Ang Kalatas Volume V June 2015 Independence Day Special Edition | Page 29

Arnis W hen I was young, I was encouraged by my Chinese Uncles to learn an FMA called ACJK - American Combat Judo Karate. The instructor often said that we should only learn a martial art for self-defense. In a sense, we needed to learn how to control ourselves knowing that we had the knowledge to hurt somebody else, but choose not to. It is only to be used as a last resort - violence to be avoided first and foremost.” ANG KALATAS Contrary to what many may think, Balintawak actually focuses on learning defense rather than offense. “Balintawak can be said to be a passive-aggressive defensive martial art. The onset of training is on how to defend rather than attack,” says Mitchell who started studying martial arts at the age of 13. He has become a disciple of arnis because of its emphasis on self-control and discipline in both mind and body. “When I was young, I was encouraged by my Chinese Uncles to learn an FMA called ACJK - American Combat Judo Karate. The instructor often said that we should only learn a martial art for self-defense. In a sense, we needed to learn how to control ourselves knowing that we had the knowledge to hurt somebody else, but choose not to. It is only to be used as a last resort - violence to be avoided first and foremost.” Mitchell was introduced to arnis when he was 18 by a friend from Cagayan de Oro City, Grandmaster Nonato ‘Nene’ Gaabucayan. In recent years, Mitchell with fellow arnis practitioners had done arnis exhibition duels in different places around the state and at city council-sponsored community events. The Sydney Pinoys in NNG Balintawak Arnis have been joined by students from other nationalities. Traditional training involves one-on-one training. Mitchell and another senior student, Miyako Miwa, assist with training. [Training days are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6.30 to 8pm, at the Takemusu Aikido Dojo at Surry Hills in the city as headed by Oscar ([email protected]) or NNG Balintawak Western Sydney headed by Mitchell (sydneybalintawak@gmail. com). Training sessions by arrangement are at Noble Park, Canley Vale on Saturdays from 8.30am.] JUNE 2015 29