20 foreigners to join mixed martial arts seminar

The 1st World Mixed Martial Arts Seminar, the first of its kind here in Cebu, is expected to draw at least 20 foreigners - mostly Americans and Australians - on February 10-12 at the JY Square Discovery Mall in Brgy. Lahug.

Organizers led by Grandmaster Ciriaco "Cacoy" Cañete said the presence of National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police personnel will add color to the three-day seminar, which is open to all martial arts enthusiasts.

Entry fee to the three-day seminar and demonstration is pegged at P700 inclusive of a certificate of completion.

NBI-7 director Medardo Delimos and Cebu City police chief Melvin Gayotin promised Cañete they will be sending some of their personnel to the affair.

There will be nine Australians, led by master Vince Palumbo, and the rest are Americans headed by Grandmaster Richard Bustillo, who will be taking part in the event.

Palumbo is a world champion in boxing and kickboxing, while Bustillo is a former partner of the late martial arts icon Bruce Lee. He is the director of the International Martial Arts and Boxing Academy, the largest martial arts school in Los Angeles, California.

Grandmaster Cañete will be joined by Phil S. Porter, the founder of the US Martial Arts Association and father of American judo, and Bustillo in running the seminar. This will be the first time they will conduct a seminar together in the Philippines, but they did it many times already abroad, the latest was in Missouri, USA last year.

In a press conference organized by Grandmaster Cañete yesterday at the Baseline Restaurant, the 81-year-old Porter talked a lot on his judo exploits but after all, his discussions boiled down into constant practice to master any sports discipline. "Never miss practice," was the three words he could advise to aspiring judo and martial arts practitioners.

Porter said judo was introduced to America by Japanese immigrants as early in 1902. The US President at that time wasTheodore Roosevelt. In 1951 while he was still serving in the US Air Force, he started propagating judo and organized the 1st National Championships in the US in 1953. During that time, he also wrote its constitution and by-laws that's why he is considered founder of judo in the US.

Porter fought in several judo championship matches in 1975 and the last time he was active was in 1998. Today, Porter is now retired, but according to him, he maybe old but he is still sharp.

Cañete, Porter and Bustillo will have daily routine with one hour interval to discuss martial arts basics and then conduct demonstration afterwards.

Porter takes care of the judo and jujitsu, Bustillo will handle Muay Thai, tae kwon do and jeet kune du, while Cañete will talk on eskrima, eskrido, "pangamot" and other barehand techniques.