In 1966 Filipino Angel Cabales opened his first martial arts dojo in the USA. His new home in Stockton, CA as an immigrant from The Philippines was the base for the slow spread of Serrada Escrima to the west. Cabales tought the Filipino martial arts only to those applicants who he deemed worthy. It was more of a family dojo for him. He refused to teach FMA to Ernie Reyes for example, but found others who were following his instructions to the letter such as Anthony Davis. Angel Cabales is often called the “father of Escrima in America.” He was born in 1917 and died in 1991.