CAL’s sole medalist, hybrid martial artist shares story

Less practice may not be a hindrance to success.

In spite of minute-time preparation, third year Journalism student Alexis Sebastian was still able to bag the bronze medal in Karatedo 67-kg Division during the Intramurals Week, Thursday, September 19.  

Because of hectic school activities as a student-journalist like coverage, interviews, and writing articles, he just had a total of three days preparation for the event, two in the school gymnasium and one with his martial arts master Manny Cabantog Tumalad.

“Hindi ako masyadong handa dahil nga  kasi sa schedule. Pero sa kabila naman nun kahit papano napagtagumpayan ko naman kahit na ayun na-disappoint ako dahil nadaya,” revealed Sebastian.

He even shared that if his coach Ma’am Tricia Ompoc protested for the “unsportsmanlike play,” he would have a fair chance to garner a higher spot.

“Ang nangyari kasi, tatlong beses ko s’yang tinamaan sa mukha, yung panghuli [ay] napadugo ko yung mukha n’ya. So bale tatlong beses edi nine points yun.. eh unahan lang maka-six.. so lagpas na.. eh yung nagiiscore ginagawa one point o two points lang.. tapos yun.. pagtingin ko sa scoreboard.. ayun lamang yung kalaban,” described Sebastian.

The scoring depends on the kicks and punches. A kick on the face produces three points and a body kick is two points; a punch on the face has two points and a body punch is one point while taking down the opponent worth three points.

 “Yung final scoring namin, 6-8, pero nine na ako dapat [instead of six] hindi nya ko tinamaan sa mukha, hindi nya rin ako nasipa, attempt lang pero hindi tumatama.. so nagtaka ako kasi may points yung kalaban,” he added.

But despite of disappointments, he said that he is happy that he was able to contribute a medal to the College of Arts and Letters (CAL).

“Sabi ng coach ko [Ma’am Ompoc] ‘okay lang yan’ kasi sa totoo lang daw, ako pa lang daw yung may medal sa CAL. Pero hindi muna ako nagrejoice nun kasi syempre sayang yung gold. Pero naisip ko nalang.. ginawa ko nalang na biro na.. napadugo ko naman yung mukha nya.. kaya bawi bawi lang,” said Sebastian.

He also shared what Mr. Jaime Villafuerte told him about his winning.

“Sabi ni sir James, ‘Hindi na masama yung bronze kasi alam ko naman na yung CAL mahina sa sports.. mahirap asahan.. okay na sa akin yun dahil sa maikling panahon ng pag-t-training mo, dahil sa schedule mo.. naihabol mo parin.. at kung hindi pa nadaya.. malamang gold pa.. bawi nalang next Intrams’.“

The bronze medalist also revealed that he has a background in hybrid martial arts preferably the Tracma Combat Judo Karate, the ARMY’s training as self defense.

“Kasabay kong mag-training  mga ARMY, actually kasi ang Tracma eh more on self defense. Hindi sya katulad ng Karate na point system. Kaya yung karamihan ng Tracma [martial artists] eh nadidisqualified dahil nababalian nila yung kalaban. Napapalakas yung sipa nila,” he explained.

“Yung point system, yung tinatawag na ‘touch kimono,’ ‘eto yung madikit lang na walang power.. Hindi mo s’ya intentional na saktan.. basta maipakita mo lang na tumama.. okay na,” he added.

On the other hand, Tracma is a full contact martial art, a competitive combat sports which includes hybrid styles and ground fighting techniques. Furthermore, Tracma is a Filipino self-made Consolidated Martial Arts, a pure blooded Filipino self-defense.



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