Random musings on Team Philippines' performance in the 2010 Asian Games

By the numbers.

Sixteen reasons (the number of athletes who won a total of 3 gold, 4 silver, and 9 bronze medals) to smile about and 169 reasons (the other athletes) to seriously contemplate upon.

This is one way to sum up the Philippine Team's performance in the just concluded 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China last November 12 to 27.

Another way of summing it up is by subtraction. Deduct our latest medal output from the total of 19 - consisting of 4 gold, 6 silver, and 9 bronze - we won in the Doha Asiad in 2006.

This time we earned 1 gold and 2 silver less. We also ranked one rung lower, in Asia from 18th to 19th and among Southeast Asian nations from 4th to 5th.

Yay.

*    *    *

Four short months.

For a nation that lets the proverbial Big Fish get away with murder, this article will do likewise and yes, let the Big Fish swim away with killing our 2010 Asian Games aspirations – but without sparing a few snide remarks.

It was only last July when Richie Garcia was appointed chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). In other words, it was only barely four months hence when Chairman Garcia began rebuilding upon the destruction wrought by his predecessor in the government sports agency.

It has only been for four short months that Philippine sports enjoyed the current smooth working relationship between the PSC and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) headed by its president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, Jr.

And four short months evidently did not suffice to cram and complete any program that would have  enhanced the Philippine Team's performance in last November's Asiad, amid the ruin and debris.

As for the identity of the ruinous Big Fish and the specific crimes he committed against Philippine sports, let's just say that indeed we are a nation that lets his kind get away with murder.

*    *    *

Four or more or less?

The POC and the PSC were in a bind.

Still reeling from the shockwaves brought by the Big Fish and under time pressure, they had to project an understandably modest gold medal harvest for this year's Asiad.

Modest but with the Filipino sports community and general public in mind, it can not be less than that of the previous Asiad in Doha – lest they become subject to public ridicule for making a projection geared towards a regression.

So four was the dream and magic number; it will be the same as the four gold medals won in 2006.

We ended up with “only” three this time. But with all the travails the Pinoy sports community had to go through and in lieu of divine intervention, winning three gold medals was already a remarkable feat.

*    *    *

Those tired cliches and lessons one and two.

“Eye-opener?” “Wake up call?”

Quit the cliches. At best the recent Asiad served as just another grim reminder that we should heed the following lessons which we knew all along:

Lesson No. 1: Our elite athletes, especially in sports that are playing catch – up to world class status, should benefit from long-term training programs in foreign countries which are renowned powerhouses in the sports concerned.

Lesson No. 2: Expand the grassroots until it reaches a critical and sustainable mass base or pool from which we can continuously recruit and train potential athletes.

Yes, we get it. Now where's the money?

*    *    *

The chicken or the egg?

Which comes first, the gold bullion or the gold medal?

For the less successful national sports associations (NSAs), Asiad wise, it will be another case of  “which comes first, the chicken or the egg?”

Sponsor: “Show me the results and I'll show you the money.”

NSA: “Show us the money, we'll spend it for our athletes' training program, nutritional needs, etc., and then we'll show you the results.”

Sponsor: “Well, you've just failed and it makes me reluctant to shell out money for your program.”

NSA: “But we will fail again big time next time if you don't show us the money.”

Ad nauseam.

Sponsor: “By the way, do you really spend sponsorship money for your athletes? Do you account for it honestly and transparently?”

NSA: “I think that's getting ahead of the story sir. Just the same, we can assure you that we will be as honest and transparent as you are in your own business dealings (whatever that means).”

And so it goes.

*    *    *

The Asiad is as tough as tough can be.

Friendly reminder: In many sports events, the competitive level of the Asian Games rivals that of the Olympic Games.

Want to know the competition background of the recent Asian Games medalists in its Olympic sports events?

Surf the web and look 'em up.

*    *    *

The breaks of the game broke us down...and one of us literally suffered from a broken neck.

