Congratulations to new IAF Comissioner!
This is to inform that Mr. Abed Jarrar is the commissioner of the International Arnis Federation (IAF) for the Kingdom of Jordan. We will be coordinating with Mr. Jarrar and the Jordan Olympic Comittee in order to establish the National Sports Association for arnis in Jordan.
Announcement
Arnis Philippines, the National Sports Association (NSA) for Arnis, is the only official and legitimate governing body for arnis in the Philippines as recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee and funded by the Philippine governemnt through the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
However, it has come to our attention that there are some associations claiming that they are the official umbrella organization for Arnis in order to bolster their name. Thus, it is advised that all concerned parties should verify first with the Philippine Olympic Committee regarding the official list of National Sport Associations, in order to avoid all untoward circumstances.
This is for the information ang guidance of all.
* The following is a circular released by ArPI in response to some events that occured between August and December, 2005.
News bulletin
Arnis Philippines constantly strives to uphold the high quality and integrity of its sport competitions, and as such has focused its resources this year on the upcoming South East Asian Games, set to be held in and around the Philippines. This momentous event will fortunately push through as planned, and will feature arnis on such a level for the very first time, with several other countries fielding their respective teams.
HOWEVER, IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS AND CLUBS WHICH HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ARRANGE AN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT ON DECEMBER. ARPI IS NOT SANCTIONING THIS EVENT, THUS IT IS NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE PHILIPPINE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE AND THE PHILIPPINE SPORTS COMMISSION.
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ARPI WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE IF PROBLEMS ARISE FROM JOINING THE SAID TOURNAMENT AND FROM BEING LINKED TO ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY LED TO SOME PARTIES BEING BLACKLISTED FROM ALL FUTURE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS OF ARNIS PHILIPPINES.
THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN GAMES SPORT ARNIS COMPETITION IS THE ONLY OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED ACTIVITY OF ARPI FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, 2005. FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN LEGITIMATE EVENTS, PLEASE COORDINATE DIRECTLY WITH ARNIS PHILIPPINES.
Let this be a warning to all those who may want to misrepresent Arnis Philippines Incorporated, the International Arnis Federation, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, or misuse their associated logos. Those found guilty of fraudulent activities will be dealt with in accordance with the full extent of the law.
SOME INDIVIDUALS HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXPELLED FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP ROSTER AND SOME WERE SUSPENDED DUE TO ACTS INIMICAL TO THE ASSOCIATION.
The coming months are promising to be fruitful and exciting times for sport arnis and the whole of the Filipino Martial Arts community. Let us all work together for the greater good and remain vigilant so as not to let near-sighted planning and self-interest get in the way of our common goal of promoting arnis.
This is for the information and guidance of all
concerned.
Salamat, at mabuhay.
Arnis in the 23rd South East Asian Games
Arnis is now an official medal event in the upcoming 23rd South East Asian Games! The said games will be held on December, 2005 in Manila and other locations, all around the Philippines. We have six events, namely: men's full contact sparring (up to 71 kg), women's full contact sparring (up to 52 kg), men's anyo one stick individual (single stick forms), women's anyo one stick individual (single stick form), men's anyo two sticks team (double stick synchronized team forms), and women's anyo two sticks team (double stick synchronized team forms). Competing in these events will be the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. These events will be held at the Emilio Aguinaldo College, Manila , on December 3-4, 2005 . See you there!
An Open Letter
TO: All Interested Arnis/Eskrima/Kali/FMA/Stickfighting Enthusiasts
RE: Sport Stickfighting for International Competition
Arnis Philippines Incorporated (ArPI) is responsible for the proliferation and development of the indigenous Filipino Martial Art of Arnis on both the national and international levels, most especially in the sport aspect. ArPI has been the official National Sport Association (NSA) in the Philippines since January 12, 1987 and is the 33rd member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), duly recognized and financed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). In analogy to Judo, ArPI is akin to the Kodokan Dojo in Japan, the Mecca of Judo. ArPI is the only NSA of the Philippines, the country of origin of` Arnis.
ArPI is an objective, non-partisan, non-biased umbrella organization for Sport Arnis. No particular style dominates the organization. As of now, ArPI has members from Balintawak, Cinco Teros, Doce Generales, Doce Pares, Espada y Daga, Kali Illustrisimo, LAMECO, Arnis Lanada, Lightning Scientific Arnis International (LSAI), Lapunti Arnis de Abanico, Modern Arnis, among others. ArPI is the NSA responsible for the inclusion of Arnis in international events like the South East Asian Games (SEAGames), World Martial Arts Festival (ChungJu, South Korea), World Cultural Open (WCO) and others. We are also in the process of expansion under new management with the guidance and supervision of the Board of Directors and Government Officials.
As the 33rd member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (the National Olympic Committee for the Philippines), ArPI has the authority to recommend (or contest) an association's right to be the National Sports Association (NSA) for a particular country. Currently, ArPI is coordinating with other countries' respective National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and has recently achieved the inclusion of Arnis in the SEAGames. The coordination will extend in the coming months to the governments of the different countries in the European, Pan-Pacific, Asian, and Latin American regions and others in an official capacity. The reason behind this is that, in the near future, the Philippines will be hosting the first true World Arnis Tournament sanctioned by the Olympic Committee, one which will accept competitors regardless of style or club affiliation. ArPI is thus active in reviving the International Arnis Federation (IAF), the official international arm formed in 1991, and it is currently scouting for new potential NSAs for each country.
The ArPI sport rules are concerned with the stick techniques of the art, both defensive and offensive. Thus, the full-contact event uses a point system similar to that in kendo and fencing, the SUDDEN DEATH system. The first to hit, scores a point. The first to win five (5) points wins the round. And the one who wins two out of three rounds wins the match.
Male participants wear headgear and groin guards, while females must wear body vests in addition to the helmets. Padded sticks are used since this rule was approved by the Olympic Committee for safety reasons. "Live", unpadded sticks are considered injurious and are not allowed by Olympic standards. ArPI adheres to the strict observance of the rules. We also adhere to the strict observance of International Weight Divisions approved by the Olympic Committee. Also, we have Anyo (Creative Form) events with different categories and divisions for solo and group performance, and seven (7) official Weight Divisions for both Men and Women's Full-Contact Categories. There are separate categories for children, for novices, and for seasoned fighters.
Member countries from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) with their own stick-fighting styles have adopted the ArPI rules and regulations for Sport Arnis in the SEAGames. The practitioners of Silat (Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei), Krabi Krabong (Thailand), Thine (Myanmar), and Viet Vu Dao (Vietnam) have all agreed to this single rule set since the rules favor no particular art. Thus, there is no need to create a new set of rules for the sport.
The use or imitation of the ArPI rules without official permission is forbidden. ArPI offers a universally-accepted, non-discriminatory and safe arena for arnis practitioners to display their skills and to test themselves. Therefore, the creation of new, arbritrary, unreliable, and experimental rules which could be detrimental to the image of Sport Arnis and safety of the competitors is not advised. One merely needs to have one's club recognized and affiliated with ArPI in order to access, avail of and practice the official rules of the sport.
We will be coordinating with other groups to see their strengths and capabilities as clubs/associations in the coming months. We would like to assess their eligibility for recommendation as NSAs for their respective countries.
(signed)
Mr. Richardson C. Gialogo, Lakan Anim
External Vice President Arnis Philippines, Inc (ArPI)
National Sports Association
Technical Official, PhilSOC; member: POC & PSC