Guro Renato V. Sorezo
Guro Renato V. Sorezo was born in Lucena City, Quezon Province, Philippines. His training in martial arts started at the age of 16. In 1968, he joined the Lucena Arguinoso Judo Club to study a Japanese form of martial art under Chief Instructor Roberto Arguinoso until he graduated in secondary school.
In 1970, Guro Renato V. Sorezo shifted to Karate and became a student of Lucena City Karate Club under Chief Instructor Enrique Sanglap. This Karate Club was a regional chapter of the Karate Brotherhood of the Philippines under Grandmaster Meliton Geronimo (Ret. Major in Philippine Air Force). In 1972, he participated in the Regional Karate Tournament organized by the Karate Brotherhood of the Philippines held in Manila and he won the tournament – Champion in Lightweight Division. After the tournament, he was promoted to 1st Degree Blackbelt and became a Karate/Sikaran Instructor until he finished his university degree (Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering) in 1974.
In 2003, Guro Renato V. Sorezo studied Tai Chi Chuan in Hong Kong under Sifu Tsui. He attended Tai Chi Basic Instructor’s Course on Nov. 10-11, 2003 and Tai Chi Advanced Instructor’s Course on May 16-17, 2004 conducted by Dr. Paul Lam from Australia. Then he became a Certified Tai Chi Instructor.
Guro Renato V. Sorezo’s introduction to Modern Arnis was in 2005, under Guro Abner Anievas who was then the Instructor of International Modern Arnis Federation Hong Kong.
In 2006, Guro Renato V. Sorezo together with Guro Enrico T. de Leon and Guro Abner Anievas Group demonstrated the Modern Arnis movements (such as espada y daga, single & double sinawali, balisong and mano y mano) during the celebration of Philippines Independence Day in Hong Kong.
To enhance Guro Renato V. Sorezo’s knowledge in Modern Arnis, he attended the IMAFP Trainings and Seminars conducted by the Senior Masters and Senior Guros in the Philippines:
- IMAFP Training Camp in Calamba, Laguna (August 26, 2006)
- IMAFP Sports Arnis Officiating Seminar/Workshop in Manila (February 18, 2007)
- Advance Modern Arnis Training in Lucena City (February 21-23, 2007)
(By arrangement with IMAFP Senior Master and Guro from Manila, Phil.)
- IMAFP National Arnis Tournament in Manila - Judge (February 24-25, 2007)
- IMAFP Training the Trainor’s Seminar in Manila (June 30 & July 01, 2007)
On March 25, 2007, Guro Renato V. Sorezo together with Guro Enrico T. de Leon demonstrated Modern Arnis movements in the Hong Kong Government Flower Show organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
On April 18, 2007, Guro Renato V. Sorezo and Guro Enrico T. de Leon established the Modern Arnis Hong Kong (International Modern Arnis Federation Philippines – Hong Kong) a Filipino Martial Arts, with the support of the IMAFP Senior Masters and Senior Guros from the Philippines.
At present, Guro Renato V. Sorezo teaches Modern Arnis to our Kababayans and OFWs in Hong Kong. He has conducted numerous Basic Modern Arnis seminars together with Guro Enrico T. de Leon as well to promote Filipino Martial Arts.