Issue No #4 2011

School of Arnis ProfessionalBatch 9 - Talisman

School of Arnis ProfessionalsFebruary 12 , 13 , 20 , 27 March 6 , 13 , and 20 , 2011

School of Arnis ProfessionalBatch 9 - Talisman

The articles are the property of the author’s that wrote them and cannot be used without the permission of the au-thor. The Mataw-Guro Notebook is the property of the Mataw-Guro Association and is for the promulgation and promotion of the Filipino Martial Arts Education. NO issue can be printed and Sold for Monies, without the express permission of the Mataw-Guro Association.

Invitation - Schools Division Superintendent Batch 9 Roster Photos of Events Outside Classes Batch 9 Instructors Reaction Papers Background on the Mataw-Guro Association - Emmanuel Querubin

NOTE: This is the National Capital Region - Department of Education memorandum to Schools Division Superinten-dents for Physical education Teachers to attend the Arnis Professional Course.

NOTE: here is the list of 43 Integrated College of Physical Education, NCR Dept Ed participants of batch 9 Arnis Profes-sional Course, held at Caloocan High School and Cavite States University on February 12 – March 20, 2011.

This Picture is taken at Cavite States University during the MGA gathering and recognition with Senator Juan Miguel

Zubiri and Mataw-Guro Armando Soteco and his Arnis Professional Batch 9, talisman participants.

This Picture is taken at Cavite States University (CSU) during the MGA gathering and recognition. (Sitting L-R) Dr. Alejandro Monica V.P. CSU, Mrs. Emmy Querubin, Atty. Belleza Demaisip - MGA Auditor, Mataw-Guro Romeo C. Reyes - Dean CSU, Mrs. Rebecca Patag and Mataw-Guro Armando Soteco. (Standing L-R) Mataw-Guro Emmy Querubin, Mataw-Guro Andy Sanano, Mataw-Guro Perry Gil Mallari, Mr. Dennis Aquino - City Sports Director, Sta. Rosa Laguna and Mataw-Guro Teddy Hernando.

This picture is taken during the closing and awarding of certificates for the Arnis Professional Batch 9, Talisman at Calkoocan High School on March 20, 2011 at center sitting position Prof. Armando C. Soteco wearing an eye glass. At his left is Mrs. Rebecca Patag, Secretary to the Chief of Physical Education and Sports, NCR Dep-Ed. Standing at center is Dr. Alejandro Dagdag wearing a stripe polo shirt, Executive Director of ICPES and at his left is Prof. Enrique Conlu, School Registrar. (Photo by Romeo Solatorio)

Picture is taken during the courtesy meeting with Senator Miguel Zubiri at his office in the House of Senate, Pasay City last February 15, 2011. (L-R) Christian Herrera, Secretary of Peachie Saguin, Mataw-Guro Armando Soteco, Mataw-Guro Louelle Lledo, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Atty. Salvador Demaisip, Grandmaster Earl Bruce Villanueva and Mataw-Guro Peachie Saguin.

Picture is taken at Cavite State University during the MGA gathering and recognition. (L-R) Atty. Salvador Demaisip, Mrs. Rebecca Patag, Senator Miguel Zubiri and Mataw-Guro Armando Soteco.

Photo is taken when the group of Amara Arkanis of Mataw-Guro Louelle Lledo and Mataw-Guro Peachie Saguin visited Arnis Professional seminar at Caloocan High School and at the same time Mataw-Guro Loulle LLedo give his book to Mataw-Guro Peachie Saguin.

Picture is taken during the first lesson day of Arnis Professional at Caloocan High School guests presents are Mataw-Guro Peachie Saguin and the group of Amara Arkanis of Mataw-Guro Loulle Lledo.

Picture is taken at SM North, Global Pinoy Club before the lunch meeting of some of the MGA of-ficers at Aristocrat Restaurant.

Photo is taken when Mataw-Guro Peachie Saguin received the MGA Certificate of membership to Mataw-Guro Emmy Querubin and Mataw-Guro Armando Soteco at SM North, Quezon City on March 4, 2011.

