Difference between revisions of "Leo Giron"

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Great Grand Master Leo Giron©2000 by Rich Tenaza

Name: Leo Giron

Birth Name: Leovigildo "Leo" Miguel Giron
Birth Place: Bayambang, Province of Pangasinan, Philippines.

Martial Arts Practiced: Escrima
Rank: Great Grand Master
Instructors: Master Benito Junio - Master Bundoc

Occupation: Teacher, Farmer

Spouse: Soledad Mapa - Alberta Rollojay

HomePage: []

Leo Giron – (Born: 8/20/1911 Died: 5/21/2002) was an American/Filipino Martial Arts practitioner and instructor, credited with pioneering modern Largo Mano Escrima to America, and is the Creator & founder of Bahala Na Escrima.

Personal Life

First Wife: Soledad Mapa - (Children) - Michael Giron, Tommy Giron, Christina Giron, Regina Giron.

Second Wife: Alberta Rollojay - (No Children)

Biography

By, Glen Rathbone

Leovigildo "Leo" Miguel Giron, the son of Policarpo and Ellen Giron was born August 20, 1911 in the barrio of Bayambang, town of Hermosa, Province of Pangasinan, Philippines. The Filipino Martial Art named Escrima/Arnis (Fencing) by the Spanish was an ancient fighting tradition passed through many generations from father to son, each family maintaining its own closely guarded style, to be shared with no one except immediate family members and clans.

Life in the Barrio could be rough for a young boy such as Leo Giron, and in the tradition of the family art, Leo’s first training began with family members. In 1920, As a result of bullying from other boys, Leo’s father had him begin training with an Escrima master, Master Benito Junio, who was also from the little barrio of Inerangan Province of the Bayambang and was known for his expertise in Estilo Larga Mano, (long hand weapon fighting, also known as Cabaroan or New Style) and Estilo De Fondo, or Fondo Fuerte (in a solid fighting position).

Larga (Largo) Mano, also known as the “quick kill” or “killer style”, is primarily a bladed system of self defense which uses what are known today as the Cinco Teros striking patterns. A weapon of 30 inches or more is preferred for training. This method of defense employs the use of a single movement based on a concept of defending and counter-striking, creating a block and counter in one technique. This is designed for efficiency of movement and a direct line of attack. The Cinco Tero striking patterns implement the complete range of striking patterns commonly found in most 12 angle striking systems. Leo Giron’s training with master Junio lasted for approximately 1 year and then, his next instructor was Master Bundoc, Leo Giron's cousin and a graduate of Master Junio's. Master Bundoc also taught Leo Giron the Cabaroan style as well as the Cadaanan (Old) style. This training lasted for about 5 to 6 years, then continued with Master Benito’s uncle Fructuso Junio, who was known for his expertise in Estilo Macabebe, which uses the double sticks.

Macabebe is the name of a town in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. Men in this area sell clothing materials to families in the remote barrios, and some of these men from Macabebe introduced an art of self-defense involving the use of two long sticks; a style characterized by the interweaving motions of the sticks, also known as Sinawali the (Weaving Style). The Macabebe men were so renowned as fighting warriors they were employed by others for protection. The Macabebe fighters also employed a bare hand and disarming system that is used in the modern Giron Arnis / Escrima, and with Estilo Macabebe, the weapon of choice is two Bolo Knives. Master Fructuso Junio instilled in Leo Giron the importance of defining the difference between the Cadaanan (Old Style) and Cabaroan (New Style) and continued his instruction until Leo left the Philippines in 1926, bound for America.

With only 25 cents to his name, Leo Giron arrived in Stockton California, which had the largest Filipino population in the state. He was able to find work in the fields of Terminous California, picking celery, but because of his young age, he was paid for half a man’s wage. The hourly rate was 35 cents, but young Leo was paid only 17.5 cents per hour. It was a struggle to make a living and Leo moved from field to field with the other workers, eventually arriving in Meridian, California in 1929, where he began work on farms picking prunes. There were other young Filipino men California schooled in Escrima/Arnis such as Isidro P. Javier, and Angle Cabales, and some, like Isidro P. Javier chose not to share his art with anyone else.

But Leo Giron quickly made friends with Escrima fighter Flaviano Vergara who was from the town of Santa Cruz in Ilocos Sur Luzon, Philippines, and was the senior student of Dalmacio Bergoina, who was a master of the Estilo Elastico, which emphasized the use of Estilo Defondo (close quarter combat), and Estilo Largo Mano (long-range combat). Bergoina was renowned for defeating Escrima Master Santiago Toledo in a tournament duel. Giron and Vergara trained in the orchards far from curious eyes, maintaining the veil of secrecy that was the trademark of the Escrima Art. For three years they “played” and refined their art until 1932. After a separation of nearly ten years Leo Giron and Flaviano Vergara met again when World War II began and resumed their training together from October 1942 until January 1943.

In 1937 Leo Giron became a member of the powerful Filipino organization called The Legionarios del Trabajo, a fraternal order or lodge, with over 3,000 members. As was typical of the times, fraternal organizations such as The Legionarios del Trabajo and the Masons kept genders separated. The Legionarios had 86 men’s loges and 12 women’s loges.

When World War II broke out Leo Giron was inducted into the U. S. Army on October 9, 1942 in Los Angeles, California. America in the 1940’s was a segregated nation, and the American Military Services mirrored that racism. Separate units were formed, such as the Tuskegee Airmen consisting of all black airmen, and the Japanese American 442nd Army Unit, the most decorated Army Unit in American history. The Navy was not able to segregate its men aboard ship, so often the minorities were placed in servant-like duties as cooks or laundry detail. There were some exceptions such as Isidro P. Javier, who earned the respect of his superiors so much that he was assigned as an aircraft re-fueler on board the carrier USS Nehenta Bay.

