WHEN we hear about martial arts, more often than not we think about Karate, Kung Fu or something that can really hurt someone. In reality, martial arts has many forms or disciplines and at times, can be integrated into a single art. It also more than just hurting your opponent, but in essence, a way to prevent you from hurting people.
Over two decades ago here in San Francisco, a martial art called ESKABO Daan was founded by a Filipino, Grand Master (GM) Robert Castro. ESKABO is an acronym for Eskrima, Serrada, Kali Boxing and Jeet Kune Do, and is a weapons-based system that also incorporates empty hand techniques as well as joint locking techniques. It also now incorporates Dumog (Filipino wrestling), Jujitsu, Muay Thai and Aikido, transforming it into a more fluid and versatile art.
GM Castro, who has over three decades of experience, is hoping to change the mainstream’s perception of Asian martial arts. His mission is to create a global arena where martial artists can exchange ideas and knowledge, as well as share the history and culture of ESKABO.
With ESKABO, students can learn disarms, locks and take downs with or without weapons. They also learn hand-to-hand combat utilizing almost everything that is humanly possible for the purpose of self-defense. These may include the efficiency and effectiveness of punches, kicks, elbows, head-butts, throat shots, eye gouges, biting and even pinching.
However, ESKABO is more than self-defense. Just like any other martial arts, it needs discipline. It is also being used for the “higher consciousness,” as GM Castro said in an interview.
One Child at a Time
One level of higher consciousness could be being involved in the community. Recently, ESKABO and One Child at a Time, Inc. teamed up to provide positive reinforcement through martial arts.
Just like ESKABO, One Child at a Time was founded in San Francisco and has received local acclaim for their works locally and internationally. Founded by Robert Squeri, One Child at a Time, Inc and ESKABO’s partnership aims to foster positive reinforcement with at-risk youth. Part of this is to offer martial arts discipline, guidance and mentoring, as they believe that it can foster positive attributes among young people who participate. So it seems right to offer a valuable gift to those youth who normally wouldn’t have access to it.
Although GM Castro remained low profile and did training underground, his passion and vision to spread awareness prompted him to host countless seminars and demonstrations throughout North America. ESKABO has also been featured on a number of show, like Good Day New York, Eye on the Bay and Adobo Nation. He has also opened schools in Oregon, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas and California.
For those interested in ESKABO Daan, you can visit them at 1475 Polk Street Suite 11 in San Francisco or call (415) 674-4388.
*All photos by Carla Ayala.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(Northern California June 3-9, 2011 SomethingFilipino pg. 2)
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