Medina’s Asian Arts

Beginners Are Welcome!

In Master Medina’s class beginners are welcome and they are quickly integrated into the class structure. It is this mixing of skills that benefit the beginner through instant access to highly developed practitioners. The interchange also benefits the senior students because beginners commonly react differently and often in a manner that would occur on the street. The core of Master Medina’s curriculum Derobio Escrima.

Derobio Escrima is a highly defined style of Filipino Martial Arts. The founder of Derobio Escrima, Great Grandmaster Braulio Pedoy, described the art as a style of fighting that is a no nonsense, no wasted movement blade style that has withstood death matches and challenges for over 200 years. Derobio is well grounded in weapons training which is critical for almost one quarter of all self defense encounters. This style encompasses 12 angles of attack in its basic movements. Since “angle” is the key word here, the movements work with bare hands, punches, and kicks and incorporate offensive and defensive moves with weapons including sticks, guns, knives, swords, and anything else that might be lying around in time of need. Derobio’s trademark is speed, and offensive stick moves are also used to redirect the attacker. Joint locks and holds are used extensively.

Grand Master Braulio Pedoy applying a lock on Master Edwardo Pedoy and Maestro Dan Medina

Derobio techniques provide for a full range of options with varying degrees of lethality allowing the practitioner to increase and decrease force as necessary. Derobio also focuses on resisting not just one aggressor but also many simultaneously. Derobio does not rely on physical strength or size to overcome an opponent. Derobio is also well grounded in humanity. Evidence of this is found in the Derobio Creed "An Escrimador must have the wisdom and discretion to know when to use his/her art. When forced to use it, he/she must show humanity against aggressors who cannot defend against it. The humbleness is not to boast about the power he/she holds. In doing so he/she will gain harmony both with his/her art and his/her life." This combination of essential attributes make Derobio well suited for your personal safety strategy.

For more information to help determine if Derobio Escrima is right for you view –“ Personal Safety and Derobio Escrima - Derobio Escrima’s role in your personal safety strategy” – this file is a pdf and requires Adobe Reader