ABANIKO TRES PUNTAS– a unique classical arnis fighting system orginated in Antique, Philippines. Developed and made famous in the early 1930’s by Mateo D. Estolloso in his many no rules duels as part as festivals and celebrations. His intricate techniques in Espada y Daga (sword and dagger) gained him the respect of fighters across the archipelago. The outbreak of world war II exposed Mateo to numerous encounters as a querilla fighter bringing with him his blade and tailisman in tandem with his springfield rifle.

After the war, he pursued his practice and futhered the techniques incorporating DUMOG (native wrestling of Antique) from which the intricate execution of HAWI-TAPI ( Parries and impact blocks) in Mano-Mano, bone breaking traps and takedowns were derived. The combination of his techniques were then intergrated to the long blades and dagger, the forerunner of his Baston (sticks) system. The triangular and close to perfect geometry of his strokes gave identity to the ABANIKO TRES PUNTAS (fan style in three point or edge). His typical SANGGA-PATAMA (block-hit) combinations in OTSO-OTSO (figure 8) , BANDA y BANDA (side to side) , SUNKITI (stab or thrust) in ABANIKO LARGO-CORTO (fan strike in long and short) comprised the complex elements of the intergrated soft flows and drills in training but lethal when used in combat.

In 1984 at the age of 70 then, Mateo came to the USA for Arnis demonstation tours with a Philippine Army General Marcos Villa Agustin, Constabulary General Wilfredo Estrada and Grandmaster Ernesto Presas. He was partnered in all exhibitions and demonstrations by his student aide RENE TONGSON , where he was applauded the most for his graceful silk-like movements inspite of his age.

Today Grandmaster MATEO D. ESTOLLOSO’S ABANIKO TRES PUNTAS is widely praticed in many parts of the world. His followings have spread to the AUSTRIA, BRAZIL, CROATIA,  FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, GUATEMALA, HONG KONG, HUNGARY, ITALY, KUWAIT, MEXICO, ROMANIA,  RUSSIA , SPAIN, SWITZERLAND, UK, USA and in most parts of the PHILIPPINES, in universities , colleges, schools and martial arts clubs.