Monday, June 27, 2011

HISTORY OF SIKARAN AND LAPUNTI ARNIS

The History Of Sikaran 

SIKARAN is a form of Philippine Martial Arts whose history dates back to the early 1500's before the Spaniards came, It is the art of foot-fighting where the farmers use their strong legs to drive the partners outside the designated line (pitak). Rice fields about 25 sq. ft. 

Sikaran is just a pastime of the Baras Rizal farmers who gathered during the festival after a good harvest season. Doing it constantly made them develop skills that would eventually be marked by effectiveness such that other martial arts could hardly compare, or so claims its most ardent exponent. Of the practitioners, some went on to discover certain skills in combat that made them deserve the honor of being called "Hari"(champion). These are no longer around. As most of them have succumbed, their secrets interred with their remains and never imparted, having chosen to keep it to themselves and not to teach it to anyone else. Indeed, secrecy is essence of martial arts and this is true in any system. 

The early Sikaranista (farmers) session commences with the drawing of a circle on the ground. The acknowledged talent of the lot, by reason of his superior skill is often obliged to concede a handicap, thus he positions himself inside the circle and trade kicking talents with one who stays at the circle's rim. The objective is for the combatant outside to dislodge the contestant within. The rules are really that simple. In the case of vein, he would agree to a number of opponents who form a circle. Should the man within be driven out of the circle, it signifies defeat and, correspondingly, humiliation. If the game's continuation be opted, another pretender takes the place of the dislodge practitioner and the same procedure is repeated. 

Once in a while, and this seems unavoidable, a session witness a mischief-prone contestant who makes it a point to step on a carabao waste (buffalo) dung prior to a competition, if only to dirty and to defeat the opponent. 

The Baras-originated method of foot-fighting in its original form No time limit is observed. Combatants call for time out if they became so exhausted as to be unable to go on some more or when troubled enough. No discrimination regarding sex. Both male and female may indulge in it, should they so wish. 

They have a vernacular name for a Hari. He was awarded Ias Agila (for his impressive agility), acknowledged as the foremost padamba (jumping front kick) exponent. That he could leap as high as six feet is definitely a testimony to an awesome power. 

So also was awarded classified as Hari, a fellow reputed to crack husked coconuts with his steel-like shins. On the other hand a Hari also boasts of the singular reputation of knocking out (T.K.O) a carabao with a single hammer biakid. 

SIKARAN and Sipa are both Tagalog terms for "kick" but with a notable difference: the former is a noun, while the latter is a verb. Deriving from sikad, Sikaran like the biakid, pilatik and damba. And came to be known as an indigenous martial sport in the tradition of arnis, kali, dicho, buno etc. 

Sikaran utilizes only the feet as a rule for sport and for combat, self-defense and this is what makes it distinct, the hands are never availed of in the sikaran. If they utilized at all, it's only for defense, the player uses his legs 90% of the time and his hands 10% only for blocking or parrying blows. Violation of this injunction, especially in tournaments, is ground for disqualification. 

The rationale behind this has something to do with the role of the feet whose significance has yet to be fully appreciated. It is the largest part of the body, aside from the fact that it nurtures the largest bone as well as the most massive muscle. 

Sikaran have its own share of kicking styles. The "Biakid" the classic kick is executed by pivoting to the back in a full or complete turn about manner. The degree of effectiveness subscribes to two classifications: "panghilo" (paralyzing blow) and "pamatay" or lethal kick. Obviously the first aimed at less vital parts of the physique, while the target of the second includes the heart, neck, head, groin, and spine, all highly vulnerable parts. 

The entry of Sikaran in tournaments, particularly those of international caliber, presaged certain modifications, if innovations, of its original rules. Like the setting of a time limit, widening of the fighting area into twice the size required of the original arena. 

