MAESTRO RICO ACOSTA

Maestro Rico founded Kuntaw Kali Kruzada in 1993. He has studied the martial arts continually since the age of five and has been teaching for more than 30 years. He is a recognized Master of several styles of Filipino martial arts. In the year 2000 he received an award for "Best Maestro/Guro" from PIGSSAI at the DIGMAAN competition in the Luneta Park grandstand, Manila. In 2001 he produced a video on Lightning Scientific Arnis with Paladin Press. He was officially appointed as the IMAFP coordinator for New York in 2005. Maestro Rico was one of the featured instructors at the 3rd FMA Festival and the 2006 Remy Presas Memorial Camp in the Philippines. He was inducted into the UFMA Hall of Fame and recognized as Mataw Guro in 2010. He was one of the founding members of the Mataw Guro Association International.

Maestro Rico has lived in the Philippines until recent years and is now focused on propagating the Filipino martial arts Internationally. He returns to the Philippines regularly to continue his study of the Filipino martial arts, continually developing and improving his system. It is his hope that through the propagation of the Filipino martial arts, his system can be an impetus towards a deeper understanding of the cultural heritage of the Philippines.


Grandmaster Benjamin Luna Lema with Maestro Rico Acosta

Maestro Rico Acosta has received extensive personal instruction in the Philippines under many notable Masters and Grandmasters such as GM Benjamin Luna Lema (LSAI), GM Vicente Sanchez (KAI), GM Roberto Presas (Modern Arnis), GM Samuel Dulay (IMAFP Modern Arnis), GM Jose Mena (Doblete Rapelon), GM Florendo Picate (Picate Style Crossada Espada y Daga), GM Charlie Villanueva (Lao Lan - Doce Generales), GM Jesus Pallorina (WEDOCA), Senior Master Frank Sobrino (WEDOCA) and GM Ric Esteban (Kuntaw Combat Escrima). His experience in Judo, Jujutsu, Karate and Aikido has complemented his knowledge of the Filipino martial arts.


Grandmaster Vicente Sanchez with Maestro Rico Acosta