Competitors Earn Gold Medals At World Stick-Fighting Championships

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A group of Anne Arundel County residents traveled to Cebu City in the Philippines in July to compete in eskrima, or stick-fighting, a martial art with a cherished history in the Philippines.

Of that Anne Arundel County group, representing Team USA and Kick Connection of Millersville, 12 competitors came home with medals in the 16th World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) Championships.

The Kick Connection competitors ranged in age from 10 to 53 and got to face challengers from Germany, Portugal, Brazil, India, Iran, Korea, Switzerland, Cambodia and other countries.

“It was really exciting because this was a full-contact stick-fighting event,” said Carlos Patalinghug Jr., owner of Kick Connection. “They wore armor and they hit, striked and blocked.”

Worlds are held every two years, but because of the COVID pandemic, the last world tournament was held in 2018. Patalinghug said the event is modeled after boxing, with three one-minute rounds.

“The winners showed accuracy, speed and technique,” he said.

Of the winners, the Geldmacher family from Arnold fared especially well. Tim Geldmacher earned a silver medal in double stick competition and a bronze in single stick. His 12-year-old son, Emery Geldmacher, took home a gold in double stick, a silver in sayaw and a bronze in knife point. Tim’s 10-year-old son, Cooper Geldmacher, won gold medals in single stick, double stick, and knife point; silver in padded point; and bronze in sayaw.

Kick Connection accounted for 13 of Team USA’s 23 gold medals and 13 of its 21 silver medals.

One of the Filipino coaches heaped high praise on the Kick Connection group.

“He asked, ‘How is it that your fighters are able to fight and fight?’” Patalinghug recalled. “I really give credit to our instructors, Matthew Cerbas and Kim Everett, who train our students, and I train them too. For [the Filipino coach] to say that, it was a great compliment.”

The event was capped with a ceremony that included music, food and representatives of the national government. Team USA also posed for photos in front of a shrine dedicated to Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino folk hero who fought Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 and defended his people against Spanish conquest.

“Filipinos in general are very kind,” Patalinghug said. “I’m a dual citizen. It was great for our group to be so accepted and welcomed. They were like rock stars. They really admire the U.S. because they helped with liberating them from the Spanish.”

Beyond competition, the Maryland visitors made an impact in the Philippines.

“We each took an extra suitcase with school supplies and clothing,” Tim Geldmacher said. “We went to a school that was in need and donated some of the items. We gave the rest to other organizations.”

Asked about that experience and helping the less fortunate, Tim said his sons are “very grateful for what they have.”

Patalinghug said his groups have built eight water wells over the course of several visits to the Philippines.

“I try to not just compete but also give them the bigger picture,” he said of his students. “It was such a great honor for us.”

Team USA/Kick Connection Medals

Cooper Geldmacher
Single stick - gold
Double stick - gold
Knife point - gold
Padded point - silver
Sayaw - bronze

Logan Birch
Team sayaw - silver
Single stick - bronze

Emery Geldmacher
Double stick - gold
Sayaw - silver
Knife point - bronze

Ramon DeGuzman
Double stick- silver
Single stick - bronze
Knife point - bronze

Master Matt Cerbas
Team Sayaw - silver
Sayaw - bronze

Kim Everett
Sayaw - gold
Single stick - gold
Double stick- gold
Team sparring - silver
Team sayaw - silver
Knife point - bronze
Padded point - bronze

Jen Herzog
Double stick - gold
Team sparring - silver
Single stick - bronze

Molly Rogers
Single stick - gold
Double stick - bronze
Sayaw - bronze
Padded point - bronze
Knife point - bronze

Mary Rogers
Single stick - gold
Double stick - gold
Team sayaw - silver
Team sparring - silver
Sayaw - bronze

Lauryn Moody
Knife point - silver
Single stick - silver
Double stick - bronze
Sayaw - bronze

Valentin Stanev
Sayaw - gold
Single stick - gold
Double stick - silver
Bangkaw - bronze
Padded point - bronze

Tim Geldmacher
Double stick - silver
Single stick - bronze

Team USA/Kick Connection
Gold - 13
Silver - 13
Bronze - 19

Team USA
Gold - 23
Silver - 21
Bronze - 47

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