He greeted me with an approachable smile and shook my hand like the door’s always open. At that moment, I felt that I was gladly received upon entering the Yaw Yan (YY) Pasay Gym. He was none other than the great Napoleon Fernandez, the founder of the known deadliest martial art which was first introduced here in the Philippines. This 84-year-old man, who was known as the most fearless Yaw Yan fighter ever existed, never had any loss in any of his competitions. Who would have ever imagined that this gray-haired man once defeated the country’s best mixed martial artists. Though he cannot join tournaments because of his age and illness, he is contented to train his own fighters who are currently representing his spirit.
Master Napoleon Fernandez
He had sudden rupture in his blood vessels that’s why he is having difficulty in moving. I also had to speak right close to his right ear so he could understand my questions.
Yaw Yan, which is also known as “Sayaw ng Kamatayan” is a Filipino martial art. It is a form of kickboxing just like Thailand’s Muay Thai but differs in the hip-torquing motion and downward-cutting nature of kicks.
Considered as the grand master, the great Fernandez makes sure that his students develop their agility, strength and sense of discipline. He trains them nine hours a day. He does not allow students to engage in any vice. He also nurtures those who are unfortunate and converts them into tremendous martial artists.
Fernandez admits that though he was honored as the one who started the martial art, he considers himself homeless. He does not know where his wife and children are. One of his students, Saladin Dacuyan, who now owns the Pasay gym, takes care of him and procures his basic necessities. He did not receive any financial return as Yaw Yan gyms continuously spring all throughout the country.
With the incontestable popularity of mixed martial arts competitions in the Philippines and other countries, Fernandez hones his students by learning the principles of Yaw Yan. The martial art is designed to be offensive. It has no blockings. The fighter aims to attack his opponent through striking, takedowns, grappling, arnis stick and knife fighting and additional kickboxing material. A Yaw Yan fighter also uses his arms and wrists to attack.
Master Napoleon and his fighters
Yaw-Yan is not purely a full-contact no-holds barred sport martial art. It is a complete martial training with body-mind coordination and test of enduring indomitable spirit.
For Grand Master Fernandez, this martial art represents the Filipinos. “There has only been one thing that I have been pursuing ever since and that is to enlighten the Filipinos to patronize their own art and not to be called “Malansang Isda” or foul odor fish. People nowadays will do anything just to patronize foreign arts rather than their own. Fancy styles from foreign arts rarely works on actual fights where anything goes really does happen,” said Fernandez.
He has marked the country’s own and unique way of fighting which was designed to be sport-oriented.
After my worthy conversation with him, I couldn’t help but adore this great man who will certainly leave a legacy. With 47 years of practicing the martial art, it is beyond doubt that Master Napoleon and Yaw Yan are both inseparable.
Shelf Esteem 