Eskabo Daan

Our company had a diversity luncheon celebrating Filipino culture and hired Eskabo Daan for a martial arts demonstration. I myself love martial art movies, but I never had the chance to take it up. Boxing and Kickboxing with stationary heavy bags don’t count!
I was definitely entertained and impressed with Eskabo Daan. Their Grandmaster, Robert Castro led the demonstrations and explained some of the history of this Filipino Martial Art (FMA). It seems to combine joint locks and chokes (jiu jitsu, aikido) along with weapons training, especially knives and sticks. Two sticks, one stick, stick and knife, single knife, and bare hands. Its a «soft» martial art that seems to flow and well-​suited for fitness and self-​defense. This art is designed to end the conflict decisively — so for survival mode it means maiming or killing the attacker on the order of seconds or minutes.
One of the most impressive demos was GM Castro showing how to defend barehanded against an attacker with a knife. I actually felt sorry for the knife wielder had it been a real fight — he would have had a broken wrist, a slashed throat, and numerous stab wounds to the back against a master Eskabo Daan practitioner. The funny thing is that GM Castro never had to disarm or grab the knife — the attacker’s momentum and weapon was used against himself with knife in hand!
I have newfound respect after seeing this FMA demo — the art is beautiful, smooth, and brutal at the same time. Imagine Bruce Lee dual-​wielding butterfly knives or daggers instead of nunchucks!

Excellent, fun and practical self-​defense class.
Eskabo Daan hosted an hour session at our workplace — and it was an engaging, fun and relevant from start to finish. Starting with some quick, sensible points about being aware of our urban surroundings — then moved quickly on to some practical evasion techniques that we learned about and practiced.
Joe and Trish were our instructors and did an excellent job making the session fun and useful. Time well spent!

An open space where you come to learn about yourself and how to defend yourself. It’s a wonderful and welcoming environment for people of all levels, ages (Kid’s Classes are available) & experiences. They also offer Donation Based Classes on the weekend if you’re just curious about the art. Be water friends.

The people here are wonderful! Best place you can go to for learning self defense and lot´s more. Hope to be back.

Took a free self defense class they were offering. It was so good! I would totally recommend this place! You learn so much in just one class. Also, they are so friendly and make you feel comfortable

I’ve only been training at this dojo for almost 2 months now. I must say, when it comes to self defense and improving yourself either mentally or spiritually, this is the place. The staff is extremely friendly and the actual grand-​master teaches two times a week. Everyone does not have an ego and all the senior practitioners are friendly to new comers like myself.
They also give back to the community and host free self defense class monthly. I will most likely train here till the day I die. Give it a try! You won’t regret it.

Really enjoyed attending a self-​defense workshop here. It was only an hour long, and I left feeling stronger and more confident in my ability to protect myself.

Excellent Martial Arts studio! Hi intensity, knowledgeable staff, extremely practical training. Excellent prices as well.

There isn’t much that I can add to the description of the Filipino Martial Arts that Eskabo Daan teaches which hasn’t already been mentioned. But, FMA is one of the few martial arts that even the idiot commenters on YouTube can agree is useful and practical for self defense.
This is the first martial arts style that I have ever taken and it took a while to research. I didn’t want a style that is just for show and no better than speeding up a bunch of yoga poses. I also didn’t want to learn something so militaristic that the dojo could be mistaken for filming a sequel to Full Metal Jacket.
The instructors here are of course the main draw. Joseph especially is patient with my million questions and more importantly actually understands what the hell I am asking. The Grandmaster, Robert Castro, teaches everything in a clear and concise manner. All of the other instructors are also genuinely concerned that you truly learn what they are teaching and will work with you without attitude until you get it. The other students eagerly help newcomers if they ask for help and do so in a friendly manner. I cannot even count the number of times I have accidentally whacked someone’s hand with a stick and forgiven with a smile.
The community is what truly sets this school apart. Everyone is here to learn and support you as you further your skill and knowledge. There are no egos or insane meatheads trying to being aggressive at every opportunity. You can take your learning as far as you want or keep it as basic as you need. Double stick, single stick, knife, and empty hand strikes, disarms, locks, and throws are all taught here.
If the occasion arises that you need to defend yourself and beat someone with a stick do it with a smile.

