Pacific Media Expo welcomes Filipino Martial Arts Tournament

LOS ANGELES – The World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) USA Western Regional Tournament will be held at Pacific Media Expo one day only, Saturday, Nov. 7 2009, at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport. Filipino musical act The Slam Girls will perform the national anthem and the event will conclude with a winners' demonstration.

 “Winners from this all-day tournament will qualify for the WEKAF USA National Tournament in 2010,” said Steve del Castillo, WEKAF USA's Western Division Director and martial arts instructor at Mt. San Antonio College. “I am excited for the opportunity to share this major part of our culture with fans of other Asian pop culture phenomena.” 

The unique style of Filipino martial arts (Eskrima, Kali, Arnis) trains students first in weapons before progressing to unarmed techniques. Filipino martial arts were banned for 400 years under Spanish colonial rule, but were integrated into dances to ensure the techniques would be remembered. WEKAF was formed in 1989 in Cebu, Philippines to promote the Filipino martial arts style of full contact stick fighting (eskrima). Today, it includes 30 countries and has held 10 world championships, with the 11th WEKAF World Championship slated for July 19-25 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. 

Pacific Media Expo will also feature anime director and cameo character Shinichi "Nabeshin" Watanabe; Japanese fashion designers Maki and Asuka (Angelic Pretty), Takuya Angel (Takuya Angel) and Gashikon (Hangry & Angry, distributed by h.Naoto), as well as musical acts Miyavi, Papillon and Uchusentai NOIZ.

 About Pacific Media Expo: America's first major media trade show dedicated to Asian-Pacific popular culture and entertainment, Pacific Media Expo (PMX) is an industry event sponsored by the Pacific Media Association. Pacific Media Expo will be held November 6-8, 2009 at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport. The show will feature honored guests, live performances, panel discussions, autograph sessions, Asian cinema and animation video rooms, art exhibitions and one of the country's only exhibit halls dedicated to Asian media and pop culture.

About Pacific Media Association: Pacific Media Association, a not-for-profit company, is dedicated to promoting the Pacific Rim's entertainment and media industries. PMA specializes in Asia's cultural exports, such as anime and manga, music and live entertainment, live-action television and films, and diverse cultural lifestyles, while building creative communities and promoting Asian awareness within the United States. PMA is the parent company of Pacific Media Expo. The Pacific Media Association is located in Los Angeles, California, USA.

For more information about Pacific Media Expo, please visit http://www.PacificMediaExpo.com or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

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