Dakilang Guro Jeff Espinous was born in 1963 in Paris, France. He started training Martial Arts in 1968 with Wrestling then in 1970 in Viet Vo Dao. Since then he has been certified in several Martial Arts Styles including Boxe Francaise Savate, Kick Boxing, Tae Kwon Do, Viet Vo Dao, Ju Jutsu, Kempo, Ken Ju Ryu, Muay Thai, Kali / JKD, and some different styles of FMA and Pencak Silat.

 

He was introduced to FMA in 1983 in Paris, France during the first seminar of Dan Inosanto. From 1985 to 1989 he moved to Los Angeles, US to train at the “Inosanto Academy“ with Dan Inosanto, Cass Magda, Paul De Thouars, Herman Suwanda and Ted Lucaylucay. Punong Guro Espinous also trained with Ted Lucaylucay at the “Temujin“ in Bakersfield, US. During this period he frequently traveled to South East Asia to train in Filipino Martial Arts, Pencak Silat and Muay Boran.

In 1989, he started teaching Filipino Martial Arts in Paris and was the first Instructor dedicated to teaching FMA in France. At that time he taught under the Lucaylucay Kali / JKD Association from Guro Ted Lucaylucay.

In 1992, he created his own Style, Kali Sikaran and designed his first logo “the Bull“. In 1993, he named his first Association MMA (Majapahit Martial Arts) and redesigned of the Kali Sikaran logo was made by Guillaume Boube.

In March 1993, during the first European Stick Fighting Championship in London, England the EKAEF (European Kali Arnis Eskrima Federation) was created. Seven Nations were represented Denmark, England, France, Finland, Germany Italy, and Sweden. The Headquarter elected Bobby Breen as President and Jeff Espinous as Vice-President.

In December 1994, after training with Mangisurosuro Mike Inay Founder of the Inayan Eskrima, Guro Jeff held the position of European Technical Director for the Inayan Eskrima from 1994 until his death in 2000. He promoted the seminar tour of the late Mangisurosuro Mike Inay in Europe and certified and promoted Inayan Instructors in Europe his supervision.

In June 1995, during the second European Stick Fighting Championship in Paris, France. He was promoted President of the EKAEF and became the European Technical Director from 1995 to 2000. In July 1995, Then he created the IKSA (International Kali Sikaran Association) to further promote the Art of Kali Sikaran around the world and redesigned his logo for the third time. At this time he stopped using the name MMA and rebranded it into IKSA (International Kali Sikaran Association). He is the IKSA International Technical Director since 1995.

In June 1996, Jeff was promoted as Director of WEKAF France (World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation) from 1996 to 1998. In July 1998, he released the first Kali Sikaran Program. Updated versions were released in 2000 and 2004.

In July 1998, during the Bundesseminar he received the rank of 5° Dan in Ju-Jutsu under DJJV (Deutscher Ju Jutsu Verband).

In November 2000, the Headquarters decided to change the name EKAEF to IKAEF (International Kali Arnis Eskrima Federation) to further promote the FMA around the world. He has held the position of IKAEF International Technical Director since 2000.

Through the years Jeff has designed many logos for the FMA World. Suntukan Stickfighting for Guro Johan Skålberg, Cinco Tero Escrima for Guro Charles & Walter Goossens, the logo for the Inayan Martial Arts from Guro Jon C. Ward to name some…

In December 2000, Jeff Espinous and Johan Skålberg formed a partnership to join their efforts in promoting Kali Sikaran. At that time they carry the ranks given by Suro Mike Inay. Masirib Guro for Jeff Espinous and Lahong Guro for Johan Skålberg.

August 2004, Jeff took the title of Punong Guro as advised by the late Suro Mike Inay before he passed away and gave the same title to his partner Johan Skålberg.

In 2007, Jeff became the “Co-Founder“ of the Pencak Silat Rampai with Pendekar Mangalla Joko Suseno and holds the title of Pendekar Wijaya in Pencak Silat Rampai. They collaborated to create the Pencak Silat Rampai or Pencak Silat Concept Program.