Picture taken during the MGA gathering and recognition at Cavite States University February 27, 2011. (Sitting from L-R) Mataw-Guro Andy Sanano, Mataw-Guro Armando Soteco and Mayor Bi-envenido Dimero of Indang Cavite. Standing with garland Senator Miguel Zubiri.

(Sitting position) Mataw-Guro Weslie Crisostomo, Mataw-Guro Perry Mallari and Mataw-Guro Emmy Querubin. (Standing from L-R) Master Ariel Ramos, Mataw-Guro Andy Sanano, Mataw-Guro Romeo C. Reyes, Mataw-Guro Walter Crisostomo and Mataw-Guro Armando Soteco.

Mataw-Guro Weslie Crisostomo with Mataw-Guro Armando Soteco.

Mataw-Guro Andy Sanano and Mataw-Guro Romeo C. Reyes.

Mataw-Guro Andy Sanano with the group of his admirers from Arnis Professionals batch 9, Talisman.

Photo is taken at Cavite State University with Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri with Mataw-Guro Armando Soteco and the group of Batch 9 Talisman Arnis Professional.

Picture is taken before the open-ing of the first practical lesson in Arnis Professional at Caloocan High School.

Photo’s are the part of the Basic Arnis Lesson conducted by Prof. Armando Soteco with and without the stick applications.

Punong Lakan Guro Garitony Nicolas Teaches the cultural aspect of Arnis to Batch 9 participants at Caloocan Hight School.

Master Ariel Ramos demonstrates and teaches the rules and playing strategies of Sports Arnis.

Mataw-Guro Rodel Dagooc demonstrates the empty hand offense and defense techniques of Arnis at Cavite State University.

Dr. Alejandro Dagdag lectures on sports science at Caloocan High School.

Master Armando Soteco Jr. (left photo ) and Mataw-Guro Perry Mallari (right photo) are resource persons in basic Arnis for beginners.

Dr. Susan Mercado- the Dean of Physical Education of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila lectures on Physiology of Exercise and Physical Fitness and Nutrition at PBSP.

Dr. Nicolo Dumana give lectures to Batch 9 participants on Sports Psychology and Management on March 6, 2011 at Caloocan High School.

NOTE: the following are some of the reactions of the participants about Batch 9 seminar.

SENATOR MIGUEL ZUBIRI BOOSTS ARNIS

By: Atty. Salvador Demaisip

_____________________________________________

Senator Miguel Zubiri, author of the Arnis Law, graced with his presence the launching of the Mataw-Guro Association for Arnis Education, Inc.-FMA last February 27, 2011, in Indang, Cavite. It was also the penultimate training day of the supervising teachers for physical education in the National Capital Region (NCR) on the higher forms of Arnis under the auspices of the School of Arnis Professional led by Professor Armando C. Soteco.

The significance of this occasion cannot be overemphasized as the Arnis Law, Republic Act 9850, declared Arnis as the National Martial Art and Sport of the Filipino people. During this gathering, Senator Zubiri announced policy statement of the Philippine government on Arnis. He too, informed the teachers and Arnis leaders that, the Sports Committee of the Philippine Senate under Senator Gregorio Honasan, hero of the 1986 EDSA Revolution and himself, a martial arts expert, has scheduled public hearings to formulate the implementing Rules and Regulations of the Arnis Law, thus putting to rest dire speculations from some quarters that the Arnis Law will become a mere “toothless tiger” consigned to gather dust in the statute books. Senator Zubiri, an ace Arnis champion during his younger days, assured that the Arnis Law is here to stay and he will spare no efforts to make it a living reality.

The launching of the Mataw-Guro for Arnis Education-FMA in the Cavite State University in Indang, Cavite was filled with historicity. For it was in the province of Cavite that the Philippine Revolutionary Government was born and trans-formed the Katipunan, a secret separatist society founded by the much-lamented hero, Gat Andres Bonifacio, into a Govern-ment that declared the will of the Filipino people to be free and independent.

The Arnis Law recognizes the role of Arnis in the historical development of the country. Indeed, in the early battles of Kalentong in Mandaluyong and Diliman at the start of the Revolution of 1886, the Filipino freedom fighters lamenta-bly short of firepower, hardened indigenous wood into Arnis which served as their weapons, even as they fell one after the other, in the alter of their longing to be a free people.

