KUNTAW is one of the oldest forms of self-defense practiced by the Filipino Muslim royalties prior to the Spanish regime. It is the native Filipino art of hand and foot fighting in its hard and soft ways.
Sensei Leo started in this field of Martial Arts in the year 1977. He now holds the 6th Dan Black Belt under the WASHIMEKAI organization, proving that 25 years of experience in studying and researching different martial arts is no easy feat. His background ranges from Shorin Ryu Karate, ITF/WTF Taekwondo, Yaw-Yan Sibukan, Scorpion Muay Thai Kickboxing, Modern Arnis, to Combat Self-Defense.
His formal trainings began with Tony Rosales and Roberto Baesa, well known Lions Kuntaw Instructors in the Philippines. He started training with his friends (mga kababata) who became later the (BEOJUCA Founders). BEOJUCA is a conjunction of their names, “B” for BERT; “EO” for LEO; “JU” for JUN; and “CA” stands for CARLOS.”MAG KABABATA AT TUNAY NA MAGKAKAIBIGAN (childhood and real friends in English)”. Sensei Leo moved on to receive the distinction of a black belter in 1983 from the KUNTAW Organization. His initial goal was to learn the simple concept of the art but his love for the martial arts lead him instead to the National Tournament. Through the KUNTAW Organization, he was involved in several tournaments until 1985.
While being a black belter, he is also a professional earning a BSBA major in Accounting. While being employed at the DEPARTMENT of Education, Culture and Sports Region V, he continued his studies in computer courses. In 1986, he met Dennis de Luna, a Shorin Ryu practitioner, who was employed in the same company. Due to some conflict with his previous organization, he started to learn the art of SHORIN RYU KARATE. Based on his previous experience it was easy for him to adjust and learn the art until he was promoted in the year 1988 as a Blackbelt Shodan by Shihan Navaroza, Founding President of the Eagle Eye Shorin Ryu, and at the same time he was promoted as Chief Monitoring Officer in Region V. He was able to participate in countless tournaments. Joining tournaments is the only way to prove his skills and knowledge and to overcome one’s weaknesses and build more confidence. He lives by the mantra “TRAINING, BRINGS OUT THE BEST, EXPERIENCE COMPLETES SUCCESS”.
In Naga City, his hometown, he used to train with known instructors like Roger Roncesvalles , Francisco Lurcha and Fred Misolas. Since 1986, under the organization of “WASHIMEKAI”, a Japanese term which means EAGEL EYE CLAN or Association. “Washi” meaning “Eagle”, “me”, “Eye” and “KAI” Clan or Association. The organization was founded under its original name – EAGLE EYE SHORIN RYU KARATE CLAN in 1984 in Naga, Bicol Region about 400 kilometers south of Manila.
In 1992, Sensei Leo left the Philippines and went to Saudi Arabia as a computer programmer until 1995. He then organized a group named “PHILSHOKAI” Philippine Society of SHORIN RYU KARATE-KA Inc. But Before organizing the club, he made a name for himself and by joining “Full Contact Karate Tournament” in Saudi Arabia and eventually winning 2 International Titles. His dojo is affiliated to the PHIKAJU Int’l. Philippine Combat Karate Judo under the supervision of MASTER EDUARDO B. CLAUDIO and Jonathan Opina, his senior instructor from whom he learned Arnis.
He moved to Toronto Canada as an immigrant in February 1995. He volunteered as a Karate Instructor at West Scarborough Neighborhood Community Centre from 1995-1997. In 1999, he organized BEOJUCA-KAIKENDO KARATE with his partner CEAZAR JAMUYOT. Due to his hectic schedule, they decided to discontinue. In the year 2000, he met another Filipino Instructor named Jing Gonzales, a 2nd Degree Blackbelt in ITF and a Modern Arnis Instructor, who became his cross training partner until Sensei Jing moved to Brampton.
BEOJUCA-KAIKENDO KARATE CLUB merge to Universal Mixed Martial Arts and moved to a new location at 2054 Sheppard Ave., East Unit B 103 Shoppes of Brian Village North York, M2J 3B3. The new name was formed by FRED GARCIA, Yaw-Yan Sibukan (Founder), Sensei Leo Orea (Chief Instructor) BEOJUCA-WASHIMEKAI KARATE and Sensei Paul Tudlong, the Founder of Scorpion Muay Thai Kickboxing.
Currently, he now shares his extensive knowledge by tutoring KARATE and his personal and self-taught technique-AFTER IMAGE Technique to children, adult, and students within the UMMA wing. The AFTER IMAGE Technique was utilized by all his students during the IWATA Cup 2006, 2007, 2008 which was held in Etobicoke here in Toronto where they won both Kumite and Kata events.
Needless to say, his knowledge and contribution to martial arts is more than a force to reckon with, that is if you could see where his next strike will be.
