JAY DE LEON

Jay de Leon is a life-long martial artist, a writer, a former financial executive in corporate America, and an entrepreneur.

CORPORATE EXPERIENCE

Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, he went to the prestigious Jesuit schools of Ateneo de Manila in Loyola Heights, Quezon City for his grade school and high school education.  He graduated with two Bachelor Degrees in Accounting and in Political Science from the De La Salle University in Manila, and passed the C.P.A. Board exams in the Philippines soon after graduation.

After a short work stint in the Philippines as a junior executive for MeadJohnson, Philippines(the American pharmaceutical giant), and as a road construction executive in a family corporation in Cotabato, Mindanao, he immigrated to the United States. 

In several major cities in California, he gained extensive financial experience as a Controller and Chief Financial Officer of diverse companies, including high-tech start-ups in Silicon Valley in California, manufacturing facilities, and medical supply and entertainment corporations.

MARTIAL ARTS BACKGROUND

Currently, Jay de Leon is the Commissioner of North America for the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP), which is the largest Remy Presas Modern Arnis organization with chapters worldwide.  He is also Co-founder and Chief Instructor for the United States for Filipino Fighting Arts Int’l, with chapters worldwide, mostly in the Philippines, United States and the Middle East.  He is also the owner of Tipunan International, a martial arts media organization which promotes martial arts seminars, training camps, entertainment events, and instruction.

Jay de Leon started his martial arts training as a child in the Philippines, continuing through his early years in the United States.  He has black belts or instructor ranking in several traditional and modern martial arts styles and disciplines, including shorin-ryu, Parker kenpo, Filipino Martial Arts (arnis, eskrima and kali), Mixed Martial Arts, and others.

ENTREPRENEUR

Jay de Leon is a serial entrepreneur and has launched, owned and managed several successful businesses in the past, including ventures in real estate, entertainment, and the martial arts and security business. 

He is currently involved in several development and business projects in the Philippines.

LITERARY ENDEAVORS

Jay de Leon is a writer of note.  Many of his articles on martial arts, entertainment, history and politics have been published, mostly in online publications.  He considers himself a martial arts archivist than a historian.  He has also written several e-books as well as countless articles published in his own websites as well as other websites.

His e-books include “Mindanao Jottings” about his experiences in Cotabato and Davao in Mindanao in the Philippines at the height of the Christian-Muslim conflict, “Remembrances of Dojos Past,” an autobiographical opus of his martial arts journey, and others.

Jay de Leon currently divides his time between the United States and Philippines.  He is engaged in business, martial arts, politics, and volunteer work, and pursues many intellectual, social and recreational activities that intrigue, interest and fascinate him.

WEBSITE REFERENCES

www.tipunan.com – This is the official website of Jay de Leon’s organization, Tipunan International, based in Los Angeles, California, USA.

www.filipinofightingartsintl.com -  This is the official website of Filipino Fighting Arts, Int’l, co-founded by Masters Godofredo Fajardo and Jay de Leon of Modern Arnis, based in Manila, Philippines.

www.filipinomartialartsmuseum.com – This is the website Jay de Leon uses to promote Filipino Martial Arts, both arnis and other fighting styles.