FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Find Your Answers Here
HOW DO I TAKE PRIVATE LESSONS?
Private lessons are available at seminar arranged by the host, or if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, private lessons ca be arranged. email for
WHAT ARE YOUR FEES FOR SEMINARS AND PRIVATE SMALL GROUPS?
These are negotiated between the host and is confidential. New seminar hosts must email me directly.
WHAT ABOUT CERTIFICATES?
I don't have a cookie sheet standard which means I access each individuals attributes and I make the decision as to where you stand. The FMA has no standards to regulate grades, levels or titles, I leave that to each school or organization. I make all the decisions within Latosa-Escrima to grant titles such as instructors, Guro, masters.
WHAT IS COACHING?
What I do is designed to make you better, period. I coach. I expect an individual to motivate themselves to become better. It is not about showing off, having people say "your awesome", and other things that drive the ego. The FMA is about you. Old School.
NOTES: DON'T FOOL YOURSELF!
At the end of the day, it is you against the opponent. Either you can do it, or you can't. Knowledge is key, looking good is just alright. Boom
THOUGHT-BASED APPROACH
Latosa Escrima Concepts is a very open, dynamic and logical martial art fighting system. A fully transitional system which guides you to the weapon and the real relationship to empty hands and Filipino Boxing methods.
The basic principals of the system rests within the concepts of balance, speed (timing and distance), power, focus, and transition. A true application used in any martial arts system you practice.
Over 40 years of experience and development of application … no secrets, excessive techniques, fantasy warrior ego boosting movements, just hard work, logic, realistic and effectivenss basics. Why do I stress basics, because it is the core, the foundation, the base, the center of what you do and what you are. If you think you are beyond basics at any level, think again, because your ego/pride is playing a trick on your skills
THE STOCKTON ESCRIMA ACADEMY
Rene Latosa's first visit to the Stockton Escrima Academy was in early 1968. Rene was greeted by Angel Cabales, holding a cigarette in one hand and a rattan stick in the other. Angel, having known Rene since he was a small kid, told him to grab a stick and Angel proceeded to demonstrated a quick technique. From this point forward, Rene was hooked and he continued to study and eventually taught at the Academy for over five years.
At the Stockton Escrima Academy in 1968, “formal training” did not exist. The method of teaching employed at the academy was strictly on a teacher to student basis. Rene remembers the ambiance at the academy was very casual, Angel was just “Angel.” For all the students at the academy, the title “Grandmaster” was inherently Angels, and his alone. To Rene’s advantage, during his first five months of training, he was the only one of three students who showed up for lessons. Rene’s initial training, with a ratio of four instructors to one student- Angel Cabales, Max Sarmiento, Leo Giron, and Dentoy Revilar- provided plenty of diversity in styles. These four individuals played a definite role in shaping the basic format of the Escrima Concepts system; however, his greatest influence was his father.
During those early days at the academy, Angel did not have student certificates or rankings. They did not exist. You were an instructor when Angel said you were (Rene did receive an advance instructors certification from Angel and another one from Max Sarmiento, the only one ever given by Max in Kadena de Mano. Angel always said that certificates, belts, and titles meant nothing without the ability to back it up.
STOCKTON ESCRIMA ACADEMY
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SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
System Development
Latosa Escrima Concepts is a very dynamic and logical system. The system keeps developing and progressing into the future. The system progresses as student develop their technical competence. Latosa Escrima Concepts is the study and development of the best concepts and strategies of many martial arts strategies. It is the idea of understanding, what you do, how you do it and why it is done.
The system is an education in body motion and weapon efficiency, not just physical movements attached to techniques. Latosa Escrima Concepts main goal is to keep it honest and real.
In Latosa’s early stages of developing Filipino martial art concepts, the movements or techniques were considered key, and the idea of using concepts was secondary. This proved effective and contributed to the fighting reputation of many of Rene’s students. However effective, the system did not seem complete. There was a missing element that distinguishes the Filipino art from the other martial arts. It was not the techniques that set the Filipino arts apart. It was not the ability to change from empty hand to sticks. What exactly was it? This search for the answer became the driving force in Latosa’s quest to develop the Filipino martial art further. The answer was within the fighting concepts, and how they played a role in the effectiveness of the Filipino martial arts. As the concepts of power hitting, blocking hard, balance, and attitude, became more dominant, the Latosa system developed a new focus. Rene restructured his technique drills to impart the importance of concepts. Latosa utilized these concepts while boxing without having any traditional boxing training experience.
Today, the basic principals of the system rests within the concepts of balance, speed (timing and distance), power, focus, and transition. However as advancement continues, so does the progressiveness of the system.
