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Interview with
GM Rene Latosa By Budoka Magazine 2006
![[New!]](images/smallnew.gif) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Interview with GM Rene Latosa
Grand Master Rene
Latosa who stands at 6ft tall and just over 200lbs (not your typical
Filipino) has been teaching Escrima for over 30 years and is continuously
furthering the development his unique system in the Filipino martial arts. He
began his training at the Stockton Escrima Academy in Stockton, CA in 1968 with
the likes of Grandmaster Angel
Cabales
(Serrada),
Dentoy Revilar (Serrada),
Maximo Sarmiento (Kadena de Mano), and
Grandmaster
Leo Giron (Largo Mano) . However, the most influential Escrimador and
training was learned at home through his own
father
Juan Latosa.
Latosa‘s original organization was called the Philippine Martial Arts Society
that began in 1976 in London. Escrima was the initial name used under the flag
of the PMAS. The name changed to Combat-Escrima in 1982 as the system became
influenced by the concepts of using power and combat reality. Combat-Escrima
relied heavily upon a single goal: Winning. This goal produced effective and
aggressive students which is a valuable asset; however, this single focus of
winning actually proved limiting in the progression of the system and the future
of instructosr. Latosa has produced many excellent fighters and world champions
but failed to produce well-rounded instructors. Realizing this flaw, Rene
developed training methods that are now used to help the student understand the
reasoning behind the techniques and the concepts behind his brand of Escrima.
Latosa is the first person to introduce and spread the Filipino Martial arts to
England and throughout Europe. He was also the first person to author an Escrima
book both in German and English, held the first full contact stick-fighting
tournament in England, Germany and Denmark, and was honored with two lifetime
achievement awards for his work in the martial arts. As well as teaching in
Europe, Latosa also teaches throughout the US, Mexico and Canada, he also works
full time with the US Government.
Q: How were you attracted by the martial arts
specifically Escrima?
It was just before the Bruce Lee era. I started becoming interested in martial
arts when it was just beginning to become popular.
I had asked my parents to let me take Karate or Judo and they said that I should
take Escrima because it is part of my Filipino culture. My Father said he would
teach me, but I didn't believe him. I did not want to learn this Escrima because
no one has ever heard of this art however this is the only martial arts my
parents would pay for. My parents said that Angel Cabales was teaching Escrima
and since I already knew Angel, I thought I would check it out. I walked in the
school, Angel greeted me, handed me a stick and said “hit me“. I proceeded to
hit him and he put me in this arm lock. Something I have never experience
before. He showed me some other techniques and I started that day.
Q: Could you tell us something about your Masters
and instructors?
My first instructor was the late Grandmaster
Angel Cabales who trained me in the Serrada
System. This is a close system, very explosive, fast and dynamic. Eventually,
some of the senior instructor left the Academy and I found myself as the senior
student/instructor. Also teaching at the Academy was the late
Grandmaster Leo Giron, famous for his expertise
in the Largo Mano System;
Dentoy Revilar top student of both Angel and
Leo; the late
Maximo Sarmiento, the best empty hand (cadena
de mano and knife) expert in the world, and of course at home with my own Father
Juan Latosa, a true combat fighter.
I trained at the Stockton Escrima Academy for a solid five years, not this in
and out stuff. I feel I was so lucky and privileged to have learned from some
great instructors.
At home I had the best of all worlds, I got to train with my Father who did not
tell me how good he was until I had a couple years of training, then he
proceeded to completely destroyed me.
Q: A lot of people think of Escrima as an art that
compliments other Martial Arts. What is your point of view/opinion about this
thought?
The martial art is a funny world as I am often asked this question. I believe it
is not the marital art that is being complimented but rather the individual. As
an individual you grow with knowledge each and everyday by experiences that
happen. An adult is influenced by what they see and experience while growing up
and this creates the adult they are today. The martial art process should do the
same, as you grow and learn, you become a product of your learning experiences
and training.
Q: Could you tell us about hand techniques in
Escrima and the differences with other styles?
