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The SENI Expo 2010

'The London Excel' Docklands

One of the most prestigious Martial Arts Festivals in the world took place over the two days Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th May. Doce Pares Europe were involved in the show on both days with a great reaction from the public.

SATURDAY 29th MAY

The London International Open Eskrima Championships 2010

This is a new and innovative set of annual open tournaments organised by 'Fighters Inc.' This is the first year of these tournaments which will take place each year at the Excel in London (they will run independently of the SENI which is biannual). The tournaments are divided into various Martial Arts including: Karate; Kung Fu; Judo; Brazilian Ju-Jitsu; Capoeira; Eskrima; Muay Thai; MMA and Taekwondo. 

The international tournaments ran through the entire weekend with the Eskrima taking place on the Saturday. The weigh-in was at 09:00 and the tournament kicked off at 10:00. First were the Forms, then Single Stick, then Double Stick and concluding with Team Events. Juniors, Men and Women all had divisions and categories and the tournament ran quickly with all rings in continuous use. Despite the usual relaxed atmosphere and friendly people involved, the fights were fast and furious. The public crowded round the Eskrima arenas to watch action unfamiliar to them. There was an awful lot of interest from people who found the speed and ferocity fascinating. 

As open championships there were competitors from numerous styles of Eskrima-Kali-Arnis from Europe and the UK and a lot of new friends were made. The tournament ended on time for the award ceremony. Everyone was honoured with Grandmaster Danny Guba (Doce Pares) and Grandmaster John Harvey (Kapatiran) handing out medals and trophies.

SUNDAY 30th MAY

Grandmaster Danny Guba Doce Pares Eskrima-Kali-Arnis Demonstrations

Grandmaster Danny Guba and a Demonstration Team (Nimesh Desai, Dennis Valdez, Keri Forster, Darren Birch, Cieleto Caneja, Dan Botten, Roel Caneja and Ian Forster) attended the SENI Expo on Sunday to perform two fifteen minute demonstrations on the elevated centre stage at the show. Large crowds grew round the stage as the group demonstrated aspects of the Doce Pares Eskrima system. After the demonstrations numerous people approached Grandmaster Danny Guba asking him to teach them and requesting permission to join his group. The public were friendly and a credit to the Martial Arts community. 

Grandmaster Danny Guba was tracked down between demonstrations by an Italian TV interviewer and her camera crew who conducted an interview of him on camera. Doce Pares were honoured to be present at the festival and owe a lot to the SENI organisers.

 

Grandmaster Danny Guba Knife Workshop

GM Danny's workshop had been one of the first to be fully booked with standing room only and a waiting list, despite being booked in at 16:00 on the Sunday. People from all different systems crowded round GM Danny Guba as he taught various defences against the knife. He taught with his usual bubbly character which seemed to go down well with those who attended. Due to the numbers of those present and the time constraints GM Danny was helped by several of his Black Belts.