DAD
Training with Dad – “Never judge a book by its cover”
Learning from his father was very difficult for Rene. His father was a fighter and every reaction to a situation was combat oriented. When Rene asked to see a movement for a second time, he was shown something else. Because his father did not use techniques, no two movements were ever the same.
Rene’s enlarged ego was instrumental in his introduction to his father’s prowess in the Filipino martial arts. Rene was practicing for a demonstration when he became concerned that he did not look as flashy and impressive as he should. He asked his father, who was working in his garden, if he would care to be his practice “dummy”, The elder Latosa noted for his quick temper remained calm despite this arrogance. He had watched as his son practiced his techniques, smiled and said “boy, you need more training”, the younger Latosa asks him what he knew since he was only a “dummy!”
He dropped his hoe and walked quietly towards his young egotistical, smart ass son and picked up a stick. Rene asked his father if he would hit him over the head, but warned him to be careful because of his deadly speed and dangerous skills. Instead, the old man in a calm voice asked his son to strike at him. There was some hesitation on Rene’s part; fearing that if he went too fast his father might get hurt. Rene directed a slow hit at the old man. Before he saw what had happened, his father’s stick hit him on the head. “This must have been an accident,” thought Rene. He again struck at his father but this time faster. Again, Rene’s head was the final destination for the end of his father’s stick. In a serious fury, Rene went after his father with a strike that was strong, fast, and headed toward its target; as a result, his target moved and a stick landed between Rene’s neck and shoulder knocking the young man to the ground. His father walked away laughing and went back to tending his garden.
Rene’s mother came out of the house, yelled at his father, and consoled her son with the bruised ego. Rene spent some time soul searching, trying to get a grip on what happened. Rene was under the impression that with his speed and technical skills he could not be beat. His father took him aside and told him about his rough and dangerous background and informed him he had much to learn. Rene’s attitude towards the Filipino arts changed. The first attribute to be disposed of was his enlarged ego. His father started to train Rene in the finer points of fighting concepts, different weapons, and his philosophy. Rene realized the importance of concepts in relationship to techniques.
FILIPINO BOXING TRAINING
MISC. VIDEOS
PINOY BOXING
SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS 1
SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS 2
EUROPEAN PICTURES 2019
BOOM
LATOSA-ESCRIMA SEMINARS
European schedule
TO BE RESCHEDULED
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Latosa-Escrima Seminars
WHAT TO EXPECT!
Students, instructors, and curious thinkers attending FMA seminars need to look at the reasons you are training. Forget how many exotic Filipino names one person can say, the popularity of the instructor, how many fancy moves you can learn. Get to the important question, “What does any of this do for me?”
The Latosa-Escrima focuses on what it can do for you, not as a part of group, but you, as the individual. Since the system is very conceptual, facilitates critical thinking, is thought provoking, and provides a self-defense aspect, the benefits cross over into all styles and walks of life. The system does not emphasize being the ultimate, most deadliest, the mother of all arts, instead, the focus is on providing tools and concepts designed to help you learn how to re-discover yourself and re-invent what you already know.
As a beginning student or a novice martial artist you will gain the knowledge of “connection”. You will learn to connect all parts of your body in order to reach your objective whether it is defending yourself, reaching a higher level of martial arts, or refining your movements to achieve excellence. The main focus is learning to think creatively and applying logical tools.
As an intermediate student, you will learn how to use these tools to enhance what you already do well while having the freedom to explore other avenues and express your own individuality. You will, can and should have the tools to discover your own innovations and explore creative freedom. You will learn how to multi-task without the risk of opening yourself to any weaknesses. You will learn the discipline of focusing on reality, and to explore the reality of environment and interpersonal interaction.
As an advance seasoned martial artist, you will benefit the most. The experience you have developed and lived through will be enhanced and re-discovered. You will learn how used what you already know and to make what is good and to turn it into something great. Latosa-Escrima is the guide or the provider of the concept tools which allows you to discover or un-root what you already know. With these tools you will be able to reignite your passion of learning and teaching, rediscovering your creativeness and most of all finding why you became a martial artist.
The seminars are designed to provide an individual or instructor the tools to make creative and innovative discoveries within your own skill levels. There will not be sterile and fancy drills in order to keep you busy and sweating just to eat away at the clock. There will be thought provoking questions and ways to discover the connection between you, your mind and your body.
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Welcome to the world of Latosa Escrima Concepts – The Filipino Martial Art The Fighting System of the Philippines. Now modern technology allows us to bring this incredible art into your home. Latosa EscrimaConcepts is a very open, dynamic and logical martial art fighting system.
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