Zone Palm Spring

"GRANDMASTER NAPOLEON FERNANDEZ

by: Shad S. de Guzman

Good afternoon sir, and happy first year anniversary on the new
headquarters of Yaw-Yan Ardigma. May I ask on what year you have
established the art of Yaw-Yan?

Yaw-Yan was created during the early 60’s but it was properly introduced during the 70’s on the year 1972.

What basically inspired you sir to strive and establish the art?

On the early days it was always Karate, and that I’m not really
conformed to katas because during those days it was all about katas,
and that’s one of the reasons I made Yaw-Yan that has practically no
katas but only direct sparring techniques that is very far different
from Karate that only has four kicks. Yaw-Yan used to have 45 kicks but
now I’ve decided to minimize it for the new Yaw-Yan Ardigma, because
you really can’t practice all types of Yaw-Yan kicks. It all comes down
to choices of kicks instead of limited techniques.

What can you say about Yaw-Yan being compared with Muay Thai?

You see the difference between the two martial arts are the basics,
although Muay Thai may really have a huge similarity with Yaw-Yan but
if you observe more closely you’ll see that it’s not. Yaw-Yan’s push
kick is not actually a push kick compared with Muay Thai that really
looks smooth on the ring. Yaw-Yan’s push kick is actually a devastating
strike if you really have an eye for combat.

How did Yaw-Yan got established on other countries such as the United States?

Honestly it wasn’t me, but it’s a good thing that we have
practitioners that goes out of the country and establish their own
gyms. But the truth is Yaw-Yan has not been officially established yet
on other countries and that’s a fact.

Were they ever authorized to establish or are affiliated to conduct Yaw-Yan outside their motherland?

No, but as you know for Yaw-Yan it’s still an exposure for the art.
But officially they have no recognition nor an affiliation from us.
Even here there are many Yaw-Yan gyms coming out of nowhere, maybe it’s
because people know that I’m really not in it for the money. The reason
these people are coming up with their own gyms with the name of Yaw-Yan
without approval is because of personal financial interest and that
they don’t want to contribute to us. Yaw-Yan is probably one of the
most poorest martial arts in the Philippines because most of our
practitioners are from not well to do families.

What can you say sir about the new era of Yaw-Yan such as the formation of Hybrid Yaw-Yan and Yaw-Yan Evolution to name a few?

To be honest with you, I really think they don’t trust their own
art. But as you can see they are now going back to their roots and I’m
seeing a lot of Yaw-Yan practitioners compared on the early years.

Yaw-Yan is known to be a full contact art can you please tell us more about it?

In the early days there were no tournament at all, I started the
art of kickboxing at the San Sebastian College on the year 70’s. People
were laughing back then because whenever they see Yaw-Yan fighters they
keep saying “Here are the Yaw-Yan’s ready to play Basketball” because
Yaw-Yan fighters were always wearing short pants during those days.
Others were wearing kimonos and the others with shin guards and foot
gloves. That’s one of the reason why we now have the new Ardigma fight
gear.

What is the future goal of Yaw-Yan?

There has only been one thing that I have been pursuing ever since
and that is to enlighten the Filipinos to patronize their own art and
not to be called “Malansang Isda” or foul odor fish. People nowadays
will do anything just to patronize foreign arts rather than their own.
Fancy styles from foreign arts rarely works on actual fights where
anything goes really does happen.

When you say martial arts it should stand as only one style and not
mixing anything on it like MMA, no offense to you Shad. (laughing) The
goal of Yaw-Yan always has been to wake the Filipinos from reality, but
sadly even the art of stick fighting hasn’t peaked its popularity on
its own land but rather on other countries instead.

What are your thoughts sir on Chef Chris Romine’s contributions to Yaw-Yan?

We are really grateful to him. And this also serves as a lesson to
all Filipinos that even foreigners love our own art and that are more
willing to give a hand to uplift and promote Yaw-Yan compared to other
Filipinos that are promoting other foreign arts. But if Yaw-Yan
practitioners were ever from can afford families, I’m very sure that
they would help out with all they can to promote Yaw-Yan, but I guess
when God showered poverty on the land. All the current Yaw-Yan
practitioners were outside taking a bath. (laughing)

What can you say sir about the arising popularity of new fight promotions particularly about MMA such as the URCC?

It’s a great event because it has good intentions, but to my own
opinion I really don’t like MMA because it’s more about grappling, I
would rather see more striking in the ring.

