Uhaw pa sa camel: Arnis

I've been practicing arnis, the deadly Filipino stick, blade and empty-handed fighting art, albeit in an off and on fashion, for about five months now. Though I just couldn't find enough time to pursue this passion of mine, my appreciation for the simplicity and effectiveness of this martial art stands unwavering. I belong to the Kapatirang Doble Olisi Escrima (KDO) club, which literally means "Double Stick Escrima Brotherhood". The club was founded in the 90's by Master Mario Palazuelo. As a martial artist, Master Palazuelo is skilled in a wide gamut of martial arts including aikido, boxing and taekwondo, having earned his black belt in the Korean art decades ago. As an arnisadore, he is also well versed in many Master Palazuelo with GM Presas

different permutations of the art, having traveled across the country, especially in the Visayan area, where he studied with different masters, including GM (Grand Master) Ernesto Presas of Kombatan and Modern Arnis and GM Ben Luna Lema of Lightning Scientific Arnis. As the name of the club implies, the Master teaches his students the double stick as well as single stick forms aiming to make them proficient in both styles. Disarms and locks are taught as well, with emphasis on speed and timing. True to tradition, the master teaches knife-fighting, boxing and unarmed combat when a student has progressed in his stick-fighting abilities.

As a club, KDO aims to promote the Filipino martial arts in Mindanao and Davao City and, if opportunities allow, world-wide. As an affiliate of Arnis Philippines (Master Palazuelo as Commissioner for Davao City), KDO sponsors tournaments that follow Arnis Philippines rules. Personally, I share the hopes of many arnisadores that one day arnis will gain a world-wide following large enough to include it in the Olympics. So far, about 35 countries practice arnis, 15 short to make it an Olympic sport.

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