Informative Issue No. 233 2016

Master Ferdinand Emmanuel “Bobot” GayolesMaster Ferdinand Emmanuel “Bobot” Gayoles

Coach Wilson A. AlvaradoCoach Wilson A. Alvarado

Sable is like Checkers“A Minute to Learn, A Lifetime to Master”

Master Ferdinand Emmanuel “Bobot” Gayoles FerdinandEmmanuel“Bobot”Gayolesfirstencounterwith“Sable”wasin1983,hewasjust18yearsoldthen,itwasduringthewakeofhisgrandfather,whenhehadachancetomeetGuillermoYasay.DuringthattimeBobotwasalreadyintoKarateandTaeKwonDoandtheyweretalkingaboutmartialarts.SincemostofBobotexposurewasemptyhandsonly,hereallywantedtolearnanytraditionalweaponsohetalkedwiththeMasterhimselfandheshowedBobotsomemoves.Themovesheshowedwereverysimple,compact,fast,anddirect.GuillermoYasayalsotoldBobotthatSableiseasytolearnbutyoureallyhavetopracticealotofspar-ring.HethenofferedtoteachBobotifIBobothadachancetovisithiminhishouseinManila.TheofferwasverywelcomebutBobotparentswereagainstitbecausetheoldmanoncesufferedaheartattack. WhenBobotwenthomeaftergraduation,thesonofGuillermo,Paterno,accompaniedhimwheneverhewouldgotothefarm.TitoPaterasBobotcalledhimisanArnisadorwhowasabletousehisskillsinreallife.Hewasasortofarebelandoftengotintotroublewhenhewasinhis20’sand30’s(He’s78now),hisboxingskillswerealsogoodandBobotbelievedhisbrandofsableisheavilyinfluencedbywesternboxing.BobotwasTitoPaterwhoreallytaughtmeasGuillermohadpassedbythen. Bobotwenttothefarm4-5timesaweeksopracticewasalso4-5timesaweekofabout2hourspersession.EmphasiswasonblockingbecauseTitoPaterbelievedthatstrikingwaseasierandhealsobelievedthatthemoreimportantthinginArnisistobeabletoparryandcounteryouropponentsattackswithoutbeinghityourself.Theyhadanaverageof20-305-pointroundsduringtheirsessions.Wedidthisuntil1993(westarted1987).ItwasalsoduringthistimewhenTitoPaterintroducedBobottoJovitoSuarezwhowasalsoourrelative.Lolo(grandfather)Vitopracticedsableandoido.Bythistimetheywereonlypracticingabout2-3timesperweek,thiswentontill2002afterwhichitwas1sessionperweekuptothepresent.LoloVitowastheonlywin-nerfromNegrosduringthe1977tournamentagainsttheDoceParesgroup.Hewasalsotheonlysablestylistinthatcontest. Intermsofteachingmethod,Bobotwouldsayinstructionswaspainfulandineffective.Itwasjustsheerdeterminationthatkepthimgoing.Bobotoftenwenthomewithweltsonhisbody.Armorwasnotusedthen.Onereallyhadtostruggleinordernottogethitsandyouhadtohitbackinordertostoptherelentlessattacksfromyouropponent.Intheprocessyoubecamewiserandalsofaster.Onealsolearnedtomaketechniques/combinationsandselectthosethatworkandthosethatdoesn’t.Themoreyoupracticethemoreyoulearnandthemoreinstinctiveyourmovesbecome. ItwaswhenBobotstartedteachingthathestartedtodocumenthistechniquesasanaidetoteaching.WhenBobottookupeducationcourses,heappliedcorrectteachingmethodswithteachingArnis.Thiswayhebecamemoresystematicandorganizedandhebelievedamoreeffectiveteacher.On SableSabletakesalotfromArnisorBastonaswecallit.ThisiswheretheFilipino“flavor”oftheartcomesfrom.Sablealsotakesalotfromwesternfencing.Duringthe50’sGuillermoYasayhadafriendHomeroSianwhowasintofoilfencingwhomheexchangedideaswith.HomeroSianlearnedfromJohnnyMonterowhowasafilmartistbasedinManila.ItisbelievedthatduringoneoftheirmeetingsSiangottosparwithMonteroandtheresultwasone-sidedinfavorofMontero.ThispromptedSiantostudyfencingfromhim.ItissafetopresumethatMr.Monterowassomesortofastageactorasfencingmovieswerepopularduringthe40’sand50’s.IfthisisthecasethenSablecanclaimahilariouspedigreefrom“HollywoodSwashbuckling”or“stagefencing”andreverse-engineeredittobecomeamartialart!IfArnistournamentwinsaremeasuresofsuccess,thenIcansaythatGuillermoYasaydidagoodjobofconverting“fineartintomartialart.”

