Appointment of Grandmaster Dexter Labonog

 Off again on another trip to Stockton, California to visit the Bahala Na Multi-Style folks.   The day began early when GGM Isidro Javier, GM Frank Landers and Professor Cathy Landers and I set out from Grover Beach, California for the four-hour drive to attend the weekly training session of the Bahala Na Multi-Style.

   Bahala Na Multi-Style - Stockton Ca.

Master June Gotico & Guro Eugen Inis

It was sunny and hot as the students worked out in various exercises and drills, and GGM Javier watched with approval as the training progressed.  All the students showed their respects to GGM Javier, and as an added treat, with a surprise organized by Prof. Cathy Landers, they had a birthday cake prepared for GM Frank Landers. GM Landers was presented with a hand-made Bolo knife from the private collection of Guro Butch Gargalicana, and signed by members of the Bahala Na Multi-Style Family.  This knife is shaped in the traditional Bolo fashion, with a fine leather sheath, and GM Landers was deeply moved by such a beautiful gift.

Happy Birthday  Frank Landers

GM Frank Landers, Guro Butch Gargalicana

Master June Gotico, GM Frank Landers, Guro Butch Gargalicana

Maestro Dexter Labonog & Eugene Inis

The Bahala Na Multi-Style training covers numerous, rigorous exercises or Sinawalis involving stick-to hand, stick-to-stick, and stick-to knife, as well as disarm techniques, while maintaining footwork and balance.  GM Landers joined in with Gruo Butch Gargalicana to practice a Sinawali drill together.  I watched with amazement and enjoyment as these two great practitioners practiced for over thirty minutes.

GM Frank Landers & Guro Butch Gargalicana

 The tradition of the Bahala Na Multi-Style training is to have a bar-be-q after the workout; the food was great as always, but it was even more enjoyable and fascinating to listen to GM Landers ad Maestro Dexter Labonog as they talked about the Eskrima Art.  They conversed long into the afternoon, but it was time to attend a birthday party for Gruo Eugine Inis’s daughter at the Children’s Museum in Stockton.


The Javier Family

Prof. Cathy Landers, GM Frank Landers, Master June Gotico, GGM Isidro Javier -  Introducing GM Dexter Labonog.

 It was at this event that GGM Isidro P. Javier formally adopted Bahala Na Multi-style as his “family”, thanking them for all their affection and respect.  This was an incredibly important and heartfelt moment in the long and amazing life of GGM Javier.

Adoption of Bahala Na Multi-Syle

Born of the old customs and culture of the Philippines, to adopt someone into the family is the greatest honor that can be given by one of GGM Javier's generation.

Speaking softly, almost in a whisper, people strained to hear GGM Javier speak.  As the head of the Javier Family Art, along with his son-in-law GM Frank Landers, and his daughter, Prof. Cathy Landers.

GGM Javier read from a letter he had prepared, and then presented to Dexter Labonog a custom Certificate designed to GGM Javier specification in which he promoted Maestro Dexter Labonog to Grand Master of the Eskrima Arts.

As I looked around the room, I saw in the faces of the people emotions of surprise and pleasure, and there were tears in the eyes of Tommy Giron, son of GGM Leo Giron the founder of Bahala Na, as GGM Javier announced his decision to promote GM Labonog.  Applause and cheers erupted, followed by congratulations and handshakes, truly a great moment in the history of the Eskrima Art in California.

Then it was time to go home, with goodbyes and thanks to the Bahala Na Multi-style family for a great day.  GGM Javier, GM Landers, and Prof. Cathy Landers look forward to seeing everyone again, soon. - Glen "The Writer" Rathbone

Bahala Na Multi-Style - Celebration of GGM Isidro P. Javier

To all our family at Bahala Na Multi-Style, thank you for a great day of food and fun, and spirits, as we celebrated together with GGM Isidro P. Javier, and all the Bahala Na Multi-Style folks in Stockton, California last Saturday.

We were able to watch the training workouts with young and adults both, and it was interesting to see how pleased GGM Isidro Javier was with their passion and dedication to the Eskrima Art.

Everyone there showed the greatest respect and honor to GGM Javier as their adopted Manong, and their openhearted affection given to GM Frank Landers, Prof. Cathy Landers and myself is heart warming and much appreciated.

Honoring GGM Isidro P. Javier with a beautiful Bolo from Terry Joven private collection. Pictured with GGM Javier are Marcus Quilenderino, Terry Joven, June Gotico, Mastro Dexter Labonog and Butch Gargalicana.

