DISCOVERY CHANNEL TO LAUNCH REALITY SERIES ON MARTIAL ARTS

Sometime in the spring of 2007, Discovery Channel will launch a new reality series featuring martial arts called “Fight Quest.” The premise of the show is simple enough. With each segment, two young martial artists embark on a martial arts quest, learning a new style of martial arts, either ancient or modern, in a different country and testing their newfound skills in the martial arts arena at the conclusion of the segment.

“Fight Quest’s” first segment will spotlight Filipino Martial Arts, also known as arnis, kali or eskrima, from the Philippines. Arnis is a weapons-based martial arts system, developed from years of tribal warfare in the Philippines. It is a complete system, with empty hands application and ground-fighting similar to jiu-jitsu and wrestling.

From November 9 to 15, 2006, the production crew from Discovery Channel filmed the first segment in the environs of Manila and suburbs. The production crew was from the NorthSouth Productions out of New York, with Toby Oppenheimer as the producer.

The NorthSouth film crew readies for the day’s shoot.

The young martial artists were Jimmy Smith from Los Angeles and Doug from Atlanta. They would train with different grandmasters of different styles and under different training environment. At the end of their training, they will be pitted individually against two Filipino Marine soldiers trained in Filipino Martial Arts.

The first Grandmaster trainer was Grandmaster Cristino Vasquez, a ninth degree blackbelt of Modern Arnis, a style founded by the late Grandmaster Remy Presas.  Better known as “Sir Cris” with a reputation as a blademaster, GM Vasquez is one of the most senior and highest ranking masters of the Modern Arnis organization called the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines (IMAFP), based in Manila.. His team members included lakans (blackbelts) Michael Gubat, Jimson Dearos, Cocoy Oyales and Jeff Plotria.

Protagonist Jimmy Smith with the Modern Arnis team, from left to
Right, Jimson Dearos, Cocoy Oyales, Bambit Dulay, Mike Gubat,
Jeff Plotria, Jimmy Smith and GM Cris Vasquez.

The other Grandmaster trainer was Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje, head of the Pekiti Tirsia system. Tuhon Gaje is the designated successor of the ancient and revered system of Pekiti Tirsia, founded by his grandfather. He was ably assisted by another relative and Master of his system, Rommel Tortal. Tuhon Gaje is known for his warrior mentality and hardnosed training, and in fact is under contract to teach his system to the Philippine Marines in the Philippines.

Jimmy Smith was assigned to train with Sir Cris. Together with the Modern Arnis team, they trained in the team’s dojo in Binondo, Manila, which is in the heart of Manila close to Chinatown and downtown Manila. Jimmy was able to feel and experience the heart of the crowded, teeming city of Manila during his training.

Doug went off to train with Tuhon Gaje. The Pekiti Tirsia team took him to their secluded training grounds in a farm in Tanay, Rizal, which is a couple of hours drive from Manila. There, Doug had a taste of rural life, as well as the unique, brutal conditioning exercises of Pekiti Tirsia, like pig races, road work by the countryside and the like.

After five days of intensive training, which included both physical and psychological, the two martial artists got to square off with two Philippine Marines. Individually, they would have to spar several rounds with live stick, simulated knife fighting and empty hands.

GM Cris Vasquez gives pointers to the anxious Fight Questers.

Who emerged victorious? How did the young questers fare against their battle-hardened Filipino adversaries well-trained in Filipino Martial Arts? Which style prepared their fighter better, the Modern Arnis team with their urban warfare mentality, or the Pekiti Tirsia team, with their traditional, tribal take-no-prisoners mentality? Who fared better, Jimmy with the venerable Sir Cris as his mentor, or Doug with the irascible warlike Tuhon Gaje?

Sir Cris gives the thumbs up. Were his fighter and team
victorious? From left to right, Jimson Dearos, Jimmy Smith,
GM Cris Vasquez, and Cocoy Oyales.

You will just have to watch this series when it premieres on Discovery Channel in the spring of 2007. Stay tuned for specific air time and other details.