Today would've been Leo Giron's 103rd Birthday! (Interview Parts 1-9)

Today would've been Leo Giron's 103rd Birthday! Manong Dan Inosanto credits Leo Giron as one of his principal instructors in the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA)!

Posting an Interview of Grandmaster Emeritus Leo Giron conducted by Grandmaster Tony Somera. Sadly both FMA greats have left us too soon :(

Maligayang bati sa iyong kaarawan GME Giron!

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00 Intro



01 - Why did you start?

The beginnings of GME Giron's path through escrima.



02 - The first teacher: Benito

GME Giron talks about his first teacher in the art of Escrima, Benito Junio.



03 The second teacher

GME Giron speaks about his second escrima teacher, Pactocio Junio.



04 The third teacher and renowned hilot man

GME Giron talks about his third teacher, Julian Bondak. He also speaks about Manong Julian being a renowned hilot (healing) man.



05 The fourth teacher and close friend

GME Giron speaks about his fourth teacher and also close friend, Flabliano Vergara.



06 Teacher's teacher

Leo Giron speaks about his own teacher, Manong Vergara's teacher.



07 Close friend last memory

Leo Giron accounts his final meeting with escrima teacher and close friend, Manong Vergara.



08 Final teacher during WWII

GME Giron speaks about his final escrima teacher. A sergeant of the bolo unit while they were both in WWII named Benigno Ramos.



09 The teacher that couldn't be touched

Leo Giron speaks about his escrima teacher and fellow soldier Benigno Ramos whom he was never able to touch during their practice sessions.





Interview continues here:

• Giron Arnis Escrima System (Interview Parts 10-29)

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For more information, please check:

• Official Site
• Inosanto.com's Instructor Profile of GME Giron

Please check out these related entries on Grandmaster Emeritus Leo Giron:

• Giron Arnis Escrima System (Interview Parts 10-29)
• Leo Giron would've been 102 years old today!
• GM Leo Giron honored with a street named after him: Leo Giron Drive!
• Leo Giron Drive Dedication Ceremony today at 10AM!
• IN MEMORY OF: Great Grandmaster Antonio E. Somera (1957 - Oct. 28, 20135:19AM)

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Upcoming workshop with Virgil Mayor Apostol Apr 25 - Apr 27, 2014 in NYC

HEADS UP! Upcoming workshop with Virgil Mayor Apostol:

What: Workshop: Forgotten Medicine of the Philippine Islands

Where: New York City

When: Apr 25 - Apr 27 (All Day)

That's all the details I have for now... when I find out a bit more, I'll update this page or if you are interested, you can contact Virgil Mayor Apostol via:

 

• Official Site
• Facebook

I will see if Mrs. SG lets me out of the house and family duties to check this out. I doubt it, but we'll see.

UPDATE:

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BOOKS: Way of the Ancient Healer by Virgil Mayor Apostol

Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral 

Traditions by Virgil Mayor Apostol (North Atlantic Books)

...
Way of the Ancient Healer provides an overview of the rich tradition of
Filipino healing practices, discussing their world influences and role
in daily life. Enhanced with over 300 photographs and illustrations,
the book gives readers a rare look at modern-day Filipino healing
rituals, including personal examples from author Virgil Apostol's
own experiences with shamanic healing and dream interpretation.
...

Please visit for more details:
 
http://www.rumsua.org/Other_Literary_Works.php#ancient_healer

Book is due out 12/28/10... this should be a good book. Not many, 

if any at all, books on Hilot and the Filipino Healing methods. 

Forthcoming review. My thanks to my good friend P. for the heads-up

on this book. 

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LINKS: Rumsua.org - Filipino Healing traditions

http://www.rumsua.org/

My thanks to my friend good P. for the heads-up on this site. I've always been curious about Hilot,

the Filipino Healing Art, when I first read about it years ago on the now defunct Eskrima Digest. 

There is an 1980's or 1990's article profiling Sam Tendecia in either Inside Kung Fu or Inside 

Karate. If I recall correctly it mentioned that Dan Inosanto had an injury that Sam Tendecia cured 

using Hilot methods.

Lots of information/articles on the Filipino Healing traditions at Virgil Apostol's site. Please visit it

and check it out. I will be later! 

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