Guazabara Fighting Arts & Hapkido/Warrior System

Part One of a Two Part Interview

Dr. Kevin Keough, host of Warrior Traditions and North Star Guardians, interviews Maestro Edgardo Pérez about  the Guazabara Fighting Arts & Hapkido/Warrior System.

Guazabara's Chief Instructor, Edgardo Perez, has more than 28 years of training in Hapkido in both the United States and South Korea, a Full Instructor in Filipino Largo Mano Eskrima as well as being the founder and Chief Instructor of The Defense Training Institute & The World Guazábara Federation. Master Perez began his Hapkido training in 1979 under the Fowler Brothers in Aurora, Illinois. Perez then took his training to South Korea where he trained under Grandmaster Yu Chong Su (Chong Su Kwan Hapkido) who in turn was trained by Grandmaster Choi Yong Sool (Founder of Hapkido).

Perez is a law enforcement veteran of more then twenty years who has also been teaching Police Defensive Tactics to local, state and military personal during that time. He is a member of  Illinois Tactical Officers Association and a  charter member of The International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Association (ILEETA). He has conducted numerous seminars in the United States and Puerto Rico.  As a veteran with tactical and combat training, and as a police sergeant who has quelled many dangerous situations. Maestro Pérez has reintroduced to the modern era  a realistic weapons system that can adapt to any hostile circumstances.

Honoring his Taino Warrior bloodline, Maestro Perez, who's family is from the mountains of Camuy & Lares, P.R., is also a  Nitaino-Chief of the Bramaya Tribe, Tequina (teacher) of Taino Tribal Warrior Ways and the Illinois Representative of The United Confederation of Taino People.

The reintroduction of this martial art from Boriken and the Caribbean islands to modern society is not only a tribute to the indigenous people of Boriken (Puerto Rico) but of tribal people everywhere. In the ancient Taino language, Guazabara can be interpreted several ways; but it ultimately means war, fighter, protector, hunter or warrior.   The Way of Guazabara has always been and remains a method of self-preservation. Visit Maestro Perez's website.

May our ancestors find us worthy.  Maestro Perez.