As a competitive sports writer, I have the good fortune of covering multiple sports and events offered by UCLA Recreation. I was recently invited by " The British Ninja", Paul McCarthy to partake in a Panantukan self-defense seminar, but wondered what exactly that entailed. With less than a week to prepare, I decided to gain some knowledge on the fighting style and came up with some facts.



INFORMATION:   The seminar will be hosted by UCLA Martial Arts Coordinator and instructor, Paul McCarthy on Friday, November 13th. It will be held in the John Wooden Center Blue Room and will run from 5:30-7:30 PM. The seminar is $20 for UCLA students and $30 for non-UCLA students. 

WHAT:
Dirty boxing or Filipino Panantukan, is a street-oriented martial arts fighting system. Originally developed in the jungles of the Philippines, the technique incorporates upper and lower body strikes, which target sensitive and susceptible areas such as the nose, neck, temple, bicep, and groin. The kicking focus of the style, known as Sikaran, teaches the user tripping and knee striking moves, adding to its effectiveness. Furthermore, the system emphasizes the use of body manipulation and scissor techniques to parry and evade potential blows from attackers.
 
WHO:
The combination of offense and evasive techniques makes Panantukan a practice that can be incorporated by students to adequately defend themselves in their everyday lives.
 
Jay O'Shea, a practitioner of two years, remarked that the style "…creates confidence in the real-world and can definitely be used as a practical self-defense system for anyone."  She elaborated, "We work off of principles rather than strict rules, which throws opponents off and helps us adapt to real-life situations."
 
Panantukan is built upon speed and rhythm, helping the user attack continuously and come within striking range. It is common to see those practicing the style circle around one another to gain favorable position, which was why the technique was sought out by the UCLA football team to give their defensive linemen an advantage against the opposition on the field. Utilizing Panantukan hand and footwork techniques to fight off and evade defenders, the Bruins' defensive play skyrocketed. UCLA bolted from 112^th to 7^th in the nation for total
sacks!



WHAT TO EXPECT: 

Wear comfortable clothing with no metal, jewlery, or accessories that could injure you or others in the class. Participants are encouraged to bring water (resuable bottles preferred!). No outside shoes are permitted on the Blue Room mat floor (only boxing shoes, wrestling shoes, or bare feet permitted). Notify your instructor if you have an injury or anything that could affect your participation in class.

The general consensus seems to point to Panantukan as an effective self-defense and coordination-building style. According to practitioner Hao Wang, the course is "…a good workout and it helps you learn how to work with partners " he said. "I recommend it. The instructors are great and very entertaining. It's a great start for anyone beginning martial arts and has definitely improved my situation awareness." 

A good workout and a chance to get hands-on experience from certfied instructors? Count me in! I am definitely looking forward to my first Panantukan lesson!

For more information, please refer to the link provided:

https://secure.recreation.ucla.edu/Course/Search.aspx?categoryId=496db23f-5444-4898-8206-d3888e482456