Grandmaster Alexander Bautista Bayot France

Alex France was about 10 years old in the late 1950's when he began his study of the martial arts.  It was more of a "self study" for two reasons. First was, he didn't know of any school or club teaching martial arts at that time and second, even if he did, he wouldn't have been able to afford it anyway.

But Bruce Tegner's books were affordable through the public library. His books were easy to understand, and I would try out his techniques with any of my friends who were willing. There were not many who were. They would try out a technique or two with me but then would lose interest. How things have changed in the half century since! Now Alex has quite a few friends, in the hundreds, around the world that share the same passion. And he likes to think that he has moved beyond the mere collecting of techniques. For introducing him to martial arts, albeit indirectly through his books, he will never forget Mr. Tegner.

Alex's first in-person teacher was an American serviceman. He taught Judo in Sangley Point, a U.S. Navy Base in Cavite City, in the Philippines. That didn't last long because he was reassigned. What Alex remembers of him all these years were the scar on his lip from surviving a knife attack, and the very nice way he treated us Filipino kids who came onto the base to take lessons from him free of charge.

Now, why judo? Alex graduated from high school in the Philippines but not one student in his entire school ever mentioned Arnis or Eskrima. Had I known about it at that time, I would have studied that. Judo was THE art at that place and time, in the mid 1960s.

Alix remembers escorting a very pretty classmate, Corazon, “Cora,” from his school in Makati to her home in Baclaran late one night. A school function had ended late.  Alex thought he was being gallant and protective. Her parents invited him in, gave him refreshments as is the Filipino custom, and then had his daughter, and only her, accompany him to the bus stop and wait for him until he was safely on the bus. It turned out that Corazon's dad was the top Judo man in Baclaran and being his daughter, she knew how to take care of herself! In addition, nobody in their town in those times would dare try to harm her, or allow anyone else to, for fear of the father. On Alex's long bus ride to Cavite City he quietly laughed to himself, seeing how the role of "bodyguard" had switched from him to her. Just who was guarding whom? To this day, Alex smiles every time I remember it.

Alex was a die-hard Wado Ryu practitioner under Sensei Hidy Hiraoka when he first saw Filipino martial arts in action. Not in the Philippines, but in a tournament in the United States, of all places! Unfortunately, what Alex saw was two fully armored guys standing toe to toe, no footwork, just whacking away at each other. It made no sense.

It was only after then-Maestro, now Grandmaster of his clan, Jonathon "Jon" Bais came to Vallejo, California that Alex gave Filipino martial arts a chance. He was the one that converted Alex, showing him the deadly beauty of our country's art. Alex wasted no time in really getting into it but unfortunately Maestro left a year later for Europe, and there he stayed until just last year. Alex was so enamored with Filipino martial arts that when Maestro left, he converted the school into a sort of open academy where teachers from all legitimate Filipino martial arts systems could teach. Alex was like a kid in a candy store, sampling all of them.

It was at this time that Alex met then-Grandmaster, now Great Grandmaster, Ernesto Presas and then-brown belt, now Grandmaster, Warlito "Lito" Concepcion. Grandmaster Presas took him under his wing, becoming his mentor and instilling in Alex the foundation he needed to stand on his own and to discover things for himself.

And what a path of discovery that has been! It has led Alex to look into the "other half" or "third" if you consider, Grandmaster Roberto, who is just now getting known worldwide of the Presas House. Alex never got to meet Great Grandmaster Remy, but when he saw his tapes, he sought out his eldest son, Dr. Remy Presas Jr. to help him learn his father's amazing art.

Although Sr. and Jr. were separated for many years - Grandmaster Remy was in exile during the Marcos dictatorship - Remy Jr., through sheer force of will and persistence, is well on his way to mastering his father's art.  He has so much to teach, and Alex has so much to learn.

And then, Balintawak Grandmaster, Veraqui "Ver" Villasin came to town.  Is San Francisco Bay Area the place to learn Filipino martial arts or what?!! Grandmaster Ver is an exacting teacher, teaching the way his teacher, Great Grandmaster Jose Villasin, taught him, patiently going over and over the same thing with his student until the student gets it perfectly, before moving on to the next lesson. It was Grandmaster Villasin that showed Alex the roots.

Learn more about GrandmasterAlexander Bautista Bayot France - Read his interview:

Click Cover to Download

Return to Bios Main Page