Guazabara

Mon 2pm, 6pm, Wed 7pm

Guazábara is a modern, weapons-based martial art founded by Maestro Edgardo Pérez, rooted in the close-quarter combat traditions of Puerto Rico’s pre-Columbian Taíno warriors. The name itself, meaning “war” in the Taíno language, honors their fierce spirit and tactical preference for intense, man-to-man engagements. Blending indigenous macana (war club), manaya (ax), and daga (short blade) techniques with Jíbaro machete skills, it forms a practical, hybrid system designed for real-world survival.

Class begins with a simple stick treated as a primary weapon. Students drill fast, targeted strikes, paired with footwork to control distance and evade chaos. Instructors emphasize awareness: scanning for hidden weapons, assessing threat speed, and deciding in seconds whether to disarm, strike, or escape. Every session builds instinctive reactions under pressure.

As students advance, training escalates to knives, machetes, and axes—used both offensively and defensively. You’ll practice disarming an armed attacker with empty hands, flowing between weapon retention and counterstrikes. Classes are intense but structured, blending physical conditioning, partner drills, and scenario-based sparring to prepare you for unpredictable violence with calm, decisive action.