There was such a large number of Filipinos who volunteered for military service that the U.S. Army created one Division of about 12,000 men including three regiments and some other specialized companies. The Army then created from this large division the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment July 13, 1942 in Salinas, California] and the Second Filipino Infantry Regiment November 21, 1942. Leo Giron was attached to the 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiment, and then later assigned to the 978th Signal Group and the Allied Intelligence Group, which was a secret operative directly under General Douglas MacArthur, with about 1,000 men who were selected for special missions. This small force was designated the First Reconnaissance Battalion.

Leo Giron was first stationed at Camp San Luis Obispo, and then transferred to Fort Ord. After taking an aptitude test along with other Filipino recruits, many of whom did not pass, Leo and others were given additional education on Morse Code, wig-wag (flag signals), cyma four, cryptography and paraphrasing. The Army was looking for men with schooling and the ability to communicate in English. After Giron was assigned to the 978th Signal Group, this highly specialized team, acting directly under Gen. Douglas MacArthur was dropped by submarine behind enemy lines a year before the American invasion to re-take the Philippines from the Japanese.

They operated under extremely hazardous conditions, establishing lines of communications, obtaining critical weather information, seeking out and killing the enemy whenever possible, and securing vital military reconnaissance, all the while remaining undetected by the Japanese. Sergeant Leo Giron and the group of men he led endured some of the most dangerous and harshest of conditions in the jungles of the Philippines while carrying out their mission, many episodes of which are recorded in the United States Library of Congress.

Sergeant Leo Giron was awarded the:

• Bronze Star Medal
  
• Philippine Liberation Ribbon
  
• Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal
  
• American Campaign Medal
  
• World War II Victory Medal
  
• Letter of commendation ordered by the President of the United States, for his service in the War.
  
  

During the war, Leo Giron again met his friend Master Flaviano Vergara and they resumed training together. Master Flaviano instructed Leo in more of the two disciplines of Estilo Defondo and Larga Mano, and told him it was a gift to hold in his memory, because he, Flaviano did not believe he would survive the war. In fact, Flaviano Vergara was killed later in 1944.

Leo Giron met his next instructor, Sergeant Benigno Ramos, who was skilled in the use of Larga Mano, Tero Pisada, Miscla Contras, Tero Grave, and Elastico Styles. Leo Giron and Sergeant Ramos trained and fought together in the Philippine jungles for over a year in some of the most extreme tests of human endurance.

After WWII

After WW II Leo Giron returned to Stockton, California and on March 12, 1952, married Soledad Mapa. They had four children: Christina Giron, Michael Giron, Regina Giron, and Thomas Giron. Leo Giron resumed his Eskrima training from 1956 to 1961 with his last instructor, also his cousin, Julian Bundoc, who had trained under Benito Junio.

For the thousands of Filipinos who served America during the war, social acceptance lagged far behind. Though Leo Giron had fought under horrific conditions and served with honor, after his return he found life in America to be difficult because of prejudice, and also because of the language barrier. He joined the Toastmasters Club in order to improve his English. He also joined the Filipino Fraternal Organization known as Legionarios Del Trabajo and held one of the highest positions in that organization.

Notable Students

• Tony Somera
  
• Dexter Labonog
  
• Dan Inosanto
  

Martial Arts Instructors

• Master Benito Junio
  
• Master Fructuso Junio
  
• Master Julian Bundoc
  
• Flaviano Vergara
  
• Beningno Ramos

Reference

Leo Giron Memorial: http://www.gironarnisescrima.com/mem2.htm http://bahalanamulti-style.com/sideMenu/leoGiron.htm
Policarpo and Ellen Giron: http://bahalanamulti-style.com/sideMenu/leoGiron.htm - http://www.empiremediallc.com/ARTICLE%20Leo%20Giron.htm
Pangasinan Philippines: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangasinan
Barrio Hermosa
Inerangan:
Eskrima/Arnis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskrima
Barrio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrio
Master Benito Junio: http://www.martialartskoncepts.com/html/biography/bio-giron.htm
Fructuso Junio: http://inosanto.com/?cat=18
Philippines: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines
Stockton, California: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockton,_California
Meridian, California: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridian,_California
Legionarios del Trabajo: http://ldtgrandlodge.org/
Masons: http://www.isidrojavier.com/bio.html
Angle Cabales: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabales_Serrada_Eskrima
Isidro P. Javier: http://www.isidrojavier.com/bio.html
Flaviano Vergara: http://www.martialartskoncepts.com/html/biography/bio-giron.htm
Eskrima Master Santiago Toledo: http://www.fmapulse.com/article/giron-arnis-escrimahttp://www.martialartskoncepts.com/html/biography/bio-giron.htm
Tuskegee Air Force: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Airmen
Antonio E. Somera: http://www.bahalana.org/instructors/grand-master-tony-somera
Estilo Larga Mano: http://bahalanamulti-style.com/sideMenu/leoGiron.htm
Estilo De Fondo: http://www.empiremediallc.com/DVDs/Giron%20Estima.html
Hebb Institute Of Martial Arts: http://www.hebb-institute-of-martial-arts.com/
Estilo Macabebe: http://www.fmapulse.com/content/fma-corner-warrior-and-mercenary-culture-macabebes http://www.awma.com/index.cfm/action/productdetail/product_id/11556.htm
Sinawali: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinawali
Giron Arnis System: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Eskrima_systems
Cadaanan: http://bahalanamulti-style.com/sideMenu/leoGiron.htm
Cabaroan: http://bahalanamulti-style.com/sideMenu/leoGiron.htm

Photo

Leo Giron photo - Copyright©2000 by Rich Tenaza, All rights reserved - "Do not copy or Duplicate".