Copyright © 2010

SIKARAN-ARNIS

SCHOOL OF MARTIAL ARTS
Text Box: Modern Sikaran was developed by Dante Alambra after he moved to Canada in 1977. Dante found that in North America, there was a lot of emphasis in tournament competition also known as Sport Martial Arts (SMA). Even though Dante’s students excelled in North American competitions, he noted that were a few differences between Philippines and North American tournaments. In Philippines, fighting was continuous such that it only stopped one of three ways: 1) knocked out, 2) chased out of the ring or 3) the time limit expired. Many of the North America tournaments Dante’s student participated in involved point fighting in which a fight is halted after each point and then started again until the time limit expires. The one with the most points by the end of the time limit was the winner. Dante noted three key points to winning SMA competitions and that was, speed, accuracy and timing. His training began to reflect ways to improve one’s chances of winning in SMA competitions and thus, Modern Sikaran was born! Below is a description of 3 major differences between Sikaran and Modern Sikaran. SIKARAN vs. MODERN SIKARAN (DIFFERENCE #1) The fighting stance of traditional Sikaran required that the power leg was their back leg and their weaker leg is the front. Traditional Sikaran competitors would use their front (weaker) leg to set-up the more powerful kicks that would come from the back, similar to the way a boxer would use a jab to set up a hook. With this in mind Dante decided to change his students fighting stances in 2 ways. In the point fighting competitions that Dante’s student joined in, he found that it was more like a game of tag thus; competitors were not required to set up power kicks to knock out there opponents to win. Taking this into account and knowing that students generally had more speed and accuracy when kicking with their power leg, he had his students fight with their power leg in front. This change in stance reduced the amount of telegraphing of a technique. The final change that Dante made in his students fighting stances was to have them face their bodies more to the side. Since there was a need for his students to be able to kick faster while exposing the least amount of target area, he had his students expose only one shoulder to the opponent rather than the traditional way of fighting where both shoulders face the opponent. With this simple innovation, he found his students performed even better in competition. SIKARAN vs. MODERN SIKARAN (DIFFERENCE #2) Dante also noted that most North American fighters were taller than many of his Filipino students, putting them at a reach disadvantage. With this in mind, Dante developed/adapted many kicking techniques for his students. The following are a few kicking techniques he has incorporated into training: SLIDING SIDEKICK: In traditional Sikaran, competitors generally used the stamping sidekick. A stamping side kick can be broken down in 3 parts, the practitioner takes a small step with their lead leg, then there back leg followed by the kick with their lead leg. While a kick like this generates a lot of power, it also telegraphs the kick the practitioner is trying to perform. However with a sliding sidekick there is little-to-no telegraph prior to the kick. To perform a sliding sidekick the practitioner transfers a majority of their weight to the back leg, at the same time they are lifting their front leg, pushing off and forward (sliding) with their back leg. While the kick may deliver less power, the speed gained is a greater advantage. DUKOT: Another kick that Dante taught his students due to the usual height disadvantage was the DUKOT KICK. This kick is a hook kick that comes from under the opponents’ kick, and requires precise timing to perform effectively. In point fighting, many competitors use the sidekick like a jab to disrupt their opponents rhythm and to set up their own offense. Dukot is a counter move used against the side kick. What happens is person “A” comes in with a side kick and instead of person “B” moving back, they bend at the waist away from person “A”. Once person “A” comes within reaching range of person “B”, person “B” throws a DUKOT. FEINTING BIAKID: A traditional Sikaran kick in which the practitioner performs a spin kick in front of his opponent, but hits the back of their opponents’ head. The Feinting Biakid gives the Biakid a new dynamic and is another counter move that has been effective in tournament fighting. An example is as follows: a) Person “A” has a fighting stance with their left leg in front and there right leg behind. b) As Person “B” comes forward with an attack Person “A” steps back counter clockwise with their left leg and ends up with their right leg in front. c) This would make Person “B” think Person “A” is retreating and continues to move forward with their attack. d) Person “A” then does a Biakid with their left leg and hits Person “B” in the back of the head. SIKARAN vs. MODERN SIKARAN (DIFFERENCE #3) Traditional Sikaran forms are comprised of many high kicks and sweeping techniques. However, Dante noted that in North American competitions many competitors used “flashy” jump kicks and acrobatics. In order for Modern Sikaran to become more competitive in forms (sayaw) divisions Dante decided to incorporate jump kicks and acrobatics into his students training. Dante’s students had a chance to use these innovations in 4 World Sikaran-Arnis Competitions and had great success. In the 1st World Sikaran-Arnis Tournament (1986) Dante’s Canadian team won the Team Sayaw and Team Laban division. In the 2nd World Sikaran-Arnis Tournament (1994) Dante’s students won 6 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medals with his son Dastin Alambra winning gold in Sayaw, Laban and Weapons divisions. In the 3rd World Sikaran-Arnis Tournament (1996) the Canadian team once again won the Team Sayaw and Team Laban divisions. In their final World Sikaran-Arnis competition (1998) the Canadian team won 4 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze medals. With these changes in his students training, Dante brought Sikaran into the 21st century. In 1998, Dante decided to step down as President of Sikaran Arnis Brotherhood of Canada after serving as President for 21 years and named the style he taught, Modern Sikaran.