Danny Guba Doce Pares Newsletter
May 2007
Mabuhay!
As this is our first newsletter, this will be quite a long one. Apologies for the length, but we're pretty sure that you will find the information useful.
What is Eskrima?
What is Doce Pares?
Classes and venues
Gradings, Membership and Insurance
Activities, News and Events (including Seminars and Workshops)
Instructor Ermar "Alex" Alexander
Message from Grand Master Danny Guba
What is Eskrima?
Eskrima, also known as Arnis or Kali, is an indigeneous Filipino Martial Art which deals with weapons like sticks (single and double), daggers (blades), espada y daga (sword and dagger) and empty hands (kicking, punching, grappling, throws, etc) - the Filipino way. It is a complete system by itself.
What is Doce Pares?
Doce Pares, as very few perhaps know, does not refer to one particular style. It is in reality an assemblage of various styles. Styles that were brought and introduced into the organization by the founding masters in 1932. To the credit of the leaders of the organization, these diverse and often contrasting styles and skills were all successfully integrated and passed on to the next generation of Doce Pares adherents. The following styles each comprise a portion of the group's training curriculum:
The Close range style (corto) of Lorenzo and Teodoro Saavendra
The Medium range style of Jesus Cui
The Espada y Daga and Corto Orihinal style of Felimon Canete
The Long Range style of Yoling Canete and Vincent Carin
In the later years, the Corto style of Ciriaco Canete and "Pangamut" of Maximo Canete.
Classes and venues
1. Chatham, Kent
2007 will be a fruitful and busy year for DG Doce Pares. Classes have just begun in Fitness First Chatham last 10th March. A demo was held on 3rd March where a good dozen of spectators came to see what Doce Pares is all about. They also had the chance to get a taste of the basics taught by GM Danny Guba himself. Classes in this venue is every Fridays at 7pm.
2. Shepherds Bush, London
Over thirty people attended a DG Doce Pares demo on Saturday, 14th April at 7pm at Fitness First Shepherds Bush. GM Danny Guba, Ermar Alexander, Jim Smith and Kevin Angeles showed spectators a glimpse of what eskrima is about. Regular classes run on Saturdays at 6pm. (There is also a Filipino club not far from the gym... it's always good to unwind after an evening of training...)
3. Covent Garden, London
As we are getting lots of interest in the Covent Garden venue, we are opening a new class at the Gym Box on St. Martin's Lane every Tuesday nights at 8.30pm. There will be a free demo and the first regular class will begin the following Tuesday at 8.30pm. Come on the demo and meet Grand Master Danny Guba who will be showing what eskrima is about! Bring your friends along and just pop by!
4. Private training
Private tuition and group sessions are also available. Please contact info@dgdocepares.co.uk for further info.
Gradings, Membership and Insurance
We have received a couple of messages from people who say that they are not interested in belts and ranks and simply want to learn about the art. Good! You've got the passion and the heart.
But with Doce Pares, it is a requirement for one to go through grading as each student is taught the full curriculum and tested during grading periods. The instructors are very traditional, and the grading is just to gauge if you have learned what you are supposed to learn at your level. The instructors are very concerned for each person's development. Through gradings, the instructors will also be able to see how you are progressing and if you need a little bit more of pushing or not. (Constantly getting pushed harder is more of the case. hehe)
And as for the Membership fee of £55, this includes annual insurance, as one will need this because of the dangers and risks that come along being a martial artist. (Especially that we particularly train with swords, sticks and daggers.) This will also be used for administration, website and newsletter costs.
Doce Pares is not after your money (we just need it to pay the studio/hall rental!!). The primary concern is for you to learn this art the right way.
You have about a month to decide whether you want to continue training with us and be a member or not. You'd have to try and see first if you like the system. If you would like to continue, you would have to be graded. It's like being in school, you cant graduate from University without going through your A-levels first. :-) Learning is a step by step process... so is learning Filipino Martial Arts.
Activities, News and Events
Northampton Open Championships
Instructor Ermar 'Alex' Alexander bagged two gold medals at the WEKAF Open Championships held in Northampton on Sunday, 4th March. He won the Forms/Sayaw Division and the Double Stick sparring light-heavyweight Division. He is now training for the European Championships to be held in Italy this July.
19-20 May, Saturday-Sunday 10am-6pm - Seni Show 2007 - The Combat Sports Show. Excel, London.
9th-10th June, Saturday-Sunday 10am-5pm - Doce Pares with Master Val Pableo. Kent.
14th-15th July, Saturday-Sunday 10am-4pm - British FMA Festival. Kent.
14th-15th July, Saturday-Sunday 10am-5pm - All day FMA Demo at the Annual Filipino Barrio Fiesta. Lampton Park, Hounslow, Middlesex.
30th December - Doce Pares International 75th Anniversary. Cebu, Philippines.
Instructor Ermar 'Alex' Alexander
Ermar Alexander began his Doce Pares training in 1999 with GM Danny Guba. Through the years, he has progressed and eventually became a member of the British Team - being the only Filipino. Within the 7 years of competing, he has won multitudes of Form/Sayaw and Sparring tournaments (2000-2007). He is a 2x WEKAF World Champion (2004 & 2006), a Doce Pares World Champion (2005) and a 3x undefeated British Low Armour Champion (2004, 2005 & 2006). He has been voted the best WEKAF male fighter in 2005 & 2006. Ermar now dreams of expanding GM Danny Guba's Doce Pares system in and around the UK and Europe.
Message from Grand Master Danny Guba
Hello to everybody! To learn Doce Pares Multi Style System you must be open minded, especially with the Danny Guba style. You may learn and get a technique within 3 minutes, but it takes a lifetime to master it. My style is the Doce Pares Original Multi Style System, which consists of San Miguel of Grand Master Fillimon "Momoy" Cañete, Close Quarter of Grand Master Ciriaco "Cacoy" Cañete, Grand Master Inting Carin, Grand Master Bonifacio "Loloy" Uy, and last but not the least, the best among the best, Atty. Grand Master Dionisio "Syong" Cañete. DAC! Not to forget, my sparring partner, Master Percival "Val" Pableo. New classes are opening around London and Kent by one of my senior students, Ermar Alexander. If you have never tried eskrima, why don't you try one of our classes. Maayong adlaw sa inyong tanan! (Have a good day to you all!)
We hope you found these information useful. And we'd love to see you in Fitness First Kent on Fridays 7pm, in Fitness First Shepherd's Bush on Saturdays 6pm, and on the demo on <date> <time> in Gym Box, Covent Garden. We apologise for the short notice and hope to see you there!! If you have any queries, please send us an email at info@dgdocepares.co.uk
Daghang salamat!
Danny Guba Doce Pares
Original Multi Style System
