ABOUT
ATILIM Escrima is a Filipino weapon art in which short stick (60 cm.) and similar weapons are used. ATILIM Escrima is a synthesis of Sifu Hasan AKIN and his associates to Escrima (Kali, Arnis) which is based on practicality and reality.
60 cm. rattan stick is the basic training weapon to reduce the injuries. However, this defense concept can be transferred into various everyday things like umbrella, stick, briefcase, and credit cards.
Together with ATILIM WingTsun or individually, this art can be used in all distances of any weapon or weaponless self - defense.
When we say weapon, we mean weapons without fire. In this context, there are two groups of weapons used: i) stick, baseball bat, metal rods etc., ii) knife, machete,
screwdriver, bottle, glass, etc. However, sometimes credit card, umbrella, fire extinguisher, home or car keys can rescue your life.
You want to learn how???
You are INVITED to our classes to learn how you can use all those things to save your life.
ABOUT
What is ATILIM Escrima?
ATILIM Escrima is ...
HISTORY
History of ATILIM Escrima
A Short history of Escrima...
MASTERS
Escrima Masters
Masters in ATILIM Escrima lineage...
ATILIM ESCRIMA
HISTORY of ESCRIMA
A Short Overview
Escrima, Arnis, Kali are just a few name used to describe the martial art brought to the United States by Filipinos.
Whatever name it goes under, the art has had a long and savage history, dating back to 1521 when Spanish rule first came to the Philippine Islands. Before colonization by Spain, Escrima was taught as a recreational activity, along with reading, writing, religion and Sanskrit.
The Spaniards had a hard time imposing their rule on the inhabitants, who wielded their bolos, daggers and sticks with fierce and deadly effectiveness. Not until they brought in reinforcements and firearms could they affect any semblance of order.
In the seventeen hundreds, when Spanish rule was firmly secured, the teaching and study of Escrima was banned (in the same way as the Japanese overlords banned the ownership of weapons on Okinawa). The carrying of a bolo (a long bladed weapon similar to a machete) or dagger was also forbidden. These orders were imposed in an attempt to “civilize” the spirited Filipinos.
Escrima then became a clandestine art (as did the art of Karate on Okinawa) and was practiced in secret. When it re-emerged it went unnoticed by the Spaniards.It had been set to native music and performed as it was, without weapons, the movements resembled only a harmless dance. This “dancing” even became popular withthe rulers and demonstrations were given in public at fiesta time.
The real Escrima had not died though, as the Spanish soldiers found out every time there was a revolt. From generation to generation, the many different regional styles, collectively termed Escrima, were kept alive, being handed down from father to son over the centuries.
When Spanish rule ended and the Americans took over in 1898, the ban on the art was lifted. Friendly competitions were then conducted in public at fiesta’s but the teachers never “opened their doors”, so to speak and Escrima remained a semi-secretive activity.
The country was to see a lot more martial arts action in the ensuing years. When the war came, the Japanese invaded the Philippines and a lot of Filipinos worked alongside the Americans in guerilla units. Many of these owed their lives, in countless close-quarter engagements, to their Escrima training–the custom issued machete closely resembled their native bolo. This is an art that has been well and truly tested, over a long period of time in actual combat.
After the war, many Filipinos had emigrated to the USA–needless to add, Escrima went with them. Most of the immigrants went to Hawaii and California. Of these that went to California the majority settled in Stockton and it is from there that Arnis / Escrima has surfaced onto the American martial arts scene.
The “discovery” of Escrima, along with the widespread use of the Nunchaku weapon, must be credited to the late Bruce Lee. His portrayal of the use of the “double sticks” in the movie “Enter the Dragon” and the unfinished “Game of Death” brought the art of Filipino Stick Fighting out into the open. Bruce Lee was taught Escrima by his student and friend, Danny Inosanto who had in turn been trained by a distinguished Escrimador (the title given to practitioners of the art) in Stockton, California.
