My Mentors

 Master Norman Z. Suanico was appointed by the late Great Grandmaster Antonio A. Ilustrisimo as the representative of Kali Ilustrisimo to Canada.
     He was the late Great Grandmaster Ilustrisimo’s personal assistant who trained and lived with him for several years. However, his training is not limited to the Ilustrisimo System. When he was in his hometown Iloilo City, he has trained in bolo, knife and bayonet fighting under Manuel T. Suanico. Zosimo Flores shared him the style Pangamot (Empty hand combat) and Kali weapons. Largo Mano Style under Raul Villaluna who was the grandson of Pedro “Walis” (left handed) Villaluna. Cruzada Style ( De Salon) of Master Antonino Agi of Silay Negros Occidental from Mario Taleon, who was a Kali instructor in the Philippine Scout of Bolo Brigade. Trancada Aldabon Style and Agi Style he learned from Agustin Hinojales. Ilisio “ Seong” Haliky ( Pastolero) added Master Norman’s training in the Trancada Aldabon Style and the Larga Mano Style . Fabian de la Paz Mananon tutored Master Norman in the Pluma Style of Leyte. Jesus Bayas who was a Bolo Battalion Philippine Scout Kali Instructor during World War II was another important guide and teacher for Master Norman. Master Norman also trained in the deadly Balintawak Style of Cebu under Ceazar Turoy. As well as his vast knowledge of the FMA, he has trained also in Karate, Jiu Jitsu, Yawara, Hapkido, Seven Star Praying Mantis, Five Animal Kung fu, Tai chi chuan and Iaido in Japan. Master Suanico has tested his art as a bouncer and entertainer in many rough bars and Nightclubs. He is a veteran of many conflicts.
     

It was Gerry “Nonoy” Gallano who first introduced Master Suanico the Ilustrisimo Style, before he went to migrate to Toronto, Canada in 1983. In 1986, Master Suanico went to Manila with his band to play in nightclubs ( Master Suanico is also a world class singer and pianist ). So, he took the opportunity to stay and study with “Tatang” ( Great Grandmaster Antonio A. Ilustisimo ). He told him that the husband of his aunt Rizalina is Col. Gabriel Ilustrisimo. “Tatang” answered that Gabriel is his cousin. “Tatang” offered him to stay in his house and he accepted it. Living space was tight, so, “Tatang” shared with him the same double deck bed (bunk bed) together. He slept on the upper deck and “Tatting” on the lower deck. When “Tatting” realized that Master  Suanico had a background in Arnis, he would spar with him a lot. He said to him,” You learn fast”. He would always correct his technique and when he was open. “Tatang” did not repeat his technique if he did not trust you. He would hit you hard. Master Norman usually took notes after their practice. Usually during those times, “Tatang” would let Master Suanico spar with some of the students. Sometimes, his sparring partner would get angry and their sparring became more realistic and they would hit with hard contact. Before, they used live stick without any body armor. In 1997, Arsenio “Sonny” Padilla went to Rizal Park (Luneta) Philippines. He asked “Tattang”, “Who among your students you want me to bring to Canada to teach?”Tatang” answered, “You bring Norman”. Master Suanico first arrived in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada on December 25, 1999 and he started teaching Kali together with Arsenio “Sonny” Padilla regularly and on scheduled seminars around Canada.

 Arsenio Suguitan Padilla better known as Guro Sonny Padilla started in his back yard training in martial arts in 1965 with a classmate who had a brother that was taking a Bachelor of Science in Criminology at the Philadelphia College of Criminology and by watching a neighbor, which was a Scout Ranger, practicing his hand to hand combat.
     In 1968 Guro Padilla joined the YMCA Karate Club at the Pope Pius center, under the leadership of Sensei Charlie Villanueva, a 5th Degree Black Belt who after years of training granted Guro Padilla his Shodan.
     In 1971, he joined the Karate Federation of the Philippines through Captain Gil Gonzales of Shotokan Karate-Do and under the leadership of Dr. Guillermo Lengson who also became his first teacher in Arnis. Guro Padilla obtained his Nidan in 1975.
     Guro Padilla also studied Aikido under Sensei Robin Adiong, Estokada Kali under G.M. Dan Rutano, Shibume Karate Jiu-Jitsu under Sensei Randy King, and Kali Ilustrisimo and Hapkido under Master Norman Suanico.
     Currently Guro Padilla is also taking lessons at this time in Ground Fighting and Joint Lock Manipulations under Sensei Perry Stokalko.

K.A.M.A. KALI ILUSTRISIMO

Reverse grip blade.

At Nemesis Athletics, we have a sub set of our Kali program that I prefer to call Pintados Blade Concept program. The emphasis in Kali Ilustrisimo on reverse grip blade is fairly minimal. PBC generally fills the void that I felt was left in this area.  In my humble opinion, KI generally emphasizes a longer range duelling dynamic, as opposed to closer range defensive or multiple opponent scenarios. While using the techniques common to Kali Ilustrisimo such as Pugong and Sinawali Blocking, we are able to develop funtional drills to incorporate reverse grip applications.


A reverse grip blade is often commonly considered more of a "defensive" grip, but we content that while a standard sabre style grip is more often used to slash,  the reverse grip emphasis (at least in the Pintados program) is primarily a thrusting style. Thrusting causes punctures that tend to reach a greater depth than slashes, and the increased potential of hitting vital targets as opposed to superficial external structures. This depth and potential lethality tends to erase the "defensive" myth. 

Hooking and trapping techniques with reverse grip blade have a greater increase of succeeding on non compliant opposition than those with a standard grip. These obviously are more functional with a straighter blade than with a curved or hooked blade such as a Karambit.


"The karambit or kerambit is a small hand-held, curved blade from Southeast Asia, particularly the Malay Archipelago. Called karambit in the Philippines, it is known as akerambit in both Indonesia and Malaysia....The weapon is held by inserting the first finger into the hole at the top of the handle so that its blade curves forward from the bottom of the fist. It is primarily used in a slashing or hooking motion. The finger guard makes it difficult to disarm and allows the knife to be maneuvered in the fingers without losing one's grip.." -WIKIPEDIA

Conveniently, the Pintados Blade Concept program transfers easily to applications using this specialized weapon, and turns the esoteric tool into a knife as usable as any reverse grip blade. Relying on K.I.S.S. (Keeping It Simple and Smart), we try to remove the exceptionally unrealistic show business and keep reverse grip training as functional and realistic as possible.