 Ama Maestro Bernardo Fabia Salinas
Founder/ Heir of the Estrella System
Ama Maestro Bernardo Fabia Salinas was born in the religious town of Manaoag, Pangasinan, Philippines, to Bernardo Calicdan Salinas and Elpidia Quinto Fabia, formerly of Mapandan, Pangasinan. Estrella, the secret family system of Martial Arts, was passed down through the generations to Maestro Bernardo Fabia Salinas. He was taught this traditional Art of stick fighting under the watchful eye of his Grandfather (Estoque Maestro) Mauricio Fabia and later with his Uncle, Maestro Saturnino Quinto Fabia. He persevered through exhausting and sometimes brutal traditional sessions of mental and physical training. This intensive training style ingrained the system into his mind and body and has since shaped every aspect of his life. Bernardo Salinas continues to show respect and admiration for his Grandfather and Uncle through his passionate dedication to perfecting and preserving his family’s Art of Estrella de Estoque.
After graduating high school in 1961, Bernardo enrolled in trade school and took a two-year curriculum of Machine Shop Technology. He went on to pursue his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education in Manila, taking night classes so that he could work during the day. In 1966, He was employed as a machinist by the Ship Repair Facility at the United States Naval Base in Subic Bay, Philippines for eight years before he immigrated to Canada with his wife and sons in 1974.
For many years the family system was forgotten. In April 11, 1986 Bernardo Salinas returned to the Philippines to research his family system of Estrella to once again train with his uncle Ama Maestro Saturnino Quinto Fabia. During his stay in his province Sinkatan Arnis Estrella was name and officially founded by Bernardo Fabia Salinas in honored to his mentor, his late grandfather Ama Mauricio Fabia and to introduce the system of the art in North America.
Bernardo introduced his fighting art in the Peace Region of British Columbia by giving a free introductory lesson and demonstration in Fort St. John, BC to his karate class and to the public. In 1988, Bernardo received an invitation from the Premier of British Columbia, Mr. Bennett, to demonstrate the Filipino Fighting Art of the Philippines, in Hudson Hope, British Columbia. These demonstrations attracted more people to the art and brought Arnis to the community.
In 1996, Bernardo received recognition for his dedication and attentive study of Filipino Martial Arts from Ama Maestro Saturnino Quinto Fabia, who awarded him the degree of Master.
Bernardo, accompanied by a group of his Canadian students, has since returned to the Philippines every second year to continue his research in Filipino Martial Arts and train with respected masters in his province, Master Fortunato Rebualos, Cipriano Rebualos, Marcelo Laurian, Manuel Quiros, Rodolfo Tamondong, and Master Flaviano Cabuang.
In the past, Master Salinas has instructed RCMP Law Enforcement, and Auxiliary Forces in weapons and combat training in Fort St. John, BC, Canada
In 1999 Bernardo founded the non-profit Northern Shotokan Karate Association (NTSKA) to help students further their training and experience in martial arts, and to encourage them to excel in every aspect of their education.
In addition to his expertise in Arnis, Grandmaster Bernardo Fabia Salinas has also been an instructor in the traditional Japanese martial art of Shotokan Karate for the past twenty-two years; as well, he has studied Aikido and Boxing. He has trained internationally in Japan, Philippines and Canada.
In 2002 Bernardo Fabia Salinas received recognition the Heir of the Estrella system by Ama Maestro Saturnino Quinto Fabia and awarded him the title of Ama Maestro of the Sinkatan Arnis Estrella. Bernardo also founded SFMA International, a brotherhood society that was formed to promote unity among Martial arts worldwide. Recognized by the International Assembly of Sokeship, Founders and Headmasters Ama Maestro Salinas conducted training seminars in Sinkatan Arnis throughout Canada, United States, and Philippines.
After twenty years of research and study of the Estrella Arnis, Ama Maestro Salinas published a book, dedicated to his Uncle and his late Grandfather, wherein he illustrates the origin, philosophy and the system of Estrella de Estoque. Sadly, Ama Maestro Saturnino Quinto Fabia, the last of a generation of Estrella practitioners, died on May 20, 2005 and her younger sister Ina Eugenia Quinto Fabia the last Bastonera of the Fabia Clan, died on January 2, 2007 at the age 87 yrs old. If not for Bernardo’s passionate dedication to preserve his family’s fighting Art, Estrella would have undoubtedly not survived to be passed on to future generations. His goal is to continue to improve the system of his Art by including the origin and philosophies within the training format, and he will continue to share his knowledge and experience to keep Estrella System alive.
Ama Maestro Salinas skill and dedication to Martial Arts has brought him international acclaim. More importantly, he has touched the lives of every one of his students, practitioners, and will forever have their respect and admiration for being a truly great teacher and mentor.
Ama Maestro Bernardo Fabia Salinas
Achievements
Inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall Of Fame
2001 Master Instructor of the Year in Filipino Martial Arts
By the World Head of Family Sokeship Council,
Orlando, Florida, USA
2002 Hall of Fame
Hawaii Martial Arts International Society,
Honolulu, Hawaii USA
2002 Lifetime Achievement Award
World IL-Do-Kwan Federation
International Hall Of Fame
New York, USA
2003 Founders Award
Hawaii Martial Arts International Society 2002 Hall of Fame,
Las Vegas, Nevada USA
Proclamation
By the International Assembly of Sokeship Founders and Headmasters (IASFH)
Rank and Recognition of Status of the Founder of SFMA International
October 17, 2002 New York, USA
2005 Silver Lifetime Achievement Award
Society of Federated Martial Arts International Recognition Award
Fort St. John, British Columbia Canada |