The Filipino Martial Arts is virtually unknown to the general public because of it’s late entry into the mainstream martial arts world. What hasn’t helped the popularity growth of Escrima is the stigma attached to how it is taught. Escrima is noted for using weapons, usually sticks, as the primary tool to learn the basic concepts of the art, with the secondary focus being the empty hands. The idea of just picking up a stick or any weapon is a scary thought, and avoiding rather than exploring the beauty of the art seems saferand is less time consuming.
(Kaynak: http://escrima-concepts.com/)
MASTERS
Masters in the Lineage of ATILIM Escrima
ESTEBEN LATOSA
Rene’s Great Grandfather, Esteben, was a well-known (wanted) outlaw and a feared and dangerous Escrimador. As the story has it, he possessed the Anting-Anting,”the symbol of the supernatural” coupled with his martial arts skills made him a truely invincible man. As a young boy of seven years, Juan Latosa, Rene’s father was the only person his outlaw grandfather Esteben would allow near him. Esteben saw a future Escrimador in the brave eyes of his young grandson Juan. He tried to teach him the finer points of fighting but Juan was too young. One day as Esteben, lay sick in bed dying, he asked his grandson to take the Anting-Anting protruding from his mouth. Even as a young boy, Juan sensed that this object had evil attached to it and refused to take it. Esteben smiled at Juan’s wise decision and felt assured that his courageous grandson would be a successful fighter without the Anting-Anting. In his weaken state Esteben left for the mountains never to be seen or heard from again. (credit to: http://escrima-concepts.com/)
JUAN LATOSA
Juan Latosa, Rene’s father, was a well-respected fighter within the province of Capiz, and in the city of Mambusao. Rene’s father was the eldest in his family anda big man in terms of the average size of a Filipino. As a teenager, relatives introduced Juan to the Filipino martial arts at a young age. With his interest and skills sparked, Juan asked his mother for money to go to college in Manila. His mother’s perception of study meant academics; whereas, Juan’s interpretation was to proceed to the mountains to study Escrima. He never made it to Manila. For over a year he studied in a secret camp where his training extended to weapons of different sizes, shapes (kampilan, staffs, ropes, double swords, etc.), and ending with a weapon completely out of character, the Japanese samurai sword. When he returned to his village, he continued to season his skills in actual fights and by practicing with different vendors and travelers who had martial arts skills. In his village, he was the best fighter; it did not hurt him too much that his athletic skills were at his highest level (Philippine Olympic Track Team).
He departed the Philippines in the 1920s for America seeking fortune, adventure, and a better life. On the ship to America, he confronted a Japanese Bo master because he was causing trouble and bothering the other Filipino passengers. Juan asked him to stop; consequently, the situation escalated into a death match. With the stage set, the match began with sticks against staff. The fight ensued with Juan rendering the opponent down and defenseless in a matter of seconds. Being a death match, the opponent requested that he finish the job; Juan refused. His opponent had to live with the humility and loss of face for the rest of the voyage. This story was told to me by other people, many years before I realized and verified that it was my Father who was the major part of this episode. (credit to: http://escrima-concepts.com/)
RENE LATOSA
Rene Latosa’s initial exposure to the Filipino martial arts came through his ethnic and cultural environment. As a young child, Rene first witnessed martial arts during celebrations(after the crop season was over), cultural events, and hanging around the Filipino Community Center in Stockton, CA. At this community center he would watch the “Old Timers” amusethemselves by hitting their walking sticks together as if they were sword fighters and applying locks to each other.
As a teenager, many of Rene’s friends were studying Judo. He asked his father if he could take Judo or Karate lessons. His father offered to teach his young son “jitsu.” He didn’tbelieve his father knew anything about martial arts, so he did not pursue that avenue. His mother recommended taking self-defense classes taught by a long time family friend, Angel Cabales,at the Stockton Escrima Academy. (credit to: http://escrima-concepts.com/)
SALIH AVCI
Salih AVCI, started Escrima in Germany following Wing Tsun under the umbrella of EWTO. Establishing his own organization in 1997, he started to teach his Escrima style under his own brand namely Avcı Escrima.
He was among the pioneers of Escrima in Europe and one of the highest level instructors until his split from EWTO.
His extensive work with law enforcement community contributed his understanding of Escrima a lot and he made structural upgrades to Escrima which forms the basis of ATILIM Escrima.