The Eskrima Academy and Philippine-Australian Association of the ACT and Monaro Region are excited to be supporting and welcoming to Australia for the first time, Grandmaster William Bernas, who will be sharing his system of Filipino Martial Arts in Canberra, Newcastle, and Sydney throughout June and early July 2024. The Bernas Estocadas system of Filipino Martial Arts was developed by Grandmaster William Bernas, drawing upon the Ilonggo Olisi (longstick) and Baston (stick) Wido fighting methods of Negros Occidental, taught to him by his Grandfather Ciriaco Canillo and Uncle Alfonso Brinquiz; and the Pekiti Tirsia (close quarters) Espada y Daga (sword and dagger) methods of Grandmaster Hortencio Navales. The system is instantly recognisable for its incorporation of these authentic and traditional Ilonggo martial arts, as well as its signature multi-directional, multi-range movement designed to handle single or multiple opponents. The art's movements, that emphasise the Largo (long) body, and Alkontra Kargada (attack the attack) principles, are visibly both beautiful and effective.