Guro's (instructors) Fred, Mark and Cutler are dedicated teachers, students and active competitors in martial arts and boxing.   They are champion title holders in regional, national, and international tournaments. They were trained in the Philippines and are certified directly under the founder and head instructor of Bahad Zu'Bu Dakila (great) Guro Epifanio "Yuli" Romo.  They strive to help each member become an effective Mandirigma (warrior) who is skilled in both armed and un-armed combat.  We are not rooted in forms and non-contact drills, but insist on live training which gives each member the maximum feedback while developing their skills.  WIthin a safe environment, we emphasize sparring, competition, and real combat skills. We are active in the tournament circuit and regularly send fighters to various national and local competitions.

Guro Federico Malibago was born and raised in Minnesota the son of Filipino immigrants.  Amongst the men in his family and community, fighting skill and the practice of martial arts, were highly valued and encouraged.  This early passion for the martial arts, as well as Filipino cultural traditions and history in general, has led him to conduct many research trips to the Philippines to learn traditional Filipino Martial Arts culture and history directly from the masters who keep the traditons alive. Federico holds multiple international and national titles and has captured Golds in GSBA regional and national tournaments. He was a semi-finalist in the world's largest boxing tournament the 2015 Ringside Tournament. He holds several belts and has an impressive collection of medals from many tournaments over the years, including numerous 1st place awards.   He is on of only three Guros in MN authorized to teach the Filipino Ancestral art of Bahad Zubu Eskrima.

Guro Mark Basel is a lifelong martial artist dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the traditional Filipino Martial Arts.  Guro Mark loves to teach FMA and compete in FMA tournaments.  He holds several National and World titles in stick, knife and sword fighting.   Mark recently traveled to Rome to as part of team USA in the GSBA World Championships and took home a Gold and a Bronze medal in stickfighting.   Previous to the worlds he captured 4 Gold medals in the regional and national tournaments.   Adding to his love of FMA Mark is also a USA Boxing coach and trains amatuer boxing.  He is one of three Guros in MN authorized to teach the Filipino ancestral art of Bahad Zubu Eskrima.

Guro Cutler Dozier is a lifelong martial artist with over two decades of training in various martial arts including: Boxing, Different styles of FMA, kick boxing, and BJJ. He has experience teaching Bahad Zubu in different parts of the country as well as overseas. He has placed in the national Cold Steel Stick Fighting Tournament and has also participated in the world renowned Dog Brothers Open Gathering. He is passionate about maintaining the fighting tradition of Bahad Zubu by routinely participating in hard stick no armor sparring. He is dedicated to the fighting principals and methodology of Bahad Zubu and strives to cultivate the inner strength of every student. He also enjoys embracing the inherent joyfulness that comes with practicing the art and seeks to develop that joy in his students. He is one of only three Guros in MN authorized to teach the Filipino Ancestral art of Bahad Zubu Eskrima.

About Our Instructor/Head of the Bahad Zubu Society

Dakilang Guro Yuli Romo

 

Born in Camotes Island, Cebu, Philippines, on the 23rd April 1949, Dakilang ("Great") Guro Epifanio 'Yuli' Romo has a long and extensive background in the Filipino Martial Arts, with an impeccable lineage to some of the most respected Filipino warriors ever known.

At an early age, he was introduced to the Warrior Arts of the Philippines, first learning the revered art of his great-uncle Islao Romo, who defeated many well-known Eskrimadors in Cebu during the 1940's. GM Yuli learned this art from his uncles Pedring Romo and Pael Aviles.

As a teenager GM Yuli learned the art of Repikada-Pigada from Kikoy Borinaga, a descendant of the legendary Soferino Borinaga. GM Yuli is the only inheritor of this system.

During the early 1970's GM Yuli moved to Manila, where he studied the Balintawak Eskrima system, learning from Boy Ursal, a senior student of the legendary Grandmaster Joe Go. In this period, GM Yuli also trained directly under Joe Go, extending his skills in the Balintawak system while also learning Tat Kun Tou and the Bio-Olisi - long-stick fighting method.

In 1975, he began training with the much-respected late Grandmaster Antonio 'Tatang' Ilustrisimo. Acknowledged by his peers as the second most senior student of Tatang, GM Yuli displays a colourful interpretation of this sword-based art, and is particularly renowned for his applications and explanations of Tatang's art.

On the 23rd April 2002, "Bahad Zu'bu Mangtas Baraw" was conceptualized after a lifetime of devoted study of the Filipino Fighting Arts.

For more info about Bahad Zu'Bu and Dakila Yuli Romo check out the Global HQ page. yuli-romo.com

Eskrima/Kali/Arnis
612-501-0057