|
THE
SAMAHAN NG ARNIS and KAPATIRANS
**********************************************
The
KAPATIRAN of Kali-Eskrima-Arnis is a non-profit organization
based
out of Vallejo, Ca. that promotes awareness and appreciation
of the
Philippine
culture through the practice and teachings of Filipino
Martial
Arts, Dance and Drama.
The
organization, created in 1992 was a collaboration of two
Filipino
Martial
art instructors - David A. Ducay of the DOCE PARES system of
ESKRIMA
and Eddie Lastra of the Lastra Brotherhood ARNIS .
The
two
created a Martial Arts Demonstration team to promote the
Philippine
culture
through the indigenous arts of KALI, ESKRIMA and ARNIS DE
MANO.
At
the time the name given to the group was Samahan Ng Arnis.
The
two instructors then set forth in full strength achieving
their
goal,
in opening the publics eyes to Filipino Cultural Arts
and
doing so demonstrated their arts at the (Filipino
Independence
Week
in Vallejo, Napa College Cultural Week, Diablo Valley
College
in
Concord, Chevron International day San Ramon).
 
During
the summer of 1993 a dramatic change to the demonstration
group
took place, the group added two new attractions to their
demonstrations.
A Filipina dance instructor was brought in to instruct
the
group members in folklore dances called the Sin-Kil and the
Sakuting, two
dances
that the Filipino Martial Arts of Kali-Eskrima-Arnis was to
be
hidden during the Spanish conquest, in the 14th Century.
At
the same time Guro David Ducay being involved in Dramatic
Arts
with
his background as
a
director and fight choreographer brought
forth
inserts
from various stage and screen plays , inserts from
critically acclaimed
play
TNTs "Is America in the Heart", screen play "RAJAH" and Back
to
Bataan
. All relating to the historical moments of Filipino
history.
By
adding Dramatic Arts to the demonstrations the demo's would
employ and
display
Filipino Culture differently then any other organizations
.
The
added changes to the groups demonstration with the Martial
Arts
of Kali-Eskrima-Arnis was no longer alone to bring out the
attention
of Filipino culture and incorporating these arts
the
demonstration group could present to the audience presences
of
Komedya (stage plays).
Because
of the rising number of skirmishes of Filipinos who were
opposed
to
the Spanish rule back then, the practice of Kali was
outlawed.
The
Komedya's were socio-religious plays and besides dance these
plays
were
also a way to practice their warrior arts under the disguise
of
harmless
entertainment.
And
incorporating the arts into demonstrations a repertoire, the
name
of the group had to be taken into consideration.
A
Tagalog name was brought forth and born was the
KAPATIRAN
(Brotherhood)
of Filipino culture & Martial Arts.
The
new name was originated to bring out the broad range of arts
being
demonstrated
a brake up of the former Samahan Ng Arnis demo group
was
self
evident.
Today,
Mr. Eddie Lastra has allocated most of his time to his Arnis
school
and nationwide seminars in the spreading of Lastra-Sayas
Arnis.
For
the new group who have participate in demonstrations
throughout
the
West Coast Bay Area (Solano County Fair - International
day,
Pistahan
Festival - Filipino Month San Francisco, TNT Theater -
San
Francisco, Teachers / Professors and Educators - Mission
High S.F.)
The
Kapatiran has 12 practicing members who are well on their
way
in
developing other future Escrimadors to perpetuate the
Filipino
Cultural
Arts.
|