Master Michael Giron, (President /Founder) of the “Bahala Na” Original Giron Escrima Federation was born the 2nd of 4 children on December 31, 1949 to the legendary Grand Master Emeritus Leovigildo Miguel Giron and Soledad Mapa.
Although he is deeply rooted in Stockton, California He presently lives, with his wife, Athena (Tina) in Vallejo, California. Master Giron also has a daughter, Jamyka Giron who resides in the Bay Area.
After graduating Edison Senior High School, Master Giron went to San Joaquin Delta College, (SJDC) and majored in electronics.
Master Giron was losing interest fast in college and wanted to do something else, so he enlisted in the United States Air Force in November of 1969. After his three and a half years of duty, he returned home.
Being the son of a Grandmaster you would think that his Filipino martial arts training would have started at an early age. In this case it was not so.
Many of the men after WWII (first generation Filipinos) wanted to forget the memories of war and just wanted to start a new life for themselves and their families.
It was probably good thinking for that time, but it caused a lot of Escrimadors to go underground, to never be known and to never share their fighting skills. Master Giron did not know that his father was one of those bladed warriors until he was 19 in 1968.
He was never pushed into learning the art by his father but others questioned why he never wanted to learn. Master Giron’s answer was “I wasn’t ready yet,” because he knew he would have to fully commit to learning this art and he did not want to be a disappointment to his father.
Finally, his training started in 1975. It was not easy training under a Grandmaster who is also your father. Perfection was the only option. Master Giron attended the normal class downstairs and more often than that he did private training upstairs.
A unique part of his training was that he saw history being made as he witnessed the first Filipino Martial Arts Academy in Stockton, CA.
Some of the first students were greats like Dan Inosanto, Richard Bustillo, Ted LucayLucay, Dentoy Revillar, Rene Latosa and many more.
The Instructors were Angel Cabales, Gilbert Tenio, Max Sarmiento, John Eliab and Leo Giron. After learning the 20 styles within the Giron System and the private extensive training Master Giron passed all the testing and earned the right to be a Certified Graduate of Bahala Na Giron Arnis Escrima in 1980. A year and a half later he received his Instructor’s Certificate.
Master Giron was proud to participate in the first full contact Escrima tournament on the west coast and possibly the USA. This tournament took place in San Jose, CA in 1982, and was sponsored by the organization called the West Coast Eskrima Society which united several Filipino Masters.
The Masters were Mike Inay, Jimmy Tacosa, Max Sarmiento, Gilbert Tenio, Narrie Babao, Dan Inosanto, Richard Bustillo and Leo Giron.
Master Giron continued his training and later pursued a career as a professional musician. After that was over he was back again training. Then, his father passed on May 21st, 2002.
What was different was now the fighting system that he had learned in the 80’s had slowly evolved into what is called a modified version.
He did not see the reason for change and the fighting system that was learned from his father in the early years stood alone and was battleground proven.
It was causing more harm than good to the students and the organization that his father had created, so he did one of the hardest things in his life.
He resigned from the Bahala Na Martial Arts Association, relinquished his title as Grand Advisor and his lifetime membership to the organization.
He then, created the “Bahala Na” Original Giron Escrima Federation and is presently co-director of (ESKCOA), the Escrima Coalition of Stockton, CA. and a member of Jujitsu of America in San Bruno, CA.
On June of 2007 at a Filipino martial arts seminar he was recognized as a Master, Black Belt Lakan Lima 5th Dan by Grandmaster Robert Castro and Lito Concepcion.
By creating “Bahala Na” Original Giron Escrima Federation it allows Master Giron to maintain the purity of the art that he had learned, and continue to maintain the legacy of his father and this great gift that was given him.
By doing this Master Giron will have fulfilled his personal mission as the son of a legend and in doing this it allows him to do his small part in promoting the Filipino martial arts.
For more information on Mataw-Guro Michael Giron and Original Giron Escrima, please visit www.originalgironescrima.homestead.com.
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