An exciting new direction for the Filipino Martial Arts in New Zealand began on Saturday 12 May 2007 with the inaugural seminar of the South Island Filipino Martial Art schools.

Principal Instructor Leigh Jenkins (Vice Chairman of the NZCKEAI) hosted the event at his school, the New Zealand Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima Headquarters in Christchurch. Instructor Lee Mackie (Diamond Back Eskrima from Dunedin and Chairman of the NZCKEAI) and his students plus students representing Progressive Fighting Arts academy from Nelson attended the seminar.

The morning of the seminar displayed the exciting future of martial arts competition in New Zealand with sport stick fighting on show. Instructor Jenkins said, “The protective armour worn allows a participant to experience full speed and power contact sparring without the usual concerns of injury. The armour absorbs the force of the weapon yet still allows the participant to move freely and to demonstrate the full range of their skills. This means that many students and potential students of martial arts who normally would not contemplate full contact sparring due to the high risk of injury are able to participate fully while experiencing real time physiological and psychological combative pressure and fatigue.”

Students who attended the seminar but had no armour were so enthralled as they watched the fighting that they borrowed some armour so they could participate. All students had three fights, each one consisting of three 1-minute rounds with 30 second rests. As this was the first South Island interclub sparring session and levels of skill varied, each fight was deemed to be friendly and so no scores were taken (all were draws). The armour sparring was a great success and all participants thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

The afternoon consisted of two seminars. Instructor Lee Mackie first took the class through some Eskrido locking techniques that were very effective at demonstrating the versatility of an Eskrima stick in controlling an opponent’s movements. Instructor Mackie followed this with some Stick and Dagger drills. In no time the students were exhibiting the characteristic relaxed flow that Filipino Martial Arts are famous for.

Instructor Jenkins then took the class through some empty hand weapon disarming techniques (Pangamont). To demonstrate the Filipino martial art principle of the empty hand being effective against blunt weapons, bladed weapons or empty hand, students were shown how to engage their opponent while intercepting the incoming weapon. Students practised a variety of techniques with finishes including take downs, joint manipulations and controls, neck locks and chokes.

The 2007 South Island Seminar Attendees

History of the New Zealand Council of Kali Eskrima Arnis Instructors (NZCKEAI) and Where to From Here:

A meeting of the Filipino Martial Arts Instructors in New Zealand was held in Auckland on 3 March 2007. From this meeting the NZCKEAI was formed. The Council has many aims, one of which is to start a New Zealand wide competition for sport stick fighting which will culminate in a New Zealand tournament with national titles at stake.

The South Island seminar was the first step in that journey. The North Island equivalent is to be held in Albany over the weekend of 23 and 24 June 2007.

Any persons interested in attending this event should contact the host Clinton Jones (contact details listed below).

The first New Zealand tournament is likely to take place in 2008.  Any students interested in taking up this fantastic sport are encouraged to contact your nearest NZCKEAI representative.

NZCKEAI Council Representatives:

SOUTH  ISLAND:

CHRISTCHURCH:
Leigh Jenkins –  Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima
Website: www.nzwingchun.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 03 332 2335 or 027-226 4045

DUNEDIN:
Lee Mackie – Diamondback Eskrima   
Email: [email protected]

Danny Brown – Diamondback Eskrima
Email: [email protected]

INVERCARGILL:
Grant Boath –  Doce Pares Multi-Style
Website: www.doceparesinternational.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 03-2179784 or 021-02701934

NORTH ISLAND

AUCKLAND:

Clinton Jones or Herman Sakaria – Rapid Arnis International       
Website: https://colourcards.com/rapidarnis
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 09 415 1449 or 021 0221 2548

Michael Ahearn – Bakbakan
Email: [email protected]              
Website: www.bakbakan.com
Phone: 09 533 8987                         

Damien Halforty – Bakbakan
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 09 535 3612 or 021 264 6216

Jarrod Redwood – JKD
Email: [email protected]

NORTHLAND:

Sailor Epiha – Progressive Fighting Arts Academy
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: 09 405 0224

LEVIN:

Richard Mitchell – Rapid Arnis/Doce Pares Original Multi Style
Website:  www.rapidarnis.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 027 393 5075