TheFMAInformativewasveryfortunatewhenvisitingBacolod,PhilippinestobeabletomeetMasterFerdi-nandEmmanuel“Bobot”GayolesofYasaySable.OfcoursethiswaswiththehelpGrandmasterWilson‘Non-ong’EsparasViñasandPunongGuroRussellMacklerofViñasArnisSystem. Aremarkablepractitionerthatiswellrespected,andisknownaprofessionalamongotherpractitionersinthearea.BobotisaveryknowledgeableandskilledFilipinomartialartistthatisamazingwiththesableinexecutingmovementsthathaveacontinuousflowwithpowerandaccuracy. AlsotheFMAInformativewasabletomeethistostudentsthatcoachtheYasaycompetitionteam,CoachesRandy“Nonoy”AlvaradoandWilsonA.Alvarado,brothersthathavetrainedtheirteamtowinmanycompetitionsthroughoutthePhilippines.

Yasay Sable Concepts and Principles In Preparation to Become Skilled Respect for the Blade Yasay Sable Competition Team(New Generation) CompetitorsUnderstanding ImportantTrainingTips Respect

Eachissuefeaturespractitionersofmartialartsandotherinternalarts,otherfeaturesincludehistorical,theo-reticalandtechnicalarticles;reflections,Filipinomartialarts,healingarts,thecultureofthePhilippinesandotherrelatedsubjects. Theauthors,publisherandownerofthisonlinemagazinearenotresponsibleforanyinjury,whichmayresultfromtheinstructionscontainedinthisonlinemagazine.Beforeembarkingonanyofthephysicalactivatesdescribedinthemagazine,thereadershouldconsulthisorherphysicianforadviceregardingtheirindividualsuitabilityforper-formingsuchactivity. TheideasandopinionsexpressedintheFMAInformativeonlinemagazinearethoseoftheauthorsorinstruc-torsbeinginterviewedandarenotnecessarilytheviewsofthepublisher,editororowneroftheFMAInformative.Thearticlesarethepropertyoftheauthor’sthatwrotethemandcannotbeusedwithoutthepermissionoftheauthor. TheFMAInformativeisforthepromulgationandpromotionoftheFilipinomartialartsandtheCultureofthePhilippines.NOissuecanbeprintedandSoldforMonies,withouttheexpresspermissionoftheOwnerandPublisheroftheFMAInformative.

Block 32 Lot 34-35 Josefina Street, Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City, Philippines Email: bobotgayoles@yahoo.com

The sword used in Yasay Sable is a version of a saber as envisioned by Filipino’s in Bago who thought it would be as it is.

