The Way of San Miguel Double X Escrima System DVD with Claudio Maurelli

San Miguel Eskrima is a martial art that was developed to protect churches and religious communities during periods of conflict in the Philippines. According to the San Miguel tradition, in the late 1800s the three Saavedra brothers—Teodoro, Lorenzo, and Federico—taught the foundations of the art to a select group of students, including Filemon "Momoy" Canete and Father Miguel Ortega. Momoy Canete later introduced his system through clubs in Cebu City and at the San Carlos Seminary under the name San Miguel Eskrima X System, while Father Miguel Ortega taught his own branch, San Miguel Eskrima Doubli X, at his convent in Argao. Through the dedication of these skilled eskrimadors, priests and seminarians learned practical methods of self-defense to protect themselves and their religious communities. These teachings were eventually unified into The Way of San Miguel Eskrima, preserved and passed down by Grand Master Albert Dacayana Sr. One of his devoted students continued this legacy, ensuring the tradition would endure for future generations.

Claudio Maurelli was born in Civitavecchia, Italy, on September 29, 1976. He began studying traditional Filipino and Chinese martial arts at the age of fourteen. After discovering that Grand Master Albert Dacayana Sr., an authentic teacher of San Miguel Eskrima, was living in Italy, Claudio dedicated himself to learning both the martial art and the Filipino culture that surrounds it. He spent eight years training alongside Grand Master Dacayana in both Italy and Cebu City. To this day, he returns regularly to Cebu to continue his studies, exchange knowledge with local eskrimadors, and deepen his understanding of the region where Eskrima was born and refined.

In this first volume, Claudio Maurelli introduces the fundamental principles of The Way of San Miguel Eskrima. He explains the essential footwork in a clear, step-by-step format while Grand Master Albert Dacayana Sr. demonstrates several Tinago ("hidden") techniques traditionally taught to Cebuano priests for close-quarters defense. This instructional volume serves as an ideal introduction for practitioners interested in the history, techniques, and training methods of the San Miguel Eskrima tradition practiced in Cebu City and Argao. It is the first installment in a comprehensive series dedicated to preserving and sharing the heritage of The Way of San Miguel Eskrima.