STICKS OF DEATH

There have been many notable martial artists throughout history, but few have reached the plateau of greatness that comes with the title of "Supreme Grand Master". The late Filipino pioneer, and the founding father of "Serrada Escrima" was one of these rare individuals. While the mysteries of Filipino stick/knife fighting were still shrouded in secrecy in the remote South Pacific archipelagos, Angel Cabales immigrated east to the United States in 1939. Here he introduced his unique brand of self-defense, and became known as the "Father of Escrima in America"

Within the past five decades, countless martial artists worldwide have had the rare opportunity to train, and to discover the skills, the wisdom, and the
close-range stick/knife fighting close-quarter combat strategies of "Serrada Escrima". Serrada Escrima is one of the most lethal stick/knife arts the world has ever known. Few people however! have been privileged to know this great "old world warrior" personally. In 1966, in Stockton, California, the "Cabales Serrada Escrima Academy" officially opened its doors to the general public. From then onward numerous martial arts celebrities began seeking Angel Cabales out in order to study the hidden secrets of his art form in a more close up fashion.

Guru Dan Inosanto, a good friend, and a former student/instructor of the legendary "King of Gung Fu" Bruce Lee, was persuaded by the late Grand Professor Ed Parker, and Bruce Lee, to take a profound interest within the area of Filipino martial arts. Stated Inosanto about the Filipino martial arts on page (17) in the December 1982 edition of "FIGHTING STARS" magazine "I thought it would be interesting to learn a little bit about my culture, because I was a Filipino. I didn't know it was going to be any good. In fact, to be honest, I thought it wasn't going to be any good. I didn't realize just how good it was."

GURU DAN INOSANTO - 1983

Very few people are aware that Angel Cabales was one of the first actual "Master Escrimador's" to appear in an action packed martial arts film titled "TIGERS REVENGE" demonstrating for the first time on the big screen the "Cabales Serrada System of Escrima". Grand Professor Leo T. Fong a martial artist/film star in his own right produced, and starred in this historic film feature. Supreme Grand Master Angel Cabales was one of the first Filipino masters to teach escrima outside of his own race. Cabales believed that anyone had the right to learn how to defend themselves in times of grave danger.

 A merchant marine, a bodyguard, a special police officer in Manila, to the fishing camps of Alaska, Angel Cabales spent the greater portion of his life perfecting his art in some of the meanest streets , and seaports in various parts of the world ears. Angel Cabales once recalled "Word got around Barrio San Nicholas, in the Philippines, about the fighting skills of both myself, and my friend & teacher Felicisimo Dizon. After a hard days work, me and Dizon would frequent the many bars that surround the dock area, drinking the local sugar cane wine".

"One day Dizon and I were drinking wine in the bar, we go outside to the sidewalk, and we see this tough boxer everyone knew as "Duarte". He was a big guy with cauliflower ears. We yelled at him "Hey crackling ears". Duarte got mad. Dizon challenged him there on the sidewalk. Duarte knew of Dizon's fighting skills, and was hesitant to react. So Dizon picked him up & threw him down to the ground. Duarte backed down. He don't like to fight Dizon."

1989 (l-to-r) Grand Master Eric Lee & Supreme Grand Mas...

Although a lot has been written about Felicisimo Dizon, and his many fights, Angel Cabales insists that his teacher Dizon was never defeated in a famous 'so-called-match' with a skilled Moro fighter. Stated Angel Cabales "I never saw Dizon lose a match to anyone, and I saw him fight plenty." While training with Dizon in the Philippines; Angel Cabales admits that he almost met Supreme Grand Master Floro Villabrille one day, but their meeting never materialized. However! Cabales is certain that Felicisimo Dizon did have a great influence in 'Supreme Grand Master' Floro Villabrille's training.

(l-to-r) GM *D*, Sifu Bill Henderson's student, SGM Angel Cabales,

& Prof. Sultan Uddin

"FROM THE DOCKS OF MANILA BAY
TO THE FIELDS OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA,
ANGEL CABALES HAS LIVED OUT A VANISHING
VERSION OF THE MODERN DAY ESCRIMADOR"

Edward G. Abinsay