On July 17, 2010, a group of Arnis/Eskrima enthusiasts gathered in Jakarta at the Combined Martial Arts Academy (CMAA) Dojo at the Tetra Pak Building complex in Buncit Raya, for a 3 hour intensive Eskrima Stick Fighting Workshop. The workshop was hosted by the CMAA in response to continuing interest from Indonesian martial artists in the fighting element of Eskrima and the opportunity to compete in the sport of Pilipino Stick Fighting.
The CMAA established Indonesia’s reputation as a competitive nation in the sport in 2006 when an Indonesian team from the CMAA competed in Cebu, Philippines at the 2006 CDPE WF World Championships. The club won a total of 10 medals, 2 Gold, 5 Silver and 3 Bronze. Since that time Indonesia has sponsored the 2007 World championships in Jakarta with over a 120 competitors from 11countries competing where Indonesia won 35 medals in that event including 7 world titles. In 2008 Indonesia was represented at the Pacific Championships in Christchurch with a team of four fighters from the CMAA winning 9 medals including several Pacific titles. In 2009 the CMAA represented Indonesia once again when a team of 17 fighters won a total of 24 medals, retaining several existing world titles while adding several more.
As interest in the art of Eskrima has grown in Indonesia other Filipino styles have established themselves within the country. This has added diversity to the number of options available to interested martial artists wanting to learn about this dynamic art and form of fighting while further strengthening Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) within Indonesia.
Mike Lewis and Agus Ariyanto
With the 2011 World Championship fast approaching Indonesia will once again be represented by the CMAA and hopefully by these other FMA groups in Indonesia.
The attendees at the workshop came from Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung and included leading Indonesian actor Mike Lewis, who has expressed a great deal of interest in the Filipino fighting system featured in the workshop. Mike has become a regular at the CMAA participating in the clubs early morning fitness training program. The workshop focused on fighting in the competitive environment, with attendees given instruction in the basics of striking and disarming techniques before being given the opportunity to spar in a controlled and supervised environment.
Master Gardiner coaching one of the participants
The workshop was presented by Master Glen Gardiner, Senior Instructor at the CMAA. He holds a 6th Degree CDPE WF Black Belt and 5th Degree Pangamot CDPE WF Black Belt, in addition to holding several other civilian martial arts qualifications. Mr. Gardiner was also a senior military unarmed combat instructor for nearly 10 years while still a serving member of the Australian Army Military Unarmed Combat Wing.
After everyone was properly warmed up, starting slowly and building speed, confidence and technique, participants had the opportunity to clash sticks with Master Glen Gardiner himself and other club members including world champion Drew Lambert and 2009 world championship medal winner Taufik Nandipinto in light sparring sessions.
Drew Lambert & Shane Boyd in armour with a participant
The more experienced CMAA members coached and mentored the attendees rotating between partners, with Master Gardiner and his students working with the participants. This high level of experience and variety of instruction from the leading Eskrimadors enabled the workshop attendees to benefit greatly achieving more than they expected by the time the workshop was completed.
In the later phases of the workshop, participants were given the opportunity to spar with armour. Master Gardiner started the sparring session by fighting world champion Drew Lambert who is one of the instructors at the CMAA. After watching the two world champions demonstrating exceptional stick fighting skills, each participant had the opportunity to spar with CMAA students under the guidance of Master Gardiner.
CMAA Members and workshop attendees sparring in the armoured and Kulata
The final session of the stick fighting workshop was the most exciting element for the participants as they had the opportunity to experience the “KULATA” challenge. Kulata, a word from the Tagalong language of the Philippines which means “To Punish” involves sparring with limited armour, using a rattan cane covered with a thin strip of foam.
Multiple World Champion Title Holders Glen Gardiner & Drew Lambert spar “Kulata”
Master Gardiner sparring Kulata with 2009 CDPE WF World Championship medal winner Taufik Nandipinto
This element of the workshop cemented the day’s activities while allowing the attendees the opportunity to challenge themselves and overcome adversity. Certainly pain is an element of the art which is a simple reality however, no mystery now remains and those attendees wishing to compete in the upcoming 2011 World Championships now know what to expect when representing their country.
The workshop was closed with a brief knife fighting drill session where Master Gardiner showed the attendees how to block and disarm various knife attacks.
CMMA members and workshop attendees at the end of the day
Master Gardiner was very excited by the potential of the attendees several of which including Mr. Mike Lewis who have expressed interest in learning the art and participating in more stick fighting. Hopefully it is men and women like these who will make up the next Indonesian team Master Gardiner said.
