NUFAA ARNIS TILT MULLED

By: James U. Sy Jr.


Founder/Grandmaster Jose “Joe” Mancesa of the Negros United Fighting Arts Academy (NUFAA) hosted Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) Secretary General and Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr. last January 16, 2008 at his residence in Bago City to discuss the possibility of conducting an Arnis tournament this coming February 16 or 17, 2008 during the city’s Charter Anniversary celebration.

The initial plan of GM Mancesa is for the conduct only 6 bouts with not less than 4 demonstrations. The rules are yet to be determined with the choices being Arnis Philippines (ArPi) or IFFMAS rules. As of the moment, there is no licensed Referee or Judge certified by Arnis Philippines Headquarters (Manila) in Bacolod and Negros Occidental. So it still remains to be seen if an ArPi seminar can be conducted in time for the tournament.

IFFMAS rules, on the other hand, were first put to test during the Best of Filipino Martial Arts organized by the Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA) of Master Elmer V. Montoyo last October 6, 2007 at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center (NOMPAC), Bacolod City. IFFMAS rules are actually a revival in part of traditional rules used by the older generation of Arnisadores/Eskrimadores in Negros, Panay, and Cebu, all areas in the Visayas.

Sy assisted GM Mancesa in preparing a budget for said event, tentatively dubbed as the 1st NUFAA-SK Bago Invitational Arnis Tournament. GM Mancesa is expecting to invite not less than 10 Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) organizations from the Negros Occidental Baston Federation 9NOBF) of Col. Atty. GM Marcelo C. Jalandoon, IFFMAS of Master Elmer V. Montoyo, and Arnis Philippines-Bacolod/Negros Occidental Chapter, also under GM Jalandoon.

Some of the expected groups to support the planned tournament are Arjuka-Malingin of Grandmaster Isaac “Saac” T. Guarra, Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. of Founders/Masters James U. Sy Jr. and Narciso “Hansy” L. Alojado, Guarra Style Modern Arnis and Self Defense Association (GSMASDA) / General Juan A. Luna School of Grandmaster Estanislao “Eslao” T. Guarra, KaliSilat Arnis Association (KAA) of Grandmaster Danilo “Danny” Cardinal, Negros Occidental Baston Federation (NOBF) of Col. Atty. Grandmaster Marcelo C. Jalandoon, Negros United Fighting Arts Academy (NUFAA) Renante de la Cruz Grandmaster Jose “Joe” Mancesa, Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc. 1st Generation Inheritor Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido, Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA) of Master Elmer V. Montoyo, and Tribu Hangaway (TH) of Founder/Master Roy R. Flores Sr.

Negros United Fighting Arts Academy (NUFAA) is a member of Arnis Philippines (ArPi) and the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS).