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OLA`A-NALO ESKRIMAOrigin of Ola'a Nalo Eskrima |
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Middle: Maestro Pat & Maestro Randy Bottom: Master Ron & Maestro Randy |
It happened one December morning in 2004 while standing in my living room at 3:00am quietly practicing the 12 offense and defensive movements. I received a ghostly visitation from 5 Escrima Manoys (word of respect for elderly Filipino men). The message from these Eskrima “Guides” was clear to me: preserve the movements and spirituality of the Filipino Martial Arts as it was taught to me by my master. We also should learn to embrace the healing, spiritual and martial concepts of traditional Eskrima and how the art relates to the jungle and people that it came from. Immediately after the vision I sat down and wrote the martial basis and philosophy of Ola’a-Nalo Eskrima.
This message from the Eskrima guides takes me back 24 years to when I first started Derobio Escrima training in 1980 under Master Braulio Pedoy. At first I was training because it was fun and a good way to get regular exercise. However, when I fully understood the opportunity presented to me, I never missed a class for the next 12 years. Over the years, people have said to me “you were lucky” to have trained under such a renowned master and I can only reply, yes, I am fortunate, very fortunate! Training under my master from 1980-1992 gave me the foundation and knowledge to establish Ola’a-Nalo Eskrima 20 years later.
Olaa-Nalo, the namesake of our martial system, is dedicated to the Asian immigrants that migrated to Hawaii in the early 1900’s. These newcomers were assigned to the Ola’a Plantation on the Big Island of Hawaii and the Waimanalo Plantation in the fertile Waimanalo Valley on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. It was in these camps that some of the Filipino immigrants practiced the deadly fighting arts known as Eskrima, Kali and Arnis.
Olaa-Nalo Eskrima is a weapons based martial art that draws influences from the various fighting martial arts of the Pacific Basin. A new student must first become proficient in the basic movements of Derobio Escrima before advancing to the terrain blade fighting movements of Jungle Style.
Ola’a-Nalo Patch: We show
no weapons on our patch. We believe that weapons should not be
displayed in public. The diamond shape of the patch is from the
original Spanish fencing diagram. The 12 rayed Sun represents
life itself and signifies the 12 offensive and defensive
movements of Eskrima. The mountains are the 2000 ft Koolau
mountain range found bordering the Waimanalo valley. The tree in
our patch is the Banyan tree. The root system of the Banyan tree
is massive, signifying that without “the roots” you
have no foundation in the martial arts.
In Jungle Style we utilize the
Cinco Teros, “5 strikes”. Focus is on direct movements, direct
counters, direct disarms believing, if it take more than 3 moves it is too
many. Bladed techniques are learned. Light to medium sparring is required
in this level of training. Heavy sparring and/or tournament fighting is optional
but encouraged. Rough terrain jungle combat is practiced. The Eskrimador must
learn how to use the jungle terrain to his or her fighting advantage. Weapons
utilized in this open training are various length daggers and machetes. Firearms
familiarization is encouraged.
As a traditional Eskrima
instructor I focus on details of movement: including body position, striking
accuracy, range to target, footwork and angles of attack. Survival is always
of first concern. My purpose in teaching the Filipino martial arts is
to pass on the teachings that I learned from my master and share my own martial
techniques and life experiences that I have acquired in 25 years training
in FMA and nearly 60 years of living, traveling and working in the Pacific
basin. Over the past 15 years many people have come through my classes. I
have cross-trained in several styles of Filipino martial arts as well as other
martial arts. My primary focus in martial training has always been: “does
the move work”? As a traditional instructor I believe the
martial and healing arts are parallel pathways; they follow the same path
and you must study both. I hold instructor certificates in Eskrima and
a 2nd degree in Reiki (traditional Usui method) and have trained
in the healing disciplines of Hilot and Magnetic Therapies. Many of our
maestros and students also practice the healing arts. As in Yin and Yang,
positive and negative, balance is essential for harmony.
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Our schools and instructors: I have also been blessed with an exceptional group of instructors and students. Presently we have 12 instructors including myself. Our Chief instructors have been training with me for over 12 years each. Our maestro instructors have been training with me for an average of 3-6 years each. We have 2 schools in Hawaii (Oahu and Maui) as well as Texas, Washington D.C. and Iowa. Most of our instructors hold Sensei ranks in other martial arts as well as Eskrima. I strongly support cross-training as long as it does not interfere with the fluidity required in Eskrima. In Hawaii we train outdoors at night in the public parks. We prefer night training as it provides a real life perspective to combat. In the semi-dark you have to watch the opponent’s body as you can hardly see his weapon.
TO UNDERSTAND THE FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS, YOU MUST STUDY THE VARIOUS MOVEMENTS, HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE ART.
It is for the above reasons and values that I opened Ola’a-Nalo Eskrima. Please enjoy the art and remember to respect all living things: plants, animals, humans and Mother Earth. To learn more about Ola’a-Nalo Eskrima please visit our website at www.olaa-naloeskrima.com where you will find more information on our system, upcoming seminars and training products that are available. Aloha and Mahalo (thank you). Master Ron England