{"id":1118,"date":"2014-12-16T17:57:25","date_gmt":"2014-12-16T22:57:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tambulimedia.com\/?p=1118"},"modified":"2023-07-24T15:07:51","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T19:07:51","slug":"the-adventures-of-escrima-master-braulio-pedoy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tambulimedia.com\/the-adventures-of-escrima-master-braulio-pedoy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Adventures of Escrima Master Braulio Pedoy"},"content":{"rendered":"
I am honored to say that Grandmaster Braulio Pedoy was not only the most influential person in my martial arts career, but also something of a second father to me. His story is a tale almost mythical and folkloric in its own right. Close to the turn of the century, at a time of social unrest and brutality, when the many islands of the Philippines and their respective factions each fought for dominance over its neighbors, a young boy of about six years old embarked on a journey to escape the tyranny of a cruel and abusive father.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a>After receiving a particularly harsh beating one evening, the young Braulio decided it was time to leave all that he had known as home in the hope of a better life. Thin, alone, and with only a meager supply of provisions, he escaped his childhood residence and set off into the mountains without so much as a glance as to what he had left behind. It was a decision that would test his mind, body, and soul to the extreme.<\/span><\/p>\n The journey was a long one, and with what little he could afford to bring with him, starvation and dehydration proved a constant, grueling pair of combatants. After traveling just a short while, the young Pedoy was presented with his first obstacle: a fork in the road. One path was the familiar road to the city\u2014where he knew he could surely find help and food\u2014but this road ran the risk of him being found. In addition to this hindrance, he did not want to wind up with what he called the piyo<\/em> (or rugged boys), a bunch of pick pockets and ruffians who made their living by stealing from others. The thought of becoming an immoral street rat was not one the boy found entirely appealing; especially when placed next to the second choice. This road lead deep into the mountainous jungles of the untamed Philippines. To Braulio, this path seemed the very embodiment of excitement and adventure. His choice was obvious. He chose the winding path through the mountains. Master Pedoy served as body guard for Datu Piang, after defeating the previous body guard in bloody battle quite literally a path that was destined to change his life forever.<\/span><\/p>\n It was not long before what little food Braulio had brought were exhausted, and hunger set in once again. Even at his extraordinarily young age, the grandmaster-to-be demonstrated his level head and will to survive at any cost by observing what sort of foods the monkeys and boars ate. He reckoned that if the animals would eat it, it was safe for him as well. After four sleepless nights and five agonizingly draining days of travel, he happened upon a small shack nestled deep in the Amandiwin Mountains. At the time, nobody was there; only the smoke from a still-smoldering fire somebody had recently built. And so the young master waited until the occupant returned.<\/span><\/p>\n As it turns out, the owner was none other than General Faustino Ablin (aka<\/em> Papa Ablen), who was more than shocked to come across a small boy sitting by his shack. He had thought no one would ever find him, much less a child. Years of exile and solitude certainly didn\u2019t prepare for this surprise. After questioning the boy and learning his tale, his surprise grew. How could such a child travel this great distance through the mountains and jungles which were laden with dangerous creatures, poisonous insects, wild animals and many unseen dangers. General Ablin asked the young boy if he had seen any snakes or any other deadly surprises along his journey. The general was a deeply religious man and considered this child to be sent by God. Ablin told Pedoy, \u201cGod has guided you to me.\u201d The next day Ablin told him, \u201cI need to show you what\u2019s around here, so make sure you stay close to me or I will not be able to protect you.\u201d Off they went, and even though Braulio was young he had the hardest time keeping up with this 50+ year old who seemed to move like the wind. He was shown all the dangers that lurked in the mountains, including snakes that were big enough to fill a 55 gallon drum. General Ablin taught him the ways of the jungle as well as the art of Derobio Escrima.<\/span><\/p>\n