TEHRAN 08 August 2018 – The Arnis Committee of Iran recently secured accreditation from the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation Inc. (PEKAF) and the Cebu-based World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF).

This was disclosed by Hossein Ezzati, Head of the Arnis Committee of Iran, during his meeting with Ambassador to Iran Wilfredo C. Santos and other officials at the Embassy on 24 July 2018.

Mr. Ezzati reported on the results of his group’s successful visit to the Philippines last June, when they met with Philippine Sports Commission officials headed by the Officer-in-Charge, Commissioner Arnold G. Agustin, and PEKAF Chairman and President Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. That visit was arranged by the Embassy.

He said that following these meetings in Manila, his organization was issued the following certificates of appointment and affiliation: Certificate of Appointment as the official representative of the PEKAF in Iran; Certificate of Affiliation to the WEKAF; and Certificate to Mr. Ezzati as WEKAF Country Director to Iran

Earlier, the Embassy wrote ranking officials of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs of Iran, the Iranian National Olympic Committee, and the Martial Arts Federation of Iran of the coordination between the Embassy and the Arnis Committee of Iran in arranging the aforementioned meetings in the Philippines. These Iranian sports officials were informed that the WEKAF is the sole international governing body for the promotion of Filipino martial arts and sports for more than 30 years.

The Embassy has also reported on a growing popularity and following of arnis in Iran, where groups like that of Ezzati has taken an avid interest on the Philippines’ national sport and indigenous martial arts.