Guro Dino Flores

Guro Dino Flores was born in Hawaii . He has lived in various places including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Australia as well as Manila and Laguna – Philippines.

A glimpse into Guro Dino’s family tree finds a lineage as diverse as the Philippines itself. Ancestors ranging from Katipuneros in Bicol serving under General Simeón Ola y Arboleda the last general to surrender to American forces during the Philippine-American War, “Tulisan” in Luzon who never surrendered, Datus in Tanawan Batangas, Traditional Healers using methods such as Orasyon and Anting-Anting in Laguna, Filipino-Spanish Hacienda owners settling at the foot of Mayon Volcano in the early 1900′s after migrating from the Visayas, Decorated World War Two American Colonial Army officers fighting under General Douglas Macarthur in Bataan and Corregidor and surviving the infamous “death march” as well as Globetrotting Modern U.P. Scholars in the 1970′s reluctantly leaving the country to escape Martial Law.

Guro Dino was first introduced 
to the concept of “Arnis” and Philippine Warrior history by his father Dr. A. S. Flores in the mid 1970′s. This was done through the oral tradition, Pilipino Komiks and hard to find publications during Martial Law. His 
first exposure to physical training was in the early 1980′s in Laguna Province, Philippines. Older relatives and neighbors to family ancestral lands of many generations, introduced him in backyard sessions to basic street applications and strategy of the balisong blade during stays in the Philippines. Many of these early instructors had experienced real blade situations with the scars to prove it. The first lessons were avoidance, environmental awareness and proper behavior to avoid conflict.

Guro Dino trained for a number of years with Grandmaster Conrad A. Manaois in Ninoy Cinco Teros Arnis and Master Henry Bio in Sikaran Arnis in the 1980′s along with his cousins Ariel Flores Mosses and Choy Flores. In the early 1990′s he was accepted as an initial member of Punong Guro Edgar Sulites’ newly forming Backyard Group AKA the Sulite Oriehenal Group. During the constant sparring in the Backyard he evolved from being an aggressive fighter to one who now more calm and precise. His fighting style in the early days of the the Backyard Group earned him the nickname “Aso’ng Gulo” from his fellow peers and was considered Punong Guro Sulites’ favorite backyard fighter due to the clear usage of curriculum during fighting.

At the recommendation of Punong Guro Sulite, Guro Dino first visited Master Christopher Ricketts in the Philippines in 1995 and was introduced to his perspective on the Warrior Arts. Since the passing of Punong Guro Sulite, he has continuously train in Kali Ilustrisimo Under Master Christopher Ricketts, who gave Guro Dino permission to teach his method before his passing. He considers Master Ricketts his primary Instructor in the Art of Kali Ilustrisimo. Guro Dino was the Lameco representative for Master Ricketts and a member of Bakbakan Philippines sponsored by Master Ricketts. Guro Dino continues his training in Master Ricketts method of training with his two sons, the young Masters Bruce and Guro Brandon Ricketts. Additionally at Master Ricketts insistence before his passing, Guro Dino also continues his studies in Ilustrisimo under Grandmaster Antonio Diego. In 2013 Master Diego authorized Guro Dino to teach his method.

Guro Dino additionally had good fortune to experience training in Kali Ilustrisimo with Dodong Sta. Iglesia, Guro Arnold Narzo, Guro Peachie Baron, Master Rey Galang, Master Yuli Romo and Master Tony Diego. He also trained in Kali Ilustrisimo with one of his training partners and fellow Lameco Backyard member Guro Hans Tan, who was certified to teach Kali Ilustrsimo under Master Tony Diego in 1999. Additionally Guro Dino trained privately for several years in California and the Philippines with Professor Ireneo L. Olavides in Eskrima De Campo JDC-IO. Guro Dino also cites the importance of his training partners in Lameco SOG and Kapisanang Mandirigma in his growth.

After the passing of Punong Guro Edgar Sulite in 1997, certain members of the Lameco Backyard group reformed also became know as Kapisanang Mandirigma. Together the group regularly continued training, sparring, experimenting and seeking the deeper roots of their chosen arts. This group includes Guros Joel Adriatico, Hospecio “Bud” Balani Jr., Mar Elepaño, Choy Flores, Arnold Noche, Gary Quan, Hans Anton Tan and Pantaleon “Mang Leo” Revilles, Jr. (RIP). With frequent visits by Guro Lowell Pueblos, Bong Hebia and honorary member Ariel Flores Mosses.