We are all blessed, that in our generation, a senator of honor and with a sense of history in the person of Senator Miguel Zubiri, has shown commitment to preserve this legacy of our people.

Rachel A. Edquid

Cavite State University- Trece Martires City Campus

Trece Martires City Indang, Cavite

REACTION IN THE SEMINAR

”GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ARNIS”

The School of Arnis Professions organized a seminar which enlightens more the students about the Organiza-

tion of Arnis. This was hosted by Mataw-guro Association Filipino martial Arts Education for Arnis Del Mano which

was held at Cavite State University-main campus, Indang, Cavite last February 26 – 27, 2011. The said seminar was

sponsored by the Municipal Government of Indang, Cavite and Kiwanis Int., Walang Tinag, Indang Cavite.

The presenter Professor Armando Soteco, the President of Samahan ng mga Mataw viewed the real meaning

of Mataw-Guro. According to him Mataw-Guro is derived from the Maguindano word MATAW, which means “knowl-

edgeable”. In Tagalog, the term Mataw is coined from Mataas ang Tanaw”, which means HIGH STANDARD, com-

bined Mataw-Guro means “KNOWLEGEABLE TEACHER” of high standard for uniformity and simplicity. The term

MATAW-GURO is translated in English as ‘MASTER TEACHER”. These insights gave the students insights what is

the true meaning of Mataw-Guro. Among other presenters are Mr. Loulle Liedo, Jr., the Vice-President of samahan ng

m,ga Mataw and Atty. Salvador Dimaisip, the Sec. General, they are both came from the State which got home just to

attend this special event.

The Guest speaker for the said event was no other than Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. Senator Zubiri was

a supporter of Arnis. According to him, he was very blessed to be invited and to become part of this kind of event. He

shared something about his past that when in his young age he always watching the training of arnis that leads him to

idolize those Guro or Masters that during that time was Prof. Soteco, Mr. Liedo and Atty. Dimaisip. Now a day, Arnis

is the National Sports of the Philippines, and Senator is the one helping the Samahan ng mga Mataw to send it to the

Senate.

The said seminar was become more successful. The participants enjoyed their selves in watching the demon-

stration of Mr. Ariel one of the master in Arnis. He gave a full satisfaction to the audience by having an actual fight

with Mr. Julio, former students of School of Arnis and now one of the instructors of Arnis in Indang. Next was the

Grand Master of Arnis, who at his old age was very energetic that gave a satisfying lesson and idea of how to use the

Arnis in protecting their life.

The seminar ends with awarding of certificates to the guest speakers and to the participants. For the enjoyed

of all was the pictorial of all students of Arnis with their Masters and Senator Zubiri. The said event will be the most

satisfying and memorable event that ever happened not only for who organized it but also for those who attend in the

event.

Sport vs. Martial Art in Competition Arnis

Competitions are the dressed-up public face that people see of Arnis in the Philippines. For this reason, Sports Arnis must not be forgotten as an important component in the development of the art. This, of course, may offend some tradition-alists who would maintain (and quite rightly, too) that Arnis cannot be treated purely as a sport. They would contend that Arnis is a fighting art. They would be right. However, if we wish to have young people taking our art and making it flour-ish beyond our generation Sports Arnis must play a role. The task, then, is to turn Arnis into a successful and safe sport, without sacrificing its’ battleworthiness and core as a martial art. In this endeavor, though, certain key issues must be resolved with regards to the rules being used in the two (2) components of Arnis sport competitions; namely, Combat free-style sparring and Forms performance.

A. COMBAT (Realism vs Safety) Arnis competitive sparring is now at a cross roads within the Philippines. To maintain its’ status as a martial art, competition sparring must adhere to a principle of realism. On the other hand, the schools within which the Eskrimador seeks to propagate his art must insist on optimum safety for the young people who are to enter competition sparring.

