The Secrets of Cabales Serrada Escrima (Secrets of Series)

Rating:
Summary: A few comments
Review: Despite the controversial and critical reviews of this book, I found it useful in learning about some of the history and background of grandmaster Cabales, and also the techniques of Cabales Escrima. I can't comment on the criticisms posted here on Wiley's book, as I'm not primarily an escrimador, being mainly a karate, kobudo, and iaido practitioner. However, I've trained in the Philippine stick arts too and I was just looking for a book that could provide some basic history on the art in addition to what I already knew.

The first few chapters are a brief bio of master Cabales, from his boyhood in the Philippines to his eventual arrival in the states, and his opening up the first Escrima school in the U.S. It was interesting to read about master Cabales's early training experiences and his teacher, F. Dizon, the origins of the first Doce Pares organization (which Wiley claims precedes by over a hundred years the current organization under the Canete family), and other interesting bits of history. After many years of working odd jobs everywhere from the Tondo docks in Manila to Alaska, master Cabales finally settled in Stockton, where he stayed the rest his life, founded the first Escrima school, and saw his art spread from a small inland valley school in California to dozens of countries and thousands of students around the world.

The following chapters are written by students and instructors who were close to master Cabales and who relate their training experiences with him, and the last half of the book is devoted to actual techniques. These show the basic strikes, blocks, disarms, and wrist and armlocks. I enjoyed these chapters too, although the problem with books on the martial arts these days is that you can get video tapes that are excellent on literally hundreds of martial arts which show the art far better than the static photos in books. I myself have dozens of tapes by a number of masters on various styles of Escrima and other Pacific Rim arts that are far better than the photos in any book. Nevertheless, since the book basically combines a brief history and biography of the master, a number of personal memoirs of the master, and a presentation of the basic technical aspects of the art, I didn't mind that too much.

Now not only is Cabales Escrima well established in the U.S. but a number of other Pacific Rim arts as well, including Filipino and Indonesian Kuntao, Indonesian Pekiti Tersia and a number of styles of Indonesian Pentjak-Silat. I've studied Kali Ilustrisimo, Inayan Escrima, and Pekiti Tersia myself, and enjoy them very much although they're not my main focus as a martial artist, as I said. But I've certainly learned to appreciate the Philippine and Indonesian arts more, which are truly great martial arts themselves, and I think it's great they're finally getting the recognition they deserve, although it looks like the Escrima world has the same political problems as the rest of the martial arts. It's interesting to consider that a once obscure art only about 20 years ago is now an international phenomenon with hundreds of instructors in the U.S. and many more overseas. Angel Cabales's Serrada Escrima has perhaps had the greatest influence of all and I hope his and the many other fine Filipino stick arts continue to grow and prosper.

Rating:
Summary: The Secrets of Cabales Serrada Escrima (Secrets of Series)
Review: For those of you that haven't heard of me, I have studied Serrada extensively in Stockton, California. I read the other reviews, and Master Khlid Khan, should not have complimented Mark Wiley. He did so to promote the book because he is in it. Guru Dennis Servaes, also in it and has trained with Grandmaster Vincent Angel Cabales and gave a review which tells it like it is. I would also advise against the purchase of books by Mark Wiley, or anything to do with Daren Tibon. Angel would not have authorized either book, and I cannot recommend either of wiley's books! Too much misinformation. I understand Daren is no longer recognized as a Master!

Rating:
Summary: The Secrets of Cabales Serrada Escrima (Secrets of Series)
Review: For those of you that haven't heard of me, I have studied Serrada extensively in Stockton, California. I read the other reviews, and Master Khlid Khan, should not have complimented Mark Wiley. He did so to promote the book because he is in it. Guru Dennis Servaes, also in it and has trained with Grandmaster Vincent Angel Cabales and gave a review which tells it like it is. I would also advise against the purchase of books by Mark Wiley, or anything to do with Daren Tibon. Angel would not have authorized either book, and I cannot recommend either of wiley's books! Too much misinformation. I understand Daren is no longer recognized as a Master!

Rating:
Summary: The Secrets of Cabales Serrada Escrima
Review: If any Martial Artists wants a complete understanding of the Serrada System, this is the book. I have read the book and it doesn't get any better than this. Mr Wiley is very accurate on the system and techniques because he is an Escrimador. He didn't just read some books than write this book. This book is long overdue. No one has given credit before like this book does, to the early students of G.M. Angel Cabales. In the early days G.M.Angel didn't have one paper, no application, class out line, or certificates of any kind. Everything you learned, you kept in your head, that way other students wouldn't know what number or how many blocks you really knew. Mr. Mark Wiley has given our great Master, Angel Cabales the highest honor by rewriting this new book. Tuttle Publishing has a top notch author of Fililino Martial Arts, and should be very lucky and proud of his quality products on Martial Arts.

Rating:
Summary: Mark Wiley, what?
Review: If the book had been a more technical treatment, that would have been great. It has that, but not enough. But even still, what it did have would have been ggggreat if, only if, Mark had not put in a bunch of sillyness.
What is the sillyness you ask? It is the goofy stories. I couldn't stand his little asides about the Magical Angel. I am so weary of the the "super-master" stories that some martial artists find so appealing. Keep in mind that I am not criticising Master Cabeles in anyway at all. I am sure he was great. But I think we diminish the greatness of lives lived when we begin to exagerate the reality of them. Let us be in awe of the real, not the fabrication we can easily make up.
At times Mark seems like a 4 year old who sees in his mentor superhuman quality. That can be endearing the hands of a capable writer, but that Mark Willey is not.

Rating:
Summary: Mark Wiley, what?
Review: If the book had been a more technical treatment, that would have been great. It has that, but not enough. But even still, what it did have would have been ggggreat if, only if, Mark had not put in a bunch of sillyness.
What is the sillyness you ask? It is the goofy stories. I couldn't stand his little asides about the Magical Angel. I am so weary of the the "super-master" stories that some martial artists find so appealing. Keep in mind that I am not criticising Master Cabeles in anyway at all. I am sure he was great. But I think we diminish the greatness of lives lived when we begin to exagerate the reality of them. Let us be in awe of the real, not the fabrication we can easily make up.
At times Mark seems like a 4 year old who sees in his mentor superhuman quality. That can be endearing the hands of a capable writer, but that Mark Willey is not.

Rating:
Summary: Ignore negativity and get this book!
Review: This book is very helpful in that you get a deep understanding of the fascinating history of where the Cabales Serrada System comes from. You also get step-by-step outlines of many Serrada applications, which only gets better when you have a solid base knowledge of Escrima in general, and Serrada in particular. Mark Wiley brings Cabales Serrada into a new light with this book. The negative press? "Shine it"... you read the book for yourself, and you'll see for yourself! I myself study Serrada Escrima- actually mostly Inayan, from my uncle Mike who learned from my great-uncle Ray Subega, an early student of Inay's. The way I see it, the proof is in the pudding. Wiley has his diploma, who else here can boast that? I agree with Art Miraflor, it is a very GREAT book! Great job Wiley! I also read Wiley's Arnis book, and five stars on that one, too! For those who love to just soak it all in, this book has it! Wiley went to the farthest jungles of the Philippines to get instruction as well as mass info for that project, and well worth the price. I can't wait to read his other books on Filipino MArtial Arts!!!
Peace & Blessings, ~John