This event was endorsed by the New Zealand Council of Kali Eskrima Arnis Instructors.
The weekend of the 23rd & 24th June was yet another exciting event held by the New Zealand Council of Kali Eskrima Arnis Instructors (NZCKEAI). This time it was the north islands turn, Run along the same lines as the South Island event that was held on Saturday 12th May in Christchurch (https://www.fighttimes.com/magazine/magazine.asp?article=671 ),But at the North island event it was over two days instead of one. The Event was held at the Rapid Arnis New Zealand Headquarters in Albany in the North shore. The host of the day was NZ Rapid Arnis Chief Instructor Clinton Jones in attendance was Progressive fighting arts from Northland & Nelson led by Sailor Epiha. Bakbakan eskrima from Howick, led by Damian Halforty and Mike Ahearn. Integrated Arts from Auckland led by Jarrod Redwood, Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima from Wanganui led by James West. Rapid Arnis/Doce Pares Original multi-style from Levin led by Richard Mitchell, Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima from Christchurch led by Leigh Jenkins (who had to return home before the event started, with a family emergency).and last of all support from Diamondback eskrima from Dunedin in the form of Lee Mackie.
Clinton Jones opening up the event.
Day one was scheduled fighting in different formats fighting under different rules.
We started of with our host Clinton Jones welcoming everyone and then a run down on the rules.
First up was World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation rules (WEKAF).
This is where participants wear helmet – Gloves – and body armour
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.
Rounds consisted of 3x 1 min rounds with 30 second rest in between rounds.
The beauty of the format displayed on the day was that there were no winners.
Participants fought with one rattan stick to start of with.
We started of with the under 18’s single stick, and there was a lot of potential talent coming from the Northland team and a couple of young eager fighters from Levin and Wanganui. These under 18 group displayed awesome control and sportsmanship’s. Well done to these young up and coming fighters.
Two participants commence with
the WEKAF format of Sparring.
While the young guys were having a good play, the soft stick sparring got underway on the other side of the room. As soft stick sparring was fairly new to everyone but the Bakbakan group. We went with the Bakbakan format of sparring. This is where the fighters wore a helmet & gloves and any other protection they felt they needed, the stick they used was a soft stick they call a Smak-stik which is slightly longer than the average rattan stick. Once everyone had ago Damian (Bakbakan Instructor) incorporated the smak-stik knife sparring
Two council members Lee & Jarrod
Completing knife sparring
Next were the adults or over 18 group WEKAF format.
In this section there was some excellent fights from all clubs. As this was just aimed to get in and have a go there was no weight diversions. at the end of the day everyone went home smiling and were all friends at the end of the day.
Once the single stick fighting came to an end everyone was still on high from participating in the single stick format.
They were treated to demo of Double stick sparring From Levin Rapid Arnis instructor Richard Mitchell and his 14 year old student Jacob Brunton. Once these guys finished there demo the room just come alive again with participants wanting to have ago with two sticks. And again some excellent double stick fighting skills coming out from all clubs. This basically ended the first day .where we all gathered around and had a BBQ. unfortunately some guys missed out on the BBQ as they either left the building and came back to late or did not hear the call for Kai.
Group photo of participants on Day one
Day two was scheduled to have each council member put on a short seminar ,unfortunately a bit of muck up at the start, as some how half the people thought day two started at 1pm and the other half thought it started at 10 am.
It was Damian from the Bakbakan eskrima that finally kicked of the seminar displaying some excellent knife skills, next was Jarrod Redwood from the integrated arts demonstrating some empty hand drills from his art. and finally Mike Ahearn demonstrating some Sinawali (two sticks) patterns from his Bakbakan system.
About this time the Wanganui group and Northland group thought they would head home, once these guys left, the other half of the group turned up and everyone just blended in with each other and helped answer questions on each others arts.
Some of the Day Two participants
The highlight of this event was having all these groups in one room sparring – Training together and helping each other out. Ego’s were left at the door ,right along side any negative thoughts.
This experience is something that can not be explained, it has to be experienced to be appreciated. To the council (NZCKEAI) members and all the clubs that attended well done guys. thank you all for making this a special event
Comments on the event:
The weekend was awesome, so great to see everyone excited and eyes twinkling. Really impressed with the friendly approach everyone had with each other & seemed everyone really appreciated the experience. (Mel – Rapid Arnis, Auckland)
It was so good to see the different styles on display as I have never known anything much about any other style other than my own. The atmosphere was so neutral and very relaxing and everyone had a good time. It was good to see and I would like to see more of it. (Sailor Epiha- Progressive fighting arts, Northland)
It was such a pleasure and honor to finally meet everyone.
It was just a awesome feeling having all our groups together under the
One roof with no politics and no egos, Just all working well together as one. (Richard Mitchell- Rapid Arnis ,Levin)
If there is anyone interested in the next event or participating in any of the above formats, Please contact one of the council members close to you.
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
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
Damien Halforty – Bakbakan
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bakbakan.com
Phone: 09 535 3612 or 021 264 6216
Michael Ahearn – Bakbakan
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 09 533 8987
Jarrod Redwood – Integrated Arts
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
