Inaugural Bali International Stickfighting Challenge

BSF Asia and The Combined Martial Arts annopunce the inaugural Bali International Stickfighting Challenge on the 9th November at BSF Sports Hall in Bali.Teams from Australia,Singapore,Philipines as well as Indonesia will be participating.At the same time a Special Needs Martial Arts Seminar will be held to further develop BSF’s ongoing development of martial arts programs for disabled Balinese.

The tournament will held under Cacoy Doce Pares World Federation rules.The stickfighting or Arnis Eskrima as it is known in the Philipines.Arnis Eskrima, Philippine Stickfighting is a sport derived from the traditional martial arts of the Philippines where in the past combatants fought, many times to the death, with fire hardened rattan cane. It is suggested that historically the art came originally from India eventually being introduced to the Philippines.The system developed through history as varying ethnic groups evolved the fighting style. The famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan met his fate on the shores of the Visayas islands near Cebu where he was killed by a local warrior skilled in the art of Arnis Eskrima. In later years Spanish influences also played a part in the evolution of this form of combat. Arnis Eskrima was last used in warfare and the field of modern human conflict during World War Two. Today elements of Arnis Eskrima are taught in varying forms relative to modern military combat in several armies throughout the world.

In modern sporting competitions two athletes wearing body protection compete in full contact fighting events using either single or double sticks made from rattan. The competitors wear heavily padded helmets with neck protection and metal face grills, heavily padded jackets, elbow and forearm protection, gloves, thigh and knee protection. Athletes may also compete in minimal body protection “Kulata” events. Competition is held in a marked square area called a ring. A good bout between two well-matched athletes is exceedingly fast displaying strength, endurance and skill. Competitors deliver powerful, elliptical strikes at blurring speeds as each tries to dominate his opponent. At the same time, each athlete must guard his head and body against the other’s strikes by dodging or blocking the blows.To win a competition an athlete must successfully dominate as many of the rounds in a bout as possible, achieved by demonstrating superior skill in both the attack and defence while displaying high levels of fitness and endurance (see Scoring). The action may range all over the ring as the athletes weave about or press forward creating openings for blows while defending and blocking relentless attack.

For more information on the tournament,see

http://balistickfighting.com