ORIGINAL TAPADO & LAPU-LAPU ARNIS SEMINAR HELD by James U. Sy, Jr.

(Note: This news article by James U. Sy, Jr. appeared in today's Negros Daily Bulletin Sports section and is copied here with permission from the author in totot)


Founder/Chief Instructor Diomedes N. Mamugay of San Carlos Jungle Fighters Martial Arts Club (SACA JUFIMAC), 3rd degree, underwent a short seminar dubbed 11th Negros Conceptual Martial Arts Seminar “Original Filipino Tapado Basic Strikes and Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis Handblade Basics” right after the conclusion of the 4th Lee Gralto Negros Regional Wushu Sanshou Championships last June 30, 2007 at the Seaside Grounds, right beside the Tower of the Lee Gralto Compound, Ermita St., Sipaway Island, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

1st Generation Inheritor Grandmaster Benefredo “Bebing” M. Lobrido, president of the Original Filipino Tapado Long Stick Fighting Association (OFTLSFA), Inc., introduced F/CI Mamugay to the basic uno and dos strikes of Original Filipino Tapado, an indigenous Bagoueño long stick fighting art founded by his late uncle Grandmaster Romeo “Nono” C. Mamar in 1960 in Taloc, Bago City. Mamugay was taught the use of the basic uno and dos strikes against any angle of attacks.

LVA Master Instructor James U. Sy Jr., 4th degree, founder of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., gave F/CI Mamugay the basics of the handblade, the most used empty handed block of the Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis System. Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis is an indigenous Bacoleño system of Arnis founded by the late Grandmaster Jose “Joe” L. Viñas (1906-1991) in 1932. Mamugay was taught the application of the technique against various kinds of punches, strikes, thrusts, and kicks.

MI Sy and F/CI Mamugay first met at the Wushu Federation of the Philippines (WFP), where both CMAS and SACA JUFIMAC are members. Sy introduced Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis to Mamugay and some of his students on August 15, 2006 and in two other intensive seminars. Sy expects to certify and authorize Mamugay to teach the art in the near future. Since then SACA JUFIMAC had affiliated with CMAS.

CMAS is a member of the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS) and OFTLSFA where GM Lobrido serves as Vice President and presidents respectively. CMAS is also affiliated with the Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis Aficionados Association (LVAAA) of 1st generation Inheritor Headmaster Wilson “Nonong” E. Viñas, the son of the late founder.

GM Lobrido had previously taught Original Filipino Tapado at the Kalupaan Tapado Association (KATA) in Brgy. Quezon, San Carlos City. KATA was founded by the late Grandmaster Norberto “Norbing” Mamar, a cousin of GM Nono Mamar. Since GM Norbing Mamar moved to Bayawan, then Master Welbor “Kickok” Presno took over as head of the group. GM Nono Mamar and GM Lobrido provided the association with updates and consultancy. KATA propagates Karaan Tapado which is a combination of Lagas and pre-1960 long stick Backhand.

Diomedes N. Mamugay, 3rd degree, is the San Carlos Jungle Fighters Martial Arts Club (SACA JUFIMAC), Centralian Fighters Martial Arts Club (CEFIMAC), and Red Dragon Fighters Martial Arts Club (REDRAFMAC). He serves as North Negros Vice President for Wushu Federation of the Philippines (WFP), a founding member of the Intercontinental Federation of Filipino Martial Arts Schools (IFFMAS), and an affiliate of the Combat Taekwondo Club-Main (CTC-Main) of (Ret.) Lt. Col. Epifanio F. Mercado and the Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. of Founder James U. Sy Jr.

SACA JUFIMAC propagates Wushu Sanshou, Kickboxing, Western Boxing, Karate, taekwondo, and Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis and was responsible for introducing Wushu Sanshou to San Carlos City in March 2005.