Filipino Martial Arts kick it way to Spain

 

SPAIN – Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) are becoming more and more popular in Spain.

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Jhonee Llandejar teaches the techniques of Laraw, Kali, Pamuok to both Filipino and Spanish students in Fitness Place Sports Center in Barcelona.

Laraw, Kali, Pamuok, explained Llandejar, is a type of Filipino Martial Arts that employs the use of weapons such as wooden sticks Arnis and dirty boxing techniques.

Laraw means picture or reflection of the Kali weapon and the warrior. Kali means the use of weapons like Arnis and dagger, and Pamuok, which refers to hand-to-hand street fighting or no rules boxing techniques.

This type of martial arts is not only for self-defense, but also develops patience and self-control.

“Napaka-kumpleto niya, pwede mong ituro sa bata, pwede mong ituro sa matanda…sa mga babae. At saka kailangang-kailangan natin kasi mga Pinoy tayo, maliliit tayo. Yung sistema na pwede nating atakehin ‘tong isang ganitong kalaking tao, pwede tayong mag-defend sa sarili natin. Hindi tayo magpapa-bully, basta basta,” said Llandejar, who underwent FMA training in the Philippines and earned the rank of Guro.

Barcelona-based Filipinos Morland Magnayi and Daven Baraquel Magboo attend the sessions for health and self-defense reasons.

“At least mayroong self-defense ba, habang nag-e-exercise ka may natutunan ka sa sarili mo,” Magnayi said.

“Habang nasa kalye ka, hindi mo alam kung bigla ka na lang nanakawan alam mo yung gagawin mo para ma-defend mo yung sarili mo,” Baraquel pointed out.

The martial art also attracted interest of Spaniards despite mastering other combat sports.

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Suntukan to the next level. Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) which include the use of weapons (sticks or kali/arnis and knives), dirty boxing, and street fighting techniques have long been offered in a number of fitness centers in Barcelona. According to Guro Jhonee Llandelar, its origin can be traced to the fighting techniques employed by Philippine hero Lapu Lapu when he killed Fernão de Magalhães the Portuguese voyager sent by then Spanish Empire to colonize the archipelago now called the Philippines. In the picture is Llandejar's Itak Tagalog Barcelona chapter teaching Filipino martial arts Laraw Kali Pamuok. FMA have already been used in movies such as Bourne Identity and Fast and Furious 7 #kali #arnis #arnisdemano #filipinomartialarts #laraw #pamuok #panuntukan #itak #selfdefense #martialarts #fight #artesmarciales #Barcelona #España #Spain #suntukan #boxing #dirtyboxing #streetfighting #bourneidentity #fastandfurious #furious7 #Filipinas #Philippines #culture #history #lapulapu #magalhães #upbeatsunday

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Ruben Salas, who teaches boxing, said: “Most of my friends are Filipinos and I consider it very interesting because it trains the body both internally and externally and provides more defense than boxing,” said.

Filipino-Spanish taekwondo instructor Pepe Manuel wants to know more about Filipino culture through FMA.

“My mother is Filipino (so) it’s something that I want to learn, and its teaching method is more fluid. Perhaps, Korean taekwondo (and) Japanese karate although (have similarities with FMA) are very static, very rigid, but Arnis is very fluid with different method and employs a lot of strikes. I like it,” explained Manuel in Spanish.

Llandejar added that Filipino Martial Arts can trace its origin from precolonial fighting skills. Philippine hero Lapu-Lapu already showed expertise in the use of shield and weapon against Ferdinand Magellan’s heavily armored forces.

Filipino Martial Arts have also gained more international exposure, thanks to action stunts used in Hollywood blockbusters like Bourne Legacy and Fast and Furious 7. ABS-CBNnews.com

Watch the related TV report aired on Balitang Global, TFC, ABS-CBN:

How Pinoy taekwondo champs got scholarships in Spain

By Daniel Infante Tuaño

BARCELONA – Two Filipino teens were given full scholarships to the prestigious center that trains Spain’s national athletes.

They were selected after the two received medals in local and national taekwondo championships in Spain.

Spain’s Centro de Alto Rendimiento (CAR) is giving scholarship packages, including free high school education, food allowance
and top-notch taekwondo training to 14-year-old Jason Clark Saplaan Hidalgo and 15-year-old Cristian Elmer Benan.

“Masaya ako dahil nabigyan ako ng scholarship at magandang oportunidad at training ito,” said Saplaan.

Jason Clark Saplaan Hidalgo

“Masaya naman kasi nandito na lahat eh, may mga doktor kung may mangyari ba, may pagkain andaming pagkain, training masaya naman magtraining,” said Benan.