Now for my personal experiences as team manager of the Philippine wrestling team.

The game commences at the preparation stage so to speak, even way before the actual playing of the game, during the competition proper itself.

That being the case, the Philippine wrestling team has long been crippled going into this year's Asiad.

First, SEA Games gold medalist in freestyle, 84 kilogram category Jason Balabal entered the Philippine Navy as a candidate soldier last June.

A candidate soldier of the Philippine Navy is required to train a minimum of six months straight inside barracks to become a full fledged soldier – and with no exceptions. As a consequence, he was no longer able to train and much less join the Asiad last November.

We can't blame the young man: a soldier–athlete enjoys steadier job security and benefits than a “stand–alone” athlete. We are confident that he'll be back on the mat next year when he is already a regular soldier and can train with the Philippine team as duly requested by the PSC.

Secondly, our other SEA Games gold medalist in Greco-Roman 55 kilograms Margarito Angana, Jr. suffered a spinal injury, a herniated disc in the neck. He got injured last October 8 during sparring in his training in Sofia, Bulgaria.

“Incidentally” Margarito - who didn't let a single opponent score even a single point against him during last year's SEA Games - was our top bet for winning a medal in the Asiad.

Finally we were down with only one of our three SEA Games gold medalists in Margarito's eldest brother Jimmy Angana, our official entry in freestyle 66 kilograms. The veteran and battle-worn Jimmy, along with two other freestyle wrestlers, fought valiantly but did not go home with a medal.

Due to the unfortunate circumstances, the Philippine wrestling team that saw action in the regional 2009 SEA Games was stronger than the one that competed in the continental 2010 Asian Games.

Nevertheless, our deepest gratitude goes to our sponsor in the POC who made Margarito and Jimmy's three-month training in Bulgaria possible and to SMART Sports for their extra allowances and other valuable items.

We will rebound next year and qualify an athlete or two in the qualifying events for the 2012 London Olympics.

*    *    *

To hell with the closing ceremonies.

My team mates - coaches Jerry Faingason and Rodrigo Falsario, and athlete brothers Jimmy, Jerry, and Margarito Angana and Maribel Jambora (who also happens to be Jerry's fiance and a prospective Angana herself if plans don't go awry) - all swore on the splendor of the closing ceremonies held on the evening of November 27 at the Haixinsha Citizen Square.

The fireworks were impressive, Maribel gushed, and Korean pop superstar and Hollywood actor Rain sang during the closing rites.

I missed all of it, along with the opening ceremonies as our team arrived on the second week of the games.

I was too tired and depressed to join and revel in the farewell festivities.

Tired with traveling by train and walking through the sprawling commercial district of Guangzhou to purchase a pair of US$50.00 wrestling shoes that day, worn with the last minute shopping at the International Zone inside the Athletes Village.

Depressed that the whole Philippine Team contingent fell a gold medal short of its four gold medal target, crushed that our wrestling team did not contribute for the 56th year straight. (The Philippines' last wrestling medal in the Asiad was a silver, won way back in 1954 when Manila hosted the quadrennial games.)

I slept all alone through the closing ceremonies inside my room in our 12 storey high residential apartment in the middle of the Athletes Village.

Why see and hear Rain? It was already raining in my bedroom.

*    *    *

Goodbye free McDo.

Another thing I missed was the free McDonald's meals provided to us in the Main Dining Hall, 24/ 7!

I promised myself that I would avail of the meals only if our wrestlers won a medal.

That said, I spent my one week stay expanding my waistline on East Asian, Southeast Asian, Subcontinental, Muslim, European Continental, and Bicolano cuisines.

Besides we're not wanting for McDo branches in Metro Manila, but I won't get free cheeseburger and fries unless I'm a guest in a children's party.

I was joking on the Bicolano cuisine.

*    *    *

Smile, Chris Tiu, tomorrow's another day.

