My teacher Tom Weismuller’s teacher is Christopher Petrilli. Chris Petrilli is a former U.S. Army Ranger, and for years Chris trained in the Philippines directly under one of the founding members of the Doce Pares Eskrima system, Cacoy Cañete.
Petrilli is now one of the highest ranked students of Cañete’s, holding the esteemed rank of 10th degree black belt in Doce Pares.
Tired of the monotony of the treadmill at the gym, I decided to attend a kickboxing class, Unbridled Martial Arts, taught by Rob Eis. Not knowing what to expect, I prepared for an uncomfortable experience, with a lot of yelling, sweating, and confusing maneuvers. What I found was a small, friendly group of people of all different fitness levels, learning side by side. I wasn’t the only new person. Rob took the time to teach us the basic techniques with concise directions, allowing us to go at our own pace until we felt comfortable enough to try more advanced routines. As the month went on, I began to look forward to the one-hour classes, knowing Rob would have a new exciting sequence for us to learn, accompanied with excellent warm-up stretches and light cardio exercises. Few classes offer the personalized and individual attention that Rob’s class does. I would recommend the class to anyone interested in breaking out of a workout rut. In addition to achieving a healthier lifestyle, participants will learn to appreciate the unique strengths of their bodies, and improve upon their weaknesses, in a non-judgmental atmosphere. And chances are, some great friends will be made in the process.