Sikaran finds a no more vigorous exponent than the last descendant Col. Meliton C. Geronimo (ret. PAF) and ex-mayor of Baras Rizal. Who conducted a research and perfected on the art and to the extent of organizing clubs for the purpose of teaching the art to anybody, who would care to learn it, as well as to spread its popularity. His attachment to sikaran is understandable and was awarded as Martial arts masters' pioneer and legend hall of fame. Baras is the venue of his childhood and Cipriano Geronimo. Geronimo's father, past 100 years old and known as the "LAST KING or HARI of the past century", handed down the game to Meliton, To ensure that Sikaran would not fade into oblivion. The younger Geronimo founded the Kapatiran Sikaran Ng Pilipinas in 1958 now named as WORLD SIKARAN BROTHERHOOD OF THE PHILIPPINES. 

In Korea, Master Hwong Kee of Muduckwan, Master Doctor KaiByeong Yun, Master Koichi Kondo of Japan Karate Association, Kung-fu Chinese Group and Master Meliton C. Geronimo, organized the Asian Karate Association in year 1961. Sikaran made an international debut and it was made possible when the organization committed to its promotion and propagation, Kapatiran Sikaran, got affiliated with the aforementioned Asian Karate Association, under the banner of Karate Brotherhood of the Philippines. SIKARAN has been "Battled-Tested" in the most Asian Tournaments. Meliton C. Geronimo won as individual champion in 1964 Utsunimiya Tochegeken, Japan and also awarded by the Eagle award during the first Asian Tournament. Thereafter he headed, coached and became the Chief Instructor and the head of the Philippine Teams that participated in the succeeding Asian Karate Tilts. Among the champions who used the Sikaran Style were the late Bernard Belleza, 1965, Emelio Galiciano 1965, Ariston Bautista 1968, Amado Diaz 1967, Jaime Geronimo 1965, Antonio Ganiela 1968, and Herminia Agapito was the lone female participant in the First World Karate Tournament in 1970 in Tokyo, Japan. In 1972 Paris, France participated by Marlyn Compuesto and Militon C. Geronimo. 

Under Geronimo's Tutelage, the RP Team introduced the Sikaran Style in the Six Asian Karate Tournaments. The Philippine contingents to these tilts received awards for being "BEST FIGHTING TEAM" for this feat. Geronimo was awarded the REDBELT 10th Degree by the Asian Karate Association in 1966. The award was for Developing a "DISTINCT STYLE OF ORIGIN." he was further cited for introducing into the world a new style of an ancient Art in the light of the modern sport of Sikaran and proves its effectiveness as a fighting method. 

The REDBELT signifies that he was the originator and Master of distinct Style of Martial Art and there can never be another Redbelt holder in the same school. 

Master Geronimo explained that he used the word Karate (KARATE BROTHERHOOD OF THE PHILIPPINES) to indicate his school/Style (Sikaran) and to affiliate with the Asian Karate Association and the World Union Karatedo Organization. Which were the first and the only affiliated martial arts school in the WUKO. "But I was inactive in Karate because Sikaran is really a different form of Pilipino Martial Art" Says Master Geronimo. Sikaran uses the feet in offense and Defense. The hands are used only for parrying and balancing. 

Today, Forty two years after the WORLD SIKARAN ARNIS BROTHERHOOD OF THE PHILIPPINES was founded, SIKARAN had already taken roots in Canada, United States, England, Australia, Saudi Arabia, West Germany, Qatar, Palestine and New Zealand. Program reports are sent by WSABP instructors, from those countries to Manila Headquarters. 

History of La Punti


Lapunti Arnis de Abanico's evolutionary history begins with Arsenio "Seniong" Caburnay (b-Circa1882-d1962). Seniong was a blacksmith who traveled throughout the Visayas to Negros, Bohol, Leyte and Samar. He also visited the cities of Cagayan De Oro, Illigan and Ozamis in Mindinao, plying his craft. In particular his main love in blacksmithing was to produce quality bolos for the many people he met and Seniong was a welcome guest in the homes of these people during his travels. Seniong's clients used these bolos for both farming and sometimes for self-defense. Seniong himself having an interest in martial arts and self-defense in general, learned many of the fighting methods of these different people during his travels. In 1927 at the age of 12 his brother Felimon "Mooney" Caburnay (b1915-d1991) began to learn the arts of blacksmithing and traveled the Visayas and Mindinao with his brother. Felimon now learnt many different fighting styles of Arnis/Escrima from both Seniong and from the people they met.

