Head Instructors
Alexander Gruezo - Punong Guro
Punong Guro Alex is the co-founder of Tersia Serrada Rapilon Kali with over 20+ years experience in Filipino martial arts and over 30+ year practicing martial arts.
RANKS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Kuntaw Kali Kruzada System – Guro-Lakan/Senior Instructor under Professor Alfredo Rico Acosta
International Modern Arnis Federation Philippines - Lakan/Instructor under Grandmaster Samuel “Bambit” Dulay
Kali Arnis International – Punong Guro/Master Instructor under Grandmaster Vicente Sanchez
Lightning Scientific Arnis International – Guro/Instructor under Master Karl Butcher
He also has experience in other arts such as Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Alex was born and raised in NYC and in addition to teaching martial arts, he is also a personal trainer and nutrition coach holding a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion with a concentration on performance enhancement and injury prevention and Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology. He also holds numerous training certifications that include but are not limited to olympic lifting, kettlebell training, mace training, and pre-post natal training.
In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his step-daughter and his wife Joy Gruezo, who is also a fellow TSR Kali instructor. He enjoys playing sports, indoor rock climbing, snowboarding, reading the Great Books, and listening to a variety of Audible books and podcasts.
Wilton Valerio - Punong Guro
Punong Guro Wilton is the co-founder of Tersia Serrada Rapilon Kali. Wilton is a certified martial arts instructor with 20+ years of experience in Filipino martial arts.
RANKS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Kuntaw Kali Kruzada System – Guro-Lakan/Senior Instructor under Professor Alfredo Rico Acosta
International Modern Arnis Federation Philippines - Lakan/Instructor under Grandmaster Samuel “Bambit” Dulay
Kali Arnis International –Punong Guro/Master Instructor under Grandmaster Vicente Sanchez
Lightning Scientific Arnis International – Guro/Instructor under Master Karl Butcher
Wilton was born and raised in New York and has been involved in the kali / escrima since 1999. Wilton is also a licensed acupuncturist in New York City, holding a Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine, and is a certified personal trainer with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science.
The lessons taught by Wilton focus on developing the student's fundamental understanding of the FMA by developing coordination, increasing technical fluidity, and problem solving in relation to self-defense and situational awareness.
When Wilton is not in the dojo, you can find him at a nearby climbing gym bouldering and sport climbing. He also enjoys cycling throughout the city and traveling abroad with his family when possible.
Instructors
Joy Gruezo - Dayang
Guro-Dayang Joy is an instructor for Tersia Serrada Rapilon Kali and has been practicing Filipino martial arts for 15+ years.
RANKS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Kuntaw Kali Kruzada System – Guro-Dayang/Instructor 1st Degree Black Belt under Professor Alfredo Rico Acosta. She is also the first female instructor produced in their system
Kali Arnis International – Dayang/Instructor 1st Degree Black Belt under Grandmaster Japi Sanchez
Lightning Scientific Arnis International – Advanced Practitoner under Guro Wilton Valerio and Guro Alexander Gruezo
IN2IT Self Defense - Instructor under Thom Schuchaskie
Throughout her years of training and instructing, she has had the pleasure and honor to learn from various masters and grandmasters in the world of FMA.
Guro-Dayang Joy also holds awareness based self-defense classes for women where in addition to teaching physical self-defense techniques, she also helps to educate them about awareness, mindfulness, and survival strategies to avoid violence.
Joy is a native New Yorker and when she manages to find free time, she enjoys cooking and baking, spending time with her friends and family, knitting, cursing up a storm while working out, and watching Korean television (one day she hopes to not use subtitles!).
Boo Recitas - Manong
Bio coming soon!