4TH LEE GRALTO NEGROS REG’L WUSHU SANSHOU:"WUSHU IN SIPAWAY" Part 1 of 3 by: James U. Sy, Jr.

Published in Negros Daily Bulletin
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The Lee Gralto Defense Club (LGDC) of Founder Lee Gralto, 2nd degree, and Chief Instructor Fred R. Flores, 1st degree, in cooperation with LGDC Consultant and Wushu Federation of the Philippines (WFP) Oriental Negros Provincial Coordinator Roy R. Flores Sr. of Tapondo International Federation Inc. (TIFI)-Negros and Tribo Hangaway (TH), 6th degree, made another milestone in the history of martial arts in Negros with the highly successful staging of the 4th Lee Gralto Negros Regional Wushu Sanshou Championships last June 30, 2007 at the newly constructed LGDC Covered Court, Lee Gralto Compound, Ermita St., Sipaway Island, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.



The event earned the distinction as the first Wushu Sanshou tournament in Sipaway Island and the second regional level Wushu Sanshou competition in San Carlos City and Negros Occidental. The first provincial level Wushu Sanshou championships in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental was held by the Wushu Federation of the Philippines under Negros Occidental Provincial Coordinator Joery C. Amante, 4th degree, last November 2003.

The first Wushu Sanshou tournament in San Carlos was held by the San Carlos Jungle Fighters Martial Arts Club (SACA JUFIMAC) of Founder/Chief Instructor and WFP North Negros VP Diomedes N. Mamugay last March 2005.

11 martial arts organizations from Bacolod , Bago, Bago, Iloilo , and San Carlos Cities took part as competitors, officials, and demonstrators in 12 action packed Wushu Sanshou bouts witnessed by 400-500 island residents.

The event kicked off with a Karaan Tapado demonstration by Ferdinand C. Labay, 1st degree Tapondo and KATA, and his son Mark Chester Labay of the Kalupaan Tapado Association (KATA) under Grandmaster Welbor “Kickok” Presno and Master Rey Marticio. They exhibited the basic uno and dos of Karaan Tapado which descended from the late Grandmaster Norberto “Norbing” Mamar and combines the methods of Lagas with pre-1960 long stick Backhand. Mark also showed a solo form developed by KATA which strung the basic strikes and footwork of the style.

Representing Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA) of Master Elmer V. Montoyo, Pastor Romeo N. Gumban demonstrated 3 combative techniques of the Antiqueño/Visayan grappling art Dumog with LVA Master Instructor James U. Sy Jr., 4th degree.

In an exhibition for Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., Founder Sy showed 3 techniques from Wing Chun Kung Fu of Mr. Pablo Yap and Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis of 1st Generation Inheritor Headmaster Wilson “Nonong” E. Viñas with Pastor Gumban. The Antiqueño Dumog, Wing Chun, and Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis demo were the first to be made in Sipaway Island .

Instructor Allan Mario Facturan and Isaac Esleyer of tribu Hangaway, in behalf of Founder Master Roy R. Flores Sr., went through the different throws, joint manipulations, and ground maneuvers taught in the Hangaway grappling curriculum. Techniques shown were an eclectic blend of Japanese Judo, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, and Filipino Dumog.

Instructor Allan Mario Facturan led Silay Chapter Head Edrolin Ortigas, brown belt Jake A. Bugna, and yellow belt Nikki Nuñez in a Tapondo International Federation Inc. (TIFI) in behalf of Negros Island Chief Instructor Roy R. Flores Sr. The group exhibited basic and obstacle breakfalling as well as defenses against grabbing and striking attacks, multiple attackers, women’s defense, etc. Bugna got the attention of the audience and earned thunderous applause for his airborne flips. The petite Nuñez impressed the crowd by throwing much larger attackers.

The Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. demo kicked off with Senior Instructors Pastor Romeo N. Gumban and James U. Sy Jr. showing the basic uno and dos, doble dos, and bali-bali strikes of Original Filipino Tapado, which was founded by the late Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar in 1960 in Taloc, Bago City. SI Gumban chipped off part of SI Sy’s stick due to the power of his strikes. 1st Generation Inheritor Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido, the nephew of the late founder, demonstrated the higher linyada including lastico and direct hitting with SI Sy.

The final demo was a women’s defense performance by the hostess herself, Founder Lee Gralto of the Lee Gralto Defense Club (LGDC) with the assistance of LGDC Chief Instructor Fred R. Flores and Tapondo International Federation Inc. (TIFI)-Negros/Tribu Hangaway Instructor Allan Mario Facturan. The demo started off with various kinds of grabbing and striking attacks, both from the front and back, then progressed to more dangerous attacks that included a knife. Founder Lee Gralto used Tapondo techniques to defend herself. (To be continued)