Getting to know Eskrima

For those of you who don’t know, Eskrima is a unique form of martial arts that is uniquely and proudly Filipino.  So, to give you a little bit of a background, I was at Coffee Bean yesterday with an Eskrima enthusiast.  I do not have a background about Eskrima, and my limited knowledge about this sport is based on the two pieces of sticks at home that my kids used to learn Arnis some years ago. I have kept these sticks at the side of my bed in lieu of a baseball bat should I find an intruder inside our house one of these days.

It made me feel proud to know that Eskrima is a Filipino Martial Art at the same time surprised to know that it is now the Philippine National Martial Art and Sport. Eskrima is also known as Arnis, Kali, and Garrote.  It is a comprehensive martial art that covers different forms of combat. The main weapons are the stick and knife, but sword, double stick, stick and dagger, and empty hands are also being used. 

I only realized after the conversation what an influence this Filipino martial arts made to famous Hollywood movies that showcased Eskrima in many fight scenes. Some of these popular movies include Ninja Assassin, The Book of Eli, Repo Men, Kick-Ass and and James Bond movie – Quantum of Solace.

I’ll be sure to explore more about Eskrima on July 2 and 23, 2011 at SM City Cebu when the 4^th Doce Pares World Congress and Invitational Tournament will showcase all component fighting arts of Eskrima, Kali, Arnis performed by the well-known martial arts organizations / schools / clubs both local and international.

If you are looking for the right opportunity to know and learn more about Eskrima, there is a Doce Pares Mountain Training Park located at Busay, Cebu City. It is also a great place for a zipline adventure, make sure to check it out.

 

Running for a healthy life

The moment to make that change and make healthy lifestyle choices finally hit me. I know that I am not living as healthy as I like and I am not treating my body the way that I should. But I am now ready to adjust my lifestyle to include things that will make me a healthier and stronger person. I am excited about the short-term and long-term goals that I am preparing to achieve a healthy me. 

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that." -Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder  Photo by CorbisImages.com

 
Walking and running are the activities I have chosen to inspire me in this journey to a healthier living.  I know change will never happen overnight and setbacks will definitely happen, but by taking this first step my journey begins.

Join me and thousands of others who have embraced healthy living. I will share a list of running and marathon events for July 2011 from the Fun Run in the City section of SportsCebu.com. I hope that you will take that stand to live a healthy life and be part of these forthcoming running events in Cebu city.

1st Sonshine Run , July 3, 2011

The La Salle Run at Cebu International Convention Center, July 10, 2011

Alphonsian Run at Lapu-Lapu City Hall, July 10, 2011

China Bank Fun Run at Cebu Business Park, July 17, 2011

Fit and Fab Run at the Gaisano Country Mall, July 17, 2011

The St. Theresa’s College Alumni Association Move with A.I.R. at STC, July 23, 2011

Run Forward, July 23, 2011

Three Sixty Kawasan Marathon Run, July 24, 2011

Check out the latest running shoes from Amazon.com
                                                            

The will to run

Photo by CorbisImages.com

If you’re like some folks I know, finishing a fun run is only a dream. They have spent more time wishing than actually trying and watching runners pass by than running.

Here’s some tips and advice on how to start running regularly without getting intimidated.

1. Begin slowly. Begin slowly by warming-up and stretching. That’s right! Before walking and running, muscles are cold and stiff, which makes them more prone to muscle soreness and injuries. Warm-up exercises and stretching help make the muscles warm and pliable, enabling them to perform better.

2. Get familiar with the walk/run method. Start by walking continuously for 5 minutes and run for 1 minute every other day for a week. As a beginner, your primary concern is to start running. You will feel some muscle soreness at first so go for slow periods of running with plenty of walking in between but not excessively.  

3. As you continue with your run/walk routine, try to extend the amount of running and reduce your walking time. Run every other day to increase your stamina and gradually add 1 minute to your run while decreasing a minute of your walking time every week.

4. If you'd like to aim to run for 30 minutes continuously, continue with the walk/run method for 2 months.

5. Wear comfortable jogging clothes and a good pair of running shoes to help reduce the risk of blisters.

6. Run every other day even for 20 to 30 minutes to improve your vitality and health.

7. When you can successfully run for long stretches, walk and run in between as it helps reduce muscle soreness and fatigue.

8. More than anything else, the will to run really matters. If there’s a will, you will run.

Click this link for a list of Fun Run and Marathon events in Cebu City or visit SportsCebu.Com