BACOLOD CMG TRAINS IN AIKIDO By: James U. Sy Jr.

In a quest to better equip the 40-men strong Bacolod PNP City Mobile Group (CMG), its Group Director, P/Cinsp. Armando Tubongbanua, had requested Maxwell “Max” J. Maun Sensei to reorient and train his men in the physical and psychological techniques of aikido and related arts starting last May 10, 2006.

The CMG is a special “Strike Force” unit of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) which covers a wide scope of specializations and operations. The Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and the Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) are among its members. CMG elements undergo specialized training specifically designed for combat preparedness. In the highly urbanized city of Bacolod, they present tactical police visibility to deter criminality and immediately put a stop to it when it occurs. CMG elements are trained for “quick time” response to police calls (less than 5 minutes).

Maun Sensei is the Founder/Chief Instructor of the Bacolod Aikido Enthusiasts (BAE), was the former Arnis Philippines Commissioner for Negros Occidental, and is an exponent in the herada pigada style of arnis. He had previously taught a seminar for the L’Fisher Hotel Security Force and a crash course for the Casino Filipino Security Personnel.

Aikido is a Japanese pacifist martial art centered on maintaining balance and order by going with the force of an attack and using said force to neutralize and subdue, not maim or kill, an assailant. Because of the nature of its techniques and philosophy, aikido works well in the field of criminology where the primary aim is to apprehend and contain a suspect pending investigation and trial, if at all necessary, of a suspect.

P/Cinsp. Tubongbanua believes training his men in aikido will supplement their previous Police Defensive Tactics (DEFTAC) learning at the academy. He believes that with the right skills and restraining holds, suspects can be subdued with the least possible injury to them and with the maximum control by responding police officers.

P/Cinsp. Tubongbanua is sure that the discipline emphasized in the martial arts will help his men become better bringers of peace and order. P/Cinsp. Tubongbanua himself was into martial arts in his early days, having studied Karate, Judo, and Tang Soo Do. His last teacher was then Philippine Moo Duk Kwan Inc.-Korea Tang Soo Do Association Chief Instructor Master Elmer V. Montoyo. . P/Cinsp. Tubongbanua was also crowned as a Kickboxing champion twice.

This move by P/Cinsp. Tubongbanua has the blessing of Bacolod City Police Director Col. Pedro Merced, who himself had encouraged the program to better equip the Bacolod CMG.

Training is held every Friday and Saturdays at the Bacolod Aikido Enthusiasts (BAE) Gym. Maun Sensei is working to instill K.A.S. to the CMG, that is Knowledge, Attitude, and Skills. Knowledge encompasses information pertinent to the execution of the CMG’s duties as keepers of peace and order.

Attitude refers to how CMG elements bring themselves. They are being trained to respond to the needs of the public and to be approachable while doing so. Attitude also extends to how they would treat and uphold the rights of suspects while in custody.

The skill part includes in the physiological training of manipulating joints and other weak spots of the human body to render a suspect immobilized with minimum or no resistance without injuring him. The physical techniques are actually a distillation of the most practical kansetsu waza “jointlocks” from Aikido, Jujutsu, Arnis, and Police Defensive Tactics.

Maun Sensei is being assisted by Engr. Franklin R. Calmerin, Gelkoff A. Calmerin, Andy B. Caña, Engr. Kim Jake A. Cepeda, Edwin F. Dueñas, Jappeth S. Juguan, Edwin Layon, and Dr. Orville “Butch” Paez Jr.

Maun Sensei had invited Founder/Chief Instructor Edwin J. Tusil of Fight Club Combat and Streetfighting Center (FC) and Founder/Head Instructor James U. Sy Jr. of the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS) to share their specialties during the May 27, 2006 training. Tusil taught takedowns in preparation for handcuffing and chokes for submission while Sy showed Filipino Martial Arts as applied to police work such as weapon retention, shotgun used against talibong without shooting, pang-agaw, and arresting techniques.