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