Interview With the Author of 'Fundamentals of WSEF Serrada Escrima'

[Shari Blair]

In this interview martial arts expert and author Guro Michael Schwarz
shares with us information about the deady Serrada Escrima proven
bladed martial arts system. His picture driven and well described step
by step book gives even the novice an opportunity to learn some of
this devastating art of self-defense and combat... R: Aloha Guro
Schwarz
Thank you for taking the time to grant me this interview. I know from
conversations we've had what a busy schedule you have promoting both
the martial arts and your martial arts and self-defense products and
services. May I call you Mike sir?
M: Of course
R: Can you tell my readers how you first became involved in martial
arts?
M: My father was an old school boxer/golden gloves I believe. Although
he had long given up his training due to family & professional
obligations, he often encouraged my athletic pursuits, whatever they
were.
It was shortly after I'd seen my 1st Bruce Lee movie of course, that I
had initial interest in what martial arts was all about. But
truthfully, it was the 1st Billy Jack movie that really peaked my
desire.
I bugged the heck out of my mother & father till finally we found
a TKD/Hapkido school in a near by town. Now you have to realize that I
grew up in a very rural part of Southwestern Illinois & the
nearest "big town" was 30 minutes away. By today's standard it is not
far, but in 1974 - 1979 it was quite far. Although my father did not
see the value in a "foreign combat art", my mother finally got him to
concede, and the real "love of my life" was discovered.
R: Have you trained in more than one martial art?
M: My initial training as I indicated was in Moo Du Kwan Tae Kwon Do/
Hapkido/Judo. After 10 years within TKD/Hapkido, I pursued Goju Ryu
Naha Te, Aikijitsu & then I came upon the arts which I have
dedicated the past 25 yrs to in Filipino Martial Arts; 19 yrs of which
have been dedicated to Cabales Serrada Escrima & it's propagation.
R: How long have you been training now?
M: Let's see I started training the fall of 1976, so 33 yrs.
R: Have you been in any situations where you've had to use your
martial arts skills?
M: Yes I have had to utilize my skills on several occasions. As a
former bouncer in drinking establishments, I've had to utilize my
mental capacity & training as well as my physical ability. There
have been instances outside of that work environment as well when it
has been necessary to utilize my skill.
R: What is escrima?
M: Escrima means skirmish. Serrada Escrima means a closing skirmish.
It is a mediam range to close quarter range blade based art of
Filipino origins.
R: You belong to the Word Serrada Escrima Federation. Does this mean
there's different styles of escrima?
M: There are not only different systems/styles of escrima but also
other segments or movements within particular systems/styles of
escrima. These segments/organizations or movements are often dependent
upon how the founder of the organization was authorized to represent
that particular system of escrima or arnis for that matter.
R: You recently authored Fundamentals of WSEF Serrada Escrima. What
prompted you to write this book?
M: I have been given a gift by my instructors with in Cabales Serrada
Escrima, but we have all been given this gift by GGM Angel Cabales by
his creation of this system. It is in recognition of this gift &
my desire to promote & propagate the system that has driven me to
write this & additional manuals, as well as produce instructional
curriculum dvds.
R: I remember consulting with you on this book. I hope I was of some
minor help. It's very picture driven. It must have taken you a long
time to both write the text and get the pictures just the way you
wanted them.
M: Indeed it did. Actually you were of great help & thank you very
much. It was actually much easier to have the pictures taken, edit
& compile them, rather than actually write the text. Writing the
text actually required thinking about what I was doing...lol
R: Can you give us some details about Fundamentals of WSEF Serrada
Escrima?
M: The (WSEF) is an international escrima federation that was founded
in 2003, by Grandmaster Anthony Davis and Prof. Leo T. Fong for the
purposes of preserving the combative, scientific, philosophical, and
the spiritual applications of the late Great Grandmaster Angel
Cabales. As stated by Prof. Leo T. Fong " Much of Angel Cabales'
system of Escrima I have incorporated into my empty-hand system
called; "Wei Kuen Do". Additionally, Prof. Fong was one of Bruce Lee's
and Angel Cabales' star students and personal friend. Grandmaster
Anthony Davis began his studies in the field of martial arts at age
15.
In 1984, GM Davis was extended a personal invitation from Great
Grandmaster Angel Cabales to privately train under him in Stockton,
California. Based upon the personal permission of GGM Angel Cabales,
GM Davis has been keenly instrumental in spreading the "Davis/Cabales
Serrada System of Escrima" aka "WSEF System of Serrada Escrima
worldwide. It is essential to note that the 'Serrada System of
Escrima' as taught by Grandmaster Angel Cabales has extensively
influenced several top notched Bruce Lee students such as; Leo T.
Fong, Dan Inosanto and Richard Bustillo.
GGM Angel Cabales is responsible beginning in 1966, for the emergence
of Filipino martial arts in America, and also, that he is officially
considered to be the "Father of Escrima in America" as well. In 1991,
GGM Angel Cabales was named by 'Black Belt Magazine' as "Weapons
Instructor of the Year".