Dean first heard about the art of escrima and arnis from his former karate sensei, Michael Mendoza, with whom he studied the martial art form Ki Tsu Te. During this time Dean was senior in college earning his Bachelors Degree from the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music in Stockton, CA. Sensei Mendoza asked Dean if he was familiar with the Filipino martial art of escrima and arnis. He also added that Stockton had some amazing escrima teachers and schools that Dean might be interested in checking out. At the time, Dean didn’t even know that the Phillipines had their own martial art. He was intrigued and drawn to it because it all of a sudden gave him a new link to follow, and a new way to explore his Filipino heritage. He had always been an admirer of the martial arts of Japan, China, Korea and Brazil. Now there was an opportunity for him to explore and possibly study a martial art form directly from his Filipino cultural roots
Dean was referred to study at the original Bahala Na No. 1 Club (on South San Joaquin Street) by Guro Jamie Lagang. During a pick-up basketball game with Jamie and Guro Fernando Navarro, he asked Jamie what he knew about escrima. Dean had only known Jamie and Fernando through basketball games on the weekend and some other social events. He was pleasantly surprised to find that they not only knew about escrima but practiced and trained in the art under Grandmaster Leo Giron . After that moment, Dean got Grandmaster Leo’s contact information, and set out on his new path to studying, learning and training in the Filipino martial arts.
Dean began his training in the summer of 1993, and received his promotion for graduation in the summer of 1994. It was one of the happiest and most intense years in his life. He was grateful for the opportunity to learn and study escrima but didn’t realize that he was BLESSED with an even more amazing opportunity to study/learn/and train with Grandmaster Leo Giron and be able to “play with” some of the very best escrimadors (Grandmaster Dexter Labanog, Guro Glenn Abrescy, Maestro June Gotico, Guro Roy Atay, Guro Dave Paler, Guro Butch Garglicana, Guro Edward Talisayan and the list goes on) in Stockton and all of California on a consistent basis every week! This was the best training that he could ever have hoped for. It provided him an amazing foundation that continues to serve him to this day! During his time in Stockton, Dean fought and won his division for the Stockton ESKOA tournament (that time held at Bear Creek High School) and has won gold fighting at the Arnold Sports Festival Martial Arts Competition and the Battle of Columbus Martial Arts Competition in Columbus, OH.
Dean left Stockton to pursue his Master’s of Music graduate degree at the Boston Conservatory in the Fall of 1994. From that 1994 to 2009 Dean focused mostly on his career as a professional musician and caring for his family. Coming back to the art helped filled a void that he never realized was missing in his life. It helped re-establish a special connection not only to the art, but to his amazing Filipino martial arts family and friends. His goal and objective is to continue the teachings and wonderful legacy of Grandmaster Leo Giron by sharing and passing it on to his family and friends. He is also in the process of setting up his own club in Columbus, OH.
Special ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to those who helped Dean in his study and training:
Grandmaster Leo Giron
Guro Glenn Abrescy
Grandmaster Dexter Labanog
Maestro June Gotico
Guro Roy Atay
Guro Dave Paler
Punong Guro Anthony Marcial