IMAFP International News - USA

MODERN ARNIS "TIPUNAN" SEMINAR MAKES HISTORICAL DEBUT
(written by Guro Lakan Jay de Leon,
originally published in Blackbelt Magazine

"Tipunan" is a Filipino word meaning "gathering". And it was indeed a star-studded gathering of Filipino martial arts (FMA) masters, Hollywood luminaries, Filipino celebrities and martial arts vendors at the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP) symposium at the Anaheim Hilton in front of Disneyland on Aug. 12-14, 2005.

Prof. Remy Presas Founder of Modern Arnis

Dubbed as Tipunan sa Disneyland (Gathering at Disneyland) and hosted by IMAFP Commissioner Jay de Leon, the gathering featured instruction by a dozen masters in the art of arnis, buno (wrestling) and hilot (indigenous healing arts). These illustrious masters of arnis represented different styles of the art, including Modern Arnis, Lameco, Garimot Arnis, Ilustrisimo Kali and others. It was truly an international and national event, as several instructors and students traveled from other countries as well as other states.

In his opening remarks, Jay de Leon dedicated Tipunan sa Disneyland to Modern Arnis Founder and Father Remy Presas, who was teacher, friend and inspiration to many of the Modern Arnis instructors and participants in the seminar.

The following is a complete list of instructors who participated in Tipunan sa Disneyland :

• Dayang Edessa Ramos –Modern Arnis, Zurich, Switzerland
• Master Bram Frank –Modern Arnis, Florida, USA
• Master Jerome Barber –Modern Arnis, Orchard Park, NY, USA
• Gat Puno Abon Baet –Garimot Arnis, Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
• Master Roger Agbulos –Lameco, North Hills, CA, USA
• Grandmaster Rey Galang –Bakbakan Kali, NJ, USA
• Master Arthur Gonzalez Sr.–Tenio Decuerdas Arnis,Stockton,CA, USA
• Master John Jacobo –Bakbakan Kali, MD, USA
• Grandmaster Christopher Ricketts –Kali Ilustrisimo,San Diego, CA, USA
• Master Stephen Aron -Inosanto Kali, Glendora, CA, USA
• Master Jay de Leon –Modern Arnis, Murrieta, CA, USA
• Guro Bruce Ricketts –Kali Ilustrisimo, San Diego, CA. USA

Three scheduled instructors were unable to make it to the event. Master Godofredo Fajardo, current IMAFP Commissioner for the Middle East, was unable to break contractual obligations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he is based. Master Tom Bolden suffered an unexpected setback to a recent shoulder surgery, and Master Samuel Dulay ran into visa problems.

Featured instructor Steve Aron, Tipunan host Jay de Leon and co-host Edessa Ramos from Zurich, Switzerland, from left to right.

The event highlighted some scintillating performances, including a highly entertaining instruction in buno (Filipino grappling) and lubid (rope weapon use) by the energetic Gat Puno Abon Baet of Garimot arnis from Florida, the now patented Ilustrisimo stick demo by father-son team of Christopher and Bruce Ricketts, and a larga mano (long-range) demo by leading exponents Gat Puno Abon Baet and Roger Agbulos.

As an added attraction to the FMA instruction, both the event instructors and participants were treated to a special performance by Lua Olohe (Grand Master) Solomon Kaihewalu of Orange, CA, who gave two separate performances, one on his system’s weapons, the other on empty hands. Lua is the ancient martial arts system from the island of Hawaii, at one time a secretive art reserved for Hawaiian royalty. It is known for its unique weapons including paddles, war clubs and rope weapons. The effectiveness of the techniques was evidenced by the bruising punishment taken by senior Lua instructor David Krapes who assisted in the demonstration.

Solomon Kaihewalu (left), Grandmaster of Lua,demonstrates the use of the paddle against a staff wielded by Lua senior instructor David Krapes.

The students were a diverse lot, from beginners to black belt instructors, including Guro Jeremiah Stanley of Reno, NV and local Guro Damian Romero. The oldest participant included martial artist and dancer Sid Hallburn, who is in his eighties. Corporate vendors included Winston Tamisin’s SmakStiks (padded sticks and knives) all the way from Atlanta, GA, Morgan Thomas’s Sharkee Knives (training knives), David Shulman’s Virtual Blade (Sharkee knives with a patented marking delivery system) from Maryland, and Bob Wall’s WorldBlackbelt headed by Marketing Director Adam James.

Many FMA notables dropped by simply to say hello, take pictures or just soak in the atmosphere, including Modern Arnis datu Tim Hartman, Inosanto Kali guro Victor Gendrano, Master Ramon Rubia of San Miguel Eskrima who had just arrived from an extended trip to the Philipppines, FMA Digest publisher Steven Dowd and Mandirigma guros Arnold Noche, Dino Flores and Bud Balani.

FMA Digest Publisher Steven Dowd presented Edessa Ramos with her award as the FMA Digest Woman of the Year for 2005.

Hollywood celebrities were out in force including actor and producer Leo Fong, entertainment producer David Krapes, creator of the TV reality series “The Next Martial Arts Superstar, ” entertainment executive Amy Shomer of TerraNova Entertainment Inc. who helped supervised the professional filming of the event, and others.

Filipino celebrities included Robert “Bobby” Jaworski, a popular basketball legend, actor and former Senator of the Philippines who addressed the assembly, and Bruce Ricketts, a teen action star in the Philippines who has recently immigrated to the United States. Bruce is the nephew of Philippine action star Ronnie Ricketts and the son of Kali Ilustrisimo Grandmaster Christopher Ricketts, who was also a featured instructor at the seminar.

(L. to R.) Rey Galang, Arthur Gonzalez Sr.,Solomon Kaihewalu,David Krapes,Leo Fong,Roger Agbulos and Adam James.

All in all, a good time was had by all. Tipunan host Jay de Leon promised that preparations are underway for yet another historic bash to be called Tipunan sa Boston on Sept. 8-10, 2006 in Boston, MA. Stay tuned. Acknowledgement : Pictures in this article were provided courtesy of Tipunan photographers Mitch de Leon and Gonzalo Cordova, featured instructor Bram Frank and Gerie Berling-Clay. All rights reserved.