Cristian Elmer Benan

The Centro de Alto Rendimiento (CAR) or High-Performance Center is a prestigious sports center as it trains young Spanish athletes from an early age in swimming, water polo, handball, gymnastics, taekwondo, tennis and football.

The campus in Sant Cugat, Barcelona, where the teens undergo training, is one of the three primary CAR centers in Spain that prepares athletes, including Olympians and world champions, for national and international competitions.

The two Pinoy teens are being trained by a world champion, Javier Agudo.

Their Filipino trainer Elmar Dimayuga, who owns Barcelona-based Sant Pau Jade Taekwondo D’Warriors, could not contain his happiness and pride for what his students have achieved.

“Nakakatuwa, nakakaproud na sila, sa pagsisikap nila at sa pagsisikap ko rin bilang trainer ay kumbaga nakukuha na natin yung fruits ng pagsisikap,” he said.

Dimayuga’s son 12-year-old Jade Mariele, who once represented Spain in an international taekwondo competition in Bucharest, and 13-year-old Christian Vincent Manalo Mañibo were also admitted to the center. However, they will be only given free training until they reach the required age.

Jade Mariele Dimayuga

Christian Vincent Mañibo

There are requirements to maintain the scholarships, such as no failing grades and continuous wins in competitions. Saplaan and Benan have to attend regular schooling provided by the center and after finishing their homework, they have to attend the taekwondo training and win tournaments.

“The objective is to increase the number of Catalans in the national team…to be champions in Spain or reach the podium, we (also) try to compete in two international open so they can have experience in competing in the international level,” said Argudo in Spanish.

Just recently, Saplaan won gold at the Campeonato de Catalunya Junior category. Benan bagged gold in the same competition, silver medal atCampeonato de España, and silver at Campeonato de Catalunya Senior category.

Dimayuga, who used to compete and also won medals in the Philippines, stressed the importance of support of family in realizing their children’s potentials.

He also praised the opportunities and support being offered by Catalan and Spanish government to athletes. ABS-CBNnews.com

Watch the related TV report in Filipino aired on Balitang Global, The Filipino Channel, ABS-CBN:

Pinoy martial arts school flourishes in Barcelona

Elmar Dimayuga and Taekwondo Jade D’Warriors

By Daniel Infante Tuaño

BARCELONA, Spain – “Madaling matutunan ang pagsipa at pagsuntok. Mas mahirap i-mold ang good character,” said Elmar Dimayuga, coach and owner of Sant Pau Jade Taekwondo D’Warriors.

Aside from teaching martial arts, Dimayuga recognizes the important role the Barcelona-based school plays in inculcating values among its students who are mostly young Pinoy-Spaniards.

He teaches them the values of perseverance, good time management and commitment to training when preparing for a competition.

“There should be a balance between physical, mental and spiritual. Although nag-train, importanteng humingi ng tulong at magdasal,” he said.

And if they win, he reminds them to stay humble.

The school has already gained the respect of taekwondo clubs in Spain as its young taekwondo jins bagged almost 400 medals and trophies from local and national competitions, including best coach for Dimayuga.

Recently, Dimayuga’s trainee and own son Jade Mariele had won gold in the national taekwondo competition and was selected to be part of the Spanish national team to compete in the 5th European Taekwondo Cadet Championships held in Bucharest, Romania.

Eleven-year-old Jade did not win any medal but was awarded for being the youngest contestant and was given the Fair Play Award in the Men’s Division for playing clean and fair, not committing any single foul in the entire game.

Jade carrying the Spanish flag in the 5th European Taekwondo Cadet Championships held in Bucharest, Romania.

Dimayuga is also aware of the problems that confront the youth and the Filipino community in Barcelona such as vices and teenage pregnancies, which he partly blames to lack of quality time spent by overworked migrant parents with their children.

‘Kinakausap ko lalo na ang mga babaeng istudyante ko tungkol sa pagbubuntis nang maaga. Pinapaalalahanan ko rin ang mga istudyante na kahit bata pa sila tungkol sa drugs, panandalian lang sira na ang buhay mo. Ang paninigarilyo useless din kahit athlete ka pa,” he said.

He is happy though that some parents manage to find time to cheer for their children every time they compete.

“Importante ang moral support ng pamilya. Nakakatulong sa relationship ng bata at parents tuwing may competition dahil mas nagkakaroon ng bonding,” said Dimayuga.

Dimayuga, a blackbelter and former Lyceum of Batangas varsity, dreams big and hopes that someday his students can also compete in the Olympics.

Asked which country they would represent, Philippines or Spain, he answered, “I would prefer them to represent Spain as they will be given all the support they need. Mas mabibigyan sila ng break. Spain looks more at one’s attitude and capability, and the system is more rigid. Mas maraming opportunities for them.” ABS-CBNnews.com