De Campo 1-2-3 Original

Discussion in 'Filipino Martial Arts' started by Catman, Mar 16, 2010.

  1. Catman

    Catman Valued Member

    De Campo 1-2-3 Original
    is a form of Filipino martial art. It was created by the late Grandmaster Jose Diaz Caballero. Many Filipino Martial Arts use the stick as a translation from a blade. However, this is not the case with De Campo 1-2-3, the style has been wholly adapted to be executed with a stick, and the majority of its techniques are based on fighting with a single stick.

    Grandmaster Jose Diaz Caballero was born on August 7, 1907 in Barrio Ibo, Toledo City, Cebu Province in the Philippine archipelago. As a youth he would travel from barangay (neighbourhood) to barangay in order to watch eskrima matches during fiesta celebrations. These demonstrations mostly pre-arranged sparring called De Cadena were more of a cultural presentation than a display of real fighting which he was doggedly searching for.

    From his observations of these Eskrima exhibitions, he modified the moves with an emphasis on three striking levels: the eyes, lower arms (specifically elbows and hands), and knees. He was a fan of Western movies and often compared his style to the gunslinger "quick draw". He later founded the devastating style known as De Campo Uno-Dos-Tres Orihinal.

    In his prime, Jose Caballero was the Juego Todo champion. Juego Todo was all-out, no-holds-barred and did not allow the combatants to wear any protective gear like masks and armour. Death and permanent injury resulting from these duels was not uncommon.

    He beat many highly skilled Eskrimadors such as: Simeon Saavedra of Talisay, Balbino Mancao, Vicente Labor, Juan Carolla of Ilocos, Alfredo Macalolan of Negros, Tanciong Lopez from Cebu City, Salomon Canonio, Heneroso Carbajosa, Horje Navajo, Pastor Hingoyon and many lesser known challengers.

    One of his more notable fights took place in 1936 against an Eskrimador named Anoy, from the nearby town of Tangub. Jose Caballero utilized his system of 1-2-3 strikes in order to disarm and wound the stunned Anoy, who promptly surrendered. The combination of strikes was delivered so quickly, that the crowd had not fully understood what had just taken place. This resulted in the perception that the match was fixed, and they began shouting "TAYOPE!" (fixed).

    Unlike many so-called death match "duelists" and "unbeaten champions" who can't even recall the names of the opponents they conquered, the foregoing list of eskrimadors vanquished by GM Caballero is a testament of the authenticity of his title as the Juego Todo champion of his era. No less than GM Filemon "Momoy" Canete of San Miguel Eskrima a good friend of GM Caballero once vouched: "Dili ko makig duwa ana imong eskrima Joe, pangpatay man nag sawa." (I won't fool around with your eskrima Joe, it's for killing pythons.)

    Grandmaster Caballero served in the Philippine Constabulary and was once assigned to the hostile Moro country of Lanao province. After his retirement from the Constabulary, he continued to teach his brand of Eskrima, and at the same time, the challenges that were part and parcel of the art continued to hound him.

    The remaining living witness to GM Caballero's Juego Todo duels is Egmidio Tubal a retired PC soldier of Davao City.

    The old warrior died on August 24 1987

    Grandmaster Manuel 'Mawe' Lebumfacil Caballero was born on April 23 1953 in Ozamiz City Mindanao. He is currently residing in Sitio Tugas, Ibo Toledo City and works as a bodyguard for the Mayor. His father GM Jose D. Caballero started giving him Eskrima lessons at the of age 9. Of his six brothers Eddie, Oscar, Nelson, Rodger, Salvador and Lando, only Salvador, Oscar and Lando took Eskrima seriously. Bador's Eskrima however, is not De Campo but hodgepodge of various styles he learned from different systems. Oca specializes in dagger fighting.

    His father GM Caballero or Nong Otek was also into hypnotism, orascion and judo during the pre-war years in Toledo. GM Caballero trained with a certain Santiago 'Tiago' Amaya in Ibo and used to lift heavy stones in practice. He went to Kanlaon during World War II and got the knowledge of orascion and hypnotism from an old hermit . His orascion gave strong emphasis on the words of God the Father.

    While undergoing Ranger training with the Molave Warriors, a fellow soldier told the CO about Mawe's Eskrima background and was challenged by the CO to show his skills. Hesitantly he obliged but warned the Commanding Officer challenging him that he could get hurt. The CO a graduate of the elite Philippine Military Academy boasted that his Eskrima could not beat his Karate techniques. The fight was a very lopsided mis-match with the CO being badly bruised in the legs and knees. Like a true officer and gentleman the CO accepted defeat and thereafter assigned Mawe as unarmed combat instructor of their unit.

    Mawe trained in the Army in 1978 with combat experience in Jolo. Like his legendary father, Mawe possessed an intrinsic combat mindset and was reputed to seldom seek cover in a firefight. He wears a medallion of San Miguel that he swears gave him protection. His unit took part in the pursuit operations of the notorious Usman Salih the MNLF commander responsible for treacherously killing Marine General Bautista and dozens of his troops. Amongst the spoils of war, he once collected a Kris, a Barong and a M2 carbine from a Moro casualty, but the souvenir was later ripped off by his commanding officer Lt. Dailig. Mawe ascribes his invincibility in Jolo firefights to the panipas incantations he inherited from his father's Orascion.