'Twas the night of November 26th when I walked past Philippine basketball team captain Chris Tiu, sitting all alone on the foot high round concrete fence enclosing a raised bed garden just outside the souvenir shop of the International Center.

His facial expression said it all.

A few minutes later we were together by chance at the laundry, where he spoke with the attendants in Chinese.

We asked about each other's team's performance, in Filipino.

After a few minutes, we bid each other better luck next time, still in Filipino.

*    *    *

An artistic consolation.

As free souvenirs, all delegates could take home the "Picture Greetings," as our hosts entitled them, which were children's framed paintings adorning our bedroom walls in the residential apartments. Each painting came with a greeting card for each delegate.

In exchange, we wrote on the detachable page of each greeting card our feelings on the painting we would be taking home. We left our written messages with the receptionist of our respective apartment building upon departure.

Mine was brief, "It's beautiful."

It was addressed to 10 year old Chen Shi Yin, the creator of my abstract work of art (it looks abstract to me).

Someday, Chen Shi Yin could become an internationally renowned artist whose works pitch for hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece. Then I'll visit Sotheby's and end up with enough cash to spend for our athletes' training program, nutritional needs, etc.

And then we'll show you the results.

Another option is to sell this artwork in the future to any of our 16th Asian Games gold medalists: boxer Rey Saludar, billiards player Dennis Orcullo, or bowler Biboy Rivera. This is assuming they maintain their wealth and could afford disposable income years from now to buy Master Chen's little obra maestra.

But do or will they patronize art?

Well that's another story.

Another sumptuous MMA serving from Rogue’s Black Tie Brawl

MAKATI, Philippines - The third annual offering of what is considered to be the country’s classiest and sexiest professional mixed martial arts (MMA) event began to the tune of “Lupang Hinirang” wafting through the hall courtesy of Juan Pablo Dream’s tenor saxophone, as the audience formally dressed in black suits and evening gowns stood in rapt attention and anticipation for the eight bouts of Rogue Magazine’s Black Tie Brawl last evening of Oct. 29 at the Grand Ballroom, New World Hotel, Makati.

Immediately after playing the national anthem, the Mod band set the fighting mood with their fierce and frenetic renditions of Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle” and Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lot of Love,” rocking the crowd seated ‘round round tables. Fresh from consumption of their chef prepared sit-down dinner, the high society patrons eagerly awaited their dessert of Alvin Aguilar’s intrepid Ultimate Reality Combat Championship fighters, whose photos of bare upper bodies and brief write-ups were on the menu, literally.

And now for the fights, which were graced by Ornusa Cadness,
Mia Ayesa, and Sanya Smith as round girls in gowns (no, not skimpy skirts and body fitting midrib tops).

Match no. 1: Pinweight, Leonard Caliwa vs. Noel “Taz” Norada

The first fight of the night was the shortest and bloodiest. Norada of the Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) took off for an ill-timed and telegraphed grab for the legs of Round 1 Gym fighter Caliwa and paid dearly for it. Caliwa quickly countered with a thunderous knee into Norada’s face, smashing the wrestler’s right cheekbone and sending him plummeting on his butt.

A visibly hurt and flustered Norada tried to get back on his feet and dove for another double-leg shot, which was met with another knee to his face from his alert opponent. This time though, the second knee strike notwithstanding, Norada got a firm grasp of Caliwa’s legs and took him down.

Norada tried to ground and pound through his daze inside the guard but was effectively stifled by the still clear-headed Caliwa. Blood oozed profusely from Norada’s nose and mouth, an effect of his battered right cheek, and bathed his supine adversary with crimson.

The referee broke the fight and summoned the ring physician to check on the injured fighter (Norada splattered so much blood on his rival that the doctor first approached Caliwa, mistakenly thinking that the latter was the one bleeding from injury). Barely breathing through the blood stuffed in his nostrils, a devastated Norada meekly surrendered. 

