Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:48:21 +0100 From: eskrima-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: Eskrima digest, Vol 15 #40 - 1 msg X-Mailer: Mailman v2.0.13.cisto1 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Errors-To: eskrima-admin@martialartsresource.net X-BeenThere: eskrima@martialartsresource.net X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.13.cisto1 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net X-Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net List-Unsubscribe: , List-Id: Eskrima-FMA discussion forum, the premier FMA forum on the Internet. List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.63 (2004-01-11) on plus11.host4u.net X-Spam-Status: No, hits=0.3 required=5.0 tests=NO_REAL_NAME autolearn=no version=2.63 X-Spam-Level: Status: O X-Status: X-Keywords: Send Eskrima mailing list submissions to eskrima@martialartsresource.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/eskrima or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to eskrima-request@martialartsresource.net You can reach the person managing the list at eskrima-admin@martialartsresource.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Eskrima digest..." <<---- The Sudlud-Inayan Eskrima/Kali/Arnis/FMA mailing list ---->> Serving the Internet since June 1994. Copyright 1994-2008: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource The Internet's premier discussion forum devoted to Filipino Martial Arts. 2500 members. Provided in memory of Mangisursuro Michael G. Inay (1944-2000). See the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) FAQ and the online search engine for back issues of the Eskrima/FMA digest at http://MartialArtsResource.com Mabuhay ang eskrima! Today's Topics: 1. A Tale of Two Tournaments (Al Sardinas) --__--__-- Message: 1 From: "Al Sardinas" To: Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:08:18 -0500 Subject: [Eskrima] A Tale of Two Tournaments Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Recently I had the opportunity to attend two FMA Tournaments one in October and the other in December of 2007. Here's a brief review of both. October 28, 2007 Disney World Martial Arts Festival Orlando, Florida United States Filipino Martial Arts Federation (USFMAF) Introduction This was the finals. The USFMAF held their regionals earlier in the year and was a discipline at the event held in February 2007 at Disneyland. Taking all of this in consideration, one would expect a good cross representation of practitioners from around the country. Sadly, this was not so. With the exception of few from California and maybe one from Oregon, the majority of participants were from Florida. However, in defense of the USFMAF this was understandable. Traveling to tournaments out of state can be expensive. Competition Value In respect to competition. it was okay. In some divisions, all you have to do was be there and you were a champion. In other words, with the execption of sparring, there was no one but your shadow to compete against. This was an inside affair.The competition was boring and this was evidenced by the fact that the practically captive audience (the spectators in the bleacher seats closest to the action) ignored what was going on. How can the FMA's grow and sustain itself if an event like this can not even attract other martial art disciplines? Recommendation Promote more. If I read right, the USFMAF will hold another event this Saturday, February 16th at Disneyland. I don't recall reading about it on ED. Why is this a secret? Demo more. Have the top masters (competitors and non-competitors) break up the divisions with demonstrations. Shout, get somebody's attention. Finally, promoting and running a tournament is not an easy task. Get some help. There's enough out there to go around. Some power over something is better than all the power over nothing. December 8, 2007 Pakamut International 4th Annual Los Angeles Stick-fighting Tournament Stanton, California Introduction This was the 4th annual FMA tournament put on by Pakamut International. The same tournament that some readers criiticized the rules last year. I attended the 1st annual tournament and was a little diappointed by the change in venue from a spacious school gym to a smaller warehouse/gym. Also noticeable in comparison to my first experience was the number of spectators and competetitors.But this was where my disappointment ended. Competition Value I arrived late at the tournament and was able to catch matches that where you seen one you seen them all. However, the competetition was good and much better that what I witnessed in Florida. But it gets better. The Best of the Best was the best I ever seen at a tournament. It was exciting and definitely not boring. Each match was a minute long which prompted the competetitors to give it their all. Then you had some good demo/matches between grandmasters.There was also a promise of having masters fight each other with no padding, a King Kongesce event, but to no avail, there was only one match. Special Kudos to "The Brave One", Guro Marc Lawrence for competing in this match even though he lost. Recommendation None. Summary, if this was 1974 and I was 19 years old ( first introduction to FMA) and saw the first tournament, I still be a student of Japanese and Chinese Martial Art today. Luckily for me I saw something similar to the value of the 2nd tournament. It made me want to learn FMA's. It changed my life. What effect do you want your art to have? Respectfully, Al Sardinas Student of the Garimot System of Arnis --__--__-- _______________________________________________ Eskrima mailing list Eskrima@martialartsresource.net http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/eskrima Subscribe or Unsubscribe: http://eskrima-fma.net Old digest issues @ ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com/pub/eskrima Copyright 1994-2008: Ray Terry, MartialArtsResource.com, Sudlud.com Standard disclaimers apply. Remember September 11. End of Eskrima Digest