World pancrase gives coaching clinic to local fighters

World pancrase gives coaching clinic to local fighters

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The mixed martial arts sport, which has been the focus of a TV
show in Indonesia for the last three years, looks to grow in
popularity as a Japanese entourage from the World Pancrase Create
(WPC) is seeking to help promote the sport here.

Upon invitation from the newly founded Indonesian Mixed
Martial Arts Sport Association (FOBI), the WPC is holding a two-
day coaching clinic for local fighters from Feb. 5-6, and a one-
day seminar on Friday, Feb. 7.

Pancrase is a fighting style which combines a variety of
martial arts techniques, including wrestling, judo, boxing,
sambo, karate, kempo, jujitsu and Thai boxing.

"We are looking to promote pancrase in Indonesia. Hopefully,
the sport will grow in popularity," Masami Ozaki, president of
WPC, told reporters while watching around 20 local fighters train
at the Bung Karno Stadium here on Wednesday.

The fighters were being coached by Sanae Kikuta, the 2001
heavyweight world champion, and light-heavyweight Eiji Ishikawa.
Sanae is currently ranked fifth in the world.

FOBI chairman Setya Novanto said that the program was part of
their efforts to educate audiences on the mixed martial arts
sport not only as a form of entertainment, but also as a
commercial sport.

"We have invited Japanese fighters to discuss the standardized
rules of the sport. We want to learn from them how to manage the
sport in a such a way that it provides commercial value," said
Setya, who is also treasurer of the National Sports Council,
KONI.

FOBI has arranged its debut TV showing on RCTI in April. "It
will be a big show of the ultimate fighting sport," he said.

Pancrase has gained popularity in Indonesia since the airing
of the U.S.-made Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Japan-
made Pride Fighting Championship (PFC) on TPI.

The private channel TPI has now aired its own package, which
features local fighters. KONI initially protested the program,
citing a violation against the sporting code, before it conceded
and, in an abrupt U-turn policy, endorsed the establishment of
FOBI.

Meanwhile, Ariel Lamting, a former national tae kwon do
athlete and bronze medalist of the 1989 world championship, said
that the coaching clinic was a good opportunity for local
fighters to hone their skills.

"They should also learn how to go down to the floor without
bruising themselves," he added.

Lamting, who retired as an athlete in 1993, officiated in the
TPI Fighting Championship before switching his allegiance to
FOBI, and is now the technical director of the association.

"The apparent defect in our fighters is that they still lack
technical skill in locks and takedowns. Hopefully, the Japanese
arrival can patch up these gaps," he said.