Filipino Martial Arts
(Eskrima/Kali/Arnis and Black Tiger Muay Thai Kickboxing)
Learn the practical Filipino Martial Art (FMA) system. Filipino Martial Arts is a versatile and unique system of martial arts that incorporates many aspects of self defense that include the use of weapons, empty hand techniques, submissions and grappling to name a few. Guro Mario Gajo is certified Black Tiger Muay Thai Kru, 6th Khan, certified by World Renowned Muay Champion, Ajarn Vince Soberano of Black Tiger Muay Thai. Guro Gajo's classes include high energy work-outs and application of fighting techniques.
- Watch Filipino Martial Arts Videos.
- Read the "Filipino Martial Arts Digest Special Edition 2009" PDF
- About Guro Mario Gajo "Perpetuating a Legacy of Filipino Martial Arts"
- When are the Eskrima classes?
- How much are the Eskrima classes?
- How much are private lessons with Guro Mario Gajo?
Filipino Martial Arts Videos
"Guro Mario Gajo: Perpetuating a Legacy of Filipino Martial Arts"
By Velma Tajalle-Gajo
The man pacing up and down the length of the 5600 square foot martial arts studio calls out to a large group of students including men, women and children “First set of fifteens, down!” The students are in the process of warming up for instruction in the Filipino martial arts. Already perspiration was dripping from their bodies. The man is simply attired in a red t-shirt with the school insignia and a pair of black warm up pants. The man’s name is Mario Gajo, known by many in the Filipino martial arts community simply as “Guro Mario”. A lifelong Filipino martial arts practitioner, Guro Mario was certified as an instructor by his longtime Arnis instructor and mentor, Grandmaster Narrie Babao of Babao Arnis.
Guro Mario was born in the Philippines and was first introduced to Eskrima at the age of 3 by his grandfather Bonifacio Mendones. Guro Mario was born the 4th child of Santiago and Susanna Mendones on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Later he was adopted by his Uncle, Marcelino Gajo and biological Aunt Dionisia Mendones Gajo and immigrated with them to the United States.
In 1969, Guro Mario’s father, Marcelino was transferred by the US Navy to Hawaii. In 1970, Guro Mario attended a martial arts class sponsored by the Pearl Harbor Youth Center. His head Instructor was Professor George Wallace of Hawaiian Kenpo Karate. He studied Kenpo for a while with Professor George Wallace then in 1971, Guro Mario joined Wok Chek’s White Crane Kung Fu Academy of Hawaii. Guro Mario spent 2 years attending the academy, 4 nights a week. He received his red sash becoming the youngest associate certified Instructor in 1973 at the age of 15.
In 1974, Guro Mario’s family was relocated back to San Diego, California. During this time Mario continued to practice martial arts with his father, Marcelino Gajo, who is a 2nd degree black belt in Shitoru Karate.
Guro Mario met with Guro Ted Lucaylucay in 1981 and was reintroduced to the Filipino martial arts of stick fighting, also known by the names of Arnis, Eskrima and Kali at the Orange County, Lee Jun Fan Academy. He trained with Guro Lucaylucay for several months but because the commute to Orange County from San Diego was too distant he asked Guro Lucaylucay for a referral to an instructor in San Diego. Guro Lucaylucay referred Mario to Grandmaster Narrie Babao of San Diego.
Five years later in 1986, Guro Mario finally met with Grandmaster Babao. The long awaited meeting was due to the fact that Grandmaster Babao was in the U.S. Navy and because he was stationed on board one the ships based in San Diego he was constantly in and out of the Port of San Diego. The fact that the Grandmaster did not advertise where his school was located also played a part in their delayed meeting.
Grandmaster Babao took Mario under his wing until Guro Mario achieved his Maestro certification in 1989. Under Grandmaster Babao’s instruction, Mario learned the Babao style of Arnis, Doce Pares Eskrima, Largo Mano, Floro Villabrille Kali, Numerado, Cinco Tera, Kuntao, Mano Mano, and Dumog. In 1997, Grandmaster Babao promoted Mario to Guro. While studying under Grandmaster Babao, Guro Mario had the privilege of meeting Master Dan Inosanto, the late Master Edgar G. Sulite, Supreme Grandmaster Diony Canete, Supreme Grandmaster Cacoy Canete, Grandmaster Ben Largusa, Grandmaster Richard Bustillo, Graciela Casillas-Boggs as well as many other well-known Eskrimadors and martial artist.
