▲ Foreword ▲
by Grandmaster Angel Cabales
Founder, Cabales Serrada Escrima
For many years I have received proposals from people for writing a book on my style of Escrima. I had turned down all of these offers, feeling uneasy with the idea of my art being available in pictures for anyone to see. However, with the spread of my art as it is going, and my inability to preserve it everywhere, I find it time to document Cabales Serrada Escrima.
I have chosen Mark Wiley, one of my few chosen master instructors, to present my work. I highly recommend this and every book in Mark’s collection to anybody who seeks the ultimate, complete documented knowledge of an art. Mark Wiley is, in my opinion, an honest and humble person and a true master in every sense.
▲ Foreword ▲
by Mike Young
Contributing Editor, M.A. Training
I have known Mark Wiley for many years now and have watched him grow in the competitive world of the martial arts. I first got to know him years ago while he was in his infant stage of the game, trying to find the ever elusive “secret” of the martial arts.
After many long heart-to-heart talks along with many bone-to-bone bruises and contusions with him, I can now see that Mark found the right path in his pursuit towards martial arts excellence. His dedication to pursue top masters in many areas of the martial arts, from Muay Thai, Wing Chun, Savate, and boxing, to the Filipino martial arts, displays to me that his thirst for knowledge has not yet been quenched. This attribute is the key to achieving greatness in the martial arts.
In this book, Mark has focused on one martial art form, Escrima, and has conveyed the “essence” of the art. I highly recommend this and all of his other books.
▲ Acknowledgments ▲
First and foremost I would like to thank Grandmaster Angel Cabales for sharing his art with me and asking me to write this book.
I would like to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to begin the study of the martial arts at a young age and to acquire the knowledge that I possess.
I would like to thank Mary J. Hadicke-Wiley, Robert Burns, Sihu Carlos Aldrete, and Master Ian A. Cyrus for taking the time to proofread the original manuscript, Guro David R. Smith for photographing the technique sequences, and Guro Guy Dranoff for posing with me in the photographs.
I would like to also thank those individuals who have offered their suggestions in the writing and presentation of this manuscript: Guro Joe Breidenstein, Guro Fred Degerberg, Master Reynaldo S. Galang, Guro Fred Lazo, Guro Alan McLuckie, Master Darren Tibon, and Guro Mike Young. My research and documentation of the martial arts is inspired by the ground-breaking work of the late Donn F. Draeger and his associates Robert W. Smith and Quintin T. Chambers. Their collective and individual texts have long been trusted reference sources for me and subjects of my admiration.
Many thanks to the Filipino Warrior Arts Association for their perpetuation of Filipino martial culture and sponsorship of Cabales Serrada Escrima.
Finally, I would like to thank the staff of the Charles E. Tuttle Company, their martial arts publications continue to be a step above the rest.
▲ Introduction ▲
Centuries old, the Filipino warrior arts have long been the backbone of Filipino society. It was the practice and preservation of these arts that have kept the Philippine archipelago from permanent domination by a foreign power. There are several hundred styles of these warrior arts presently being preserved and taught throughout the Philippines. Although known by many names, often descriptive of the styles and names of their founders and enemies (i.e., Binas Arnis, Italiana style), the Filipino warrior arts can be classified by three distinct territorial styles—Arnis, Escrima, and Kali—that are found in the northern, central, and southern Philippines, respectively. The purpose of this volume is to introduce the Cabales Serrada system of Escrima in its historical, philosophical, and practical sense. It is important at the outset to make a distinction between the personal style of the system’s founder, Grandmaster Angel Cabales, and the collateral systems that are presently being propagated by a number of Grandmaster Cabales’ former students.
As is often the case with authentic and traditional martial arts styles, most notably those of Chinese orientation, knowledge is kept from the student until dutifully earned. This occurs without the slightest suspicion on the part of the dedicated student. This method of teaching became the norm because techniques were misused by students, and advanced students proved too often to be disloyal to their instructors. Such was the case too with Grandmaster Angel Cabales.
The entire scope of the Cabales Serrada Escrima system is divided into three distinct segments. Each segment offers more advanced and technically correct methods of movement and application of theories and principles. Grandmaster Cabales’ original course of instruction was limited to basic defenses against the system’s angles of attack, basic empty-hand techniques, and limited sparring methods. Although. it is unfortunate, many of Grandmaster Cabales’ original students were exposed to only one-third of the art. At that time (circa 1960), Escrima was relatively unknown other than to Filipinos on the North American continent; therefore, it can be understood why Cabales felt reluctant to openly teach his art, let alone the advanced stages of practice.
In time, Grandmaster Cabales decided to share more advanced techniques and principles with his students. They felt privileged to receive this knowledge, yet these students were made privy to only two-thirds of the system. It was not until his later life that Grandmaster Angel Cabales imparted the remaining one-third of his system. Perhaps because of failing health, Grandmaster Cabales bestowed this final level of knowledge to five of his master instructors.
It is my intention to promote and document the Cabales Serrada system of Escrima in its purest form. I have been doing this through the writing of books and magazine articles, instructional seminars, and training videos. After I had successfully completed my master’s training, Grandmaster Cabales encouraged me to do this work, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
The presentation of Cabales Escrima in this book is divided into three parts: history and philosophy, fundamentals of practice, and essentials of combat. Part One describes the history of the Filipino martial arts up to the development of the Cabales system and discusses the philosophy, psychology, and concepts necessary for proper development in this warrior art. Part Two describes and depicts the physical postures and techniques of Grandmaster Cabales’ classical Escrima system, and Part Three shows their use in defensive application. Prior to his passing, Grandmaster Angel Cabales read this manuscript, approved it, and wrote its Foreword. He passed away six months after that. Thus, this is the only book that will ever have the full support and endorsement of the founder of the Cabales Serrada Escrima system, Angel Cabales.
—THE AUTHOR
Blackwood, NJ
PART ONE
The History and Philosophy of Escrima
The Cabales Serrada Escrima logo (overleaf) is made up of six parts, a pinute sword, a stick, a fist, a sun, a triangle, and a circle that surrounds the other five elements. The sword is the primary weapon of the system and all the movements of the stick originated from it. The fist is placed at the bottom because unarmed combat is not emphasized as much as armed combat. The sun, placed at the mind’s eye, symbolizes insight. The triangle represents three groupings: the Holy Trinity; Escrima’s patterns of defense and offense; and the past, present, and future. It is encircled to show that these concepts are not exclusive but are interrelated.
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