Arnis Philippines Officiating Review Held in Bago by: James U. Sy Jr.

Members of the Guarra Style Modern Arnis and Arjuka-Malingin pose with host and guest masters and grandmasters during the despidida gathering for Master Dexter F. Guarra last July 18, 2010 at Brgy. malingin, Bago City (James U. sy Jr./CMAS Photo).

Actual hands on training for Arnis Philippines official-trainees under the supervision of Bacolod/Negros Occidental CommissionerGrandmaster Danilo "Danny" L. Cardinal held last July 18, 2010 at Brgy. malingin, Bago City (James U. sy Jr./CMAS Photo).
After a successful Arnis Philippines Referee and Judges Officiating Echo Seminar on July 3-4, 2010 at Brgy. Lag-asan, Arjuka-Malingin of Founder/Grandmaster Isaac “Saac” T. Guarra hosted his brother P/Sgt. (Ret.) Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra, Founder of the Guarra Style Modern Arnis and current President of the Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF), and officials from Arnis Philippines-Bacolod/Negros Occidental Chapter headed by Commissioner Grandmaster Danilo “Danny” L. Cardinal for a review of sport Arnis officiating last July 18, 2010 at Brgy. Malingin, Bago City.

Other guests include Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr., Master Joeffrey S. Deriada, and Instructor Moises “Jung-Jung” Nifras Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., Founder/Chairman Abraham “Abe” Ganzon Jr. of Universal Defensive Tactics Academy (UDTA), and Master Guilberto Dajao of KaliSilat Arnis Association (KAA).

GM Isaac Guarra and his family treated the guests to a filling breakfast and lunch, which was a despidida get together for his son, Master Dexter F. Guarra, a seaman, who is set to leave for Manila this coming July 25, 2010.

Six teenage members of the Guarra Clan, who are all Arnis practitioners, participated in the review. They were Filton O. Bernadas, Jonar D. Guarra, John Rey C. Montes, Ceasar Ian G. Poral, Windy Lou G. Poral, and Louie A. Terante.

GM Cardinal led the officials-trainee in going through the various commands, hand signals, and gestures for referees and scoring method of judges as used by Arnis Philippines and the International Arnis Federation, the world governing body for sport Arnis.

The second half of the review involved four actual bouts of three rounds each where the trainees were given hands on practicum on refereeing the bouts. The other trainees were either assigned as judges or timers. Dajao and Ganzon guided the judges in keeping track of the scores and the proper use of the red and blue flags for announcing the winner. Members of the Guarra Clan in the compound gathered and cheered the fighters.

The review is a preparation for the upcoming event, the 1st GSMASDA-Arjuka-CMAS Arnis Expo & Tournament, mulled for August 1, 2010 at the Gaisano City Bacolod Supermall.