Leonard Caliwa was declared winner by technical knockout (TKO) with the doctor stoppage 0:54 into the first round.

(Later a downcast Norada, lying on the emergency cot with an ice pack on his cheek, told this writer that after the first knee strike he could not even recall his subsequent successful takedown and futile attempt at a ground and pound.)

Match no. 2: featherweight, Reydon “The Filipino Bolo Punch” Romero vs. Miguel Alo

Alo of Team S.P.R.A.W.L. and a BS MatEng graduate of UP Diliman, engineered a majority decision over Romero of Yaw Yan Kampilan, in a fight largely characterized by a see-saw battle on ground positioning.

The second fight commenced with Romero assuming the signature Yaw Yan Kampilan fighting stance: crouching low with his right fist covering his right cheek and the other arm cocked with the upper arm raised to almost perpendicular to the body, elbow outwardly pointed at the opponent, and forearm dangling and swinging like a pendulum.

Romero struck Alo with a punch and kick combo and surprisingly took down the wrestler with a double-leg shot. Alo, upon hitting the canvass wrapped his legs around Romero and secured a jujitsu closed guard position.

On his back Alo, a Philippine Team B wrestler, weathered Romero’s fistic attacks until he got hold of the other protagonist’s left leg and changed their positions with a takedown. But it didn’t take long before Romero skillfully regained the top position in what would be a 20 minute long tussle of reversals on the ground.

The latter half of the first round saw Alo trying to sink in a triangle choke, against which Romero initially responded with an illegal knee to the head, making referee Joey Lepiten momentarily halt the action and warn the erring party. Alo then transitioned into an arm bar attempt which Romero defended stubbornly in spite of his arm almost reaching hyper-extension.

Alo finally gave up on the arm bar and full mounted Romero, and true to the manifesting pattern, the mounted fighter regained the neutral position by sneaking back a full guard around his opponent.

The second round started with Alo capitalizing on his superior physical conditioning, and the more exhausted Romero abandoning his team’s unique fighting stance for the more conventional boxing defensive pose.

This time, it was Alo who initiated the fireworks with a left cross and took off with a flying knee to the head, before taking his opponent down and pounding on him from the full mount.

For the nth time Romero reversed and re assumed the top position then stood away from the supine Alo’s guard. On his feet he delivered kicks to the legs of his grounded opponent, who cautiously inched towards him on his back, waiting for the opportune time to stand up without receiving a major hit.

 The chance came for Alo when Romero launched another leg kick, and with what seemed to be a leg block from below, the Yaw Yan Kampilan athlete tripped and stumbled to the canvass. Immediately Alo arose and dashed towards his downed adversary, tied him up, and struck at him.

Romero struggled back to his feet but Alo countered with a successful head throw, eventually leading to a full mount and ground and pound. When the fighters found themselves back to standing again, Alo took to flight anew and piloted an airborne knee to Romero. 

The final bell rang with Alo going all out for a rear-naked choke after slugging at a prone Romero from a back mount in the dying minute.

Match no. 3: featherweight, Michael Dan Rubio vs. Dowen “Rampage” Dela Tonga

Rubio of McLaren MMA was quick to the draw with a complete package of strikes; punching, kicking, and kneeing Dela Tonga of Round 1 Gym right at the opening salvo. Wrestling Dela Tonga down, Rubio grappled for a kimura arm lock which appeared to be on the verge of eliciting a submission.

Dela Tonga, coming off an intimidating 17–3 win–loss record in his erstwhile pro boxing career, frustrated Rubio and struggled his way back on his feet. Hence he proved his superior boxing skills for the latter half of the first round, with Rubio answering mostly with leg kicks.

The second round further showcased Dela Tonga’s advantage in the boxing department, but Rubio’s takedowns and consistent leg kicks must have been the difference that earned for the McLaren MMA fighter the hard fought split decision victory.

