Regional Commissions and Chapters
IMAFP Mindanao Commission
Guro Nestee Luis leads the implementation of Arnis in the Department of Education of Region 9 in Mindanao. They are currently training all Physical Education teachers in the elementary and secondary schools on the basic skills in arnis. They are now preparing for the forthcoming division meet to be held on December 11, as well as the first national interschool arnis tournament on February 22-25, 2006.
IMAFP Mindanao is based in Zamboanga, where Guro Luis runs a gym composed of over 40 arnis blackbelts. They also do mixed martial arts with concentration on weaponry. For the past two years, Guro Luis and his group have been training the US personnel who take part in the Balikatan exercises (military) between RP and the USA. In fact, in April 2005, two of the navy seals officers competed in the ARPI National Arnis Tournament as part of the Zamboanga Team. One of them got the Silver.
IMAFP Mindanao welcomes people from abroad who may want to train arnis with them. Guro Luis says: "In our own little way, we could share some skills that could be beneficial to others.I hope that this will be the beginning of lasting friendship and partnership.