When I first walked into this place I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Little did I know that I was being accepted into a family. Over the next couple of months I met and trained with great people. They were all very supportive and pushed me to improve. If you’re looking for something other than just a martial art and self defense classes, come to Eskabo Daan.
They also teach one free self-​defense course a month to give back to the community.

I“ve studied at Eskabo Daan for almost 3 years.
I was looking for a martial art school where I can learn effective and efficient techniques that I can use to defend myself if I ever needed to.
I found that at Eskabo. After every class, I learn new techniques, which can include disarms, locks and takedowns. With consistent and constant practice, I feel confident that I can use what I learn. What’s great about the art, is that it is adaptable to each person. Many students come from different backgrounds and physical abilities and we are all able to learn.
But I got more than just techniques. Eskabo Daan is a Filipino Martial Arts. I’m learning about the history and culture of the art and of the Philippines. Grandmaster Robert and Master Joseph has created an environment of collaboration, teamwork and support. I gained a circle of friendship and support.
I started going to Eskabo to learn self-​defense. I continue going to Eskabo for everything else.
If this is something you would like to experience, then you should come by to try a few classes.

Was lucky to take a free self defense class here with Joseph. It was really helpful– learned a ton!

So to begin with– I have been with the Eskabo Family for the past 4 years, and I have nothing but praise for this school and the participants. One thing that I will admit is how open minded this school is. It is NOT just one set Filipino Martial Arts, but they include other Filipino and diverse arts for their students to learn.
I have to say for a person that has been doing martial arts since I was the age of 4– this is the art that has grown near and dear to me. It’s not just a passion but my second home. If you really want to learn some basic defense or even step it up and learn various techniques– this is your place!

This is the place where you can actually enjoy yourself while still learning practical self-​defense skills.
The school teaches a combination of Fillipino Martial Arts and what’s best of some other styles, so the techniques are efficient and practical. You actually don’t have to physically exhaust yourself in order to take down somwone much bigger than you. Also, the techniques can be translated from stick-​vs-​stick to empty-​hand-​vs-​stick and to empty-​hand-​vs-​empty-​hand. You’ll also learn self-​defense against knife, which is super practical.
The class is relatively small compared to other gyms or studios, which is actually preferable because you get more individual attention. The materials may be overwhelming at the beginning, but the instructors are very dedicated and knowledgeable. They’re always willing to help explaining and breaking the techniques down into small steps. They also pay attention to details and always make sure that you do the techniques properly.
Besides the arts itself, the environment is what makes you enjoy practicing here. Everyone is friendly, and we treat each other like a family. No ego, low competitiveness!

GM Robert Castro is an excellent instructor and motivator. His son Jade introduced me to the art and although I only got to train for an extremely short period (moved out of state) I still use what I learned until this day. Everyone looks after one another. You become family upon entering. You will learn tactics that will be very valuable during dangerous situations. I can’t say enough about how great this school is and about the time, care and concern GM Castro has for his students.

Came here about 2 months ago, when a friend introduced me to Eskabo Daan. The classes are friendly and in a non-​competitive environment. I’ll admit it can be confusing as a new student because different techniques are taught at every class, but after about a month, students will start putting the pieces together. The instructors are patient and want every student to walk away from the class having learned something new, and I leave every class I attend wanting to learn more.

When I first moved to SF, I was looking to get back into martial arts. I tried out various places and ended up going with Eskabo Daan.
Having had a formal background with traditional martial arts, at first I found it a bit overwhelming. A lot of material gets thrown at you that is seemingly (at first) disconnected. Each class focused on different topic so it was hard for me to get reinforcement on things that I had learned in previous classes. However, after going for a few weeks, everything totally started coming together and things just got… awesome.
The instructors are top notch. Each has their own flavor and method of teaching the art. Master Joseph is extremely patient and knowledgeable. He is always willing to help you break down a technique and to help you to figure out what you are should be doing and how to make your form/​technique more effective.
The atmosphere is also great. All the students here are very friendly and personable. There’s no sense of ego/​competitiveness whatsoever, so there’s no need to be afraid of someone trying to intentionally wail on you, unlike some other styles.

Had a great time training at Eskabo Daan. Learned a lot of practical skills in one class. Trainers are patient and knowledgable. They seem to really care that their members learn how to properly defend themselves Can’t wait to see what else is in store for me here. I highly recommend any one looking to learn simple and effective self defense to give Eskabo Daan Filipino Martial Arts a try.