1. Clean Strike? The first and foremost question, of course is the definition of a clean strike. What constitutes a “clean strike” that can be awarded points? What I have seen practiced in regional tournaments is that strike-counter-strike-counter-strike- counter exchanges go on and on with the referees’ and judges’ brains reeling from trying to evaluate a high-speed series of movements. From the standpoint of Safety, there is definitely a problem considering the current fad of officials insisting on us-ing maximum force in delivering every blow. From that of Realism, some would argue that real fights don’t have referees to shout “BREAK”. Arnisadores are supposed to be TOUGH. If you think really logically, though, is it realistic to still be able fight if you already received a mortal blow to the head??? I have seen a young player receive such a hard blow to the head that the helmet’s ear-piece had to be repaired. No point was awarded on the reasoning that a counter blow was delivered a split second later. Honestly, if the sticks were not padded and no armor had been worn, someone would already have been out cold on the floor unable to unleash a counter. If a gulok or kampilan had been used, someone’s head would already have been flying away, leaving a decapitated body to attempt a counter-strike. Of course, one can always argue that two fighters could exchange blows that are not immediately fatal, such as strikes to the leg or the arm. There is also the argument that blows to the torso may not be fatal with sticks, but will bring death if a sword is used. Perhaps we should distinguish strike areas by attaching more points to areas where hits are assumed to be fatal and less to areas that are not. Certainly, though, a head or torso blow must stop an encounter and bring points regardless of any succeeding counter. There is a very good reason why other weapon arts such as European fencing and kendo use a principle of breaking up an encounter once a valid hit lands on a vital point. The reason is that, in a real duel, one guy would already be dead.

2. Stop Time vs. Running time? Should the referee stop the participants after each encounter that ends with a legitimate strike? Should the bout continue unimpeded? It has been argued that Arnis-Kali should not copy Karate or Tae Kwon Do where an encounter or exchange of blows is always stopped by the referee and the contestants told to reassume starting positions. We appear to be leaning in favor of the running-time type of round used in western Boxing and Muay Thai. The problem is that western Boxing draws on professional referees who are skilled in recording points as they see it happen. In Arnis-Kali, especially in the Philippine setting where most bouts occur within the public school system, no such core of highly trained referees and judges exists. It may be more practical, and honest, to use the same system as Karate or western Fencing. Scoring will be easier and more accurate, given the quality of available officiating.

3. Allowable Strikes /Techniques I have recently seen a tournament where backhand strikes with “pitik”, were not given points. Upward-directed strikes such as with the “ocho” were also disallowed. Thrusts to the torso were also disallowed, even though they are allowed under Palarong Pambansa rules. The officials, I think, wanted to restrict usable strikes to the overhead blow and the leg strikes. The excuse given was, of course, safety. Admittedly, it is hard to argue against this. Everybody wants the young

players to be safe. However, is this not the reason we wear body armor and use padded sticks in sparring competitions? If we do a good job of specifying and enforcing the use of armor, severe injuries should be eliminated, shouldn’t they?

Restricting valid techniques to two or three kinds of strikes is already castrating the martial art., depriving it of the beauty of the variety of blows that can be used. I have seen safety used as an excuse to do this. The only ones who benefit are the teachers who have very little in the way of combat technique to give to their players. I have seen this same thing happen during the huddle of coaches immediately before Karate tournaments, just before sweeping techniques are prohibited simply because some sensei are unable to teach “ashi barai” and scooping blocks properly. The same seems to be happening to Arnis-Kali in the Philippines.

4. Equipment Considerations Related to the issue of safety is the matter of improving the equipment in use for tournament sparring. First and foremost is the matter of the helmet. Most types of helmet padding in use are sufficient to prevent head injuries. In the area of the face mask portion, though, we can suggest a refinement. I have talked to a former collegiate player who was injured when a sideward blow to the grill went between the bar. He woke up in the hospital. Western Fenc-ing does not use a face plate that resembles the front grill of on American football helmet instead they use a very durable steel alloy mesh that deflects even the steel tip of a foil or epee. If we were to use the same, we should be able to permit thrusts to the head using a heavily padded stick. The second item for consideration would be improvements in the armor covering the limbs. Protection at present covers only the outer side of the arms and the front part of the legs (both upper and lower). It would be better if the arm bracers covered the arm all around, particularly the lower arm portion.