Match no. 4: flyweight, Lando “The Assassin” Espinosa vs. Leo Occena

Espinosa of Elorde MMA did not have to prove his specialty in boxing as he wasted no time in taking down Occena of Yaw Yan Kampilan, barely allowing Occena the chance to show off his team’s signature limping arm fighting stance.

From the half-mount Espinosa banged away at his adversary with head and body punches, until he secured and tapped Occena with a kimura 4:13 into the first round.

Match no. 5: featherweight, Andrew Benibe vs. Carl “The Virus” Sabeniano

It was only in their respective dug-outs, pre-fight, did they learn that both of them studied in UP Diliman and took courses in the same College of Human Kinetics (Benibe was a sports science major from 1993 – ’96 while Sabeniano graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 2006).

In two hours they were at their closest, sharing the spotlight atop one boxing ring, tearing each other apart.

Sabeniano of Hybrid Yaw Yan, a former URCC lightweight champion, dropped and pulled Benibe of Maic’s Gym/ Benibe MMA into his guard early on in the first round. From closed guard he transitioned to his notorious rubber guard then smoothly applied a triangle choke.

Everything was in place for the submission attempt except for the choke, as Benibe steadfastly defended against a blackout, until Sabeniano let go and the fight was resumed back to standing. (Sabeniano later claimed that his nagging knee injury hurt intolerably that he had to release the hold.)

In the stand up striking, Benibe was pronouncedly accurate and persistent with body punches, while Sabeniano landed with thigh kicks. Twice Sabeniano struck but missed with the weapon he resorted to in knocking out his previous opponent in URCC: the spinning back fist.

Entering the last 2:00 of the first round, Benibe unloaded what looked to be a left roundhouse that smacked Sabeniano’s cranium, knocking the ex-champ down. Benibe closed in for the kill and pounded on his fallen foe from side mount before the referee stopped the rainfall of knuckles with 1:55 remaining in the first canto.

Match no. 6: bantamweight, Charles De Tomas vs. Roldan “The Iron
Man” Cartajena

After Cartajena of Hybrid Yaw Yan provoked his rival with a leg kick, it was De Tomas of D Elements Gym all the way, ironing out and dominating The Iron Man with his superior wrestling and grappling proficiency until Cartajena tapped out to the night’s second successful kimura, 5:53 into the first stanza.

Match no. 7: Heavyweight, Robertson Tubosa vs. Igor “Sugar Free” Subora

Beginning the lone heavyweight match of the night, Tubosa of WAP, all of 5’ 10’’ and 220 lbs, lunged and furiously attacked with a flurry of punches until he tied up the bigger Ukrainian Subora of Strikes Unlimited, at 6’ 3” and 240 lbs, against the ropes. Then he took Subora down and tried to launch a ground and pound from half mount.

Subora effectively clinched the wrestler on top of him, preventing Tubosa from inflicting any damage during what would turn out to be their first and last embrace on the floor. With more than two uneventful minutes of jostling on the ground, the referee brought back the fighters on their soles to facilitate more exciting action.

The heaviest and tallest fighter of the night did not disappoint by knocking down Tubosa right away with a superman punch (a flying right straight). He punished the fallen Philippine Team wrestler with some more battery before the referee stopped the fight at 3:00 into the first round, and Sugar Free had his game opponent leave the ring on a sour note.

  

Match no. 8: bantamweight, Hideo “Death from Tokyo” Morikawa vs. Aden “Tiger” Zarco

The final joust for Black Tie Brawl III was a classic between karate and boxing, and it was plain to see in the fighting stances of Japanese karateka Morikawa representing Kyokushin Zendukai Phil and boxer Zarco of Maic’s Gym/ Benibe MMA.

Morikawa lobbed leg kicks which were countered by Zarco with a straight to the face. After circling and sizing each other up with measured strikes, Morikawa tangled and took Zarco down and found himself inside the boxer’s guard.

