The late Great Grandmaster Angel Cabales awarded the World Serrada Escrima Federation Lifetime Achievement Award on March 4, 2006, at Langley’s Karate School in Sacramento, California. The award was given posthumously by the sponsor of the event Grandmaster Anthony Davis, a former private advanced graduate instructor of GGM Angel Cabales. Additionally, GM Davis is the president and the co-founder along with Grand Prof. Leo T. Fong of the ” World Serrada Escrima Federation “.
On hand to accept the award in behalf of their father was Gelmar Cabales, his older sister, Marigel Cabales, along with their mother, Maritess Cabales. Assisting his younger brother and sister as an official witness of the acceptance of the award was honorary special guest star Vincent Cabales Sr., and his son Vincent Cabales Jr.
The award acknowledges GGM Angel Cabales as the primary person responsible for the emergence of Filipino martial arts in America, and he has officially been recognized as the Father of Escrima in America.
GGM Angel Cabales opened the first official Filipino martial arts academy in 1966 in Stockton, California. Some of the Great Grandmaster’s first students at the Stockton academy include, Max Sarmiento, Leo Giron, Dentoy Revillar, Mike Inay, Jimmy Tacosa, Al Concepcion, Rene Latosa, JC Cabiero, Kathy Lee, Abel Miraflor, Art Miraflor, Leo T. Fong, Dan Inosanto, Richard Bustillo, Ted Lucaylucay, and numerous of others. GGM Angel Cabales was also one of the first escrimadors to be featured in an actioned packed martial arts film in 1972, titled; TIGERS REVENGE. Leo T. Fong, a former friend and student of both Bruce Lee and Angel Cabales, was the leading actor and producer of this historic movie.
Also receiving the World Serrada Escrima Federation Lifetime Achievement Award was one of GGM Angel Cabales’ top graduate master instructor, Darren Tibon. Master Darren Tibon is the founder and president of an escrima organization known as Angel’s Disciples. The WSEF recognized Master Tibon as a loyal and dedicated student of GGM Angel Cabales. After GGM Angel Cabales’ death on March 3, 1991, Master Tibon, along with his family members, continued supporting family members of the Great Grandmaster. With sticks and daggers blazing at the speed of light, Master Tibon and his Angel’s Disciples demonstration team presented a riveting demonstration of their skills for those who gathered at the commemoration event and then went on to further elaborate upon some of the finer points of his style of Serrada Escrima, by conducting a special hands on seminar.
Other top notch Angel Cabales graduate instructors; along with some of their third generational Serrada Escrima students, attended the event to show their support. This included Master Jerry Preciado, Master Wade Williams, Master Carlito Bonjoc, Master Ron Saturno, Master Guru Michael Schwarz, Master Guru Anthony Davis Jr., school host Master Bob Langley, Master Jeff Finder, Apprentice Master Fernando Cabe, and Guru Elrik Jundis. Iron Dragon/Kosho Ryu Grandmaster Ray Arquilla and his wife, made a suprise appearance at the commemoration function paying their respects.
At this event all differences were set aside in order to share in the true spirit of Serrada Escrima in the memory of Great Grandmaster Angel Cabales. It was the great accomplishment of Grandmaster Anthony Davis, who organized, promoted, and to hosted an event that brought together so many great master. About the event GM Anthony Davis said. “It takes a unified team in order to reach higher grounds and had it not been for all of those that came out to support the ‘Legacy’ of GGM Angel Cabales, this commemoration event could not have been as sucessful as it was”.
At the conclusion of this immaculate affair, GM Davis and his wife Mila invited all of the commemoration participants to their home where a spectacular banquet had been fully prepared for all of them. It was clearly apparent to everyone in attendance at this special event, that they all had become a vital part of the continuing Golden Legacy of the legedary Great Grandmaster Angel Cabales.
For further information about upcoming Serrada Escrima events, products, training programs, classes and workshops, contact GM Anthony Davis