Once upon a time ... or rather, it is happening right now.

It is the year 2024 in October of the Lord. 3 merry fellows from Leipzig set off again, after 2017, to the distant lands of the Philippines to gain new knowledge in that place. Well, two of them had been there before, Torsten and Martin to be precise. The third member of the group, Mandy, is embarking on this long and arduous journey for the first time.

 

The journey:

The three Arnisadores start their journey on the S-Bahn at 15:30 to Leipzig/Halle Airport. The security check was unrivalled. While Mandy was allowed to pass through almost unchallenged, Torsten and Martin did not get off so lightly. Full body check including special treatment of shoes and feet, not that Martin would have anything against a foot massage, but the search leaves questions. The short flight to Frankfurt am Main takes off late, around 7 pm. Once in Frankfurt, the layover is short-lived due to the delayed flight. The first connecting flight to Hong Kong departs at half past nine. This is also the longest flight at eleven hours. The time is passed by eating, watching films, reading and sleeping.

Boredom strikes in Hong Kong, as the second connecting flight to Manila also takes off two hours later. A five-hour layover is steep. The only thing that helps is patience and a hearty noodle dish in the style of Asian cuisine.

After our meal, we look for the gate from which the next flight to Manila departs. A quick search, quickly found, the still empty seats taken. Everyone goes about their business. Torsten is still trying out the photo app on Martin's mobile phone. Mandy switches to the chill-out phase, occupying an entire bench in a reclining position. Meanwhile, Martin continues writing his travelogue, right now.

Time passed, but the room didn't fill up noticeably. It was already 7.15 pm and Mandy finished her chill-out phase. She went to an airport employee to find out whether this was the right gate. Yes, it is the right gate number, only the floor is wrong. What the hell, no need to panic. It was already 19:25, the flight departs at 20:20. The final call is already on all the display boards.

The airport employee quickly explains where the right departure gate is. Torsten, Mandy and Martin hurry along the designated route. The large hand moves steadily towards the number twelve.

They have just missed the security checkpoint. We unpack everything and have our bodies scanned. Fortunately, we are spared having to take our shoes off. The checkpoint hurdle is quickly overcome and we hurry to the right gate in the final call. It's only 7.45 pm. When we arrive at the gate - oh wonder who? - our friendly employee from the wrong gate. Quickly checked the passport and boarding cards. A few other passengers, who are not in such a hurry either, check in behind us. The seats are taken punctually at 19:50. The plane to Manila takes off 10 minutes before the German punctuality time.

Nothing worth mentioning happens on the flight. Dinner is served again. The plane lands in Manila at 22:35.

The relaxed atmosphere comes to an abrupt end when we want to leave the airport. At the checkpoint, the police refuse entry because an important document is missing. This document has to be filled in online. An hour later, with a great deal of frustration and resignation, the documents are filled out to the extent that entry into the Philippines is authorised. Now we need a suitable means of transport, which is organised by the IPMAF. The journey to the camp takes almost another 2.5 hours.

When they finally arrive at the beach resort, bed awaits the three not-so-funny fellows at 02:45.

 

Training day 1:

The night was a little short, because the alarm clock rings at 07:00.

Breakfast is ready. There is coffee, toast with egg or peanut butter. The first training session begins at 09:00. Beforehand, Grandmaster Presas Jr. presents everyone with an Arnis uniform, stick bag with sticks and a T-shirt.

The training location is very typical for the Philippines. Training takes place on natural ground between trees in front of the accommodation. On the other side, IPMAF banners hang from a bamboo fence, along with a few bamboo plants. In the open air, the perfect setting for such a training camp.

The first training session is given by Grand Master Presas Jr. himself. He shows us different versions of the single and X-Sinawali. There are a few teething problems with the realisation. Mandy is slightly desperate, clueless. Meanwhile, Martin is at a loss when it comes to the realisation with a training partner from Australia. The existing English language barrier doesn't exactly contribute to solving the tasks set.