The difference between hand techniques in Escrima and in the different styles is
a very difficult question when you think of it because I don’t depend or rely on
specific techniques. The hand techniques in my system of Escrima are whatever
works, same with the weapons. Everything I teach is based on my simple concept
design of using speed (timing and distance), power, focus, balance and
transition while using techniques as an offensive weapon and in emergencies, a
defensive weapon. When I teach seminars to groups kick boxers, boxers, or other
marital artist, I really don’t care what they teach, and I look to work with
them to enhance their effectiveness though the isolation of the basic concepts.
No situation is ever the same, so in my opinion, a technique is a starting point
that must be used with other factors such as the environment (situation),
whether the attack is from the front, side or rear, the size, the speed, and
technical skill of the opponent, all factors which are unknown most of the time.
If you look at how you would teach a teenager how to drive, the driving
techniques are only a part of offensive and defensive driving skills. For
example, a person needs to learn, understand and experience when and how much
acceleration is needed, how hard and when to apply the brakes, how much does
downshifting effect the situation, where to look, position of hands and other
things needed to be able to avoid an serious accident.
Q: Why is Latosa - Escrima is always associated
with Wing Tsun?
It will always be that way. After I made the introduction of the Filipino
martial arts to England, the introduction to Germany and other parts of Europe
was through my association with the EWTO. My personal association lasted over 25
years, as the Latosa-Escrima system became an intricate part of the organization
and the association of Escrima was linked to Wing Tsun.
Q: What you could tell us about your association
with Master Sifu Emin Boztepe?
I have known Emin for many years. Back then he could only speak enough English
to say “hello”. He always stood out as a very talented martial artist student
and above all he seemed like a very honest and real person. When he started
training Escrima, he had lots of potential because he was very athletic,
listened practiced and blended practices from his own experiences. He listened
and applied my teachings to things he did. When he came to the United States, he
became my private student, an advocate of Escrima and a friend. Emin is a very
good teacher, a tough fighter and he maintains the highest of standards for his
students and never forgets what it really takes to win a fight.
Q: Why after so many years in EWTO are you now in EBMAS?
I hate politics so I would rather not discuss this. People who are usually not
involved, like to read things into what people say and see what they can do to
create problems between organizations and people. I liked Emin and wanted to see
his organization become successful, so I supported his efforts. Emin treats
people fairly and honestly. The EBMAS philosophy is simple, treat student the
same way you would like to be treated
Q: What skills do you think are needed to be a good
Escrimadore and is Latosa Weapons System taught the way it was in the past or
has it evolved?
These are two questions, which are really combined. In order to be a good
Escrimadore a person must grow as an individual along with their skill. They
must understand the foundation of why things you do work. Evolving is growing. I
live my life the same as I do my martial arts. You need to have well rounded
skills and these skills need to be updated as the world progresses. For
instance, someone may be a successful businessman in the 1970’s however if the
individual does not utilize the Internet in today’s world, he would be left
behind.
Another example was when I was introducing Escrima to England, I had to overcome
two basic issues, the first one was my age and the second was the fact that very
few people have ever heard of the martial art. It was not unusual for me to walk
into a school, bring a bunch of stick and have the students and instructors hit
me with anything they want. Actually this is where I developed most of my
reality training, I had no choice. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of
what I did, it had to be done this way. I thought all I had to do was go into a
studio, demonstrate the effectiveness of the system and that was it. As you
grow, you start to understand that you are providing information and you must
use a different approach to demonostrating what you know and that Escrima is not
just a brutal system used to destroy your opponent. You are there to teach and
make sure the students understand what is being taught.
Q: Now many people may not know it, but you were
the person who started the Filipino Martial Arts in Europe, can you tell us
about that experience.
Yes, I was the first person to introduce the Filipino Martial Arts to England
and to the rest of Europe. It was very strange because I grew up with the
Filipino martial arts and everywhere else in the world it was an unknown art.
The other problem I had was I was very young, around 22 years old and it was not
believable especially to experienced martial artists, that I had the knowledge
and skills. I had to put myself out there to challenges and had to prove myself
time and time again and make people believers. Today, the Filipino martial arts
is almost a common word, especially among the martial arts community.