Yasay Sable Concepts and Principles

TheSabletakesalotfromArnisorBastonaswecallit.ThisiswheretheFilipino“flavor”oftheartcomesfrom.Sablealsotakesalotfromwest-ernfencing.Duringthe50’sGuillermoYasayhadafriendHomeroSianwhowasintofoilfencingwhomheexchangedideaswith.HomeroSianlearnedfromJohnnyMonterowhowasafilmartistbasedinManila.ItisbelievedthatduringoneoftheirmeetingsSiangottosparwithMonteroandtheresultwasone-sidedinfavorofMontero.ThispromptedSiantostudyfencingfromhim.ItissafetopresumethatMr.Monterowassomesortofastageactorasfencingmovieswerepopularduringthe40’sand50’s.IfthisisthecasethenSablecanclaimahilariouspedigreefrom“HollywoodSwashbuckling”or“stagefencing”andreverse-engineeredittobecomeamartialart!IfArnistour-namentwinsaremeasuresofsuccess,thenIcansaythatGuillermoYasaydidagoodjobofconverting“fineartintomartialart.”TheconceptofYasaySableisverysimpleinfightingwiththesable,itislikecheckersiftheopponentstrikesonemustblockitandcounter.Soessentiallyinlearningthesable,itislikelearningalanguage,theteachergivesyoulettersthestudentformswordsandthenafteratimethestudentwritetheirownpoems.Basic principles-Footworkislikethefootworkinboxing,spring,movingbackandforthetc. -Powercomesfromthebody:thehips,shoulder,elbow,andthenwrist. -Alwaystryandmaneuvertotheopponents’blindside.

In Preparation to Become SkilledInpreparationinfightingwiththesabletheexercisesareattackergivesthestudentdifferentkindsofattacks,startingveryslowlyexecutingstrikesorthrustsinthebeginningandallthatisrequiredistoblock,andjustcounterslowly.Astimeproceedstheexercisewillspeedupandalsotheabilityforcounterswillimprove.\\AgoodexerciseforbeginnerstocommencetodevelopskillsinYasaySableistheopponentdeliversastrikeandjustblockingisrequired,then2strikesandthen1strike.Then3blocksandonestrike,thenexecuteamorevariation1blockand2strikes,1block3strikes,thevariationsareendless.Thistrainingisgreatforinacon-frontationonecannotpredictwhattheopponentwilldoorwhatwillhappen.Thatiswhyrandompracticeisidealfortrainingandsharpeningtheskillsofthepractitioner.Thisistheclosestonecangetintrainingtoarealfight. Actuallytherearenotmanydrillsthatcanbeexecutedexceptfordeliverytechniques.Howeveralotofsparingwillimproveone’sskills.IntraininginYasaySableitisreallysimplemattertheydonottalktoomuch,noritualsorflowdrillsitismoreonsparring.Itisbelievedthemoreyousparthemoreeffectiveonebecomes. Onemustrememberoneofthemainprinciplesisrespectyouropponents’blade.Sodonotjustmoveinandblocktheopponents’bladeforinarealconfrontationwhentheopponentattacksacontinuousblockandcountermustbeexecutedandasthefightprogressestheopponents’weaknesswillberevealed.Secondusestealthandfakestogettheadvantageusingthemoftenandwithspeed.Allmovesareflowingandcontinuous. Thebasicconceptandprincipleisblocking,blockingwhatevertheopponentexecutes,thencounterattack.Forthepractitionerofsableoftenfindsitisablockingandcountering,itisfakingbywayofastrikeandsometimesthefakeisnothingbuttheexpressionontheface,eyecontactmakingtheopponentthinkthatyouwilldoonethingandyetdoinganother.

Padded Stick Set 1: “Lasid” or slashing move. In this technique the attacker executes a stab to his opponent’s eye while sliding forward. This will cause the defender to raise his arm in an attempt to parry the stab, his movement will create an opening(his forearm,his body,and his leg) which the attacker can exploit to execute a slashing technique.

Note: Once the defender starts reacting to the stab, the slashing motion may already be initiated.

Padded Stick Set 2: “The Loop.” In this technique the attacker looks at the defenders head as if he has all the intention of dealing a very heavy blow in that direction(eye contact is very a important part of this deceptive technique), the attacker then fakes a head attack, once the defender raises his guard, the attacker redirects his attack under the defenders arm and executes a “looping,” flicking strike to cut the defenders wrist.