After a while, the two of them get to grips with the training.

The realisation of the tasks improves over time.

Torsten, yes Torsten, does what he does best. Simply demonstrating the exercise and providing assistance.

The first three hours were over pretty quickly.

A cold shower is needed for the lunch break at 12 noon. Not that the shower would make any difference to the humidity. T-shirt and trousers are already soaked after the first session. The high humidity certainly contributes to the condition of the clothing.

Heavy rain showers fall again and again, although they don't last too long.

The Filipino kitchen has prepared rice with leafy vegetables and deep-fried chicken thighs. Served with water from the water dispenser, perfect for a long day of intensive training.

Drinking a lot is a must to compensate for the high fluid loss.

The next session begins at 3 pm with Grandmaster Bowers from America.

The focus is on several freestyle variations again from the single and X-Sinawali. First with both sticks, then one of the training partners has only one stick.

The brains of the arnisadores are working at high pressure. Sometimes they generate so much heat that cooling down is unavoidable.

Barely noticed, three more hours of training have passed through the airwaves. It is already getting noticeably dark at 17:45. The second session of the day is over. Incidentally, the floor of the dojo is made of sand, soaked in the blood and sweat of the camp participants. Six hours of training on the first day of camp are over. Dinner is served at 7 pm. Until then, everyone manages their own free time. Mandy and Torsten listen into the mattress. Martin treats himself to a cooling shower and some time to continue his travelogue.

The camp participants come from the Philippines itself, the USA, the Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, Australia and tranquil Germany.

For dinner: rice, baby. Rice and meat from the wok served with a little tomato.

The evening is quiet. A couple of participants set aside time for themselves to continue honing the techniques they have learnt.

In a convivial atmosphere with the Austrian participants, we drink two beers and philosophise about various topics. Torsten hands over documents from the MAMD and a gift from GM Wolfgang Schnur as well as a candle arch with the Leipzig skyline as a personal gift from the Leipzig Arnisadores to Grandmaster Presas Jr.

The first day ends here, with more to follow.

 

Training day 2:

The alarm clock rings at 07:00, preparations are made for the new working...er training day.

The champions have their usual breakfast of coffee, toast, fried egg and peanut butter. Living in the situation, there is no special treatment for the German Arnisadores.

No time to complain, training starts punctually at nine o'clock. After introducing the basics in Mano Mano, Grandmaster Hubmann teaches more advanced techniques. These very often end up in the sand for the training partner. The training participants look correspondingly dirty after the three-hour morning session. Just like the Buddelflinke. There's only one thing to do: take a dip in the big pond, called the Pacific, to get the dust out of their training clothes. Alternatively, take a shower and clean your T-shirts with travel detergent.

Lunch brings variety. A bowl of vegetables and meat disguised as soup is served with the rice. The culinary delicacy was certainly tasty. Rest is the order of the day until the next training session at 3 pm. The lunch break is used by all camp participants for a good night's sleep. The afternoon training session is led by Master Davide from Italy. The focus of this training session is initially on double stick techniques with blocking, blocking and disarming. Later in difficulty mode two. The defender only has one stick and has to hold his own against the attacker with two sticks. Again by blocking, blocking, fixing and disarming. The sauce is constantly running down the forehead. It is slightly cloudy, but the high humidity, the temperature and the intensive training session mean that the clothes are soaking wet and sticking to the body. It feels like there is no spot that is spared.

Drink, drink, drink, after two hours the first real break.

This is followed by another short session from Grandmaster Remolin, which builds on the previous techniques with Master Davide. The grandmaster brings more Filipino flow to the techniques and demonstrates other variations. We are still challenged. The sun is already slowly disappearing on the horizon, the floodlights illuminate the training ground. Our batteries are empty, our heads are full of new knowledge. Then the training is over for the day. The pool and dinner are waiting for the Arnisadores.