What bothers me about how the Filipino martial arts is being presented honestly.
Sometimes people purposely re-write history and people who read it for the first
time believe what they read. All this pioneering I accomplihed sometimes seems
to be in vain. I recently read in a magazine while I was in Germany, that there
was a gathering of Filipino martial arts in Europe and it is strange I was not
invited, nor mentioned or acknowledged as the pioneer of the Filipino Martial
Arts for Europe. I have also seen some websites where the people I have taught
or who are influenced by my teachings tend to leave off that fact. Seems like
people like to leave off pieces of history to suit themselves to make themselves
appear to the public as they were the ones who pioneered the Filipino martial
arts. That to me is dishonest.
Q: What is your opinion about Escrima tournaments
and do you agree with tournaments rules?
Actually in the US, I wrote the first set of rules. Based on the time period and
the quality of fighters, the rules were adequate. In Europe, we only started out
with only with stick hits, and then I started to allow kicking and punching.
Today with the development of skills I believe the rules should follow the same
concept as the boxing rules – a 10-point must. That way the participants will be
judged by the quality of hits, defensive and offensive movements and aggression,
and not by the number of hits. The reason I started to answer the question with
the rules first is that tournaments in my opinion is a form of a skill
development. Tournaments teaches a person how to cope with fear and the unknown,
controlling adrenaline, conservation of energy, satisfying the urge for
competition, testing movements and techniques. In reality (on the street), the
person who causes the most damage first and takes advantage of the situation,
wins, not the person who can twirl his stick or make lots of wrist hits. When
you have to wear helmets even as part of the protection, it provides a false
sense of security. So if that is the case, then utilize the training or matches
to your advantage by learning and developing your skills.
Q: Have you taken part in one of these tournaments?
When I started training, there were no organized tournaments. Angel used to
designate me to introduce those people from other styles that didn’t know
anything about Escrima and make them believers. I would use this to practice my
reaction to the unknown.
Many of my students have taken part in lots of tournaments and won many
tournaments, especially the two world championships in the Philippines.
When I had asked my Dad’s opinion on tournaments and he said, “How sharp are the
swords”!
Q: We heard that when you were younger you were a
“fighter”.
I had my share of fights on the street and in the boxing ring. However, the
hardest fight I have had was controlling my temper not to hurt people when they
try something funny on you and just making them understand. In my many years of
training there has been challenges, and people who want to try things against
you. In a big seminar where there are people watching your every move, and
someone tries something on you, you have to learn to take care of the situation
without injuring the challenger. Think of a situation where someone takes a shot
at you and is really trying to hit you while you are explaining something. You
can’t just crack them on the head and walk away.
Fighting skills on the street should never be compared to training. On the
street there is no rules. Everything you do or is done to you is fair. On the
street you don't know what direction something is coming at you, don't know the
skills, strength and the speed of your opponent. You have to win at all costs.
Using it on the street could mean one second or five minutes depending on the
situation. Have I ever avoid a fight, yes, and that would be considered using my
skills on the street. Have I ever punched someone on the street, yes, but that
event lasted all of five seconds is that using my skills. You skills are being
trained so you don't have to use them, but you know you can.
Q: What do you think martial arts gave to you?
It had given me the opportunity to meet all the different people throughout the
world. Understand the culture, understand the people. I have met the most
wonderful people in the martial arts. Most will give you the shirt off their
back if you are an honest and sharing teacher. You cannot buy loyality from
students,
Q: Grand Master Rene, before saying goodbye, could
you give a piece of advice to practicing Escrimadores?
To keep an open mind. Everyone involved with the Filipino Arts should venture
out to see what other people teach. I guarantee you that there are many
different martial arts styles out there, and you need to look at and experience
as many as possible. Every system has something to offer, you need to look.
Leave your egos at home, especially when you come to one of my seminars.
GM Rene Latosa
and Edgar
Rotger NY Latosa Escrima Intructor.
GM Rene Latosa's Website:
www.escrima-concepts.com
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