YAW-Yan Ardigma Cebu founder and Chief Executive Officer Master Benigno “Ekin” Cañiga is hoping to discover new talents in the gym’s annual Summer Clinic at the Yaw-Yan Ardigma Cebu Gym at the Coast Pacific Downtown Center in Sanciangko.

“We already have the Muay Thai Team Cebu City composed of the kids who were products of our summer clinic. My goal is to discover more kids with potential, not only in kickboxing but also in mixed-martial arts, grappling and even arnis,” said Cañiga.

Cañiga encouraged more children and youth to join the summer clinic that kicked off this month.

Aside from discovering new talent, Cañiga wants to instill discipline in the children and teach them to defend themselves against bullies, which are very rampant in the school setting these days.

Yaw-Yan Ardigma Cebu has produced some of the elite MMA fighters in the south, the likes of Engie Piloto, ONE Championship fighter Roel Rosauro and recently Allan Albindo, who signed a deal with ONE Warrior Series.

Cañiga is also the head of the Muay Thai Association of the Philippines-Visayas and has produced some gold medalists in national tournaments.

“Aside from giving these kids something productive to do this vacation, I also want to add new faces in my grassroots team,” said Cañiga.

Yaw-Yan is a full contact martial art that uses the body as weapon. Students master the art of punching, kicking and grappling and using the elbows and knees.

Other courses that are offered in the summer clinic are combat self-defense and fitness boxing. (EKA)