Tom Bisio taught Filipino Martial Arts for decades in New York City, before delving deeply into internal Chinese Martial Arts and traditional Chinese medicine. This winter (2027), for the first time in 20 years, Tom picks up stick and dagger to teach San Miguel Eskrima again.
San Miguel Eskrima was developed by Filemon (Momoy) Cañete, one of the eight brothers who founded the legendary Doce Pares Club of Cebu, Philippines. The Cañete family trained with many of the most famous, respected and feared Eskrimadors in the Philippines, eventually creating their own expression of the art. Filemon Cañete specialized in the “Old Style” of Doce Pares which emphasizes Espada y Daga, (stick and dagger or blade and dagger), making it distinctly different from modern tournament styles.
San Miguel Eskrima training develops a fine-tuned sense of distance and timing as well as proper use of body mechanics, and the internal poise and calm necessary for a martial art that specializes in weapons. The relaxed, yet powerful movements keep the body supple and strong, while developing balance and agility.
San Miguel Eskrima is a truly “internal” system” that employs natural body mechanics and power dynamics, and sophisticated principles of leverage and timing. It is suitable for all levels of fitness. San Miguel Eskrima is both an effective martial art and a means to vibrant health and well-being. An excellent method of exercise that engages mind, body and spirit.
Master Filemon Cañete was fully active in the art up until his death at 91.
Your instructor Tom Bisio trained directly with Filemon Cañete in Cebu, Philippines and Master Cañete gave him Tom his blessing to pass on San Miguel Eskrima. Tom has taught Filipino and Chinese internal martial arts for over 40 years. He is also a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
San Miguel Eskrima Winter Training includes
- Basic Striking Patterns and Blocking Drills.
- Counters to the The Twelve Angles of Attack
- 2 Partner Drills: counter and re-counter exercises that develop quick response and reaction time.
- The Segidas (“San Miguel” Form), a series of pre-arranged sequences that develop body mechanics, footwork efficient striking patterns, as well as endurance and proper distancing and timing.
- Basic Dos Armas Methods in which uses a pair of sticks together
Training is conducted with rattan sticks and wooden daggers.
Dates:
January 24, 2027 12pm-5pm
January 31, 2027 12pm-5pm
February 7, 2027 12pm-5pm
Location:
Midtown NYC
Fee: $525
Required Equipment:
2 Rattan Sticks (31″-33″ long) and a wooden dagger
If you don’t have the required equipment, there will be an additional equipment fee. We are currently pricing options to keep equipment costs down.
CONTACT US if you are interested in attending and we will send you registration and payment information. On the contact form please make sure to say that you are interested in San Miguel Eskrima.
Note: Due to space limitations at the venue this series of three classes is limited to 12 participants
More About San Miguel Eskrima
To find out more about San Miguel Eskrima and Filemon Cañete read the following posts:
Training with Filemon Cañete: Part 1
Training with Filemon Cañete: Part 2
