If a student of the martial arts constantly pushes the "boundaries" of the box in which they are placed when they first started training, eventually that box won't be able to hold them anymore.  The barriers that are stagnation, deficiency, and restriction must be torn down by CREATION, EFFICIENCY and EXPRESSION.  One can continue to grow as a martial artist if this is done. Guro Gerry Valido is a Los Angeles, California native.  He was strictly an "armchair martial artist," as a youth, whose sole exposure to the martial arts were movies, books, and occasionally coming across someone who actually trained in some form of martial art. Like many other youngsters of the 1980s, his first exposure to the arts were Saturday afternoon "Black Belt Theatre," or "Kung Fu Theatre," and frequent visits to the local library to read any books they had.  Unfortunately, as a kid, it is not your decision whether or not you can train--it's your parents' decision. As a smaller, Filipino-American child, growing up in a predominately Caucasian city, Guro Gerry was a victim of bullying and racism.  Standing up for himself was a trait instilled in him by his father, Pastor Valido, formerly a Sargeant and paratrooper in the U.S. Army's 1st Filipino Infantry, during WWII.  As a toddler, Guro Gerry was already being taught by his dad how to throw a punch, and how to not let a bully get the best of you.  

​

Guro Gerry had already achieved a Black Belt in Kenpo Karate, having trained for 7 years, when, in 2001, he witnessed a Filipino martial arts (FMA) demonstration, and was so inspired, he contacted David Dizon, a good friend, and former supervisor.  David had previously mentioned he had experience in FMA.  To Guro Gerry's pleasant surprise, David was actually GURO (teacher) David, of the Giron Arnis System (founded by the late Grand Master Leo Giron). Guro Gerry spent the next 5 years training in the Giron system under Guro David until his untimely passing in 2006.  The heir to the Giron system, Grand Master Tony Somera was Guro Gerry's teacher until, he too, passed away from cancer in 2013.  Three years later, Guro Gerry felt the need to separate himself from the Giron fold, in search of self-evolution as a martial artist.  He began training with Guro Alex Reyes of the Lucaylucay Kali tradition.  Simultaneously, Guro Gerry started to formulate what we know today as the Cinco Estilos Urban Arnis System.  Guro Gerry received supplemental training under Guro Alex's former teacher, Guro Mark Stewart, one of the late Guro Ted Lucaylucay's top exponents.  Guro Gerry subsequently became a private student of Guro Luis Campos, another of Guro Ted's top exponents.  

 

As mentioned previously, Guro Gerry is also a Sensei in the art of Kenpo Karate, and holds a 3rd degree Black Belt.  He holds rank in Chinese Kenpo Karate, the Tracy System of Kenpo, as well as American Kenpo Karate.  He has been teaching Kenpo since 1994, and has taught students as young as 3 years, all the way up to people in their 70's.  He was a founding member of a Kenpo school in Burbank, CA, and then later owned his own dojo in the same city.  He last served as a Senior Instructor at Sensei Donnie Jeffcoat's Shaolin American Self-Defense Academy, in North Hollywood, CA where he taught for almost 4 years.  He continues his training under the tutelage of 8th Degree Black Belt and Associate Master, Mr. Angelo Collado, whose international reputation precedes him.  Guro Gerry considers himself honored to have studied with some of the greatest Kenpo and Filipino Martial Arts teachers in the world.

 

In March 2024, Guro Gerry completed 30 years in the martial arts. Over the years Guro Gerry has:

> Served as the defensive tactics contractor for Occidental College Campus Safety Department in Los Angeles;

> Worked security for one of the most popular salsa nightclubs in L.A., Steven's Steakhouse, in the City of Commerce;

> Taught Women's Self Defense courses for the Cities of Los Angeles, Glendale, and Burbank;

> Taught Self Defense courses at the Glendale YMCA, the Heartbeat House in L.A. (now closed), and Edison Elementary School (Glendale, CA).

​

This amalgamation known as Cinco Estilos Urban Arnis is a PROGRESSIVE, URBANIZED, LOGICAL, and LIBERATED methodology of movement and mindset.  Guro Gerry's expression of the Filipino-American Martial Arts is an ever-evolving entity.  Cinco Estilos exists to create a MANDIRIGMA, or warrior, of the modern world--an empowered human being, physically, mentally, and emotionally.  To be empowered in this manner is the only way you have a chance at surviving the threat of a combat situation, and even more importantly, living an empowered life.