Antonio Somera to accept Masters Hall of Fame in honor of his Uncle
Founder of the Bahala Na® Filipino Martial Arts Association
Stockton,CA 6/17/2010 09:28 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)
Stockton, CA – Grand Master Antonio Somera, head of the Bahala Na® Martial Arts Association /Giron® Arnis Escrima, will be inducted into the Masters Hall of Fame during the Eleventh Annual Awards Ceremonies on Saturday, June 19, 2010, at the Anaheim Hilton in Anaheim, California. Grand Master Somera will accept the recognition in honor of his uncle, Grand Master Emeritus Leovigildo “Leo” M. Giron, founder of the Bahala Na® Filipino Martial Arts Association.
In accepting his induction into the Masters Hall of Champions, Grand Master Somera wishes to pay tribute to the enormous contributions Grand Master Emeritus Leo Giron made to the fields of martial arts and specifically Filipino martial arts. GME Giron was the Father of Larga Mano in America, a WWII veteran, and a martial arts Icon.
GM Somera 1
“He was a super star, he was our star and he was our shinning light of life. Hegave us all the liberty of freedom to learn of life and the arts, Equality in having the necessary ability and strength, Fraternity in which the same beliefs in work along with fellowship and family,” says GM Somera.
As a boy Grand Master Somera began his lessons in the martial arts in the fields of his family’s farm in Stockton, using his father’s bolo knife to chop down rows of corn stalks. After years of formal training, Somera was awarded a 3rd degree black belt in Goju Royu Karate and is a ranking student in Mande Muda Silat, a
Indonesian martial art system. However, he is best known as the leading authority in Bahala Na® Martial Arts and the only person to be promoted to the ranks of Master and Grand Master by its founder, the late Grand Master Emeritus Leo M. Giron. Somera has carried on the legacy of his mentor through his dedication to the principles,
philosophy, and purpose of Bahala Na® Martial Arts and by sharing the rich Filipino History and culture embodied in the art of Giron® Arnis Escrima.
For information about Grand Master Tony Somera and Bahala Na® Martial Arts/Giron® Arnis Escrima please visit the website at www.bahalana.org or write to: Bahala Na® Martial Arts, PO BOX 8584, Stockton, CA 95208.