A delicious meal is served. The crew in charge of catering surprises us with new creations. A bowl of rice is served with boiled chicken and noodles as a side dish.

Later, Mandy and Martin socialise over a beer with camp participants Peter and Martin from Austria. Torsten, meanwhile, has other commitments to fulfil. Grandmaster Presas Jr. has invited the other leading grandmasters, masters and guros of the respective countries to a private discussion round. Torsten is also taking part in this round as a representative for Germany.

At least Torsten was able to have a beer after the end of the round table and take part in the sociable, so far four-man round table. And so the second training day comes to an end. Time flies. Six hours of training a day is a blink of an eye and there is still so much to learn.

 

Training day 3:

The alarm clock rings in the usual way at 07:00.

Nothing new at the breakfast bar. Training starts at 9am.

Grandmaster Presas Jr. starts the training day with a session. A short warm-up beforehand. The training topic follows on from the previous training topic. This means that further single and X-Sinawali from Grandmaster Presas Jr. are on the agenda. The brain already has a lot of work to do in the morning to process the different variations of the single sinawali. Over the course of the training, the grandmaster repeatedly pushes the participants to increase their speed and energy in the single variations. It doesn't take long before the training clothes are soaked with sweat. A real blast. The intensity of the training is getting to everyone. With the stress of training, it's easy to forget to drink. Everyone has to decide for themselves when to drink something. After two hours, it's time for a long-awaited short break. Torsten, Mandy and Martin sit on the chairs, visibly physically exhausted. The clock is ticking and the protagonists are not getting any younger. The last hour also flies by. At lunchtime, a small German group once again analyses and records details of the elements.

It's time for lunch. Before eating, Martin jumps into the pool to relax. A relief after the exhausting session. Hmm, let's see what delicacies the Presas crew have prepared for the exhausted bodies today.

It's going to be exciting. Yes, rice baby, there is rice. Today with chicken and small cooked sausages.

Now that Martin has worn out his fresh training clothes, he has to wash them by hand to get them clean. Then it's time to rest. Very important, because who knows what the afternoon will bring.

Grandmaster De Leon from South America leads the afternoon training session.

A variation of the sombrada will be the subject of the training. However, the first aim is to finish off the opponent with well-timed punching techniques. This will be used at a later stage.

For now, the individual drill components for the sombrada are put together. These are also to be performed slowly at first, then with increasing speed. The sweat-soaked arnisadores again clearly show the effort. Self-imposed misery. In between, a disarming sombrada is added. This is important in order to incorporate the attack techniques from the first part of the training session.

After bringing the individual elements together, the result was a purposeful overall picture.

The grandmaster dedicated the last hour to theory and helpful tips from Kempo and Wing Chun. Then the second training session for Wednesday was over.

A quick review of today's Sombrada with Torsten and Martin, then off to the pool and later to dinner. A tasty vegetable soup is served as a starter. The soup is really delicious. It is served with rice and chicken.

Visibly satiated, the Arnisadores linger with the Austrians around Walter Hubmann. Over beers, they talk about today and the IPMAF. At half past eight, the conversation is broken up, as everyone is noticeably exhausted from the day. So everyone goes their separate ways until the next day.

 

Training day 4:

A certain morning routine actually sets in. The coffee is good and lifts the still tired songs. Breakfast fills the stomach and energises us for the training day.

Guro Kroupa from the Czech Republic starts this morning's session on time. The programme again includes sinawali with new variations. In fact, sinawali dominates the training programme at this camp. Fortunately, there are movement recorders. How else can you keep track of all the different variations? Incorporating the transition from one variation to a new variation is a welcome addition. Today, the double sinawali provides the basis for this. The workout challenges and develops the mind and body. After just one hour, the training clothing is worn through and sticks to the body like cling film.

Drinking, drinking, drinking is also the top priority today.

