Vasquez Modified Martial Arts: Republic Act 9850, also known as the Arnis Law

This is the Official Blogsite of Vasquez Modified Martial Arts. We propagate the Art, Science, and Discipline of Tapado both in traditional and modified form.

A lot had been written about Tapado owing to the fact many have been attracted to it due to its awesome power. Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike have been attracted to it and have endeavored to study it. Others write about Tapado for their own reasons and purposes. On the other hand, we present Tapado as teachers and practitioners of the art, look at it as critics and scrutinize its principles rather than treat it as myth.

We refuse to stagnate. Rather, we choose to evolve. We would appreciate to have you join us with an open mind - eager to grow with us in the true values of martial arts.

If Tapado is what you seek - this is Tapado.

We hope you enjoy your stay and that you too enjoy your reading.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Republic Act 9850, also known as the Arnis Law

Gov’t, sports officials hail Arnis Law

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:51:00 01/22/2010

Filed Under: Laws, Martial Arts (general)

MANILA, Philippines—Government and sports officials Thursday welcomed the signing of Republic Act 9850, also known as the Arnis Law, saying it will boost the development of the sport that “truly originated in our country.”

The Arnis Law was signed on Dec. 11, making the martial art which features fighting sticks as the country’s national sport.

“Arnis is one sport which truly originated in our country, a part of our rich culture and tradition,” Arnis Philippines president Raymond Velayo, who worked for the passage of the law since 1995, said before government and sports officials who gathered in a meeting Thursday at the Club Filipino in San Juan City.

The Arnis Law was authored and sponsored by Senators Manuelito Lapid, Miguel Zubiri, Richard Gordon, Mar Roxas, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Aquilino Pimentel Jr. Congressmen Arthur Pingoy Jr., Pryde Henry Teves, Cesar Jalosjos, Nanette Castelo Daza and Narciso Santiago III also backed the law.

With the passage of the law, the sport becomes a Physical Education course for the Department of Education (DepEd).

Arnis has also been included in the roster of events in the 2010 Palarong Pambansa.

Arnis Philippines becomes the 33rd member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and is recognized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Also attending the meeting Thursday were officials of the POC, PSC, DepEd and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

DepEd and NCCA officials actually backed arnis over sipa as the national sport during the congressional deliberations on the law.

Arnis was also played in the 1991 and 2005 Southeast Asian Games, which were hosted by the country. Cedelf P. Tupas

Grand Master Mike Vasquez
Founder Vasquez Modifed Tapado and Vasquez Modified Karate

Grand Master Mike Vasquez holds a Degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the La Salle College (now University of St. La Salle), Bacolod City, where he once serve as Physical Education (P.E.) instructor. Likewise, he was also the P.E. instructor of La Consolacion College from 1966 to 1971. He finished his Education Degree Major in Physical Education from West Negros College, Bacolod City.

Mike Vasquez started martial arts training at the age of ten, when his uncle had him trained in the Filipino art of arnis de mano under two prominent instructors, namely Juan Lawan and Amador Chavez. When he was 12, he tried his hand on judo and jiu-jitsu. He also expanded his knowledge of ancient Oriental weaponry such as nunchaku, yawara, sai, the bo and the bullwhip.

Mike Vasquez, among his many accomplishments, won several karate tournament competitions as follows:

Second National Professional Karate Championship, 1972 (Heavyweight Division)
1st Negros Invitational Karate Tournament, 1964
2nd Western Visayas Karate Championship, 1965

Grand Master Mike Vasquez other major accomplishments include his being one of the Top Five for the Philippine Team for the World Karate Tournament and as the Head Coach of the Philippine Team to the World Karate Goodwill Tournament, 1974.

Grand Master Mike Vasquez is the author of two books: Modified Karate (A New Concept of Advanced Karate) and Fundamentals of Tapado- Arnis Long Stick Art of Fighting, both of which had already been copyrighted under Philippine laws.

Grand Master Mike Vasquez was the only prodigy of the late Grand Master Nono Mamar - the originator of Tapado - to be given the Authority to teach and propagate Tapado to the world.

Henried B. Lamayo
Modified Tapado
Viñas Lapu Lapu Arnis
Dikiti Tersia

Founder: Arnis Unlimited and Sejitsu Judo Dojo

Henried B. Lamayo has a Masters Degree in Management Major in Public Management (U.P. Visayas). He is a former part-time professor in a Graduate School teaching Public Administration and also a former part-time college professor for 14 years teaching Information Technology courses. He is a free-lance consultant in technical writing for students in various undergraduate and graduate courses in his area and has assisted in training Criminology students and volunteer organizations in Judo and self-defense.