About Dynamic DeCuerdas Eskrima

Dynamic DeCuerdas-The Dynamic DeCuerdas Eskrima System has several styles of Eskrima all rolled into one system, making it an unlimited Total Eskrima System. Dynamic DeCuerdas training is based on the teachings of the late Grandmaster Gilbert Tenio and blended with the flow principles of Grandmaster Richard Van Donk. Grandmaster Gilbert Tenio specifically asked Master Van Donk to add his flowing ability into the system, saying, “With my techniques and your flow, you’re unbeatable!”

The DeCuerdas system taught by Great Grandmaster Gilbert Tenio to GrandMaster Richard Van Donk included teachings from 17 different systems, and while Grandmaster Tenio called all his teaching DeCuerdas, he rarely taught any of the true Tenio-family inherited DeCuerdas System to anyone. Most of the teachings were a mix of Serrada, Largomano, lower level DeCuerdas and a few other styles, but true, pure, DeCuerdas is the Master System to those 17 systems and this was held back by Grandmaster Tenio as his ace in the hole. In fact, after all his years of training with Grandmaster Tenio, this true DeCuerdas system was only revealed to Master Van Donk shortly before Grandmaster Tenio’s passing. Grandmaster Tenio knew his time was short and worked Master Van Donk tirelessly until he was satisfied that he had shown him all he could. He even came and stayed at Master Van Donk’s house the weekend before his passing, sharing the final aspects of the true DeCuerdas System. Then he emphatically told Master Van Donk to take that knowledge and add to it his own distinct flow, saying, “You add your flow to what I taught you and you’ll be unbeatable! No one can touch you!” (Those are the words of GGM Tenio and not of Master Van Donk. GrandMaster Van Donk wishes only to support all martial arts and their masters.)