The Path to Magtutudlo: Earn Your Place as a De Campo Instructor
Becoming a certified instructor in De Campo 1-2-3 Original is not about purchasing a title; it is a journey of deep learning, personal dedication, and community validation. Our path is designed to honor the art and those who commit to mastering it.
Unlike other programs that may have endless levels and hidden fees, we believe in a transparent, straightforward journey. Your focus should be on training and growth, knowing that you are part of a system built on integrity, not upselling.
Your Journey is Your Own
There is no rigid, one-size-fits-all timeline. Progress is measured by your commitment and understanding. The path consists of two interconnected forms of training:
1. The Foundation: Your Personal Practice
It begins with you. After enrolling in the core video program, your first and most important task is to immerse yourself in the curriculum. This is a crucial period of self-study and analysis where you build a strong, personal foundation in the art. This is your training, on your time.
2. The Community: Sharpen Your Skills with Us
You are never truly alone on this path. We provide a robust support system designed to foster your growth:
Free Weekly Group Sessions: Every Monday, we host free group training sessions on Zoom. These are led by a rotating roster of certified instructors, including Maestro Paolo Pagaling. Attending these sessions is the primary way to refine your technique, ask questions, and gauge your progress within the community. It is entirely possible to progress to instructor level just by using the core program and attending these free weekly sessions.
Optional Private Instruction (The Accelerator): For students who wish to accelerate their learning and receive dedicated, one-on-one feedback, private online sessions with any of our Instructors are available. These lessons are a powerful supplement to your training, but they are completely optional.
The Evaluation: A Test of Earned Skill
Readiness for the instructor test is not a surprise; it’s a mutual recognition that develops over time within the community sessions. When you and the Instructors agree you are ready, you will be invited to the formal examination.
The test is a transparent event held before a panel of instructors and your fellow students, ensuring the integrity of the process. It consists of:
- Leading a Class: Demonstrating your ability to effectively teach the curriculum to others.
- Technical Demonstration: Showcasing your mastery of the system’s techniques.
A Single, Transparent Certification Fee
We believe in complete transparency. There are no hidden costs on this journey.
The Instructor Certification has a one-time fee of $700.
- This fee covers your formal examination and lifetime certification.
- It is only paid if you successfully pass the test.
- There are no further levels, no annual dues, and no recurring fees. Once you earn the rank of Magtutudlo, it is yours for life.
Magtutudlo: Guardian of the Art
Successful completion of the examination grants you the rank of Magtutudlo (Instructor), the pinnacle of the De Campo 1-2-3 system.
As a certified instructor, you are authorized and encouraged to:
- Teach the Art: You can teach the De Campo 1-2-3 Original curriculum for profit or passion, with no financial obligation to our organization.
- Build Your Lineage: Cultivate your own “tribe” of practitioners, mentor apprentices, and promote students, ensuring the legacy of De Campo continues to grow through you.
This is more than a certificate—it’s a responsibility and an honor you carry forward.
The Student's Journey: From Seed to Mastery
Your progression in De Campo 1-2-3 is structured through seven distinct levels, grouped into three stages. Each stage represents a new level of understanding and competence, taking you from the foundational seeds of knowledge to the polished skill of an advanced practitioner.
Stage 1: BINLOD (Levels 1-3) – Planting the Seed
Binlod translates to “seed.” This initial stage is focused on planting and nurturing the fundamental building blocks of De Campo. Here, you develop the core vocabulary of movement upon which everything else is built.
Level 1: The Alphabet
This level introduces the absolute fundamentals—the alphabet of the De Campo system. You will master the essential strikes and defenses across the first five groups, including Abecedario, De Alfavito, Serrada, and Abierta, building a solid foundation for all future techniques.
Level 2: Forming Words
Here, you begin to combine your foundational letters into simple words. While reinforcing the primary lessons, you will be introduced to the signature De Campo Original and Redondo Y Redonda techniques. The introduction of “Elementary Mixing” allows you to start blending your skills together seamlessly.
Level 3: Bridging to Complexity
At the final Binlod level, you complete your elementary education by incorporating powerful, two-handed techniques (Dos Manos Dos Largos) and the intricate De Cadena De Cuerdas. This stage solidifies your foundation and prepares you for the more advanced concepts ahead.
Stage 2: MAANTIGO (Levels 4-6) – Becoming Knowledgeable
Maantigo means “knowledgeable” or “skilled.” In this stage, you move beyond foundational knowledge into a deeper, more functional understanding of the art. You learn to form complete sentences and paragraphs with your movements.
Level 4: High School Foundations
With a solid elementary base, you are introduced to the “High School” curriculum, beginning with Hagad Hubad Original. This level focuses on developing sensitivity, trapping, and close-quarters flow, adding a new layer of sophistication to your skillset.
Level 5: Fluent Integration
This level is dedicated to integration and fluency. The focus of “High School Mixing” is to flawlessly combine the techniques from both the Elementary and High School groups, allowing you to transition, adapt, and respond with greater creativity and effectiveness.
Level 6: Structured Application
Here, you move from simple mixing to deliberate, structured application. You will learn the core 1-2, 1-2-3, and 1-2-3-4 combinations, transforming your techniques into reliable and powerful offensive and defensive sequences.
Stage 3: HANAS (Level 7) – Honing Your Skill
Hanas means “highly skilled,” “polished,” or “expert.” This is the final and most advanced student level, representing the culmination of your training before the path to instructorship.
- Level 7: The Pinnacle of Student Mastery
As a Hanas practitioner, you will master the “College” level material. This includes advanced, multi-step combinations and the “College 7 Specials”—specialized techniques that define the highest expression of the De Campo 1-2-3 Original system. Upon completion, you have the full technical knowledge of a practitioner and are prepared for the final journey to becoming a Magtutudlo (Instructor).
Student Levels
Binlod – Level 1
– Fundamentals
– Group 1 Abecedario
– Group 2 De Alfavito
– Group 3 Horizontal
– Group 4 Serrada
– Group 5 Abierta
Binlod – Level 2
– Fundamentals
– Primary Lessons (Groups 1-5)
– Group 6 De Campo Original
– Group 7 Redondo Y Redonda
– Elementary Mixing
Binlod – Level 3
– Elementary
– Group 8 Dos Manos Dos Largos
– Group 9 De Cadena De Cuerdas
Maantigo – Level 4
– Elementary
– Group 8 Dos Manos Dos Largos
– Group 9 De Cadena De Cuerdas
– Group 10 Hagad Hubad Original
Maantigo – Level 5
– Elementary
– High School Group (8, 9, and 10)
– High School Mixing
Maantigo – Level 6
– Elementary
– High School
– 1-2 Combos
– 1-2-3 Combos
– 1-2-3-4 Combos
Hanas – Level 7
– Elementary
– High School
– College Combos
– College 7 Specials