Guro Eric says: ABOUT ME

Hi, my name is Enrico T. de Leon, you can call me “Eric”, my Chinese friends call me “Leon” and I told them that my Chinese name is “LEON Ming Lai” (not Lai Ming) but that was just a joke. I am a Filipino, happily married with three wonderful kids. I am a Civil Engineer by profession and I been working in Hong Kong since 1995. I am a simple man with simple happiness and with wonderful Friends, I was born under the sign Virgo and Tiger, I love to do thing alone and behind the curtain. I enjoy fishing a lot and earn a lot of Chinese friend on it. I also enjoy hiking but do not have much time on it. I am also a practitioner of Modern Arnis, a Filipino martial arts using a stick of 28 inches long in which the techniques and movements are applicable to both empty hands and with weapons (Knife & Bolo). I’ve been sharing this Art and culture to my fellow Filipinos in Hong Kong and to other nationals who wanted to learn it, In sharing this martial arts I earned the respect to be called Guro Eric.

Introduction to " Guro Eric says"

Friendship………….

Friendship is just a simple word with a complex meaning, it is a sort of a relationship, a relationship with someone, with something or with anything. It could be a relationship with human, animals, natures, things, living or non living things.

I have been working in Hong Kong for almost thirteen years and get along with different types of people, from my work place, my colleagues and my workers, and even on the outside of my workplace. There are lots of them whom you can be called a Friend, it may be a best friend or just a friend, it will not matter as long as friendship exists. As I go along with friendship there is one thing I have noticed about it. Friendship does not exist alone, friendship always goes with happiness and enjoyment, it also goes with patience, understanding and forgiveness, sometimes sacrifice and frustration goes with them. You do not need courage to be friendly it will just goes natural and instinct to human and your feet will bring your interest to what type of people whom you want to be friend of whatever language they speak because language is not a barrier as long as you enjoy the company and I have proven that in myself a lot of times. You do not have to invest money to earn a friendship, the only investment you need is your TIME because the most precious thing that you can give to someone is your time………that’s why I have the time to write this stuff for a FRIEND…

Guro Eric



Cooloo : Know more about the man and his way of living by reading "Guro Eric says" starting on next month . Guro Eric is not Eric Lee!

Miss Diana

Years ago I met Diana when I was practising Wing Chun style of martial art. She was one of those senior students and also a big fan of the late Bruce Lee.
After the gone of the legendry master,she started to make DIY memorials as gifts for friends like greeting card with Bruce's picture on it. I still can find one in my drawer but not her lost contact. Or, I can share my movie "Tribute to Bruce Lee"(produced by my friend, Toto) with her.(to watch, simply search "toto3281" on youtube account)

Another arnis story

As a left-hander, even in the fencing class, I used to practise with both hand but not simultaneously. Luckily, my coach beared with me. "In reality, martial artists always train themselves ambidextrous."she said.

That was the picking up of kata on arnis, we all seemed to get the hang of it using the right hand. During the brief break, I tried to ask Mari out of curiosity," Can you do it with the other hand?", and to my surprise, she simply noded her head. Together with the counting, we performed the routine in left hand manner from start to finish without much flaw. Of course, the footsteps needed to change accordingly. She showed me she's been practising that before.

To conclude? she's real serious.

A conversation with the guru

After the arnis training camp, guru Eric and I went for a short trail starting from the Kowloon reservior to the Lion Rock. The finish time was about one and a half hour.

During the walk, I learned that one of his favourite activities was fishing. He taught many people how to pick up the hobby in his hometown and was a member of the fishing association. "I 've been to many places for fishing... . Yet I can't find any other filipino here taking it as a hobby like me . Those fishing guys around me are local chinese." 'Eric said with joy. Hearing that, there's no doubt Eric knowing the feelings of me joining the group( not the fishing group!).

More about Eric http://imafphk.multiply.com

Confession of an arnisador

The story began a couples of days ago during the rank promotion exam for the modern arnis training. And it ended (?) with my practice partner saying, "it's part of the game".

Though she was one of the best partners amongst other, her luck was not as good as her skills. Due to my carelessness, she was hurt by the hand when I did the blow after the blocking and checking with the kali. Luckily, she was kind and accepted my apology.

The moral is :"Mind one's own risk as well as others."