitiously watch his grandfather attending to the animals. He would then pick up a stick, sneak up on the old man and poke him on the side. His grandfather would instantly spin to a defensive/offensive stance, do some intricate moves then shout at the laughing boy, "demonyo ka (you devil)!" Fred's grandfather, Pedro Blanco, was doing eskrima, a martial art form indigenous to the Philippines that uses sticks or swords as weapons. Though he would proudly do demonstrations during family gatherings, the old man felt that it was too dangerous for his young grandson to learn. Little did he know that Fred was already picking up on the techniques from watching his grandfather and other Filipinos in Hawaii, young and old, who would often engage in play skirmishes using rolled newspapers as simulated weapons. Bandalan was born in Lanai, Hawaii in 1936. His father was from Leyte and his mother, like his grandfather, was from Mandaue, Cebu. Roots of eskrima It is believed that the Filipino martial arts tradition goes as far back as 1521, when Ferdinand Magellan was killed by Rajah Lapulapu in Mactan. In the book Filipino Martial Culture, author Mark Wiley writes that Lapulapu developed a fighting system called pangamut consisting of six slashes—to both sides of the head, chest, kidneys and thrusts to the face and the abdominal region. Modern eskrima, which took its roots from Cebu, has a similar system consisting of slashes to the crown, temples, shoulders, ribs, knees and groin. It also has thrusts on both sides of the chest. After graduating from Honolulu City College in 1958, Bandalan worked in the Honolulu Welding Co., where he met his first martial arts instructor, Master Philip Doseo. Bandalan recounts that he was eager to learn martial arts to develop confidence and defend himself. Being small in stature often made him a target of larger people. As a young man, he also stuttered and had difficulty speaking. Martial arts training was about to change all of that. During that period, students of the martial arts could not simply join a club. They had to be sponsored and invited to join. Bandalan went to the dojo one evening, hesitated before entering a two-story house with a Kaju Kempo sign. He almost changed his mind when he saw the students striking each other in full contact form, until he was told that that class was only for advanced students and that as a beginner they would be gentle with him. The gentleness didn't last long, however; soon enough they were pounding him in the name of advanced training. Eventually the roles reversed. Bandalan started beating his opponents. He was a fast learner and, in just a few years, established himself not only as a good student but also as a good teacher. Move to California In 1968, Fred moved to San Jose, California. Continuing his multiple martial arts training, he was awarded his black belt in karate by Sam Brown. In 1975, Professor Mauricio Tiwanek presented him his Chief Instructor ranking and designated him head of the San Jose Chapter of CHA III (Central Hawaiian Activities III) Kenpo. In kenpo (or kempo), there are 12 levels from white to black, each with an increasing level of proficiency requiring testing and evaluation by the masters. Higher levels are the positions of assistant chief, full chief, deputy professor, full professor. Bandalan is a Deputy Professor of Kenpo. In 1975, during his kenpo demonstration in Livingston, California, Bandalan witnessed eskrima as demonstrated by Grand Master Angel Cabales. He was captivated. He trained with Cabales, a streetwise fighter who perfected his skills in uncompromising contests that often ended in death. Feeling the need for more exposure to eskrima at that point, Bandalan wrote the Philippine government to ask for information about the Filipino warrior arts. His letter was forwarded to Doce Pares, a worldwide organization founded in the early 1930s by 12 escrima practitioners based in Cebu, and was answered by Grand Master Ciriaco "Cacoy" Cañete. (Eskrima as taught by the organization is called Doce Pares.) Within a month, no less than the Supreme Grandmaster Dionisio "Diony" Cañete flew to San Jose and the Doce Pares training of Bandalan began. Before the year was over, Bandalan flew to the Philippines on the invitation of the leadership of Doce Pares. It was during the visit that he was given the privilege to see the very exclusive list of all Doce Pares members, hand-written in a big brown book. During the Doce Pares Golden Anniversary, Bandalan was asked to do a demo of kempo. Warning his demo partner that he would strike hard, he knocked [his partner] out and left him shaking on the floor. That day, several people knocked on Bandalan's hotel door asking for kempo lessons. To his son For more than two decades, Bandalan and his son, Alfredo Jr., trained in the Doce Pares system under the direct tutelage of Cacoy and Diony Cañete. Alfredo Jr. eventually became the demo partner of Cacoy and is now a 5th degree blackbelt in Doce Pares. Bandalan rapidly mastered the techniques of Doce Pares and learned its history as well, knowledge he applied in his teaching and training sessions. In recognition of his contribution to the art of eskrima and his exemplary Doce Pares training, Bandalan was authorized by Diony Canete to change the name of his school from Hawaii Kempo Karate to Bandalan Doce Pares, thus making him the first Hawaiian-Filipino accepted into Doce Pares. In 1981, Alfredo Bandalan became the first Filipino American to be awarded by Doce Pares the rank of Grand Master. With his formal affiliation with Doce Pares, Fred's reputation in the Filipino warrior arts field grew. He became president of the United States Arnis, Kali, Eskrima Federation, an affiliate of National Arnis Association of the Philippines (NARAPHIL). He later became a founding member of the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF), which has grown from its original 10 member countries to over 30 member countries. Many of these countries join the world tournaments held every two years. At the 2006 World Tournament of WEKAF held in Orlando, Florida, contingents from 11 countries competed. During that event, the Bandalan Doce Pares contingent won 16 gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals—harvesting the biggest number of top prizes in the history of the sport. The school has produced over 100 champions ranging in age from 12 to 55 years old. A Lasting Legacy Grand Master Fred Bandalan recently turned 68 years old. His humor is infectious, his passion intense and he moves better than many athletes half his age. He continues to actively teach classes and gives seminars and private lessons. His team competes actively in various tournaments all over the world. Several of his world champions will be competing in Cebu this July and are also preparing for Hawaii next year. --__--__-- _______________________________________________ Eskrima mailing list Eskrima@martialartsresource.net http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/eskrima Subscribe or Unsubscribe: http://eskrima-fma.net Old digest issues @ ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com/pub/eskrima Copyright 1994-2008: Ray Terry, MartialArtsResource.com, Sudlud.com Standard disclaimers apply. Remember September 11. End of Eskrima Digest