Extreme Weapons Full Contact Fighting

Promotions

2007 US Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee Maestro de Mastro’s Grandmaster, Bert Labitan of (7) Siete Pares Escrima - Labor/Labitan System held a promotion ceremony in Imperial Beach Pier Park, Imperial Beach, California on April 26, 2008.  Promoted to the rank of Masters or Mataas Na Tagapagturo (black belts above 5th degree) were Bobby Cruz of Colton, CA, Jose Rogers of San Diego, CA, Lito San Pedro of Las Vegas, Nevada, Jon Bais of Vallejo, CA and Damian Ymzon (aka Doc) in rank of GAbay (5th degree) from Honolulu, Hawaii.

The rank of pinakamataas na Tagapagturo or Grandmaster were awarded to Ernesto Hernandez founder of Dragon Rojo Kenpo, Joe Giron and Nelson Estanol with classified backgrounds of other martial arts. Brother “C” Jovillar was also awarded Pinakamataas na Tagapagturo ng Digmaang Spiritual or Spiritual Grandmaster.  This group is known as the “Guardians of the Art” with Grandmaster Nelson Estanol Presiding.

Siete Pares Escrima is a Visayan Warriors’ fighting art of blade, stick and empty hand fighting. Practiced by 7 brothers in a little town or barrangay in Iloilo in the 1940’s.  A young man, Sozing Labor defeated all 7 brothers of seven different styles of fighting in their town fiesta. The death of the eldest brother was the turning factor of the remaining 6 to seek a new leader.  They chose Sozing Labor to be their new group leader.  Sozing adopted all of the 7 styles and incorporated it to his fighting style of Di Campo and Disalon.

Bert Labitan, after yeras of training with Maestro de Maestros Sozing Labor, refined and isolated its system or style of Siete Pares Escrima. In 1997, Maestro de Maestros Sozing Labor transferred the art and leadership to Bert Labitan, founder 7 Pares Escrima Labor Labtian system.

We are inviting you to visit or join us at Imperial Beach Pier Park, Imperial Beach, CA every saturday starting at 10:00 in the morning until midday (12 noon).  Seniors 60 years of age and above is free, active military personnel bound for a combat zone is also free. Come and see us. God bless everyone!