Vasquez Modified Martial Arts: Arnis declared National Martial Art and Sport

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.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Arnis declared National Martial Art and Sport

Arnis declared national martial art and sport
December 19, 2009, 9:18pm

In what is regarded as another milestone in Philippine sports, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo officially signed on December 11 Republic Act No. 9850 which declared arnis as the country’s national martial art and sport.

Arnis Philippines (ARPI) president Raymond Velayo said that the law’s passage will insure the preservation of arnis as part of the nation’s heritage and will instill in the minds of the Filipinos the sense of nationalism, patriotism, national unity and identity.

Under Velayo’s watch, ARPI painstakingly lobbied for the approval of the Bill in both Houses of Congress since the time of former Senator Orly Mercado in 1995, the late Senator Robert Barbers and Cong. Miguel Zubiri in 2001.

The lawmakers who signed the bill into law were Senators Manuelito Lapid, Miguel Zubiri, Mar Roxas, Richard Gordon, Ramon Revilla, Jr., Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. and Representatives Arthur Pingoy, Jr., Pryde Henry Teves, Cesar Jalosjos, Nanette Castelo Daza and Narciso Santiago III with the help of ARPI directors Servillano Padiz, Jr., Ramon Dizon, Medardo Quiambao, and Richmond Velayo.

According to Cong. Teves, the law mandates arnis as a physical education course for the DepEd and will be one of its priorities in the 2010 Palarong Pambansa.

Velayo said arnis is being practiced in all five clusters of the Philippine Olympic Festival (POF) and in all 17 regions in the Palarong Pambansa, the national-based Sports Program promulgated by the Department of Education, all in coordination with ARPI.

Founded in 1986, ARPI is the 33rd official member of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and recognized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

ARPI has also successfully lobbied for the inclusion of arnis in 1991 and 2005 SEA Games.

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.