Manuel Robles Taningco

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Manuel Robles Taningco.. (January 7, 1956 - ) Martial Artist (FMA), Teacher and Mentor.

Spouse:

       Judy Taningco 

Children:

       Joanna Taningco Sohner (child: Adam)
       Lee Manuel Taningco (children: Ryan and Luciano and Jaden)

Education:

       Attended NMSU (Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA) with a full scholarship in Fine Arts. 
       Attended Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio for Graphic Arts for two years.

Early Life

Manuel "Manny" R. Taningco is a Filipino-born American citizen who devoted himself to honing his family's martial art called The Willow System. He grew up in Sampaloc, a neighborhood in Manila.

Career, Distinctions, and Awards

1964-1974

He learned martial arts from his maternal Uncle George, who gained his skills from his father, Lorenzo Robles, who hails from Bacarra, Ilocos Norte. In 1974, he left the Philippines and settled in Salinas, California, USA. After his first exposure to a martial arts magazine, he took up formal classes from various martial art instructors. Under Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje Jr., he learned Pekiti Tirsia System and became a Master level First Generation student of GT Leo Gaje, Jr. in Ohio. Under GM Diony Cañete, he mastered Doce Pares -WEKAF, Eskrido -Doce Pares under GM Cacoy Cañete, Integrated Kali under Guro Dan Inosanto - Bruce Lee’s Protégé, and Balintawak System under GM Remy Presas.

1976

He founded and established TAMA Martial Arts Center in the Dayton area in 1976. He was featured in Who's Who in American Martial Arts

The core of his martial art teachings are mainly rooted in his family escrima style, also known as kali, arnis, didya, etc., which he named the WILLOW SYSTEM, adopted from his maternal grandfather's surname Robles, which is translated into English as Willow Tree.

1977, 1978, 1979, 1980

He is a three-time International Karate Champion (USKA International Championship). He emerged as the only person using Kali sticks in Weapons Kata. He competed in three categories: Kata, Weapons, and Kumite. He is undefeated for twenty-six consecutive competitive weeks in one year in USKA Long Streak competition. In 1979, he was recognized by Grandmaster Remy Presas as an FMA practitioner/teacher. In the same year, he was recognized by Guro Dan Inosanto as an FMA practitioner/teacher. During the U.S. Open in 1979-80, he became the Superstar Kung-Fu Champion for two consecutive years. He is the Full Contact Stick Fighting Champion, Great George, New Jersey in 1980.

1982, 1983, 1984

For three years, he was a Chuck Norris United Fighting Arts Federation Awardee for teaching FMA. He qualified for the State of Ohio Police as a certified Defense Tactical Instructor.

1986, 1987

He was inducted by the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame as “Instructor of the Year,” an honor he again received in 2017. He was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame by United States Police Defense Tactical Association in 1987 as "Martial Arts Practitioner," while being a Dayton Swat Team instructor.

1988, 1989

He served as the Ohio State Coach Junior Olympics in 1988. He was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame by National Martial Arts Federation in 1989 as "Instructor of the Year." He was a recipient of the Top Martial Arts School Award by EFC in 1989 — a national winner for performance and quality standards regarding student's enthusiasm, support, and diligence.

1992-1996

He was featured as "Martial Arts School of the Month" in 1992 in Black Belt Magazine. The following year, he became the coach for TEAM USA for the World Kuoshu Tournament in Taiwan, where TEAM USA took 3rd place among the 40 competing countries. He served as a Martial Arts Professor teaching at University of Dayton from 1993 to 1996. He did three Martial Arts Productions — Fightzone, Superfights, and Deadly Dance of Swords. He was inducted into Eastern USA Martial Arts Association, "International Hall of Fame," as Martial Artist of the Year. In 1994, he demonstrated FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) in St. Petersburg, Russia at the International Martial Arts Event. He became World Champion in Kumite held in St. Petersburg, Russia during the event. Team Winner in the USA vs. Russia in Kumite (fighting), where their team competed against 6 other countries. He won the Silver Medal in 1994 in Tai-Chi and Chinese Weapons Forms at the Friendship Martial Arts Tournament, Shanghai, China, where he competed against five different countries. Soft Weapons Full Contact Grand Champion, Denver, Colorado, 1994, which he organized himself. He studied Penjak Silat, Indonesian Martial arts, under Herman Suwanda from 1995 to 1996.

