VMA Instructors

John Russell was born in 1962 in Long Jetty, New South Wales, Australia. He began his Martial Arts training in 1978. For 10 years he studied Tae Kwon Do, Hap Ki Do, several styles of Kung Fu, as well as a number of various styles of Escrima gaining a reputation both as a student and teacher. He commenced his Balintawak training under the direction of Henry Jayme in 1988.  In 1989 he traveled to the Philippines and trained with such notables as Grandmaster Ciriaco Cañete of the Doce Pares learning Escrido and later with Grandmaster Victor Cagadas learning his style of Escrima. Having lived and traveled extensively in the Philippines, studying under many different instructors of Arnis/Escrima and also Kung Fu styles, he has developed a comprehensive knowledge of the Filipino Martial Arts. He is now an instructor of various different Martial Arts styles and continues to live and work in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

e-mail: jr@visayanmartialarts.com

Henry Jayme was born in 1956 in the Sudlon Barrio of Toledo City on Cebu Island, The Philippines. He began his Martial Arts training when he was 15 years old while living in Manila. He studied both Northern and Southern Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu styles such as; The Little Tiger, Two Shadow Fighting, Tiger and Crane, Heron, Rat and Snake, Shooting Star, Cross Leg Fighting, and Budda. Henry in 1977 moved back with his family to Cebu. He continued his interest in Kung Fu by studying Tat Kun Tao in Cebu City but during the ensuing years also developed a keen interest in Filipino Martial Arts.

He trained with various Escrima teachers and was introduced to the Balintawak system of Arnis. His instructor was Teofilo A. Velez, who maintained the standard of teaching of Balintawak and is considered to be the last true Grand Master of the grouped style of Balintawak. Despite the high standards set by Teofilo, Henry progressed rapidly and soon became his assistant instructor. After several years of intensive training he obtained the rank of instructor in Balintawak. Henry then travelled the Philippines training with different masters, such as Grandmaster Victor Cagadas of the Doce Pares Club and Grandmaster Timoteo Maranga of the Kuwentada Escrima System just to name a few. He enhanced his knowledge and compared different styles of stick, knife, sword and empty hand fighting. In accordance with Teofilo’s philosophy of "not holding back and hiding knowledge", Henry commenced to teach other people his Martial Arts. Henry now resides in Pardo, Cebu City.

Henry Jayme can be contacted at:

Postal address: 475-A Peaceville Rd, Kinasang-An, Pardo, Cebu City, Philippines, 6000.

Phone number Res: (your international code) 63 32 272-2605

or

63 32 4138035

His cellular mobile phone number is:

Phone in the Philippines: 09173918265

Phone from outside the Philippines: (Your International Code) 63 9173918265

e-mail: hj@visayanmartialarts.com

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©1998-2003 John Russell