The fighters soon found themselves back to standing again but Morikawa would have none of it and shot for a successful takedown. Zarco found a way to top position, with one leg entwined inside Morikawa’s half guard.

Morikawa went for a kimura attempt and swept Zarco in the process, getting the top position on side mount. From a kimura, he adjusted to a successful arm bar, tapping out Zarco in 4:04 of the first round.

Andrew Benibe scored a double whammy as he also bagged the “Fighter of the Night” award which went along with a free VRP Medical Center executive check up package.

As in all combative sports contests, half of the warriors enjoyed their victories while the other half went home with more hurt to handle and a less lot of love.

Black Tie Brawl III was a presentation of Rogue Magazine, in cooperation with New World
Hotel, Makati City-Manila, Cole Haan, Mini, PLDT MyDSL, Chivas, Absolut Vodka, Martell Cognac, Jacob’s Creek, Michelis, U-Boat, SEAIR, VRP Medical Center, Lifeline, Yoshinoya, Tapa King, ETC Entertainment Central, Jack TV, Manila Bulletin, 106.7 Dream FM, Martin Bautista, Chris Diaz Designs, and Joel Escober.

Matt Hamill Tito’ed Tito Ortiz, Hammered Out a Unanimous Decision Victory

 

Matt Hamill was a doppelganger of the Tito Ortiz of old as he took his former Ultimate Fighter coach down to school, time and time again literally in UFC 121 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Ortiz fired the opening salvo with a kick – punch – knee combo right at the bell launching the first round. Hamill answered with a left jab that opened a cut to the right side of the head of the former UFC light heavyweight champion.

Hamill slammed Ortiz to the canvass with a double-leg takedown but the latter quickly scrambled back to his feet and they were back to a standing exchange of strikes.

With 2:55 remaining in the first round, Ortiz was already sporting a mouse underneath his left eye along with blood oozing from the side of his head. After a more or less equal exhibition of kicks and punches - including a spinning back fist from Ortiz which was blocked by the younger fighter - the round ended with Ortiz’ face the more worn and torn.

Round two began with another exchange of stand-up strikes, the most significant of which was a left uppercut courtesy of Hamill which struck the chin of Ortiz and snapped his head back.

Midway into the round Hamill finally treated his former mentor with a dose of his own medicine: the ground and pound. Winding down to the last two minutes of the round, the erstwhile student secured a double-leg takedown and unleashed a Titoesque rainfall of elbows and punches from inside Ortiz’ guard.

Ortiz unsuccessfully attempted a submission from the guard which only gave Hamill the opportunity to transition to half-mount, where he resumed his punishment till the bell sounded.

The final round was all Hamill’s. The young contender aggressively stalked the elder warrior with left jabs, right straights, uppercut, inside leg kicks and the whole encyclopedia of strikes.

Ortiz dove for a double-leg takedown which Hamill sprawled off and answered with a right straight to the face back on their feet.

Hamill executed another successful double leg takedown with 90 seconds remaining, and spent the dying seconds elbowing and pounding out a unanimous decision victory from half-mount.

The winner, on a roll with his fifth consecutive win, emotionally expressed his gratitude to his former coach during the post-fight interview.

The torch was passed and lit brightly the Honda Center for the unquestioned conqueror, and there was also no question that Hamill heard the cheering crowd.

　

from the bottomless pit no. 3

"One important lesson I learned from watching soap operas: be careful whom you fight; he or she could be your long lost sibling."

from the bottomless pit no. 2

"I made the throw but I was out of bounds; it didn't count."

from the bottomless pit no. 1

"Broken men yearn for unbroken solitude."

