As the student, I had the host's advantage of getting to know the instructors on a personal level and to get an inside look at what they presented at their sessions. These guys were just great.
GM Anding DeLeon worked some single stick drills off sinawali. He also covered stick inserts and takedowns with the stick and empty hand. His lock flow and transition from one move to the next was effortless. One of his close in tapi-tapi drills will be added to the Cebu West training very soon.
As Chad had stated before we did not see all that the instructors taught due to our hosting duties but our students were given the task of getting it and bringing it back to our respective schools for review.
Rich Parsons worked off the six count drill and presented many variations and take offs from the base drill. This included the knife as well as the live hand. The added stick shots in the drill were great. Rich also aided Datu Hartman on a Balintawak set on Sunday.

Guro Rick Manglinong worked on double stick drills from his Kombatan, with variations on single and double sinawali. These were excellent in helping with hand coordination and helped to get the stupid left hand to work better in conjunction with the right. Rick's sets were informative and fun and had everybody trying to keep up. He also worked some empty hand. What he started with on Friday he built on during his other sessions.

Datu Tim was his usual technical as well as charming self. He covered target acquisition on double action abaniko and obstruction removal on his first set and at my request did a great set on lock flow. He finished up on Sunday with some excellent Balintawak techniques and was assisted by Rich Prasons who also roamed the floor helping people the moves.

All during the camp the instructors that weren't teaching were on the floor helping the students. They all made a great team. Datu Tim also kept the atmosphere fun during his sessions with witty remarks and tacky jokes. I think this is required at the Datu level. Tim also acted as uke for the other instructors and had fun doing it. He is never too high up there to be one of the guys.

Our special guest who attended was GM Bong Jornales (also a Modern Arnis Datu). GM Jornales performed an awesome weapons demonstration and also spent lots of time on the mats helping the students. I wish to thank him for his guidance and support.

Our banquet was great as well and the food was good and plentiful. The Sumo wrestling that followed the banquet was a blast. Seeing some of these people in those suits was worth going to the camp. I think some blackmail photos are in order.

I'd like to thank Rich Parsons for befriending my 12 year old son Gregory who assisted me with the camp. Rich, do you baby-sit? A gentile giant who stick fights. What a combo!

My last but not least perspective is that of a teacher. Two of my students tested for and earned their black belts. They had their formal test on the Thursday night before camp and then were told they would be evaluated on Friday and Saturday as well. They did everything I asked of them especially in the last year when I turned up the intensity and started tightening the screws. Getting a black belt in the WMAA is no easy task, but when you do, you wear it with pride knowing you earned it. So to Mark Berk and Bill Gorman, Congratulations, and if you think I turned up the intensity before, hold on.

Vince Cichocki, Chad's student also received his Lakan Isa and Susan Smith received her 2nd brown. Congratulations to them both. They are talented and great people.

This camp was a ride I will not soon forget.

Sal Todaro (Cebu West-WMAA) and the proud parent of two new baby black belts