7th Negros Conceptual Martial Arts Seminar Held By: James U. Sy Jr.

The 7th Negros Conceptual Martial Arts Seminar “Intensive Training in Negrense FMA” was jointly held by the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., and Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA) for 3 visiting doctor-members of CMAS-Iloilo Chapter last May 13, 2006 at the PIMAA-FTSDA Gym, Group K Complex, Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod City.

The principal focus of the seminar was the primary course of Original Filipino Tapado which was taught by OFTLSFA President Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido. GM Lobrido reviewed CMAS-IC Head Dr. Raymund Antonio A. Maguad and members Dr. Rey Mollenido and Dr. Jason Rojas of the previous materials they had covered in the 5th edition of the NCMAS and added the other lines for the primary course. Aside from the standard tapado long stick, GM Lobrido also introduced the visiting doctors to the tapado short stick.

The visiting doctors, who were from the College of Medicine of the West Visayas State University (WVSU), started their training in tapado under Dr. Maguad sometime last year. The seminar was Dr. Mollenido’s and Dr. Rojas’ second time to formally train under the guidance of GM Lobrido.

Others who attended the tapado segment of the training were PIMAA-FTSDA Founder/OFTLSFA Secretary Master Elmer V. Montoyo, PIMAA-FTSDA Asst. Chief Instructor Elmer “Don-Don” P. Montoyo, Tapondo International Federation Inc. (TIFI) Negros Chief Instructor Roy R. Flores Sensei, CMAS Founders Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado and James U. Sy Jr., and CMAS Business Manager/Guarra Style Modern Arnis and Self Defense Association (GSMASDA) Secretary Francis Stephen A. Diaz.

The session also marked the start of the formal training of Flores Sensei in the indigenous Bagoueño long stick fighting art of Original Filipino Tapado, after having his first session last October 8, 2006, also under GM Lobrido. Flores Sensei heads the largest aikido group in Negros Occidental and perhaps, in the Negros Island. He is also the Oriental Negros Coordinator of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines (WFP).

Later in the afternoon, Dr. Mollenido and Dr. Rojas had an introductory course on knife defense with Master Montoyo (Filipino Tang Soo Do) and Alojado and Sy (Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis System). The seminar ended with Dr. Maguad reviewing CMAS-Main members the two man sets of long quan (dragon fist).

The first 6 editions of the Negros Conceptual Martial Arts Seminar were Universal Fundamentals (January 28, 2005), Tai Chi Chuan as Stress Management (June 2005), Introduction to Arnis Basics (July 2, 2005), Reality Based Martial Arts (January 20, 2006), Fundamentals of Tapado (April 14, 2006), and Introduction to Pencak Silat Olahraga Basics (April 24-28, 2006). Each edition was taught by a different instructor or group of instructors.