Presented by The Rooted School
& Kapwa Gardens
Funded by MoHCD
Filipino Martial Arts(FMA) is making a comeback at Kapwa Gardens. In 2022 Kapwa Gadens presented a weekly Filipino martial arts class series. From the different styles of Eskrima to Kali, Filipinos have been deeply immersed in various fighting styles for decades. Attendees got to learn to learn the basics of Filipino martial arts in an inclusive and safe space.
In 2023, Many Styles is back with a new monthly format! Each event will start with beginner classes interwoven with demonstrations. Then at the end of day, sparring sessions hosted by the Sabong Federation.
The event will also feature pre-colonial dance performances, kulintang, vendors, and other FMA adjacent cultural activities. Each month will also feature new styles of FMA.
Instructors
Gregory Manalo
Teaching VSCK Eskrima
Gregory trained with Sonny Umpad for almost a decade, from 1997 until his untimely death in 2006. Gregory has also learned a bit of other martial arts, but he always returned to what he considers his native martial base art, eskrima.
Gregory created the Rooted School in 2021 to inspire and cultivate the warrior scholar through the cultural lens. The Rooted School is an excellent opportunity to bring Pilipino culture to a global audience. The pandemic of 2020 necessitated online interaction, activities, and learning. Coupled with the far-spread Filipino diaspora, the time was right to bring forth the various Pilipino culture bearers together in an online community to be more accessible
Get a sneak peek of VSCK Eskrima
Joseph Bautista
Teaching Legacy Martial Arts
Joseph Bautista is all about safety, specializing in Filipino martial arts. He began his training in martial arts at the age of 4. Since 2001 he has been mainly focused on Filipino Martial Arts. Joseph runs Legacy Filipino Martial Arts, a Filipino martial arts school based in Daly City/ San Francisco, California. Classes for youth and adults. He teaches self-defense with Self Defense For the People, a self-defense program with clients such as Salesforce, Airbnb, Gap, UPS, and UCSF. He also teaches CPR/ 1st aid with 1st Five Minutes.
Watch a preview of Legacy Martial Arts
Parangal Dance Company
Teaching Sagayan
Parangal Aspires to Inspire! They are a non-profit, Filipino Folk Dance & Music Company based in the unceded Ramaytush Ohlone Territory also known San Francisco in California, USA.
Joselito Sebring
Sparring Sessions
Joselito is an FMA dilettante with over 30+ years of mixed martial arts training in various urban open hand and improvised weapons combat with experience in street confrontations while being a vassal to escrima grandmasters in the SF Bay Area. He founded the Sabong Federation to exalt fellowship between FMA practitioners and lay the groundwork for a unified collective across schools and styles. His FMA journey began with Escrima Serrada in 1991 and evolved toward Kalis Ilustrisimo in 2015. He is currently studying Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) at F3 Sword Academy.
Vendors
INA SOL
Indigenous Filipino made jewelry
ARKIPELAGO BOOKS
Philippine & Filipino American books and gifts
STREET STIX
Filipino street food
LADY VICTORY
Libations on location
Sparring Sessions
Hosted by the Sabong Federation, the last 2 hours of Many Styles is dedicated for FMA sparing and fencing. Equipped with padded swords and safety gear, intermediate and expert level participants engaged in a controlled and dynamic exchange. Demonstrating their mastery of striking, blocking, and footwork, they showcased the effectiveness of Eskrima, Arnis, and Kali.
* Registration is required and all participants are screened and must agree to our code of conduct and liability wavier
Tickets
Tickets for the Many Styles are FREE but we are accepting sliding scale donations. Your donations will help us continue to host our future events and keep our garden growing.
Interested in taking class? Please register down below and fill out the participation form.