Lunch break is at twelve. The pool is not far away for a well-deserved cool-down before the call for lunch is made. On the table is sticky rice, typical of the Philippines. It is served in small bowls of soup with vegetables and one or two pieces of meat. The food tasted as good as usual. There is plenty of everything, so that no-one has to go into the resting phase hungry.

Guro Torsten from Germany was commissioned by Grandmaster Presas Jr. to lead the afternoon training session. Grandmaster Presas Jr. will not miss the opportunity to attend the training session as a spectator. What an honour for Guro Torsten. In the first part of the afternoon training session, double sinawali is practised in basic form. The special feature here, however, is that three training partners line up one behind the other and the one in the centre involves the partner in the back by turning and striking the double sinawali. Once everything is working well, the partners switch partners in the centre in the flow of the sinawali. After a break with a drink, they continue with Modern Arnis. A stick drill (sombrada) is practised. Beforehand, the Modern Arnis-based block technique and its subtleties are explained to the participants. Mandy and Martin Veronik (Austria) are the practice partners for the afternoon training during demonstrations and explanations. These were quite unusual exercises for the participants, who primarily practised in the classical style. Everyone performed the exercises to the satisfaction of the instructor.

The fourth day of training is now over. After a well-deserved, obligatory dip in the pool to cool off, dinner was served. The chef also served dried bananas for the evening meal.

Two more beers with the training partners from Austria and a bit of conversation, then the decision is made to hop into bed early. Everyone is already in bed by half past nine, with only the hard-working travel reporter still hanging over the letters yet to be written. Lights out.

 

Training day 5:

07:00, the alarm clock rings. Team Austria visibly struggles to get out of bed. The night was warm, the sleep not optimal. The coffee will fix it. No change to the breakfast selection, only the coffee creamer has run out.

Parade attire is ordered at 9am. Photo shoot in many variations, including video taken by a drone. Training begins at half past nine. This is led by grandmaster Andy Elliott from Australia. He introduces a modified double stick system that is taught in Australia. Later in the training, knife techniques are used, which include direct counters.

Lunch break, the mouths are hungry. Some meat is served with the rice side dish. In any case, the lunch tasted delicious. The now obligatory dip in the pool provides the necessary cooling. In the afternoon session, the participants were divided into two groups. The first group took an exam under the watchful eyes of Grandmasters Presas Jr, Elliott, Hubmann, De Leon and Bowers.

The second group was led by Guro Martin Veronik from Austria. Torsten, Mandy and Martin are also at the start. His programme includes different variations of the sombrada. This training demands full coordination.

All the participants are clearly having fun.

At the end of the three-hour session, three different variations of the ‘four counts’ are practised, starting with the double sinawali pose, which are then performed in combination.

This exciting and challenging afternoon training session ends at 6 pm.

The candidates relax in the pool with a beer after the very strenuous test, which demanded everything.

Dinner is a little late. Today's menu includes the lunch specials.

Our stomachs are full again. We sit together with beer and snacks, chatting as best we can.

Only the participants from the Czech Republic are still practising their knife sparring late in the evening. It's 10.15 pm and Torsten and Mandy have already gone to bed. Martin is still writing his report, but it's not worth going to bed yet.

Friday is also counting down to the last few hours. One more training session tomorrow, then this 2024 camp is also over for the Arnisadores.

 

 

Training day 6:

It's the last day at camp. In the morning there is one more training session from Grandmaster Presas Jr. Before that, however, it's time to prepare the suitcases for departure as much as possible. Another short breakfast of the usual kind. Today in a place with a direct view of the sea. It's a cosy way to have breakfast. But the training doesn't start at 9am. First of all, plenty of certificates are handed out for participation in the camp and for the graduations. The photo shoot is a must. At half past nine, the last session begins. Grandmaster Presas Jr. introduces us to six freestyle techniques. The way the techniques are taught is well received by all the trainees.

 

The departure:

Unfortunately, this session also comes to an end at 11.30am. A few more photos and off to lunch. We are due to leave at one o'clock. We finish packing our luggage, put on our travelling outfits and are called to leave. It is only 12.15 p.m. and Team Germany is travelling to the airport by bus with Team Austria.

