Two top US arnis officials in town for five-day visit

Two top officials of the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation(WEKAF) from the United States arrived yesterday for a five-day visit.

Kelli Sipin and Justin Lemke, vice chairman and executive director of the organizing council of the 9th World Championships, were met at the airport by local WEKAF officials led by Engr. Michael Cañete and Gerald Cañete.

The two visitors who are both former arnis world champions were scheduled to confer with Grandmaster Dionisio Cañete and other local arnis officials to discuss on matters concerning the 9th World Eskrima Kali Arnis Championships set July 2-8 this year at Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida.

Specifically, they want to obtain the approval of Grandmaster Cañete to their proposal to introduce new events and some modifications to the tournament rules.

To recall, Grandmaster Cañete drafted and authored the tournament rules in 1976, and is now adopted and enforced in all competitions in more than 300 WEKAF member countries.

The two visiting officials, who are from Four Winds Martial Arts of Milaukee, Wisconsin, will also meet with Cebu City Councilor Sylvan "Jack" Jakosalem and the members of the Philippine team who will compete in the world championship.

Jakosalem is the chief de mission and head of delegation to the Florida Championship and Congress. The final lineup of the team will be known today when the coaching staff headed by Percival Pableo, Maximo Caballes, and Jose Borces will meet at the WEKAF Headquarters at Sto. Niño Village in Brgy. Banilad, this city.

Expected to be named are 30 players from Cebu and 10 from Manila. 10 of the cebu players are from the University of Cebu, whose group dominated the final qualifying tournament last January 29 at the Cebu Coliseum.

The two arnis officials will also meet with the executives of Gervince Trading, Inc., the sole manufacturer of arnis tournament equipment to order specially designed headgears and body armor for the championship.

The championship is expected to be attended by more than 700 competitors from 25 countries. It will be held at the Dolphin Hotel, located right inside the world's most popular entertainment center, the Disneyworld.