Eskrima is a beautiful martial art that originated in the Philippines. It is the national sport of the Philippines, and has a very long history of combat effectiveness. One difference from other martial arts is that the student is taught to train with weapons from the very start, rather than beginning with empty-hands training. The Filipino Martial Arts ingrain an interrelationship between empty-hand skills and weapons, and because of this philosophy, Eskrima is widely recognized in the martial arts community for its extreme practicality and effectiveness.
Suro Inay studied privately under the tutelage of two great Eskrima Masters, Max Sarmiento and Angel Cabales. It was Suro Inay who proposed, to Master Angel Cabales, the formation of an organization to preserve and promote the Cabales Serrada Style of Eskrima. With Suro Inay's help, Master Cabales formed the first Cabales Serrada association. Suro Inay also developed a ranking structure for Master Cabales.
Grandmaster Sarmiento is credited for convincing Grandmaster Cabales to open the first public Eskrima school in the United States and thus Grandmaster Cabales became the "Father of Eskrima" in the U.S.
Suro Mike Inay studied under both these men for over 11 years and was instrumental in bringing both of their arts out to the greater public. Since the death of Grandmaster Sarmiento and later Grandmaster Cabales, Suro had continued to expand and propagate the styles of Eskrima he learned from them in their truest form. Since his own untimely passing, Suro's teachings continue through his most senior students.