When we reach Manila, it becomes clear why the bus started the journey to the airport earlier. The journey took about 2.5 hours when we arrived at night. Now we are already travelling for three and a half hours.

We drive to Terminal 1 at the airport. When we arrive, we are in for a nasty surprise. Team Austria has to board the plane at Terminal 3. Unfortunately, the bus that took us to the airport is gone. So Team Austria are forced to organise a taxi. This is also where we part ways. We say goodbye and make our own way to Terminal 1.

We briefly check our luggage on the scales, redistribute the weight and check in. The waiting time until the flight is bridged with food. The plane takes off at 7.30 pm and takes us to Hong Kong. It lands at around 9.40 pm. To make sure we reach the right gate straight away this time, we don't waste any time at the airport. Now it's time to wait. Martin is busy writing his travel report, Mandy and Torsten are bored playing on their mobile phones. Boarding onto the A340-600 aircraft is delayed by 20 minutes. At 23:30 the aircraft takes off for Frankfurt.

Think again!

The three, later not so, funny fellows were to be stuck at the airport for 18 hours.

But first things first.

To begin with, Martin sarcastically warned his travelling companion Torsten not to push his luck with frequent flying too far. Fate strikes. The aircraft leaves the gate and taxis to the runway. But ...

20 minutes pass on the runway, but the aircraft does not taxi. Then the captain announces that an engine won't start. Great, the delayed boarding gets the bad flavour that this problem didn't just occur on the runway.

And then Martin gets a grumble from Torsten: ‘It's all your fault’. Martin absolutely had to conjure up the omen on the outward flight. In general, Martin knew how to entertain the other two travelling companions on the outward journey with all kinds of thoughts about flight disasters.

Well, the aircraft had to return to the departure gate. Once again, the captain confidently announces that the engine failure is to be rectified with the mechanics. The passengers have to stay on board.

It was reassuring to know that we had taken our seats in a defective aircraft and could not leave it even if we wanted to. So hour after hour passed. The hands on the clock were already pointing to 02:15 in the morning. A new announcement from the captain. The fault had been rectified but a new check-up with an engine test run would have to be carried out. Everyone in the aircraft waited, bored, for the tests to be completed. Martin, meanwhile, wanted to calm his rising frustration with a double whisky. However, his throat remains dry. No high-proof alcohol is served while the aircraft is still on the ground. Still frustrated, Martin takes his seat again.

It is 03:15, and with a new announcement the crew has decided to cancel the flight, as the engine failure cannot be rectified after all.

It should also be added that the passenger cabin heated up and cooled down several times during this hangover. This meant that the air conditioning only worked sporadically.

Another half an hour passed before we left the aircraft, as there was only one shuttle bus available to take us back to the terminal.

It is 03:45. After finally being able to leave the flightless aircraft via a bus shuttle, information was needed at the arrivals counter in the terminal, where around 500 other passengers had to overcome the same hurdle. The Arnisadores were therefore directed to a waiting queue by a terminal employee. Time passes. It is 04:30. We finally arrive at the counter, oh how surprising. Our enquiry in Torsten's broken English was refused on the grounds that we were at the wrong counter. This is the counter for business class. Great, you've been stuck at the airport for 4 hours and are not being processed because you've booked economy class. The fact that we were sent to the wrong counter by the lady at the terminal and that this counter is not even labelled as business class rounds off the annoyance.

An employee at the terminal booked us two nights at the Regal Airport Hotel while we were still standing in the economy row. A small ray of hope that night. The bookings are, of course, at the expense of the airline.

