The Littlejohn brothers, Barry and Kevin, qualified to represent Team GB in the WEKAF 15TH World Championships. These two new comers, may be new to the sport but, are no spring chickens! Will you help them to go and fight for gold, for Team Great Britain?

Great Britain are one of the top 4 teams in the world at the Filipino Stick fighting. WEKAF have been in Great Britain since 1989. Great Britain has produce some of the finest World Champions and European Champions through this sport. In the Sport of Eskrima we have had many British Champions, World Champions and European Champions.

The European Championships in July in London

Team GB came away with 15 Gold medals, 27 Silver medals and 21 Bronze. This is a total of 63 medals. Imagine what the papers would say?

As an amateur sport we need funds to take Team GB to Hawaii in July 2018. We intend to compete and win medals for Great Britain. We have got two very talented fighters, in the Littlejohn brothers, and have got a very good chance of them becoming World Champions... but we need to get to Hawaii and pay for accommodation!

We need funds to take the team of fighters to compete in The World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation World Championships in Hawaii in July 2018.

Please check www.wekaf-gb .co.uk, see the medals we have won at The European Championships.

Kevin: I have practiced martial arts for a number of years, but recently (approx. 2.5 years) discovered escrima. Escrima is a Philippine martial art, made famous by Dan Inosanto who is best known as a training partner of Bruce Lee. It is a multi-styled system, covering unarmed, knife and stick fighting. It is influenced by the region (China, Japan, Indonesia) and Spanish fencing.

I meet Emir Alexander, Doce Pares instructor, doing a demonstration at a local event. He invited me to try a free lesson at his club Hybrid FMA (www.eadocepares.com). I feel in love with the system straight away. When I joined my classmates were preparing for a competition, and I decided to go along and support them.

It was such a good event, action packed and exciting; the people where warm and friendly as well. The next competition (Nov 2015) I decided that I would have one go. I lost in the first round! I had never been so exhausted, and yet had so much fun in my life… I was hooked!

The next competition (April 2016) was a British championship and a world qualifier. I took part and managed to win a Bronze and a Gold medal. And, so I had qualified for the world championship July 2016, Cebu Philippines.

In July 2016 my brother and I travelled to Cebu and took part, alongside 26 other countries, in the 14th WEKAF world stick fighting championship. I ended up being in one of the largest groups – Middle weight, 45-55 Yrs.

I took part in Single stick, Double stick and Padded stick events. I managed to achieve Bronze in Double stick and Silver in Padded stick events.

In Nov 2016 I won 2 gold medal in the British championship in Single stick and Double stick. This qualified me for the European championship (July 2017)

In April 2017 there was a second British championship (European qualifier) and I took part in the padded stick event and won Gold. I also took part in the team event (3 x person @ 1 minute rounds).

In July 2017, the European championships where hosted here in London. I took part in the Padded stick, Single and Double stick. For the Padded stick won a bronze and I got a silver for the Single stick.