With thirteen champion trophies, garnered recently at the Diamond Nationals World Karate Championship in Minneapolis USA, that the Winnipeg Sikaran Arnis Academy is incredibly the home for champions; home of the multi-award martial arts athletes.
Yes, winning these 13 championships awards is a herculean task, a feat impossible to be challenged for a long time. An achievement of the Winnipeg Sikaran Arnis Academy which elevated its stature at the highest bar of excellence!
And with the 12 young martial art athletes who competed lately probed that they are equipped with all the necessary strengths and talents to win the 13 champion trophies, eight 2nd place trophies; three 3rd place; two 4th place trohpies and 2 consolation trophies. And these are the 12 who had received such honors: Lee Angela Igne, Lourdes Lynn Igne, Red, Jr. Igne, Rod Daniel Tabing, Josh Joseph, Miley Carino, Reilly Dayanghirang, Andrea Tabing, Xavier Tabing, Ezra James Casimo, Sheryl-lyn Padua Policarpio and Rizwan Cruz.
“In our Winnipeg Sikaran Arnis Academy, we have the consistent training combined with fun, supportive parents and discipline and guidance,”says Kelly Legaspi, RN/BNA. 4th Degree Black Belt, and one of the instructors and owners. She adds: “To the winners, we are really proud of them. They are bringing so much pride and honor to our school, to our city, and to the country.”
Since its founding in 2004, Winnipeg Sikaran Arnis Academy has been active in promoting sikaran arnis martial arts and its students have been receiving positive results and accolades and garnering many awards and championship trophies.
Kelly says: “Our students are also great promoters of our Filipino culture since Filipino0 martial arts has always been a great part of our Filipino history and heritage.’
Winnipeg Sikaran Arnis Academy has been involved in various cultural presentations during the Foklorama festival, at the Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba and other cultural presentations in the City of Winnipeg and its neighboring towns and cities and a yearly attraction at the Calgary Stampede.
With Kelly’s work in the hospital as a nurse, she has been balancing her effort between her work and her role at the academy. “It is not only me, it is actually Red whose passion is to share his knowledge and expertise in martial arts. My family is all involved, all hands-on in the training the kids. This is how I balance my time and effort.” Kelly Legaspi adds.
And with the growing Filipino community, with more than 80 thousand strong, Kelly Legaspi looks forward to have more kids in the academy. Kelly is inspired when she says;”Sikaran is a great alternative activity because children learn life-skills. It is something that they will never forget as they grow older. Like learning how to swim, how to bike, just an example. Their training in martial arts will give their children self-confidence and they wil grow as self-reliant and independent like our children who have involved since its founding.”
For more information on the Winnipeg Sikaran Arnis Academy’s Martial Arts Athletic Program,, please call: 204-296-7539 / 204-296-6394. And for free trial lesson, please email the academy:wsaa2004@gmail.com or visit the academy at Unite 12-1833 Inkster Blvd. at Keewatin.
