The History of Philippine Yaw-Yan Foot Boxing League (PYFBL)

This post is originally from the Yaw-Yan Cebu Blog (yawyancebu.multiply.com).

It was year 1969 when the Yao-Yan Karate Association was originally founded by Master Napoleon A. Fernandez. His teaching of martial arts was centered on the mastery of Arnis, Judo, Karate and AIKIDO. Through his expertise, and together with Professor Julio E. Villaflores, Orlando (Boy) Fernandez, and Rene Belen his chief instructors, he was able to develop students who were not only physically alert but also mentally disciplined and worth to be called as disciples who can be a good citizen and a law-abiding individuals.

Master Napoleon A. Fernandez gathered his students at the Balintawak Pacific Miles, Quezon City as their training ground where ARJUKASA was known to be the gym name.

Among his successful students were Armando Refato, Boy Manahan, Levi Ignacio, Rene Belen, Ernie (The Sword) Ortega, Ruben Obugasion and many more who are now managing their respective schools of martial arts.

1970, ARJAKUSA was renamed into Philippines Yao-Yan Fighting Association, and the training venue was also transferred at Rizal Avenue (Avenida), Garcia Building in Santa Cruz, Manila. Eagle's Claw was the chosen name of the Gym.

Furthermore, year 1971 training area was again moved to BPH Building in Quiapo, Manila where the gym was recognized as Dragon Palm Gym. In this year, the association was able to organize set of officers in order to strengthen its objectives.

Before the martial law was declared on 1972, the letter O of Yao was changed to W, giving its full name from Yao-Yan to Yaw-Yan, patterned to Philippine setting, at the same time the proclamation of Philippine Yaw-Yan Foot Boxing League. Of course, Master Napoleon A. Fernandez, Professor Julio E. Villaflores and the two recognized chief instructors manned the said martial arts gym.

The operation of the Philippine Yaw-Yan Foot Boxing League from North Capital Region was expanded down to south in the Visayas and Mindanao. Professor Julio E. Villaflores was tasked to organize the virtue vested by Master Napoleon A. Fernandez, originator. It was on the year 1974 when the Hurricane Gym in Malbog Alegria, Cebu was publicly known. The rigid training of Foot Boxing techniques among the students were heartily shared by the founder of Philippine Yaw-Yan Foot Boxing League, then later was transfered to the queen city of the south, Cebu City.

At this moment, PYFBL has continue sharing his martial arts technique and develop more YAW-YAN members, gladiators, instructors, professors, masters and grand masters not only in the Philippine archipelago but also in other continents.