At the conclusion of the training the Bahala Na Multi-Style group presented a beautiful Bolo Knife from Terry Jovin’s Private collection, and autographed with all their names. Team Captain Butch Gargalicana, presented GGM Isidro Javier with an autographed Bahala Na Multi-Style TEAM FIGHT T-Shirt. GGM Javier was deeply moved and honored by the gifts. To see all these hardened Eskrima fighters gathered around GGM Javier and to experience the moment is a memory I will not forget. The kids all introduced themselves and paid their respects, one at a time, and many had GGM Javier autograph their fighting sticks.

I was privileged to later sit at the table with Maestro Dexter Labonog, Terry Joven, Marcus Quilenderino, Butch Gargalicana, Guru June Gotico, Guru Bobby Antuna, Tommy Giron and the others as they listened intently to GM Frank Landers recount his experiences in the development of Martial Arts in America, and how he first became introduced to the Eskrima Art over thirty years ago. For all gathered at the table, there was a common connection in their love of Martial Arts and what it has meant to their lives. As the work on our history of martial Arts in America progresses, it is vital that we collect the knowledge of these great Artists and put it to writing.

GM Frank Landers and Maestro Dexter Labonog also spoke at length about the Eskrima Art, and I listened with fascination as the conversation ranged from the beginnings of the Eskrima Arts in America to modern Eskrima today, and of course, discussion about the merits of the various weapons of choice, such as the knife, which was GGM Javier’s preferred weapon. 

At one point, Terry Joven pulled out his 13 1/2" Cold Steel Voyager Knife and passed it to GGM Javier, who checked it for sharpness, approved and handed it back.  Then Terry offered the knife to me…very sharp and very impressive. As I passed the knife back to Terry, GM Frank Landers took the knife and began slicing the air making a figure eight movement in front of him.

In an almost unbelievable flash of speed, the knife dropped downwards toward the table top, and the next sound that was heard was glass breaking. GM Frank Landers had just sliced through a 4” tall shot glass, cutting the top off and leaving the bottom standing in place, as he slowly passed the knife back.

Terry Joven grabbed the shot glass off the table and holding it up, exclaimed, “He cut the top off the glass!”  Butch Gargalicana followed by saying "Frank's doing the watermelon slice!" and Cathy Landers said "All he needed was his blindfold".

Everyone at the table was stunned by the feat, (not to be tried at home).
I didn’t know such a thing was possible, and to see it happen right in front of all those Eskrima masters was a sight to remember.

As it began to get late in the afternoon we wanted to stay much longer, but it was a four-hour drive home, so we said our goodbyes with the promise of getting together again, soon.  I want take this moment to express my appreciation to all the Bahala Na Multi-Style folks for their great hospitality, and I look forward to seeing everyone again in the near future.

Thanks to The Bahala Na Multi-Style!

- Glen "The Writer" Rathbone

Another great weekend of Eskrimadora Challenges

 Another great weekend with GM Isidro P. Javier, GM Frank Landers, and Prof. Cathy Landers, this time down south at the 8th Eskrimadora challenge in West Convia, California, Hosted by Master Jun Oñas.  We were given a warm welcome by all, and met some new friends, like Arnelle de Guzman who gave GM Javier a beautiful Eskrima Stick Bag that has been attached to GM Javiers wheelchair.

We were given a special treat when Master Gilbert Cruz of San Jose, Ca. gave us a demonstration of controlled sparring with the sticks by his young, but very tough fighters who were sporting some serious welts on their un-padded arms during competition.  Ouch!  I’m glad I’m too old for that!
When one of the fighters showed off his welts on his arm, GM Isidro P. Javier looked at the welts and said, “Oh, that’s nothing!”  We all have to remember where he learned his fighting skills in the streets of Tagudin, Philippines in the early 1920’s.  Everything back then was done with no protection at all, including knife training, and he bears the scars from both “playing”, and real combat.
GM Javier was very pleased and impressed with the heart these young people have, along with their great respect for their elders.

The entire tournament people were all very respectful to GM Isidro P. Javier, GM Frank Landers, Prof. Cathy Landers, and all the other Grand Masters and Masters attending that day.  It is this respect amongst the Eskrima Arts that really sets them apart from the other arts.
We are looking forward to attending other tournaments, both north and south…onward and forward!





- Glen "The Writer" Rathbone 

Eskrima Lesson #1

Hello friends, I just had my first introduction to the Eskrima Sticks with instruction by GM Frank Landers.
I'm proud to say I managed not to whack myself in the head while spinning the sticks.
It is truly impossible to appreciate what it takes to master the use of the sticks until trying it for oneself.
GM Landers moves with fluid, lightning speed that only many years of practice can produce. It was an honor that he would take time to work with me.
Thank you, Mr. Landers







Glen Rathbone,

The Writer

Isidro P. Javier - Biography

Great Grand Master Isidro Javier

Isidro P. Javier began his life’s journey in Tagudin, the Philippines, May 5, 1912.  Life in the “Barrios” or Barangays of the city found families and clans bundled together in closely guarded camps, each with their own dialects, rules, and protection.  Competition often turned to violence as each Barrios jealously guarded its territory. Isidro Javier learned to be his own master in the toughest school of all; real life and death combat in the streets, grooming him as a leader and preparing him for the challenges he would face.