B. FORMS

1. Realism vs Art As I was watching a regional Arnis tournament at a mall a few days ago, a woman spectator in her late forties ut-tered a remark thus, “Iyan bang mga galaw nila ay magamit sa tunay na away?” (Translation: Can they use those moves in a real fight?) Her comment was made as she watched a form (Anyo) performed by three young players. A year ago, the young mother of one of my students approached me as I watched a team practice for the regionals. Referring to a particularly flashy opening movement for Anyo, she said, “Sir, I know that move. It’s the same thing I was doing as a baton-twirling band majorette years ago.” These two comments illustrate a particular sore point in the development of the Anyo for competition purposes. The military historian, Josephus once said of the Roman legions, “Their military exercises are like bloodless battles and their battles are like bloody exercises.” In the realm of Anyo, we must recognize that forms in any martial art are meant to introduce the student to the movements and techniques that he will be expected to use in sparring and, perhaps, actual deadly street fights. It stands to reason that if one practices a certain form with all of its footwork and hand move-ments, constant repetition will engage the mechanism of muscle memory. Many Arnis practitioners of a more traditional bent frown upon Anyo movements that are too flashy, their reason is that such moves are useless and time consuming in a real fight for life and limb. Others are of the opinion that Anyo demos for sport purpose are just sport and can use “jazzing up” to please audiences. All teachers of Arnis must bear in mind that muscle memory of counter-productive techniques can really be fatal in the “no-mind” state in the middle of a fight.

2.Standardization vs Artistic License In Arnis tournaments, would it be better if performances of form sequences or Anyo were standardized? On the one hand, many would say that creativity may be stifled if standard Anyo were prescribed for each recognized style of Arnis. On the other hand, standard sequences make it easier to spot errors, assuming that the judges are properly familiarized with the performer’s style. I have known of Anyo performances so complex that no repetition is ever quite the same. The name of the game becomes “ad-libbing” or improvisation. In the end, it may be best to have two types of events in each tournament; one being standard Anyo (as per style) and the other a “free-style” or Improvised Performance.

3.Abecedario vs Anyo My last point with regards to Anyo performances is probably a very minor semantic point. The name Anyo may not be exactly appropriate in referring to the sequenced exercise of movements and techniques. Anyo, in Pilipino is more accurately translated as “shape”, a more static term than “form”. Perhaps the term “abecedario” (ABC’s) may be more

appropriate since the purpose of the exercises is to teach basic fighting moves. Other choices might be “sanayan” (practice) or even “hasa” (to sharpen).

C. STANDARDIZATION OF RULES. The last point that must be made is that, for competition Arnis to flourish, there must be a standard set of rules that must not change too much from one regional competition to another. I have heard one Guro complaining that, in their regional competition, strikes with follow-through movement were disallowed and only strikes with “pitik” were allowed. In the adjoining region, one month after, the opposite held true. Only full-force strikes with follow-through were allowed. I wonder how cross-regional competitions can be smooth if rules change depending on location?

In closing, I would just like to add, though, that ironing out a unified (or generally accepted) set of competition rules and guidelines must be done rationally. It must be done without blinders of false machismo (“Kailangan lumalatay ng husto ang hataw mo!”) that may lead to practices too unsafe for general sport use. Nor must rules be formulated with timid-ity (It’s too dangerous to allow thrusts and upward strikes! So, ban the “ocho” and the “tusok” in sparring.) Lastly, these rules must be done with only the desire to make Arnis into a popular sport, without losing its essential character as a deadly martial art.

Prepared by: Octavio Ramon L. Lijauco

President, Santa Rosa Educational Institution City of Santa Rosa, Laguna

Nidan Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karatedo Association-Shidokan, Philippine Branch

Graduate: Batch9 (Talisman), School of Arnis Professionals ICPES (formerly NCPE)

Personal who received Certificates from the School of Arnis Professional

Conscious of the need of developing enthusiasm, interest and dedication in the field of Filipino Martial Arts Education, and in order to act as guardians of the noble and beneficial aims of Arnis de Mano and compelled by our desire to establish an Association which shall be the rallying point of all teachers of Arnis de Mano as a Filipino Martial Arts Education, the Mataw-Guro’s hereby mutually agree to unite and associate ourselves for such a purpose.

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