Page 24 - Martial Science Magazine April 2018

trousers are, therefore, the losers of the game although no
scoring system was ever agreed upon then until such time
when bigger chunks of mud could already be kicked to the
direction of the body and would make one fall down.

As Sikaran evolved into a popular Farm Game more rules
have since been mutually agreed upon by those who are in-
terested to play it. Initially, a player who is hit by a big slice of
mud in the body and fell down on the paddy loses until it was
agreed upon that the player who fell three times loses the
game, thus the early scoring system was already recognized
by the players.

As the game gained popularity among the farmers, the kick
style that was commonly used evolved into variations.
These kicks were derived from the helpful farm an-
imals. By constant day to day observation, the
farmers learned that the frontal Carabao Kick
was very strong and the “Sikad-Kalabaw”
came into the picture.

When the Carabao Kick (Tadyak Kala-
baw) was already a popular kick, the
farmers also observed that the Cow, of
all Bovines, could kick sidewards. This
unique kicking characteristics of the
Cow was carefully studied and includ-
ed in the existing variety of styles in
kicking mud. The farmers foot soles,
during those days, were callous and
wide as they wear no shoes nor slip-
pers and would step barefooted over
barren soils and grassy and muddy
surface in those days. A bigger and
wider foot, therefore, would give a
Sikaran player the edge over an op-
ponent who has a smaller feet. Soon
after, they also discovered the power-
ful horse kick delivered backwards.

Interestingly, the three-point system was ad-
opted from the popular Spider Quarrel where-
in two Spiders of the same size would be pitted
against each other using the broomstick (rib of
the Coconut leaf). The spider that will fall from
the stick three times loses.

The frontal stance of the players using the Ca-
rabao Kick remained as the most popular form
and technique until the players learned to turn
sideways to avoid being hit by the kicked while
delivering a sideward or backward kick and at
the same time parrying to counter. The for-
ward and backward format of the game has
since adopted the sideward technique.

The first tournament was called “Patas na
Labanan” (Fair Game) wherein two players
would play against each other. Since their
playing techniques were limited to frontal
25 MARTIALSCIENCEMAGAZINE.COM and sideward kicks, they have since im-