1997, 1998

He was recognized by the Martial Arts Gallery of Fame and was bestowed with the "Golden Achievement Award" in 1997. Due to his consistent promotion of FMA, he was awarded the “Sultan Crystal Award” by GM Leo Gaje Jr. He was the Filipino Martial Arts Hall of Fame — Grandmaster of the Year in 1998. He was also recognized by the Chinese martial arts community at the World Kuoshu Competition in Baltimore, Maryland in the Demo Category. He was named Chief Referee at Arnolds Schwarzenegger Martial Arts Festival in Columbus, Ohio in the same year.

2004-2011

He created ISD – Integrated Self-Defense (combative fighting system) for US Armed Forces – AFSecurity Forces in 2004. He taught US Armed Forces training in Close Quarter Combatives to Security Forces, over 250 members. He also taught Philippine Marines Special Action Force Instructors, including officers of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Close Quarter Combatives lessons. The following year, he taught at USA Marine headquarters at Quantico, Virginia Close Quarter Combatives lessons and was awarded “Martial Arts Excellence” and inducted into the “Ohio Black Belt Hall of Fame” in the same year. He caught the attention of high-ranking officers in the military, like Lt. Col. Schusko, and was awarded “MARTIAL ARTS EXCELLENCE” by US Marines officer. He was inducted into the LEGION OF HONOR by Miami Valley Karate Tournament Association. In 2006, driven by his philanthropic spirit, he created Daystar In Action, a non-profit charitable organization to help underprivileged kids. He again received an award from US Marshal for teaching CQC. Finally, at home, he was inducted into the Ohio Martial Arts Magazine’s Hall of Fame. He is the martial arts director for the Arnold Schwarzenegger Martial Arts Festival in 2006-2011 in San Shou and Muay Thai

2012-2016

He was included in the Association Boxing Commissions Unified Rules and Regulations Committee. As an FMArtist, he promoted Panantukan and Muay Thai Fight events from 2001 to 2016. In 2012-2013, at President’s Cup, he emerged as a Runner Up MVTA – Team Tama champion. In 2015, he was recognized by Circles of Masters in Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent time teaching and helping raise funds for US Veterans.

2019 onwards

He is taking his career to a global scene and opts to promote martial art online.

Martial Arts Rank Earned

· 10th Dan Black Belt—Filipino Kali “Willow System” (Robles Family Style), Grandfather Lorenzo Robles

· 65th Generation Disciple of Tien Shan Pai Kung-Fu under Grandmaster Chien Liang Huang

· 10th Dan Black Belt — Professor in Kenpo Jujitsu under Grandmaster Gasper

· Mandala Tuhon – 1st Generation Disciple in USA under GM Leo Gaje Jr.

· 6th Dan Black Belt — Doce Pares Eskrido System under Grandmaster Cacoy Cañete

· Lifetime Doce Pares member signed by Eulogio Cañete in 1984

· 3rd Dan Black Belt — Aikijutsu, Icho-Ryu Style under Sensei Bernie Lau

· Shodan Danzan Ryu Jujitsu — Professor Ancho, “a classmate of Professor Wally Jay”

· Master – Pekiti Tirsia by GrandTuhon Leo Gaje Jr.

Works

Publications

· Wings of Thought – Martial Arts Handbook by M. R. Taningco

       ISBN 0692460993 Search this book on .

· Doggone Truth About Meditation by M. R. Taningco

· Chi Of Life by M. R. Taningco

· Secrets Of Tao by M. R. Taningco

· Kali Student Handbook by M. R. Taningco

Videos

Sticks of Fury – 6 DVDs/1 hr each (Instructional Kali)

References

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