Super friendly and passionate staff dedicated to teaching
I went with two friends about two months ago the day before they were performing at the Warriors game. Because of this, there were about 8 different instructors for us! Obviously, this isn’t the norm, but I can totally imagine the care, patience, and passion for filipino martial arts that we felt from the 3 instructors we were exposed to being the norm with all of them.
I definitely felt very welcomed and guided throughout the course. I personally am not much Into martial arts but if I were or my kids (yes they have kids courses) were then I know this is the spot to teach them some cultural martial arts and bring them closer to the homeland PI :)
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A welcoming yet extremely practical self defense school (specifically for Filipino Martial Arts) for both armed and unarmed combat. If you’re looking for a friendly atmosphere (no arrogance from anyone whatsoever) and an art that never gets boring, Eskabo Daan is the school to join.
Ever since I started here a year and a half ago, I have learned so much in such a short amount of time. No prior martial arts experience required — I had never attended a formal school before this one. Note that they don’t baby you here. Their pace is much faster than other martial arts’ but don’t be intimidated because you CAN handle it. And once you realize that, your learning accelerates even more. I love how there is always something new to learn — because of that, it never gets boring. Aside from the structured learning, we also have random nights for cool topics such as defending against multiple attackers, knife defense and dumog (Filipino wrestling), depending on the mood of the instructor.
While Filipino Martial Arts is a weapons-​based system, you are also taught to translate weapons-​based techniques to unarmed techniques at the same time. Almost every technique can be translated to an unarmed one, which I think is amazing. They also teach you varying degrees of the technique so you can apply it to any situation — whether it be an attacker out to hurt you or just a drunk friend that you want to be gentler with. Like I said, Filipino Martial Arts is very practical.
Students train with sticks about the length of their arm. You can always use the class sticks for free or bring your own. You must wear a uniform which consists of black pants or shorts (you can use your own), an Eskabo T-​shirt and an Eskabo arm band that indicates your rank. Other than that, there are no other accessory expenses which some other gyms push on you. Payment plans vary so come in and find one suitable for your situation. First class is free, so nothing to lose right? And don’t worry about having to be fit to take up this martial art because it is practical for anyone, from an athlete to an old lady.
The truly great thing about Eskabo Daan is actually the people. Everyone is genuinely nice and willing to help you if you just ask. The guy-​female ratio is still in favor of guys, but I’ve been in so many classes where I was the only girl and I never felt out of place. The class make-​up is likewise ethnically diverse, so this is not just for Filipinos. Everyone is welcome to learn.
SCHEDULE/​CLASSES
6 days a week of pure Filipino Martial Arts classes! M-​F they have FMA classes from 645pm to at least 8pm. It can extend up to an hour beyond that, depending on class attendance and the instructor. Don’t worry about this school being strict on time — they’re Filipino-​based after all, so it’s laid back. It’s understood you have a life outside of school, so it’s fine to come in late or leave early. You’ll often wish you could attend the whole class though!
About 40 minutes before martial arts, there is an optional workout class MWF. On TTH it’s supposed to be padwork but that’s hit and miss, and don’t expect it to be a boxing or kickboxing class because it isn’t. Tuesday and Thursday mornings they also have additional FMA classes at 11:30am until 1pm. Saturday mornings are the weekly kids’ class followed by an adults’ FMA class.
This is not a competition-​based school as it’s focus is more on spreading the art through teaching and demonstrations than on pumping up their ego. That said, there are rare nights of sparring with padded sticks and helmets. You just need to find someone willing to spar with you.
FACILITIES
Most of the gym is padded with mats that they wipe down with disinfectant. No street shoes on the mats or you’ll be forced to clean your own foot prints! There’s some exercise equipment such as weights, punching bags, a treadmill and some bicycles but it is by no means a full on gym. Bathrooms are shared with the rest of the building on the bottom floor, which means they’re gross. I avoid using them when I can. It follows that there are no showers available. There are 2 changing rooms within the gym though. There are also open shelves for you to temporarily put your street shoes and bags in while training.
ATTEND IF YOU
Want to learn how to defend yourself no matter what physical state you are in
Want to be a versatile fighter with or without weapons
Want to learn more about Filipino culture
Can leave your ego at the door
Honestly, I fell in love with Filipino Martial Arts after my first class here. I highly recommend Eskabo Daan!