    He learned the orasciones by secretly studying the librettos of his old man. He was later given the complete lesson in orascion by his father with devotions that include daily prayers starting at 6 am, 12 noon, 3pm and 6 pm.

    The unique features of De Campo 1-2-3 are the hayang-kulob techniques and the specialization of solo baston. Stick lengths vary from 28 to 30 inches. Beginners start with slow drills and progress later to fast combinations. Siete Pares is the first basic instruction along with proper grip of garrote, stance and range estimation.

    The first tournament he competed in representing De Campo was on August 1979 during the First National Invitational sanctioned by the NARAPHIL. He fought in the Senior Division and won Silver Medal and awarded the Best Fighter Award. During the second round of that tournament he complained to GMs Momoy and Euling Canete to fight armourless, but was told by Atty. Dionie to stay in the game as the whole thing was already "arranged."

    He fought in another tournament in 1982 and became champion of the Senior Division, beating Lofranco who eliminated Edgar Sulite in the same tournament. During the tournament Edgar went around telling everyone that he didn't like to beat Mawe so as not to disappoint the old man GM Jose Caballero. A confrontation with Mawe never realized with Edgar's humiliating defeat in the hands of Lofranco a Balintawak stylist who Mawe beat in the championship bout.

    Today Mawe continues to teach the same syllabus of De Campo 1-2-3 Original in his father's hometown of Barrio Ibo, Toledo City.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 5, 2010
    Tulisan_Olympus likes this.
  2. embra

    embra Valued Member

    An informative post, describing the style of De Campo 1-2-3 Original. I did read something about Cabellero (senior) before and it did spark my imagination and interest. Sounds like a damm tough dude.
     
  3. Catman

    Catman Valued Member

    Thank you Embra..indeed an amazing style and very proud to be one of the fewest Instructors(only 2 in Europe,Guro Tony Yarwood and myself) outside Philippines..

    All the best,

    Catman
     
  4. embra

    embra Valued Member

    The quality of FMA posts on this forum has been improving i.e. informative input. Personally I would like to see more like this explaining the specific context and essential principles - in this case attacking knees (source of stability), lower arms (primary source of weaponary armed or not) and eyes (primary source of sessory awareness.)

    FMA is difficlut to understand and quantify, but I view articles like this positively.

    Ultimately, the most important thing is walking the walk (Pat O'Malley's words), and not just talking the talk, or reading the read; BUT clear instructive information is always welcome.
     
  5. Commander Nitro

    Commander Nitro Valued Member

    It would be interesting to see this type of martial arts in an actual fight. The only filipino martial arts I've seen is the one with the arnis.
     
  6. ap Oweyn

    ap Oweyn Ret. Supporter

    Arnis isn't a specific style. It's just a generic term (one of several) for Filipino martial arts.
     
    Tulisan_Olympus likes this.
  7. strunk76

    strunk76 New Member

    GM Nong Mawe clarifies Eskrima De Campo 1-2-3 Orihinal

    Contrary to this misleading statement, I just saw a new FB video featuring GM Nong Mawe Caballero explaining that Eskrima De Campo is, in fact, blade-based. Nong Mawe goes on to elaborate that the stick is used for training and dueling purposes, but in the real fight ("patay"), DeCampo is "bolo" or blade/machete. This is clearly outlined in the highest level of DeCampo syllabus training. In the video, Nong Mawe clearly says "dili stick."
     
  8. Catman

    Catman Valued Member

    Any chance for a link to that video please..

    Thank you.

    Catman
     
  9. strunk76

    strunk76 New Member

    Eskrima de Campo Uno-Dos-Tres Orihinal "A Blade Based System" [HQ] by Ramon Rubia

    A link to the video filmed on location in Ibo, Toledo, Cebu, Philippines, featuring GM Mawe Caballero and Magtutudlo Ramon Rubia of Eskrima de Campo Uno-Dos-Tres Orihinal. This video is titled "Eskrima de Campo Uno-Dos-Tres Orihinal "A Blade Based System" [HQ] by Ramon Rubia can be found here:

    http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1498176412228

    This video is intended to educate the public and foster a deeper awareness of the system known as Eskrima de Campo 1-2-3 Orihinal as taught by GM Mawe. Thank you for watching.
     
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2010
  10. strunk76

    strunk76 New Member

    A link to the follow-up video filmed on location in Ibo, Toledo, Cebu, Philippines, featuring GM Mawe Caballero and Magtutudlo Ramon Rubia of Eskrima de Campo Uno-Dos-Tres Orihinal. This video shows GM Mawe and his official USA representative, Ramon Rubia, demonstrating the orientation of the stick as a blade-based method. This video is intended to educate the public and foster a deeper awareness of the system known as Eskrima de Campo 1-2-3 Orihinal as taught by GM Mawe. Thank you for watching.

    http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1511751231590
     
  11. Tai Sabaki

    Tai Sabaki Valued Member

    Good stuff. Thanks for sharing!
     

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