Page 25 - Martial Science Magazine April 2018

proved and developed a variety of turns and started using the horse-like backward kick. The
first three major kicks learned from the main farm animals were, therefore, the most potential
techniques that they have since develop to improve their skills. When during the early dis-
covery of the game, players would only engage in frontal kick, they have since learned to
turn sideways and could deliver the backward kick without necessarily turning in front.
Players have also learned to employ several techniques to distract the attention of their
opponent so that they could freely attack.

They have since developed the quick spider frontal attack, the Carabao kick, the cow
sideward kicks and the horse backward kicks as the major el- ements in playing
Sikaran. Accidents do happen that sometimes a player would be hit by
a direct contact in the stomach whenever a back kick is de -
livered and the player who is hit would gasp for breath
and fall. This contact has amazed the crowd. Over time,
they have learned to develop more variations of the game
which has already gained popularity province-wide until
it eventually became a major attraction during big gather-
ings and celebrations of feast days. A native dance called Ti-
nikling requires dancers to dance between two bamboo poles
being clicked together. It would train dancers’ feet to be quick to
avoid being caught in between the poles and help in the training
of Sikaran Players.

The farmers who are focused in playing Sikaran would then go to the fields early
in the morning to train how to kick mud using various techniques. They contin-
ued to research and observe the movements of their farm animals and have since
become conscious in preparing their body condition preparatory to the game.
Plowing the paddies and following the animal-drawn implement was a good
foot and leg exercise/training as their feet and legs are submerged in knee-
deep mud. They ate more vegetables and fruits to gain stronger bodies and
maintain good health.

The primary industry of the inhabitants of Baras Rizal aside from Paddy
Rice Farming and Upland Farming (Slash and Burn farming in the moun-
tains called “Kaingin”) is Fishing along the Laguna De Bay, a large body of
fresh water rich in marine resources. Baras Village is bounded by Barrio
Lagundi. This adjacent village has since adopted Sikaran as their farm
game and would often compete with Baras Players and meet to play
the game at the different places in the Villages of Baras, in Pulo, Pata-
dyang, Suro-Suro, Ulahan, Basud and Kalang Batong Malalim- large
farming villages with large rice farming paddies. Women have since
caught interest in the game and have started competitive games of
their own. Men have become more aggressive in playing with the
entry of women in Sikaran competition.

Another game or competition in Baras during those days was the
popular “Karera ng Bangka” (Boat Race) which eventually waned
because not everybody could afford the cost of a boat and the riv-
er was so small for competition. It was not developed like the Si-
karan.

Over the next decades, the “Patas na Labanan” (Fair Game)
was developed with more innovations. The age, sex, body
size (height and weight) was already considered as factors in
Tournaments. The rules would include accumulation of body
points. They do not use the three fall rule or the Spider Quar-
rel three-fall rule because players have since been quick to
parry blows at the same time dodge incoming attack. The
players changed the rules of the game and adopted a
new point system.
APRIL/2018 25