Medway Messenger
Friday, 22 June 2007
Now that's what you call sticking it to the man!
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ESPECIALLY when you've just won three gold medals in a European Championship like Walderslade Ermar Alexander.
The 30-year old is a 5th dan black belt at stickfighting, which originated in the Philippines and which he only started practising eight years ago.
Since then Ermar, the son of a Filipino mother, has won two world titles, is three-time unbeaten low armour champ and current British open champion at knife fighting.
He's now started running his own classes at Fitness First in Walderslade. Five students are put through their paces on Friday nights (7pm to 9pm), while he has started other classes at Shepherds Bush, Covent Garden and East London.
He describes his form of stickfighting - Eskrima Kali Arnis - as a martial art like kendo in that competitors wear headgear and body armour.
His golds, in Italy, came in the Under-75kg catgegory single stick, double stick and akea (Italian points system) categories and he said afterwards: "This form of stickfighting takes me to the edge and I like to be challenged both mentally and physically."
He defends his world title in the Philippines next year. That's when he can be called the best. |