Any message sir to the your students?

To all Yaw-Yan students, if you’re’ really loyal to Yaw-Yan, please
continue practicing the true art of Yaw-Yan, show to them that you’re
not a foul odor fish. Show to them that you’re really are a Yaw-Yan
fighter. Help each other and don’t just ride along. Help your brothers
and sisters to carry the burden towards that dream of enlightenment."

taken from : http://zubu.yourfreebb.com/post589.html

What is a pilgrim?
Pronunciation: \pil-grəm\
Function: noun
Etymology:Middle English, from Anglo-French pelerin, pilegrin, from
Late Latin pelegrinus, alteration of Latin peregrinus
foreigner, from peregrinus, adjective, foreign, from
peregri abroad, from per through + agr-, ager
land — more at for, acre
Date: 13th century

1:one who journeys in foreign lands :wayfarer
2:one who travels to a shrine or holy place as a
devotee
3: capitalized :one of the English
colonists settling at Plymouth in 1620
From:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pilgrim

What is a pilgrimage?
Pronunciation: \pil-grə-mij\
Function: noun
Date: 14th century

1:a journey of a pilgrim; especially :one
to a shrine or a sacred place
2:the course of life on earth
From:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pilgrimage

April 2, 2008 I become a
pilgrim and I did a pilgrimage. In all the places that I’ve been
where people would visit a place to worship,it was in Simala,Sibonga
a town in Cebu Philippines were they called their visitors a pilgrim.
I know there are also places like this somehere else but for me it
was my first time to experience this. As a fanatic of the word
“pilgrim” it was in this place that my high school dream of being
called a pilgrim and doing a pilgrimage really happened.

I was not really
expecting a lot when we were just on the way to the place. Although
I’ve heard stories about miracles and how Mama Mary would help people
specially students or professionals who will be taking their board
exam. The only thing on my mind while we were on our way was to give
thanks to the Lord specially Mama Mary because my Mom went there when
I was also about to take my board exam last November 2007 and also to
accompany our friend who is also about to take his board exam come
april 2008. I did pass our board exam and it was then my time to
visit the place and give thanks personally. When we entered the place
at around 8am I was just feeling calm and enjoy seeing the pilgrims
doing their pilgrimage. Then came the wishing bell, I was observing
people throwing their coins a couple of times before hitting the
right spot. I was thinking what will happen if it’s my turn to throw
my coin in the wishing bell. Because for me, throwing or tossing the
coin a couple of times before hitting the target was not that good
compared to just tossing it once. My turn came and I did hit the
target once as well my mother and our friend. My cousin did it twice
but still for me it was a good trial. When I hit the target the only
thing that popped out of my mind was to thank God. For whatever
reason I was indeed happy that I just did it once.

Then we walk straight up
to the church. Before entering the church I saw pilgrims writing
their petitions in a piece of paper. It was my first time to
experience that and I was amazed by what was happening. My companions
went on the write their petitions. While waiting I was observing and
was busy reading signs inside the place and came across the writings
about the meaning of the color of the candles. Usually I light 5
candles in churches but then knowing the meaning of the colors I was
thinking that I wanted to light all those colors. My companions were
done with their petitions and it was my time to write. At first I was
not sure what to write at first because I just went there to praise
God. Knowing that the paper would not be filled what I did was just
write what I ought to write.

After that we went inside
the church. And again I was on my usual state and not taking things
seriously. After lighting two candle a black/gray and blue I noticed
that what were displayed all over the place was the different images
of Mama Mary. It was in this time that I was able to see and know
what were the different versions of Mama Mary are. Then we lined up
to touch Mama Mary where Her fragrance still I can remember while
writing this. After visting the place we exited and while on our way
walking I saw the petitions and the memorable things that were
associated when Mama Mary was doing a miracle. The next place on the
journey inside was to line up to use the viel that Mama Mary used
when she cried in the year 1998(not so sure if its ‘98 or ‘99). but
before our turn I saw lots of letters for Mama Mary thanking her for
the blessings that she gave them. I did not find time to read the
letters because there were lots of them. I just remebered when I saw
the letters that I was very blessed that I was able to pass my board
exam without me going there personally. Then it was almost our turn
to use the viel, I was thinking what to asked because I just went to
praise Mama Mary and God. But as humans I did asked some favors
hoping that She together with Her Son would help me again.