The Caburnays' base before WW2 was in southern Cebu City and a group comprising Seniong, Filemon, Juan Abella, Antonio Alingasan, Concordio Encabo, Ramon Fernandez and Lauriano Sanchez practiced their martial arts within their small circle. This circle of friends decided to call their style "Arnis de Abanico" or "Arnis Fan Stick style".

In 1957 Master Filemon was invited to the Cebu Doce Pares school/club both as a teacher to others but also as the sparring partner of Master Filemon Canete. His love of martial arts and his desire to learn led to his meeting and later collaboration with the Filipino-Chinese Kung Fu Master John Chiuten. Master Filemon Caburnay's fighting style was now evolving further, particularly his belief in the effectiveness of Abanico strikes combined with the cross legged fighting footwork of Master Chiuten. Evasion techniques, locks and takedown moves learned from other masters were also incorporated in Master Filemon's fighting and teaching style.

Prudencio "Undo" or "Ondo" Caburnay (b-April 28th, 1943) the son of Filemon Caburnay, the heir and current Grandmaster of the style, began his training in 1960 in the Arnis de Abanico circle. Undo during the 60's, began to research, develop and modified his own style within the Arnis de Abanico group. He states "My father designed the abanico style to fight bigger men, so being small myself I had to make do and improvise for my lack of size". Undo stands 5 foot 2 inches. It was during this time that Undo began to perfect the union of all the styles taught to him by his father and friends.

Master Filemon found that he was frustrated within the confines of the Doce Pares especially with regards to tournaments and tournament rules. So he decided to break his links with the Doce Pares and fully teach his style to the public under his old styles name. In December the 30th 1972 Filemon and Prudencio officially founded the school "Lapunti Arnis de Abanico". The styles/schools name "Lapunti" comes from the 3 surrounding barangays or barrios of their base in southern Cebu City where the Caburnays lived. These were Labangon, Punta Princessa and Tisa* barangays.

Labangon- Labang means to "step" or "to bridge running water or a creek".
Punta Princessa- Punta means "to go to" and Princessa is a term that means "beautiful woman".
Tisa- Tisa is a term that means "brick" or "brick wall". 
Simple terms to denote different early suburbs of Cebu.

With the death of Grandmaster Arsenio in 1962 and then later the death of Grandmaster Filemon in 1991 Prudencio inherited the title of Grandmaster of Lapunti Arnis de Abanico both by family lineage and by fighting skill. He has and is still constantly refining his style taught to him by his forbears.

The school, since 1987, goes by the formal name of: "Lapunti Arnis de Abanico International".

Undo during his life has been a Cebu City health officer, a mining employee at the Atlas mines and spent several years as a bouncer at a local beer hall. He is now a Barangay councilor at Barangay Tisa, often putting his life on the line as a local "Tanud" or policeman.

Characteristics of Lapunti Arnis de Abanico
Lapunti is characterised first of all by the fast "fan" like moves or "abanico" moves of its primary teaching tool, the stick. Other aspects similar to other styles of Arnis/Escrima are also given equal importance. The dagger, stick and dagger, double stick and Combatto unarmed fighting are taught as well.

The footwork is a combination of classical Arnis/Escrima forward-backward movements, a triangle system of offence and defence and the cross-legged and twisting style learnt from Kung Fu.

The main emphasis in Lapunti is on long range but with the combination of the tight footwork the fighter has excellent mobility and with the speed of the strikes the encounter can be at close range as well. The style is based on body dynamics, not strength, in combination with the footwork.

Basic System of instruction:

The fundamentals are 12 basic Lapunti strikes. The 12 counterstrikes. Attack and retreat. Basic defence and disarming and multiple strikes.

1 comment:

  1. Such an excellent history of sikaran arnis, readers must read this relevant info's. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete