Not what it appeared to be

Update, October 16:
Newsinfo.inquirer.net reports that local police has found several holes in the woman's claims and that they consider it a case of "fatal attraction".

Police said the allegations of the British-born woman were just "figments of her imagination," and that documentary evidence and medical tests had debunked her claims.

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Update, September 27:
Globalnation.inquirer.net reports that The mayor of Iloilo City demands an apology from the woman in the story below who claimed she had been held captive and made a sex slave in the Philippines.

The mayor reportedly said the British born woman had tarnished the image of the city and Ilonggos through her "baseless" allegations.

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The following story is sad and disgusting indeed, something which again shows the importance of doing proper background checks.

Philippines -- Au.news.yahoo.com had a story about a 39-year-old woman from New Zealand who said she was lured with a Facebook invitation to join a martial arts school in the Philippines - only to be robbed and forced into prostitution upon her arrival.

The martial arts enthusiast reportedly replied positively to an invitation to participate in an intense training camp in October.

"They were meant to be world class and I thought this was a chance for me to learn from the best," the woman said.

Feel free to comment on this story below. What is your take on invitations to training camps and the potential dangers? Is this an indication that we all too often take things at face value within the martial arts?

Update, October 16:
Newsinfo.inquirer.net reports that local police has found several holes in the woman's claims and that they consider it a case of "fatal attraction".

Police said the allegations of the British-born woman were just "figments of her imagination," and that documentary evidence and medical tests had debunked her claims.

----

Update, September 27:
Globalnation.inquirer.net reports that The mayor of Iloilo City demands an apology from the woman in the story below who claimed she had been held captive and made a sex slave in the Philippines.

The mayor reportedly said the British born woman had tarnished the image of the city and Ilonggos through her "baseless" allegations.

----

The following story is sad and disgusting indeed, something which again shows the importance of doing proper background checks.

Philippines -- Au.news.yahoo.com had a story about a 39-year-old woman from New Zealand who said she was lured with a Facebook invitation to join a martial arts school in the Philippines - only to be robbed and forced into prostitution upon her arrival.

The martial arts enthusiast reportedly replied positively to an invitation to participate in an intense training camp in October.

"They were meant to be world class and I thought this was a chance for me to learn from the best," the woman said.

Feel free to comment on this story below. What is your take on invitations to training camps and the potential dangers? Is this an indication that we all too often take things at face value within the martial arts?

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A "blackbelter"

Philippines -- A drunken 31-year-old man, bragging about how he was a "karate expert" and "blackbelter" was reportedly hacked to death with a bolo (a weapon similar to a machete) by his neighbor in a village on the east coast, according to sunstar.com.ph.

The incident took place around 8 p.m. Thursday, local police said. The victim was passing near the residence of his neighbor, on his way home, when he challenged the suspect to a fistfight, bragging about being a "blackbelter".

The suspect grabbed the bladed weapon and hit the victim several times, killing him on the spot, according to police.

Philippines -- A drunken 31-year-old man, bragging about how he was a "karate expert" and "blackbelter" was reportedly hacked to death with a bolo (a weapon similar to a machete) by his neighbor in a village on the east coast, according to sunstar.com.ph.

The incident took place around 8 p.m. Thursday, local police said. The victim was passing near the residence of his neighbor, on his way home, when he challenged the suspect to a fistfight, bragging about being a "blackbelter".

The suspect grabbed the bladed weapon and hit the victim several times, killing him on the spot, according to police.

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Go should go

Philippines -- Go Teng Kok, the current president of the PKF (Philippine Karatedo Federation), is being accused of violating the association's charter and with non-performance of his duties, among others.

It is claimed a majority of the  general assembly wants to remove the PKF president, according to manilastandardtoday.com.

Philippines -- Go Teng Kok, the current president of the PKF (Philippine Karatedo Federation), is being accused of violating the association's charter and with non-performance of his duties, among others.

It is claimed a majority of the  general assembly wants to remove the PKF president, according to manilastandardtoday.com.

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Fighter chokes traffic enforcer

Philippines – A Manila traffic enforcer has reportedly filed charges against a 20-year-old amateur MMA fighter for choking him after the latter was cited for a traffic violation, according to abs-cbnnews.com.

The incident reportedly occurred around 10 a.m. Friday outside the Manila City Hall. when the fighter and his companions were criticized for blocking the front area of the city hall with their car.

Philippines – A Manila traffic enforcer has reportedly filed charges against a 20-year-old amateur MMA fighter for choking him after the latter was cited for a traffic violation, according to abs-cbnnews.com.

The incident reportedly occurred around 10 a.m. Friday outside the Manila City Hall. when the fighter and his companions were criticized for blocking the front area of the city hall with their car.

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Instructor faces robbery rap

Philippines -- A 38-year-old Korean judo instructor has reportedly been charged with robbery for allegedly taking more than 1 million Peso from his 43-year-old Korean acquaintance in Manila in February.

The suspect allegedly took 1.2 million Philippine Peso (approximately US$25,000) from his acquaintance using his judo skills after the complainant refused to lend him money on February 15, according to mb.com.ph.

Philippines -- A 38-year-old Korean judo instructor has reportedly been charged with robbery for allegedly taking more than 1 million Peso from his 43-year-old Korean acquaintance in Manila in February.

The suspect allegedly took 1.2 million Philippine Peso (approximately US$25,000) from his acquaintance using his judo skills after the complainant refused to lend him money on February 15, according to mb.com.ph.

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Arnis, now national sport

Philippines -- President Arroyo recently signed a law declaring arnis as the national martial art and sport in the Philippines. The law reportedly also mandates that an arnis competitions is to be played first at the annual national games.

Up until now, arnis (also called kali or escrima) has often plays second fiddle to other non-Filipino martial arts such as judo, taekwondo and karate in terms of prominence, according to sports.inquirer.net.

Philippines -- President Arroyo recently signed a law declaring arnis as the national martial art and sport in the Philippines. The law reportedly also mandates that an arnis competitions is to be played first at the annual national games.

Up until now, arnis (also called kali or escrima) has often plays second fiddle to other non-Filipino martial arts such as judo, taekwondo and karate in terms of prominence, according to sports.inquirer.net.

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Introduction to Tat Kun Tao

Tat Kun Tou or Tat Kun Tao is commonly mistaken as a martial arts that originated from China, but in fact Tat Kun Tao is actually a martial arts that was founded from the Philippines. Captain Jose Millan Go (Ju Go) from the Barangay community was one of the first few students of the Balintawak master Anciong Bacon.

Grandmaster Jose “Jo” put together practices from schools like Tai chi and other Kun Taos such as Five Ancestors and later created a mimic version of unarmed Balintawak now known as Tat Kun Tao. Grand Master Jo fused the simplicity, and straightforwardness of Balintawak with Tai Chi and other Kun Tao that he has learned over the years.

Not much info can be retrieved by research, the only thing that we have besides the above is that Master Jo was still teaching the art of Tat Kun Tao until he passed away in year 1991 and also his Dojo is still running in Cebu by his students.

Tat Kun Tou or Tat Kun Tao is commonly mistaken as a martial arts that originated from China, but in fact Tat Kun Tao is actually a martial arts that was founded from the Philippines. Captain Jose Millan Go (Ju Go) from the Barangay community was one of the first few students of the Balintawak master Anciong Bacon.

Grandmaster Jose “Jo” put together practices from schools like Tai chi and other Kun Taos such as Five Ancestors and later created a mimic version of unarmed Balintawak now known as Tat Kun Tao. Grand Master Jo fused the simplicity, and straightforwardness of Balintawak with Tai Chi and other Kun Tao that he has learned over the years.

Not much info can be retrieved by research, the only thing that we have besides the above is that Master Jo was still teaching the art of Tat Kun Tao until he passed away in year 1991 and also his Dojo is still running in Cebu by his students.

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