Isidro’s father was a maker of nets, done by hand, a craft that was handed down generation after generation.  And so was the ancient and secretive art of Escrima and the Balisong, known in the western world as Filipino Stick and Knife Fighting. Fathers taught their sons how to make weapons from the simplest of tools, and as a boy, young Isidro practiced his family art in the streets with his friends and ultimately, against his enemies.

In an interview recently, Mr. Javier described himself as a “troublemaker”, and recounted how he was the leader of his gang of six boys.  The gangs clustered in small groups for protection and the constant give and take of power and territory.  The boys practiced Escrima and the Balisong every day, perfecting their techniques, mastering new moves, always in the quest to top the competition.  There were no Dojos, no nicely padded mats, helmets or body protection.  They simply whacked each other black and blue with the sticks which easily raised lumps and bruises, but Isidro Javier decided the knife was his weapon of choice.  They would wrap their wrists with shirts or cloth and slice at each other in whirling, flashing moves. The result often meant cuts and slashes on the wrists and arms, but then, “the girls come and dress the wounds”.  “Sometimes there was no time to wrap the wrists,” meaning if a fight broke out with another gang; they would go at it with no protection at all.  Mr. Javier shows the numerous scars on his wrists from real street combat.

To be a gang leader, one had to show absolute fearlessness, total confidence and be the best with stick and knife.  Isidro Javier was all of that.  “Fight because of girls.  When I say I want that girl…no touch that girl.  No good to fight if no encouragement (from the girls).”  But the fighting became so dangerous that the local Priest intervened and forced the boys to swear not to fight.  Mr. Javier smiles and doesn’t reveal whether the fighting really stopped.

Isidro P. Javier

For many boys of Tagudin, the only life was what they made in the streets, but for Isidro Javier this would never be enough.  His keen mind and restless spirit could not be confined to the world he was born into.  When he was only thirteen years old he borrowed a friend’s driver’s license, lied about his age, and bought the Cidual Tax required for anyone who wanted to leave the Philippines. He sailed to the big island of Hawaii and went to work on the sugar plantations, then to the other islands to harvest Pineapple.  But opportunity soon knocked when his older brother Manuel bought his plane ticket and brought him to Pismo Beach, California. Isidro was the only one in the family who went to high school, and Manuel needed a bookkeeper to run his sugar pea farm. But war came to America and to Isidro’s homeland when the Japanese launched their master plan of Busido (Divine Right), and soon, the Draft landed him in the Navy on an aircraft carrier in 1943. 

Isidro was one of only four men assigned to fuel the aircraft on ship, and during combat he manned a machine gun as Japanese torpedo and Kamikaze planes attacked.  His ship, USS Nehenta-Bay (CVE-74) sailed and battled in the South Pacific, but survived un-damaged through several campaigns.  Isidro Javier earned his medals and his U.S. Citizenship, and returned as a hero. (Victory Medal WWII - Silver Star, Asia-Pacific Campaign Award – Silver Star, Philippine Liberation Award – Star)

However, Isidro Javier’s inner drive would not allow him to remain under his brother’s wings for long. Over the years he became a driving force that helped shape the Filipino community. He farmed, fished, and raised and trained prized roosters, which was a popular pass time of the community.

Javier Catch - Pismo Beach 1946

On July 23, 1946 he earned the all-time record fish catch in Pismo Beach when he landed twenty-three tons of fish in one day.

He bought farmland all around the Central Coast and his status as a leader in the Filipino Community grew.

In the 1960’s the Farm Labor Movement brought Caesar Chavez to “Manong” (Godfather) Isidro Javier’s home, which became headquarters for the farm laborers as they fought for better pay and work conditions.  Manong Javier worked side by side with Caesar Chavez as his main organizer. "I told them (workers) what to do, and they did it… I made things happen". Even today Mr. Javier has his hand on the pulse of the Central Coast and commands great admiration from the community leaders.


Numerous awards including his advancement to 33rd Degree Grand Master in the Masons, mark Isidro Javier’s many accomplishments. His remarkable good health at age 97 can be traced through a life of proper nutrition and diet. Mr. Javier is a master cook with some highly sought after secret recipes, but for now, only he knows the ingredients. As he approaches his first century, Isidro Javier looks back on a life filled with achievements that are far removed from fighting in the streets of Tagudin, a life that has met the world head-on and remains the victor.




Glen Rathbone,
The Writer