In 1991, Mario teamed up with Thai Boxing Champion Vince Soberano and taught stick fighting at San Diego’s Black Tiger Gym. Since 1991, Vince Soberano has been promoted to Master (Adjarn) in the martial arts style of Muay Thai and recently honored Guro Mario with advancement to “Kru, 6th Dan” in the style of Black Tiger Muay Thai.
Mario also assisted World Thai Boxing Champion Melchor Menor of Las Vegas to open San Diego’s Mel’s House of Thunder in teaching Filipino martial arts along with Thai boxing and woman’s self defense in 1996.
Mel’s House of Thunder is also where he and his high school friend, Velma Tajalle became reacquainted. Velma was a student of Melchor’s Muay Thai class and noticed that Mario had an Eskrima class immediately following her workout. Velma’s brother Rick had been a student of Mario’s since 1990 and Rick had recommended Guro Mario’s class for her sons. Velma had always been an avid martial artist and asked Guro Mario if she, her sons and niece could join Guro Mario’s Eskrima class.
Guro Mario Gajo Training Under Grandmaster Narrie Babao
The date was September 24, 1986. It was a rainy night when Guro Mario first met the gentleman who would become his instructor for over 23 years. The gentleman’s name, Grandmaster Narrie Babao, he was highly regarded as one of the best teachers of Filipino martial arts in the San Diego area.
Grandmaster Babao was recommended to Guro Mario by his previous instructor, Guro Ted LucayLucay. He had encouraged Guro Mario to try to locate Grandmaster Babao since both were living in the San Diego area at that time. Guro Ted LucayLucay high recommendation of Grandmaster Babao is the reason he came to be in Grandmaster Babao’s garage on that rainy night on September 24th 1986.
On that evening another new student was in attendance. His name was Rusty. Rusty appeared to Guro Mario to be pretty determined to take the class as well since he had made the 50 minute drive from Oceanside to Spring Valley to attend Grandmaster Babao’s class. As they waited for class to begin, he noticed that the garage wall was covered with photos of people who looked to be martial artists. At that time Guro Mario had no knowledge of the identity of the individuals in the photos. Eventually he would learn the names of the people in the photos as well as their relationship with this man that had come highly recommended by Guro LucayLucay to be his instructor. It was time to begin class. Grandmaster Babao’s two very young sons, Jack and Kris entered the garage. Little did Guro Mario and Rusty know that these young boys would be assisting with his instruction. They each partnered up with one of the Grandmaster’s sons. Guro Mario partnered up with Jack while Rusty partnered up with Kris. This night they began their instruction in Babao Arnis by learning the 6 basic angles of attack.
After a few months of training, an old childhood friend of Guro Mario’s, Mattis Alonsagay, showed up to participate in the class. Mattis, Guro Mario called him “Matt” was one of Grandmaster Babao’s senior students who had returned to study again with Grandmaster Babao. When Grandmaster Babao went overseas, because he was still in the Navy, Matt became Guro Mario’s guide and mentor. He was still able to receive the benefit of Grandmaster Babao’s teaching during the times he was absent overseas through Matt. Matt became Guro Mario’s surrogate instructor during these times and taught him the lessons Matt had received from Grandmaster Babao. Guro Mario recalled the day of his promotion to Maestro. He said, “That day will remain in my memory for two reasons. The reasons were not only because of my promotion and the hard earned achievement and subsequent promotion to Maestro, it was also the date of my good friend, mentor and guide, Matt’s, untimely death“.
Guro Mario also related how he was honored to be selected by Grandmaster Babao to be a part of his entourage of Eskrimadors to act as a personal body guard Cardinal Jaime Sin. Cardinal Sin at that time would be visiting San Diego, the Catholic Diocese of San Diego as well as speaking at public venues. Guro Mario was assigned to personally guard Cardinal Sin and was positioned to always be at the Cardinal’s right side from the moment he arrived and was transported from the San Diego International Airport to the time of his departure. It was part of Guro Mario’s duty to escort him during his press interviews, as well as the scheduled Sunday mass that was held at the University of San Diego football stadium.
