The Bernas Estocadas system was founded by Grandmaster William Bernas in 1982. Growing up in Escalante, a city on the island of Negros, GM Bernas initially learned Baston (stickfighting) and Olisi (longstick) from his Grandfather Ciriaco Canillo. Later, he learnt stick-fighting from his Uncle Manoy Alfon Brinquiz, a well-known Bastonero in Negros Occidental, who also introduced him to the blade, specifically the Talíbong and Ginúnting. The style of training was what is called on the Island of Negros, Wido (from the Spanish Oido or "hearing" suggesting something that is learnt without formal instruction).

 

In his early twenties, he became a student of Grandmaster Hortencio Navales, and trained extensively with his principal student, GM Romeo Postrano. GM Hortencio “Horten” Navales was originally assistant to his brother who was the initial teacher of their system. As far as anyone knows in Bacolod, his brother learned his Arnis from two well known Bastóneros in Negros, namely Juan Lawan and Mang Karpo, and also from an unknown Arnisador from the neighbouring island of Panay. When his brother died, he took over and taught his brother’s compilation of the arts, which he openly taught at the then Navales Arnis Clinic. GM Navales’ style of Arnis is known in Bacolod as Pekiti Tirsia which shouldn’t be confused with the more popular Pekiti Tirsia Kali, and was simply a reference to it being "Close Quarters" fighting. It was here, in the Navales Arnis Clinic, that GM Bernas was exposed for the first time to a systematic 12-Strike numbering system that would start him thinking about how he would arrange his own striking techniques.

 

Bernas Estocadas brings together the unique Wido style, together with a more structured pedagogical approach influenced and inspired by the Pekiti Tirsia of the Navales Arnis Clinic. The result of this creative fusion is the Bernas Estocadas system, that draws on the best of the old ways, with the strength of the new.