In ( Part Three ) it was mentioned that Graciela Casillas was one of Great Grandmaster Angel Cabales'
Advanced Graduate Instructors. In (Part Four) we will further investigate the inner dynamics that went into
play that brought the " Warrior Princess " into contact with the " Grand Old Master."
One of the primary reasons as to why a lot of people become fanatically involved in the study of martial arts
is due to the superior level of self-imposed discipline, along with the physical flawlessness of mastery that
can be attained by way of practicing martial arts. To witness a highly skilled and advanced martial artist in
combative action, " Is to see poetry in motion ". The study and pratice of various forms of martial arts is
one of the most effective ways to synchronize the mind, body, and the spirit into one harmonious unit.
When an initiate of martial arts is able to sucessfully combine these three ingredients into one harmonious
accord, one will then have reached a superior state of mind in which the Buddhist call " Nirvana " or
enlightment. When the state of nirvana has efficiently been messhed into the martial artist' mind, body and
soul, the martial arts initiate then becomes " One'd or Yoked to the Supreme Being ".
Graciela Casillas is a prime example of an individual that has obtained this conscious state of mind or '
Nirvana.' A 1989 BLACK BELT HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE: ( WOMAN OF THE YEAR ), Graciela Casillas formally
held the,
'WORLD KARATE ASSOCIATION BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE'. Undefeated with a fight record of 30-0, with 14 KO's
to her credit, Graciela Casillas personifies the essence of a modern day " Princess Josephina."
Additionally, Gura Casillas is the first woman to be promoted directly by GGM Angel Cabales to the
'Advanced Instructors Level' within the ' Cabales Serrada System of Escrima.'
I first met Gura Casillas at a time when she was still known as Graciela Casillas. In 1987 by way of Wing
Chun Master William Henderson, I had the distinctive honor of personally meeting one of martial art's most
illustrious fighter's of all time. As an experienced martial artist myself, and prior to meeting Gura Casillas, I
was already familiar with her notorious fight record.
My primary attraction to Gura Casillas was due to the fact that I was aware that she had been extensively
trained by the " Ubiquitous " Guro Dan Inosanto. As I had met Guro Inosanto, and GM Richard Bustillo as far
back as 1980 at a " Jeet Kune Do/Kali " seminar in Ohio that I promoted and hosted; I figured that if Gura
Casillas had trained in Filipino martial arts under Guro Inosanto's personalized tutelage, then she was
definitely upon a blazing trail; as Guro Dan Inosanto himself had privately studied and gained his teacher's
credentials directly from GGM Angel Cabales.
Gura Casillas' reputation as a ferocious combatant in the arena of martial arts, and also, in the world of
boxing, is what ultimately led me to personally introduce her directly to GGM Angel Cabales. As I was one
of GGM Cabales' personal assistants in the mid 1980's, part of my duties on behalf GGM Cabales was to
bring him into contact with as many viable martial artists as possible. I guess you can say that I acted as
GGM Angel Cabales' scout. I was also very instrumental in recommending other martial arts practitioners to
GGM Cabales such as; Master Guru Lee Foster, Advanced Serrada Escrima Instructor Jeff Finder, Wing
Chun Master Bill Henderson, Master Guro Cliff Stewart who met GGM Cabales by way of myself and
Graciela Casillas. And of course there are other top martial artists whom I personally introduced to GGM
Cabales as well, such as; Actor/Kung Fu Master Eric Lee, GM Taky Kubota's protege Master Jim Mather,
former Boxing Champion Jesus Lopez Sr., and my 'Wu Shing Tai Chi Chuan' instructor Great Prof. John K.
Wong.
GGM Angel Cabales was just as eager to meet Gura Casillas as she was to meet him. GGM Angel Cabales
was an avid lover of boxing, and he felt deeply convicted within himself that he could impart to Gura
Casillas the " Master Keys " that are the chief ingredients that underlies his style of Serrada Escrima.
Personally, I found Gura Casillas to be extremely meticulous and very studious. Observing Gura Casillas
working out under GGM Angel Cabales' auspices was indeed " Poetry in motion ". As meticulous as Gura
Casillas was in terms of her study of Serrada Escrima, is just as meticulous as GGM Angel Cabales was in
helping her to "fine-tune" her Escrima skills.
On the day that Gura Graciela Casillas received her " Cabales Serrada Escrima Advanced Degree " from
GGM Angel Cabales, there were several top notch martial arts dignitaries on hand to witness her
graduation such as; Prof. Wally Jay, Cliff Stewart, Jimmy Tacosa, Sultan Uddin, David Mau, William
Henderson, and myself. Gura Graciela Casillas' continuous pursuit toward " Supreme Excellence " is truly
what qualifies her to be called the " Indomitable Warrior ".
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