Well on November 29^th 2006 Tuhon Pat O’Malley and his wife Lucy O’Malley and there two children Olisi & Rees O’Malley arrived on our shores for the very first time ever.

I should tell you about who Pat & Lucy O’Malley are and why they were visiting our shores.

Pat O'Malley and John Harvey founded Rapid Arnis after years of experience with other Filipino styles, principally: Modern Arnis, Inayan Eskrima, Doce Pares Eskrima, LaPunti Arnis de Abaniko, Pekiti Tirsia Kali, Balintawak, Kali and Jeet Kune Do. Since 1993 a constant development has existed within the organization and the group's syllabus has undergone constant improvement at Tuhon Pat O'Malley's insistence as he feels that otherwise the art will stagnate and eventually lose its effectiveness. It is for this reason that Pat O'Malley and many of the senior instructors are constantly seeking out more information and more styles to train and develop their own skills with and better teach the traditional arts of the Philippines. The organization has grown from just one Rapid Arnis club in England to at least 16 clubs in England, 2 clubs in France, clubs in Belgium, Scotland, Ireland and most recently New Zealand.

Since its conception in 1993 Rapid Arnis is now recognized as the only system developed by a non-Filipino (Pat O'Malley) that has full recognition in the Philippines. In 2005 Pat O'Malley was inducted on to the Philippine Council of Kali Eskrima Arnis Masters (the first non-Filipino) in charge of the United Kingdom and in 2006 his wife was also inducted (the second female and only non-Filipino female). Also in 2006 Pat O'Malley was also made a member for the Asia Office for the World Council of United Nations of Peoples representing Sports and Culture (specifically the Filipino martial arts).

Pat O'Malley also spearheaded in 2006, the new British Council of Kali Eskrima Arnis Instructors (BCKEAI), the first organization outside the Philippines to come together as a non-fee paying and non-political organization with the sole goal of promoting Filipino martial arts (FMA) and its instructors. In the first year alone no fewer than 9 senior masters of the FMA based in the UK, representing no less than 12 major styles, joined the BCKEAI.

Although Rapid Arnis is not sport based, but rather a traditional warrior art, there is a way to test the warrior spirit and techniques in a safe environment through different formats of tournaments namely the WEKAF & WASA organizations. Since the late 1980s many of its members have competed in regular stick fighting competitions around the world, held under the auspices of organizations such as WEKAF. This is where contestants or Players fight with WEKAF approved headgear-body armour and gloves, with real rattan sticks, for three one minute rounds. The winner is the player that out skills his opponent with specific strikes and good defensive skills. The other format of tournament fighting you could find Rapid Arnis players is at the World Arnis Sports Alliance tournaments. This format utilizes a soft-stick weapon rather than a real rattan stick. Both formats utilize no grappling as the main idea is to fight with the stick. Rapid Arnis has over the years trained and produced countless British, European and World Champion Eskrima Kali Arnis Champions in several formats including: The World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF), Doce Pares and World Arnis Sports Alliance – Kali Sports (WASA). There most successful fighter so far is Lucy O'Malley who holds 3 WEKAF World Titles, 2 WASA World Titles, 1 Doce Pares World Title, 8 WEKAF European Titles and 20 British WEKAF Titles as well as a British Vale Tudo (MMA) Title. In achieving Lucy’s latest achievements this topples Lucy’s husband's (Pat O’Malley’s) record of 3 WEKAF World Titles, 5 WEKAF European Titles and 40 WEKAF British Titles.

Rapid Arnis members have also had success in other areas fighting such as Shoot fighting, Mixed Martial Arts and Muay Thai, showing that the Filipino martial arts is a well rounded art in itself and can hold its own in many sporting areas and not just Eskrima Kali Arnis.

Hopefully this gives you an idea on who Pat & Lucy O’Malley and Rapid Arnis are all about. There number one objective of the visit was to assess myself in the Rapid Arnis system and become officially the Rapid Arnis New Zealand Representative as well as hold a two day open seminar for any one interested.

Day One of the Seminar consisted of the lots of hands on Drills , emphasis on the basics of Rapid Arnis , Footwork ,Attack & counter , Some Doce Pares drills , double stick counts like tres-tres and the such .

Day Two Pat upped the pace into  Espada y Daga and Eskrido. The seminar ended with Tuhon Pat demonstrating soft stick sparring with one of my Fighters Herman Sakaria which was a great experience for us all (footage avilable on youtube under Rapid Arnis).

After another three days of relentless training and contortion fromTuhon Pat He Graded me up to Lakan Isa  ,authorising me to teach and grade up to Yakan Tatlo and Officialy Rapid Arnis Rep in NZ.

 It was a great experience having the O’Malley clan here in NZ, and the Family enjoyed it so much, they are coming back out again this year. So all those that missed out, or any persons that are keen to attend the next seminar, just give me a call. Or if you would like a little taste of what Tuhon Pat has to offer, we could organize a pre seminar – seminar before his arrival. I would just like to say, watch this space for more informative articles on Rapid Arnis & NZCKEAI.

Clinton Jones Rapid Arnis NZ representative, And Auckland instructor.

Come on down and have a chat and play or give me call on (021 02212548) or email me ([email protected]) or check out our website (https://www.rapidarnis.co.nz/) and Pat’s website https://www.rapidarnis.com/.

Come and get to know us, before you judge us.