Muay Thai Meeting/Seminar Held By: James U. Sy Jr.

4 times world Sanshou champion and new Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP) Region 6 Director Rene Catalan of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo (standing, 4th from left) with Negros Occidental martial arts instructors during an organizational meeting and seminar last January 26, 2011 at the Tribu Hangaway Gym, Golden heritage Bldg., San Juan St., Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).




















4 times world Sanshou champion and new Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP) Region 6 Director Rene Catalan of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, met with Negros Occidental martial arts instructors for an organizational meeting and seminar last January 26, 2011 at the Tribu Hangaway Gym, Golden heritage Bldg., San Juan St., Bacolod City.

A total of 14 instructors and fighters from 7 cities and towns were in attendance. James U. Sy Jr., Founder of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. and former MAP Negros Occidental Coordinator, assembled the instructors at the request of Catalan.

Catalan, who resigned from Wushu Federation of the Philippines (WFP) to focus on Muay Thai, wanted to meet the local school heads and reorganize the local chapter of MAP. Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP)-Negros Occidental was founded by several martial arts organizations on June 24, 2005 in Bacolod City with Sy being appointed by MAP Visayas Head Kru Ike Xavier S. Villaflores as Provincial Coordinator. Sy sponsored two Muay Thai seminars which were conducted by Kru Villaflores. Master Elmer V. Montoyo succeeded Sy as Coordinator in the succeeding years; a student of his brought home a bronze medal from the Philippine Olympic Festival held in Dumaguete City.

Catalan went through a short review of Muay Thai rules and had one hands-on refereeing practice. He also echoed to the school heads his plans as Reg. 6 Director. His first major project is a regional tournament tentatively slated for March 12, 2011 although the host group has still to be finalized.

The Negros Occidental instructors expressed their desire to help the region so long as there won’t be politics that are so common in sports organizations nowadays.

Catalan verbally appointed Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo of Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc. and Chief Instructor Joery C. Amante of Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-Main as Coordinators for Bacolod City and Negros Occidental respectively.

Those in attendance were Chief Instructor Joery C. Amante of Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-Main, Tony Ross Bullecer and National Sanshou bronze medalist Nilrax de Café of Pabalinas MMA (Victorias), Instructor Allan Mario Facturan of Tribu Hangaway, Founder/Chief Instructor Jesus “Jess” Flores of Thunder Kick Martial arts (Escalante), Founder/Master Roy R. Flores of Tribu Hangaway, Founder/Chief Instructor Melchor Garcia of Rainbow Martial Arts Club (Silay), Founder/Chief Instructor Diomedes N. Mamugay of San Carlos Jungle Fighters Martial Arts Club, Founder/Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo, Master Elmer “Don-Don” P. Montoyo Jr., and Master Ernest Christian “Chen-Chen” P. Montoyo of Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc., Founder/Chief Instructor Ian B. Negrido of BASSDUMAS Combat Sport (Talisay), Assigned Instructor Jerry Nodnod of Red Dragon Fighters Martial Arts Club (Calatrava), and Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc.