Balintawak Arnis takes center stage in Virginia

Chantilly, VA --- On the outskirts of Washington D.C., a scant 25 miles from the White House where the most powerful man in the world holds office, the most powerful men in arnis have converged to spread the gospel of a time honored sport that traces its roots as far back as early 1500.

Welcome to the 4th East Coast Gathering of Balintawak Legacy: A Gathering of Masters.

It's a lofty event organized by Kapatiran Mandirigma and spearheaded by the indefatigable Jhun Occidental, an ardent student of arnis who earned his fighting spurs from the teachings of the Bobby Taboada lineage.

Arnis enthusiasts from various pockets of the United States and from different corners of the world are assembled here, representing the six different lineages of the Balinatawak for the festive three-day event.

The Comfort Suites along Metrotech Drive serves as the official headquarters of the event and late into Friday night, sticks were still roaring at the Dulles banquet room.

Among the highlighted instructors on Friday included master Hilmar Siebert of Germany who taught, among many other things, hand-to-hand combat and breathing techniques.

Grandmaster Shelley Millsapaugh, whose mom is Filipina, showed amazing grace while demonstrating the complex forms of espada y daga from Kombatan Arnis.

Grandmaster Monie Velez is skillfully defying the gravity of age. At a ripe 62, the Cebu-based Velez enthralled the adoring crowd with his mastery of the Filipino Martial Arts, teaching the various techniques of stick fighting, thrusting, and how to repel a knife attack, among many other things.

As interesting as Day 1 was, it was only the beginning.

More to come from the Gathering of Masters in Day 2 on Saturday.

Photos: Hilmar Siebert of Germany taught the value of proper breathing techniques as an effective tool in fighting while grand master Shelley Millspaugh demonstrates various stick fighting forms. Below photo shows grand master Monie Velez wowing participants with his mastery of the art of arnis.