In 2008, Jeff and his partner Johan Skålberg decided to work on their own. Today, Punong Guro Johan Skålberg still promotes his own version of Kali Sikaran under KSI.

In 2010, Jeff redesigned his Kali Sikaran logo for the fourth time. He released in 2012 his first digital versions of the Kali Sikaran Program. It now contains the program in written and in video form.

In 2014, after 45 years of Martial Arts and 30 years of FMA, Jeff has been promoted to Dakilang Guro and as the Creator of the Kali Sikaran…

During the same year, he has the privilege to received the rank of Kyoshi, Master 7° Dan in Ken Ju Ryu / Kenpo Ju Jitsu from Hanshi Russ Rhodes from the Pacific Coast Martial arts Association.

In July 2016, Dakilang Guro Jeff Espinous rebranded his style as
Kali Silat Evolution or KSE

Instructors Some of the notable Filipino Martial Arts  Instructors Dakilang Guro Espinous has had the privilege to train and work with include:

  • Bobby Breen / Kali JKD
  • Richard Bustillo / Doce pares / Lee Jun Fan
  • Ciriaco “Cacoy” Cañete / Doces Pares
  • Krishna Godhania / Warrior Eskrima
  • Emanuel Hart / Inayan System Of Eskrima
  • Mike Inay / Inayan System Of Eskrima
  • Dan Inosanto / Inosanto Kali / Maphilindo Silat
  • Dieter Knüttel / Modern Arnis
  • Ted Lucaylucay / Lucaylucay Kali JKD
  • Cass Magda / Kali JKD
  • Jack Santos / Balintawak
  • Johan Skålberg / Modern Arnis / Kombatan
  • Jon C. Ward / Inayan System Of Eskrima


Some of the notable Pencak Silat  Instructors Dakilang Guro Espinous has had the privilege to train and work with include:

 

  • Paul De Thouars / Pencak Silat Bukti Negara
  • Dan Inosanto / Inosanto Kali / Maphilindo Silat
  • M. Barie Irsjad / Pencak Silat Tapak Suci
  • Haryadi Mawardi / Pencak Silat Tapak Suci
  • Joko Suseno / Pencak Silat Tapak Suci
  • Herman Suwanda / Pencak Silat Mande Muda


In Filipino Martial Arts Dakilang Guro is certified in following styles:

  • Lucaylucay Kali / JKD - Instructor Monitor - 1989
  • Modern Arnis - 1 Dan - 1992
  • Kali Sikaran - Founder  - 1992
  • EKAEF - Guro Instructor - 1994
  • Inayan Sinawali - Instructor - 1995
  • Inayan Dequerdas - Instructor - 1996
  • Inayan Kadena De Mano - Instructor - 1997
  • Inayan Largo Mano - Instructor - 1998
  • Kali Silat Evolution - Founder  - 2016


In addition to the Filipino Martial Arts Dakilang Guro Jeff Espinous is certified in following styles:

  • Viet Vo Dao - 2° Dan - 1980

  • Boxe Francaise Savate - Silver Gloves 1° - 1987
  • Tae Kwon Do. FFKAMA - 2° Dan - 1989

  • Kick Boxing. BKO - 5° Dan - 1990

  • Kempo. BKO - 3° Dan - 1990

  • Muay Thai - Kru - 1993
  • Tae Kwon Do. WCMA - 4° Dan - 1998

  • Hapkido. WCHF - 3° Dan - 1998

  • Ju Jutsu. DJJV - 5° Dan - 1998
  • Pencak Silat Tapac Suci - Pendekar Muda - 2006
  • Pencak Silat Rampai. PSC - Pendekar Wijaya - 2007
  • Ken Ju Ryu / Kenpo Ju Jitsu - Kyoshi 7° Dan - 2014


 “ I’m thankful to all the Masters who have influenced me. They have touched me as a Martial Artist but also as a Human being.
I will never forget what they gave to me… “

 Dakilang Guro Jeff Espinous