S.P.R.A.W.L. - MMA Cubao Fact Sheet

My babies Mikael Fedor J.Sevilla on the left and Milo Ezekiel J. Sevilla on the right (when they grow up they'll either find this cute or embarrassing)

S. P. R. A. W. L. – MIXED MARTIAL ARTS CUBAO

address at 

3^rd floor JN Bldg., 657 EDSA cor. Monte De Piedad st., Brgy. Immaculate Concepcion, Cubao, Quezon City

If  southbound along EDSA, it's at the foot of the last overpass before Aurora blvd. right after HM Bus LinerStation. If northbound it's the reverse (obviously).

Open Monday to Sunday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Phone nos. 0910-4408035/ 0907-3020384/ 0927-7036912

Member: Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP), Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP), & S.P.R.A.W.L. – Inc.

AVAIL OF OUR MAY 2011 STUDENT* PROMO!!!

2 Sessions = P250.00 Only!
All Martial Arts & All Combos!
ex. muay + muay, or grappling + grappling, or muay + grappling, etc.

Beginning this May: 1) Whole Day (8 Hours) Wrestling & Submission Grappling! (See updated        schedule below)

                                 2) Lifetime membership fee cut to P1,000.00 only from P1,500.00, Annual membership fee cut to P500.00 from P500.00!

• *Please present VALID school ID
• *Grade School, High School and College Undergraduate Students only. College students  studying for Masters, Doctoral and 2nd Bachelor's Degree NOT QUALIFIED.

 2011 RATES AND SCHEDULE OF CLASSES

·         Choose between annual membership fee of P500.00 (effective 12 months, not necessarily until Dec. 31) or lifetime membership fee of P1, 000.00

·         Membership ID card fee P200.00

·         Muay Thai, Wrestling, Grappling, Boxing, & FMA rates:

For members:         per session P150.00       8 sessions per month P1, 000.00       12 sessions per month P1, 500.00

For non-members: per session P250.00        8 sessions per month P1, 500.00       12 sessions per month P2, 300.00

Schedule for Muay Thai, Boxing & FMA: Mon to Sun walk-in anytime for a two hour session

Schedule for Wrestling: Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM (1:00 PM to 7:00 PM one hour sessions for walk-in/ by appointment clients, MWF 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM regular class sessions)

Schedule for Submission Grappling: Mon, Wed, Fri 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM & Sat 2:00PM to 9 PM one hour sessions for walk-in/ by appointment clients, Tue & Thu 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM regular class sessions

·         Mixed Martial Arts rates:

For members: per session P250.00       8 sessions per month P1, 500.00      
12 sessions/month P2, 300.00

For non-members: per session P350.00        8 sessions per month P2, 500.00      
12 sessions per month P3, 500.00

Schedule is a choice between a & b:

a)      one session of MMA is actually a 2 in 1 package of one striking (Muay Thai or boxing) session and one  grappling (wrestling, submission grappling or judo) session. You can take both sessions in one day or one each on two separate days. Choose from the schedule above. (We highly encourage learning the skills separately first before mixing them all up.)

b)      one session training with our fighters who are preparing for amateur or professional MMA fights, usually Mon to Sat 7:00 PM to 9 PM.

• Instructors:

              Muay Thai – Kru Sulpiano Laurio, Kru Art Pantinople, Kru Swing Ellar, and Trainer        Bobot Mercurio

              Boxing – Trainer Bobot Mercurio (former amateur boxer with 7 -1 win-loss record)

              FMA – Kru Art Patinople and Trainer Bobot Mercurio (Doce Pares Arnis)

             Wrestling – Philippine Wrestling Team (PWT) Coach Violeto Agustin & former PWT Coach Karlo Sevilla

            Submission Grappling – Gilbert Ombao (Team Fabricio BJJ blue belt), Kru Art Pantinople (Japan Paraestra BJJ blue belt) & Karlo Sevilla (Many time submission grappling medalist)

             Mixed Martial Arts - Kru Sulpiano Laurio, Coach Karlo Sevilla with consultant Coach Jerry Legaspi and the rest of the instructors mentioned above

·         All fees are non-refundable