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Equals the Sable

Filipino Bolo

Fiipino Sword

Padded Stick Set 3: “Redirecting.” The attacker feints a determined attack to the defenders face. As the defender attempts to block the strike, the attacker adjusts his hands from a “palm up” to a “palm down” position. This causes his stick to swing just above his head without making contact with the defenders stick and enables him to strike the wide open back or shoulder of his opponent.

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Respect for the Blade

InYasaySableitisbacktotheprinci-pleofrespectforthebladeatypicalsparringmatchisapproximatelythreestrikes,stabbingbeingworth2pointsandstrikingapartofthebodywithastrikebeingworth1point.Soanycontestantgetting3pointswins.Rememberinarealconfrontationitdoesnottakelongtowinorlose. Hit/Slashallisthesame,ahitisahitnomatterwhat.Thrust/Slash/Strikeinsableitisnotcategorized.Hittingorslashing;some-timesonecannotjustslashandgoon,sometimesjustawound,nomatterhowsmallcanaffectandcountforlosingaconfrontation.Anexamplewhenfightingafingercutcanaffectthehand,whichinreality(mostcases)thefightcanbeover.Nomatterwhereonegetshitthehead,legs,armstorsoetc–allcountandcouldendafight.Sparringisreferredtoplaying,theideaistobethehittingasmuchaspossibleandavoidbeinghit. ThebasicFilipinoprincipleofdefanging,thestickyoudefangthestickitisjustawoundlikewiththesable,onceyouhitthehandorfingerthereisnotmuchthattheopponentcandowhetheritishurtorinjured.Soinsableitisassaidbeforeitislikeachessmatch,fake,strike,block,counteretc.Withastickhitthehand,usingablademakesureitissharp.Neverhaveafalseconfidencethatafightercantakealotofstrikes,inarealityconfrontationitonlytakesaminimumamountofstrikes.

Saber Set 1: Illustrates the “Lasid” using the Sable sword. The attacker feints a thrust to his opponents head, attacks the leg and follows up with a circular downward slash to check any counterattack by the defender.

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Usingsportsticksandatothertimesregularsticks(whensparringwithcontrol)forthisisthemostrecommendedwaytoimproveskillandknowledgeofopponents’actionsandresponsesincombat,aproblemthatisfoundthatthesableisnotfortheweakandnonthinkingstudent,forastrainingprogressesmanytimesastudentgetshitandthentheyquit.Incontinuingtotrainthestudent,hopefullywithskillisstrucklessandsoondevelopstheirownpersonalstyle. Continuoustraininginsparringonecanfindcertainwaystomovethattheirbodyisnaturallyrespondingtoaopponent,andafterthatitbecomesahabitandinstinctinbodymechanicsandcoordination.AndinYasaySablethatishowitisbelievedskillisobtained.

Saber Set 2: Illustrates “Redirecting” using the Sable sword. In this situation the attacker’s feint was deciphered by the defender, so the attacker will execute two successive fake moves. The first one is a thrust to the head followed by a fake “lasid” to the leg and when the defender attempts to block the leg attack, the attacker redirects his slash towards his opponents head.

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Saber Set 3: Illustrates the defense against a thrust. The defender parries a thrust with his sword pointed downward. This enables him to cover a wide area of his body, he then executes a downward slash while getting out of the line of attack.

InYasaySablebeforeinthepasttherewasranking,howeverthathaschangedinthatatthepresenttimefrombeginnertobecomeafullpractitioneronemustparticipatein100to120matchesandinsodoingthisthepractitionerincompletingthisrequirementshouldhavelearnedsomethinganddevelopedtheskillsandknowledge.

