MODERN ARNIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST -- 
THE YEARS IN REVIEW THROUGH 2009
By Jay de Leon

By the end of the year 2009, the local guros  (teachers) of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP) and Filipino Fighting Arts, Int’l (FFAI) in the Middle East have been promoting and teaching Modern Arnis on their own, mostly in the countries of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Jordan.  Heading the teams there are guros Wail Irshaid and Wail Yahya.

Recently, guro Wail Irshaid gave a progress report, as well as submitted some very nice pictures of their activities there.

They have been giving the usual demos in these two countries.  But what is significant is that they have been showcasing their art not just in martial arts venues but also in local festivals in the desert villages of Saudi Arabia as well as local communities and schools to spread the gospel of Modern Arnis.  In the pictures, you will see guro Waid Irshaid with guro Guro Abdulrahman Sanad promoting their art in desert villages.

Also, both guros and students have been training hard these past months.  An interesting aspect of their training has been the heavy participation of children in these classes, including Wail Irshaid’s sons from Jordan, Abbouda and Hammouda.  It is indeed heartening to see children and young adults enjoying and excelling in what is both a physical sport as well as a character-building activity.

Both Master Godofredo Fajardo and I laud the leadership of guros Wail Irshaid and Wail Yahya in the Middle East, as well as the efforts of all the other guros.  Master Godofredo Fajardo is the Commissioner for the Middle East of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP) and now oversees Modern Arnis activities in the Middle East from IMAFP headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

Worthy of mention are the following guros in the Middle East : Wael Yahia, Yazan Yassine, Ibrahim Krake from Jordan, Abdulrahman Sanad, Guro Mishal, Guro Saleh and Guro Adel  from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Guro Bashir from India, and Guro Jason White from the USA.  Guro Orly Junio of the Philippines, who has contributed a great deal of his time towards arnis training in the Middle East, has also been instrumental in their successes.  Guro Orly has since then returned to the Philippines.

We salute both guros and students, and look forward to their continued success in both martial arts and their personal lives, and wish them peace in their country, and in that part of the world.

Photos courtesy of Wail Irshaid of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

Copyright, Jay de Leon, 2010 

Gallery

Part One :  Village Demos

Guro Wail Irshaid of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the
Philippines (IMAFP) gives a brief background before his arnis demo
at a village festival in a desert village in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Guro Wail Irshaid of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the
Philippines (IMAFP) accepts congratulations from tribal leaders after his arnis
demo at a village festival in a desert village in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Guro Wail Irshaid of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the
Philippines (IMAFP) accepts congratulations from tribal leaders after his arnis
demo at a village festival in a desert village in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Part Two : Community Demos

With the help of a bullhorn, Guro Wail Irshaid of the International Modern
Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP) gives a brief background
before his demo team performs at a community assembly  in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Part Three :  Dojo Training

Guro Wail Irshaid of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the
Philippines (IMAFP), center, leads a Modern Arnis class in Riyadh,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Guro Wail Irshaid of the International Modern Arnis Federation of the
Philippines (IMAFP), third from left, poses with other  Modern Arnis
guros in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Note the logo of Filipino Fighting Arts Int’l –KSA on the left and
the logo of International Modern Arnis Federation of the
Philippines (IMAFP) on the right at the Power House Dojo
in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Part Four : Children’s Classes and Activities

This  Modern Arnis class in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, comprised
mostly of children and young adults, are students of Guro Wail Irshaid of
 the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP).

This  Modern Arnis class in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, comprised
mostly of children and young adults, are students of Guro Wail Irshaid of
 the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP).

A young Modern Arnis warrior in the deserts of Saudi Arabia…

Part V : Acknowledgment

Thank you to guroWail Irshaid for this report, and for the pictures.

Guro Wail Irshaid of Filipino Fighting Arts Int’l –
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.