Workouts under Grandmaster Babao were almost always completed with his fellow student Guro Bill Rosario. Guro Bill was a member of SEAL team 6 (during the Vietnam War). He and Guro Mario would begin their warm-up by running wind sprints up a steep hill, approximately 100 yards, 10 times. After that, they would study the assigned lesson plan. Both Guro Bill and Guro Mario found that they both had a preference for applying their lessons in action by sparring against each other and utilizing that particular lesson’s technique. During one session, he remembered the two of them were sparring with live knives. Guro Mario said, “We had padded our hands and at some time during the session I happened to get cut. I did not realize it until Guro Bill noticed that my white pads had turned red.” The wound became a scar and is still visible on his hand.
About the Gajo Family
In 1999, Guro Mario and Velma married and embarked on raising a blended family of five boys, Alanmar, Jason, Adam, Kiel and Aaron. Guro Mario and Maestra Velma attribute having both parents as avid martial arts practitioners and keeping all of the boys involved in sports and martial arts in particular, to keeping them focused and preventing them from succumbing to the peer pressure that plague a lot of the youth today. All of the five boys are very well versed in both Eskrima and Muay Thai techniques. Three of them (Adam, Kiel and Aaron) recently joined their parents at the San Diego Grand Internationals and participated in the competitions (Eskrima and blade Kiel Aaron fighting) as well as the “Legacy” demonstration during the event. Adam is the current 2009 Eskrima Division Grand Champion for the San Diego Grand Internationals.
Two of their sons are in the armed forces, one is an enrollment counselor for a private college, and another is a behavioral aide for autistic children and another completing college. Their oldest son, Alanmar, and his wife recently were blessed with a son, the first grandchild of Guro Mario and Maestra Velma. There is no question in his grandparents’ minds that this child’s father will share the Gajo Family martial arts legacy with him as well.
Participation in the family martial arts school has extended to several of the Gajo sons’ girlfriends as well. Kiel’s fiancée, Angela also recently competed and placed against the males in the blade sport division at the San Diego Grand Internationals. Aaron’s (the youngest of the five boys) girlfriend has also embarked on learning Eskrima and can be found practicing with the rest of the class as well. The Gajo family martial arts legacy is being perpetuated through Guro Mario and Maestra Velma’s five sons.
Guro Mario’s list of accomplishments as a martial arts competitor are impressive although his humble demeanor would not lead you to think that he currently holds and successfully defended his title for the second year at the Best of the Best Masters/Grandmasters challenge held in Orange County, California, a unique Eskrima competition format with minimal protective gear (helmet, gloves and cup) that demands that competitors be in top condition to participate. This format appealed to the now over 50 year old eskrimador instructor since the tournament format was one that forces the competitors to “respect the stick”. In 2007, Guro Mario came out of retirement from competition, entered the Best of the Best Masters/Grandmasters Division Challenge and brought home the championship. He repeated his performance in 2008 and is the current defending champion of the Best of the Best Masters/Grandmasters Division Challenge for the 2nd year in a row.
Guro Mario’s students are well known for being fierce competitors in the ring however they all subscribe to his philosophy of camaraderie, sportsmanship and sharing of martial arts knowledge. In 1998, Mario established the Gajo Martial Arts Bothoan. He regularly conducts classes teaching and promoting the Filipino martial arts and Muay Thai Boxing in the San Diego North County. Guro Mario is sought out by police departments and universities for his expertise in Eskrima, self defense as well as hand to hand combat techniques.
Eskrima Program
Our Eskrima Program is available at the lesson block rate:
- 4 classes = $80 ($20 per class)
- 8 classes = $140 ($17.50 per class)
- 12 classes = $180 ($15 per class)
- Lesson block never expires
- Lesson block may be split amongst family members
- Lesson block may be used for Eskrima, Kempo, Choi Lai Fut Kung Fu, Chen Tai Chi, and Tumbling & Acrobatics group classes
Private Lessons in Filipino Martial Arts
Guro Mario Gajo offers one-on-one private lessons in Black Tiger Muay Thai and Eskrima. This is a great way to get personal attention as you develop your fighting skill or to assist in preparing for competition. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for Guro Mario's availability and to schedule a private lesson. Private lessons cost:
- $40 for thirty minutes
- $80 for one hour
- $150 for two hours
