Local martial artists carry on family tradition, win first and
second in World Escrima competition
Hollister – The hard work has finally paid off for Anthony Anuk Ordiniza and his Hollister teammates.
Anthony, 22 is coming off a first place finish at the 9th World Escrima Kali Arnis Federation World Championships July 2-9. Cassandra Lee Beltran, 17, and Felix Bibo Ordiniza, 14, also made the trip to Orlando, Florida. Beltran took first in the forms division and Bibo finished second in his sparring division.
There were nearly 2,000 people from eight countries who competed in about 100 divisions in the tournament.
It was a trip that the Hollister martial artists won’t forget. But it was a trip that nearly didn’t happen. Anthony had been battling sickness for several weeks before the tournament. He had an inner ear infection and didn’t know if he would be able to handle the high altitude.
“Even until midnight the night before, we didn’t know if we would be able to make the trip,” said Felix Ordiniza, Anthony’s grandpa and trainer, who also went along.
But Anthony was determined to compete despite not being at 100 percent. After all, he has been training for about eight years in the art of Filipino stick fighting, a sport that has been passed on from generation to generation. He wasn’t going to let his long hours of practice be wasted when his dream was so close.
“It’s all about the drive and the warrior spirit,” Anthony said. “You want to give it your best because you work so hard. You don’t want something like that to slow you down.”
In Florida, Anthony defeated two Australian martial artists after he won by forfeit against a competitor from the United Kingdom for the title in the Men’s 169-175 Open Single Stick Division. Each of the matches consisted of three one-minute rounds.
“I know I was hitting him hard because he was bending over,” said Anthony of his second match.
Although Anthony exercised several stomach shots in the first match, he focused his attention to that area much more in the second fight.
Anthony qualified for the tournament after finishing third at the Nationals in Wisconsin.
Bibo competed in the 14-15 160-170 category and faced a competitor from Oakland who he had faced and defeated earlier at the Monterey tournament. Bibo once again won.
“He came out and wanted revenge.” Bibo said.
In his second match, he faced a fellow Bandalan Doce Pares competitor from Fresno and lost by a point, narrowly missing sending the match into a death match.
Cassandra competed in the 16-17 forms division. She performed a series of moves, showcasing proper technique and Escrima’s 12 strikes to Evanescence’s “Bring Me to Life”. She went up against a competitor from Australia and one from the United States.
One of the judges awarded her a rare 10 for her performance.
“It was lots of fun,” Cassandra said. “Even though we were competing against each other, we got to know each other. I was nervous. I just wanted to go out there and give it my all.”
“It was fun flying out with my family and knowing they were behind me,” Bibo said. ”
The championship put Anthony closer to competing in the 2008 Olympics if the sport of Escrima were to be added. Not only do the local martial artists have the advantage of an intense training regime like running two miles through their Hollister Orchard with tires tied behind their backs, but they also have the unique privilege of training with Grandmaster Alfredo Bandalan in the Bandalan Doce Pares school in Gilroy.
Bandalan is the only Filipino in America who has been granted permission to teach the Doce Pares style of stick fighting in this country and also internationally.
The trio puts in about two hours of training six days a week, not including the weekly session training at the school in Gilroy.
“It’s all about cardio and not getting tired,” said Anthony, who credits playing basketball to staying in shape.
There are five martial artists who train in the Hollister orchard. And Felix Ordiniza says he hopes to eventually have a full school there.
“There is not a lot of positive things for youth to do here so it is encouraging to see them doing something so positive,” he said. “I am so proud of them.”
The martial artists raised money for the tournaments by selling lumpia, a Filipino specialty, and whole pigs they cooked.
“This school is pretty much a family,” Anthony said.
But winning is only part of what makes for a successful martial artist in the sport.
“It all starts with a faith in God,” Felix Ordiniza said. “I can’t say enough about how much our faith comes into play. The family and togetherness comes next. Third is the doing stuff for the community.”
