He learned stick fighting from his brothers, one of whom was an officer who fought against the Spaniards invading the Philippines. After he had progressed sufficiently, the brothers tattooed a kind of prayer in Latin on his leg. That was to be part of the magic to keep him safe from all harm. "Oracion," meditation or spiritual communication, and "anting anting," the magic of the Escrimadors were both powers that some swear kept them from being killed in World War II. They’re a part of the Philippines that the Escrimadors of old brought to America. Anting Anting is a token or a good luck charm. Some will stake their lives on its power of protection, some smile in humor and others, particularly in the younger generation, acknowledge it as "something" that they don’t understand.