Guro Dino has taught numerous seminars and classes over the years. He has appeared on Television, Instructional Videos, Independent Film and Radio Shows promoting the arts. He has contributed to magazine article for publications such as “Budo International”, “Masters”, “Blitz” “FMA Informative” and “FMA Digest. Guro Dino has also contributed to several book publications including: “The Sword Fighting Art of Kali Ilustrisimo” (Christopher Ricketts), “Masters of the Blade” (Rey Galang), “Lameco Eskrima – The Legacy of Edgar Sulite” (Dave Gould), “Ilustrisimo Punta y Daga”(Peachie Baron Saguin) and “Warrior Arts of the Philippines” (Rey Galang). Guro Dino has conducted numerous seminars, lectures and demonstrations. Including conferences at UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, University of California Irvine, Loyola Marymount University, Glendale College, L.A. Cherry Blossom Festival, L.A. Lotus Festival, Philippine Tourism Expo in Manila, Sports Expo in Manila, Balintawak Cuentada Gathering Las Vegas and The Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture to name a few. Guro Dino was one of the first instructors invited to the World Filipino Martial Arts Association EXPO in Seattle, Washinton in 2003. One of his proudest moments was to be one of two cultural groups (the othe one being traditional dance) to perform in the world famous Los Angeles City Hall during the televised dedication of the the very first official “Filipinotown” in the USA. Other activities include Guro Dino being fight coordinator for the original performance of the first Filipino Opera “Karim at Jasmin” and the Filipino stage Musical “Abadeha”.

Guro Dino is a founding member of Kapisanang Mandirigma’s: Mandirigma Research Organization/Mandirigma.org, Kali Klub sa Historic Filipinotown Los Angeles and the Backyard Eskrima™ Organization. The Kali Klub is a volunteer collaboration with various non-profit agencies in Los Angeles. The project included setting up an award-winning program to positively divert at-risk youth from drugs and gangs using the Filipino Warrior Arts as a metaphor for adaptation and learning. Hundreds of students experienced the program over the course of ten years. For some students the education literally saved their lives in several armed street situations. Some of the award’s and recognitions for the program come from organizations such as Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, The California State Assembly and the City Hall of Los Angeles.

Historic Filipinotown is located in Los Angeles’ Rampart District and is notorious for being among the highest in gang, murder and drug activity in the country since the 1960′s. In as much so, that Hollywood has portrayed it in television shows such as “Adam-12” and most recently in “The Shield”, as well as in feature films like “Training Day”. The success of this program over ten years led to awards and recognition by organizations such as S.I.P.A Youth Services, Filam Arts, Pilipino Workers Center, California State Assembly, California State Board of Equalization and The Los Angeles Mayors Office. The Kali Klub has also arranged fundraisers in order to assist causes such as indigenous tribal groups and organizations dedicated to cultural preservation in the Philippines.

After taking some years off to focus on what he loves most, being a dedicated “student”, Guro Dino has recently started teaching publicly again. Although his primary objectives is to keep learning till the end, his secondary objective is to honorably share and preserve what he has learned before retiring from public teaching again to focus on other matters. Material includes Punong Guro Guro Edgar Sulites Lameco Backyard Method, Master Christopher Ricketts and Master Tony Diegos Ilustrisimo Methods of instruction and more. Instruction and curriculum is administered under Kapisanang Mandirigma’s Organization. In the tradition of the backyard, instruction is open to a few dedicated practitioners who are open minded, respectful and passionate about the arts.

Guro Timoteo Fredianelli

Official Representative of Kapisanang Mandirigma Lameco SOG and Kali Ilustrisimo Europe under Guro Dino Flores.

Full Instructor of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Martial Arts:

• Jun Fan Wing Chun Modified

• Jun Fan Kickboxing

• Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do

Bladed Weapons Instructor.

Second Dan in Kickboxing.

Second Level in Thai Boxing Muay Thai by the Thai Boxing Association of the U.S.A.

Expert 2nd CLASS LEVEL 8 KNIFE/COUNTER KNIFE COMBATIVES by W. Hock Hochheim. CQC.

Guro Ariel F. Mosses

Master Ariel F. Mosses has over 35 years of Filipino Martial Arts experience. He has trained under the watchful eyes and close supervision of three legendary Grandmasters: Filipino Martial Arts Hall of Fame, the late Grandmaster Conrad A. Manaois, the late Grandmaster Christopher "Topher" Ricketts of Kali Ilustrisimo, and the late Punong Guro Edgar G. Sulite, founder of Lameco Eskrima International.

Master Ariel F. Mosses is the President and Chief Instructor for Manaois Systems International and holds an 8th degree black belt in Kali Jukune Do, as well as an 8th level Master Instructor in Manaois Eskrima.

He is a certified NRA Nevada CCW instructor, an authorized Senior Instructor in Lameco S.O.G. (Sulite Orehinal Group), an authorized Senior Instructor in Kali Ilustrisimo C.N.R. (Christopher N. Ricketts) and United States authorized representative for Kalis Ilustrisimo Philippines under GM’s Peachie Barong and Arnold Narzo. Master Mosses is enshrined in the Filipino Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and is a proud affiliate of Kapisanang Mandirigma, a Federation of warriors from different disciplines of the Warrior Arts of the Philippines