Eskrima practitioner enters Hall of Fame

The Kimberley has stepped onto the world stage at the fourth Philippines Martial Arts Hall of Fame held in Manilla.

Cacoy Doce Pares martial arts guru Bianca Hellberg from Broome was inducted into a hall of fame as International Female Instructor of the Year after competing at a world championship level in the Philippines late last year.

“You only see how big the (Hall of Fame) event is until you are there, I said to somebody I still can’t believe that I’ve been invited and was chosen by somebody that I had never met before,” she said.

“Before the event we got a letter from the president congratulating all nominees and awardees, and there was a committee on stage as we received the award and trophy — presented by the committee of the Hall of Fame.

“I said I’m really sitting here between all these big names and I’m star struck, and somebody said back to me ‘but you are one of those big names now’.”

Hellberg also competed in a tournament the day before the induction when her name was called by mistake while she was training.

“I had to rush down with no briefing, not knowing the rules and in a different fighting style — I said I didn’t sign up but I’ll do it because I didn’t want my name called out for not showing up in the ring,” she said.

“So I was in that fight in a different style that I have never fought in, then had to go into the final — my style Eskrima is close quarter but that tournament style was long range, the way we fight we would violate their rules all the time.”