At midnight of April 1526, Ferdinand Magellan sent a Muslim trader as a messenger to Si Lapulapu with this message "Obey the King of Spain, recognize Rajah Humabon as your sovereign, pay us tribute, and be our friend-Otherwise, you shall see how our lances wound" To this offensive message, the wily chief of the orang lauts replied, "If you have lances, so do we of bamboo and stakes hardened with fire".

This is perhaps the earliest recorded arnis fight in Philippine history. One that ended in victory for the famous fighter Lapulapu and made him a familiar name in the history of the Philippine martial arts. The traditional Kali (old name for arnis) weapon was a short pointed hardwood stick hardened by fire treatment. Since then, arnis aficionados acknowledged the Cebuano fighter as the unrevealed father of arnis.

It is interesting to note that Philippine martial arts survived the tides of time. In a country where government has still to deliver the basic needs of its people, there are several Filipinos who have dedicated their lives so that future generations can enjoy the countries its martial arts heritage. In the absence of a comprehensive government program to develop and preserve the art, they persevered and some of them gained monetary rewards. The way is surely not lined with milk and honey.

During the Spanish time, Filipinos were strictly forbidden to practice Kali. The Spanish friars who were an integral part of the subjugation, however, introduced the morn-morn. This was a play to show how they persecute the natives with sword or any bladed weapon to accept Christianity. The creative Filipinos who have to play as Spanish soldiers made it as a convenient excuse to practice Kali, Hence, the new name, arnis, after the colorful trappings that they wore in tile moro-moro play. It was also during this era when Filipinos started calling the martial arts eskrima, after the Spanish art of fencing.

In the early 1950's, Filemon Caburnay, was an acknowledged arnis practitioner. He called his style, Lapunti Arnis de Abanico. Lapunti stood for Labangon, Punta Princesa, and Tisa to honor the localities where thrived. Abanico, was added because the movements resemble that of a fan. As a young man, he was a salesman roving the Visayas islands. An old friend reminisced that he used to seek out other arnis grandmasters bringing with him a gift, usually a dagger, and introducing himself as an arnis student. On to Samar, Bohol and Panay Islands, he sold his wares and at the same time improved his art. This way, Arnis de Abanico was born.

Grandmaster Filemon Caburnay passed his brand of arnis to his only son Prudencio "Ondo" Caburnay. The title of Grandmaster is only given to arnis practitioners by its peers as an acknowledgment of Ones important contribution to the improvement of the Philippine martial arts. "Ondo" proved to be a very good martial art student and more significant, he also inherited his father's zeal in pursuing a better and more effective form of arnis. Not long after his father passed away in the 1960s, the son earned his Grandmaster title. He incorporated the cross-leg technique and subsequently developed a graceful and. faster, high level style that can also be lethal to its opponents. The spawning of Lapunti arnis de abanico was thus assured.

Meanwhile, Raoul Gianuzzi was born in Luxembourg, in October 1962. He grew up and developed an unwavering interest in martial arts. At the age of 18, he started to study different kinds of Martial arts and Sports fighting. Ninjutsu, Wieng Tshung, French boxing, judo boxing and kickboxing were among the sports in which he excelled.

"Gia" started to consider martial arts not only as a means of defense or offense but also as a way of life. In 1980, he joined the Luxembourg army and later became an instructor in the Army Academy teaching survival, parachute and weapons training. He was also a special service bodyguard in Europe protecting the life of the British ambassador and other very important persons. Dabbling in business; he realized that the discipline of being a martial arts practitioner can be applied in any lifestyle. In his quest for the best style he went to China and studied martial arts, adding acupuncture and herbal healing to his new knowledge.

It was in Europe where he heard about arnis. He began to study Kali, Arnis or Eskrima in Germany where some martial artists claimed to be proteges of our local Grandmasters. His intense curiosity eventually brought him to Cebu City where he heard about a good Grandmaster with a distinct style. This was Grandmaster Ondo Caburnay and his Arnis de Abanico. In the special world of arnis, the undefeated Grandmaster is a popular man. Unassuming and one totally devoid of conceit and deception, Grandmaster Ondo finally met one of his best students. Thus started the foray of Arnis de Abanico in Europe.

The student from Luxembourg had a solid background in Martial Arts. His 16 years spent as a serious Martial arts disciple has evidently paid off. He trained everyday with the Arnis de Abanico Grandmaster starting in 1995. At the time of this writing, he already achieved the status of Master of Guro, 9th Dan, which is one level below the coveted title of Grandmaster. And last year, he opened his Lapunti Arnis de Abanico Academy in Domaine Schlassgoart, BP 246, L-4003, Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg, with telephone no. 00352-532778 and fax no. 00352-532779. Grandmaster Ondo Caburnay, after all the usual hassle of preparing a visa, was able to attend the opening of his school in Luxembourg in October 26, 1997. For both men, it was a dream come true.

And for the future of Lapunti Arnis de Abanico, it is a giant leap forward. The Academy has already attracted a favorable response. Among its students are the police and special force of Luxembourg, young men and women who are enamored by our very own brand of martial arts. Grandmaster Ondo and Master Gia have big plans to conduct seminars in Germany, Belgium, France and perhaps in the United States of America.

This year, a seminar and training will be held in Panagsama Beach, Moadboal, Philippines will be scheduled and this will be attended by their European and Filipino students. The grandmaster has taught his student what he never imparted to others before. And this includes the same zeal that he and his father felt towards Arnis de Abanico.

Lapunti, Arnis de Abanico" is a very high level of martial arts. It is dynamic and very much alive. its use of "taisabaki" or cross leg is quite similar to Ninjutsu but with easier body coordination. One has to use his body weight and look for angles to be able to use it more effectively. It can also be used with different weapons like baston, espada y daga or even mono-mono (bare hands).

I quote from Master Raoul Gianuzzi who has been sparring with other martial art experts in Europe, free style, and has proven to the world that the Philippine martial art, Arnis, is one to be reckoned with. Grandmaster Filemon and Si Lapulapu, if they were still around today would have readily agreed!!!