It's just after 5 a.m. and Mandy is standing up tired. Torsten and Martin, meanwhile, have kept themselves awake with frustration-laden conversations. We finally arrive at the counter. Torsten is able to communicate clearly with the staff and we get the rebookings. The next flight is from Hong Kong to Bangkok, then on to Vienna. From Vienna we finally head for Leipzig. So the three of you won't see your home country again until around 10am on Monday. It's not so bad, you're only scheduled to be at work. We also get a simple map of the airport with the route to the hotel. To get to the hotel, Torsten, Mandy and Martin have to go through the visitor check-in. With only two counters open, there is also a long queue of about half an hour.

It is now 05:45. When we arrive at the hotel, the reception staff don't really know what to do with us when we ask for two rooms at the expense of the airline Lufthansa. It took some co-ordination and obtaining information from elsewhere before we got the rooms. Lunch was served on top. Now that's something.

FINALLY, Martin has reached the room, the bed is calling. Lights out and a good night's sleep until 11.30am. The alarm clock rings, there's not much time to wake up.

A quick body TD (technical service) and a change of clothes, because we have a lunch appointment at reception at 12 noon. The short stay at the hotel has noticeably lifted the mood.

If it wasn't for Martin.

He has received an e-mail announcing that the flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok has already flown. Naturally, he shares this great news with the other two team members and provides the proof. Torsten, who had just been relaxed, barely regains his composure. First to lunch, it's hard to think on an empty stomach. The choice of food is plentiful and it tastes good too. Everyone eats what they can. Then let's have a look. Torsten checks the data, while Mandy does the maths. Martin? Meanwhile, Martin is quiet. No talking. The messenger of destiny has spread his prophecies one too many times.

It has been clarified that the airline's flight details are incorrect. An e-mail for smoke and mirrors. The stranded travellers board the plane to Bangkok on time. The plane lands without any further complications. The next few hours at the airport are spent shopping, eating at McDonalds and Mandy takes a nap.

It is already an hour before midnight and boarding the Austria Boeing 777 aircraft is not a problem. The plane takes off punctually at 11.30 pm, bound for Vienna. The flight will take a long 11 hours. First of all, the passengers are catered for with dinner, or rather a midnight snack. After that, things settle down quite quickly. The three travellers affected by the incident also more or less go to bed.

The flight goes smoothly and the aircraft lands in Vienna at 05:35.

Fortunately, a long layover at Vienna Airport is not planned. Mandy, meanwhile, is not in the best of health. During the waiting time, a change of aircraft and airline is announced. Great, what could possibly go wrong? So we are no longer flying with Austria Airline but with its partner company ‘Bra’ Braathens Airline. So the last leg of the journey is on a twin-engine turboprop aircraft. Fits in with the whole journey home plan. However, we wait 20 minutes on the tarmac for clearance for take-off.

The plane to Leipzig finally takes off at 08:30. Meanwhile, Martin's state of health is deteriorating. 2 days of a catastrophic journey home and 4 hours in an alternately heated and cooled aeroplane are also leaving their mark on him.

It is Monday 09:45, the turboprop aircraft is about to land. Done, now it's just a matter of collecting the luggage, leaving the airport and boarding the S-Bahn train straight home. Oh yes, the S-Bahn, it's been cancelled. Fits in with the whole programme. So, next S-Bahn to the main station and from there onwards by tram. At the main station, the escalator from the S-Bahn to the tram is broken. Another small stumbling block, which is overcome by climbing the stairs with full luggage.

 

Conclusion:

First things first: the journey to the Philippines went smoothly. The stay at the camp and the intensive training were very positive overall for the author. The return journey was a disaster, which was to have consequences.

Mandy and Torsten had to return to work on Monday. Martin was knocked out on Monday after returning home. The doctor's diagnosis on Tuesday: symptoms of fatigue, jet lag and a cold.

Postscript:

Mandy and Torsten fared no better. All three are now on sick leave. These are the effects of the unsuccessful Lufthansa Airline flight from Hong Kong to Frankfurt. So the otherwise wonderful trip had a bad flavour. We will probably not be flying with Lufthansa again in the near future. This concludes the travelogue.