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Coach Randy “Nonoy” Alvarado Coach Wilson A. Alvarado

Yasay Sable Competition Team (New Generation)

Team Coaches:Coach Randy “Nonoy” Alvarado Coach Wilson A. Alvarado

Competitors UnderstandingRandy: First of all discipline, taking ones’ mind and heart and dedicated in what they are doing.Wilson: Consistency, practice, practice and practice this is a factor in mastering the movements.

Important Training TipsRandy: Warm up, techniques (which the coaches demonstrate) this is important so the practitioners witness the correct way to execute the movements.Wilson: Show expression in movements in teaching the anyo’s / forms, this includes the techniques and also facial expressions. This adds up once the student is competing in front of the officials at a competition. It must be remembered that there are no anyos / forms in Yasay Sable. So the movements have to be put together. First in putting the basic movements together, it must be so that the officials understand the movements used, so they must be defined.Randy: In addition to what coach Wilson said, usually other styles in competition use a baston, which is for blunt strikes and maiming, but in Yasay Sable the competitor’s use the bladed weapon, for that is the art of Yas-ay sable, and that is what is shown and demonstrated keeping our identity. Our students are taught to show the actions of the blade by cutting, slicing, thrusting, and stabbing. In practice the student trains with a live blade so there is full understanding in the proper ways of executing the movements. In competition the student uses a replica of the blade, but the movements and execution of the

cutting, slicing, thrusting, and stabbing are well defined and the officials can see clearly the movements and the fashion in which the blade is being used. So in competing the art of Yasay Sable is shown, the spirit and drama is demonstrated in the delivery of the movements.Wilson: Our students do not execute flips etc. for these types of movements are not applicable in real situation.

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Set 2: Is an example of a very quick counter attack wherein the defender leans just enough, without stepping back-wards, to let the attackers stick pass his body and immedi-ately deliver a very strong finishing blow to his opponents head.

Typical Training Regime:1.BlockingofRandomstrikes 2.1Block-1countertoanypartofthebodyoftheopponent 3.2Blocks-1counter 4.3Blocks-1counter 5.Oppositeofno’s2-4 6.Faking,Feinting,andevasion. 7.SwordandDagger(fordemoandaestheticpurposes) 8.SableBoxing(unarmed/foradvancedstudents)

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Set 4: The attacker fakes a strike to his opponents legs to draw his defense down, he then executes another attack, a thrust to the head this time, and when the defender attempts to block he scores a hit to the defenders arms.

Set 3: The attacker makes a down-ward feint in order to make the defender execute a low stance and at the moment the defender reacts, the attacker makes a spirited thrust to his opponents body who by this time is in a weak and awkward position.

Set 2: Is an example of a set-up wherein the attacker entices a counterattack from the defender (in this case a blow to his head which he expects and blocks) so that he can execute a decisive finishing blow.

Master Ferdinand Emmanuel “Bobot” Gayoles

Coach Randy “Nonoy” Alvarado Coach Wilson A. Alvarado

1 2 3RespectRandy: We give more respect to the art of Arnis and want it to be Filipino taking pride in the art of the Philippines.Randy: A way to look a Yasay Sable is how can one jump (progress in the art) for the answer one must throw their heart and then follow. Gaining the skills and knowledge of the art, first there is character of the heart of all things for with not heart, then there is no desire, no perfection, this can be witnessed in the movement of the practitioner. People can see this for with no heart there is no character, the practitioner performs the movements be there is something missing and incomplete.Wilson: We have dedicated students for some coaches ask money of their students we do not. This seems to bring something out in the student, for we teach for the love of the art giving the knowledge, with character and skills that will be carried with them throughout life. This instills the attitude of professionalism and pride in them and they follow what is said and do not argue.Randy: Whatever is accomplished in honors represent Yasay Sable and goes back to our Master. What I believe in being a Arnisador, is though there are a thousand styles, one can be defeated by a practitioner that has one style but has practiced it a thousand times.

Set 5: This illustrates the “sliding Lasid” which is an excellent score-maker in sports Arnis.

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