Defensor (center, standing) with his students during an FMA gathering. PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATE DEFENSOR
When we migrated to Chicago, Illinois in 1972 I joined and practiced with several martial arts schools in Chicagoland. Through the years, I got exposed to and learned other martial arts systems of karate, kung fu, judo, Chinese internal martial arts, Degerberg Blend, muay thai, Modern Arnis, Serrada Escrima, Inayan Eskrima, Pekiti-Tirsia, Balintawak, Doce Pares, Inosanto Blend, Tobosa-Villabrille System of Kali, Pusaka-Dwipantara Pencak-Silat, Jalur-Putih Pentjak-Silat, Kuntao, etc. Under the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), I got permissions and certifications from Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje of Pekiti-Tirsia, Master Raymund Tobosa of Tobosa-Villabrille system of Kali, and an apprentice instructor under Guro Dan Inosanto.