1st SSKI Invitational Martial Arts Showdown Proves a Success

Source: Arab News

March 8, 2007
Ben Micu, Jr. Sensei

Camaraderie and solidarity among martial arts enthusiasts in Jeddah were again evident in the successful staging of the 1st SSKI- Invitational Martial Arts Tournament "Sphinx Cup 2007", held at the Pearl of the Orient International School (POIS).

Proving to be another banner year for the Sphinx Shoto-kan Karate-do International (SSKI), the competition attracted a record 182 entries from over 17 martial arts clubs in Jeddah, in both the Kata and Kumite events, not including five martial arts clubs, who both presented a well-applaused exhibition of various form of martial arts self-defense and techniques.

SSKI-Middle East is headed by its President Romeo Rivero Sensei and Jun Loyola Sensei, Exec. VP, with support of its founding president, Eddie V. Rama Sensei, a certified 7th dan black belt.

Spearheading the participants was the Phil. Union of Martial Arts Association (PUMA) mentored by Renshi Cesar Bencito with 42 entries; Phil. Shotokan Karate Association International (PSKAI) of Renshi Mac Tending with a combined entry of 34, and Budokan Star Karate Club (BSKC) of Master Mohamed Ishaq with 18 participants.

Other martial arts clubs who participated and showcased their talents in the Kata and Kumite event with their respective Head Instructors/Founders were as follows: Black Eagle Combat Judo Karate arnis Association of the Phils. (BE-COJUKAAP) of Master Nilo Sumallo; Wildcat-Shorin Ryu Karate-Do Federation of Renshi Nonoy Gacola; National Guard Int'l. Karate Association (NGIKA) of Renshi Jake Kabiling;Taurus Shotokan Karatedo/Law Enforcers Karate Club Int'l. (TAURUS/LEKCI) of Master Sammy Lucanas/Shihan Efren Barros and Renshi Pons Estrada; Kenzendo Martial Arts Association Int'l. of Renshi Max Sapi-e; Black Cobra-Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate Association (BC-OSKA) of Shihan Fred Miranda; Phil. White Kimono Karate Club (PWKKC) of Sensei Jalil Ringia; Stealth Shidokan Shorin Ryu Karate-do Int'l. (SSSKI) of Renshi Mario Mendoza; Tat Kon Tou Chinese Kickboxing of Master Rudy Catampatan; Hand to Hand Combat Aikido Int'l. (HHCAI) of Master Alex Aplacador; Assalam Shotokan Martial Arts Club (ASMAC of Renshi Jainoddin Manipis; Universl Combat Kickboxing Karate Training (UCKKT) of Master Joseph Cayat; Barbin Martial Arts Association (BMAA) of Sensei Samir Bersabal and Phil. Martial Arts Combat Aikido (PHIMACA) of Master Blas Dayot.

Being the organizer, SSKI did not participate in any events but rather acted as referees/judges/arbitrators/table officials and tournament marshals. Other Club founders/instructors who were present to give moral support were Master Nestor Suliva of PAMAC, Sifu Boy Buayan of AMAF, Sensei Mamdou Alynbawi of IMAC, Kyud Lito Flores and Kyud Rene Morales of KUMTAW, Sensei Jun Torres of DEFENSA and Sensei Mardy Dimalotang of ISKD.

PUMA and PSKAI were eventually crowned overall champions and 1st runner-up, respectively in both the Junior and Senior Divisions. PUMA had 4 champions, 2 second place and 3 third places in the Junior Division and collected a 4-6-3 medal tally in the Senior Division while PSKAI tallied 3-4-3 and 3-1-3 medals in the Junior and Senior Divisions, respectively. Meanwhile, Star Budokan Karate Club occupied 3rd Place overall in the Junior Division with a 1-3-3 medal tally to show while Kenzendo took the 3rd Place in Senior Division on the basis of a 2-2-0 medal haul where it fielded its combatants only in the Kumite events.

Adjudged Champion for the special event was Taurus/Law Enforcers Karate Club International (TAURUS/LEKCI), who presented various defensive and offensive arnis techniques. Coming second was the Black Eagle (BE-COJUKAAP) of Master Nilo Sumallo, who also exhibited practical arnis aside from aikido self-defense techniques while third place went to Hand to Hand Combat (HHCAI) of Master Alex Aplacador.