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Introducing the UP Sangkil Karasak Arnis Club
If you ever pay a visit to the University of the Philippines, Diliman, and hear the loud noise of clashing sticks, chances are youve just stumbled upon the UP Sangkil Karasak, a club devoted to the martial art of arnis, most especially the LSAI style of arnis, or Lightning Scientific Arnis.
It was developed by one of the most famous personalities in the Filipino Martial Arts world, Grandmaster Benjamin Lema Luna, who even during his old age was still a very formidable fighter. One of the specialties of this style is called the espada y daga, or more literally sword and dagger, which uses two weapons in very close combat. Such a technique can literally chop up the opponent into pieces when used properly. LSAI is also famous for its high-powered long-range stick strikes, which can twist and bend in various angles to always hit the opponent.
The UP Sangkil Karasak was originally headed by the protg of Grandmaster Benjamin Lema Luna, Guro Elmer Ybaez, who studied physical education at the University of the Philippines. Unfortunately Guro Elmer Ybaez passed away not long after Mang Bens death in 2003. He passed away in March of 2004.
The charge of the UP Sangkil Karasak was then left to Guro Elmers top students, such as Master Joey Quiriones, a member of Philippine Law Enforcement, and Master Alex Ortinero, a security specialist who has had significant experience in Iraq. The effectiveness of the style can be gauged in how well these masters were able to do in their chosen careers. The same effectiveness of the style is still emphasized in the UP Sangkil Karasak, which also aims to help ordinary people by teaching them practical and applicable self-defense techniques.
One of the specialties of the UP Sangkil Karasak is in being able to teach arnis to normal college students, with or without any martial arts background. Training has usually been done at the Department of Military Science and Tactics complex, Classroom 2, of the University of the Philippines, Diliman. They accept private professional students, while there is also a significant discount for non-working students.
Having had the privilege of training in this club for about five years, I can say that I was very fortunate stumbling across this martial arts club. Training with them has improved my character, discipline, and physical condition significantly. If you every find yourself within the Quezon City area of Manila, Philippines, come and pay the club a visit!
The author has been training for more than five years in the martial art of escrima, and has just recently received his third-degree black belt as a certified instructor. He is also interested in computer technology, and the philosophy of language on metaphor.
