SOME of the best kickboxers in the region converge in the Queen City of the South as the first-ever Visayas Kickboxing Championship comes off the wraps on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at the prestigious SM Seaside City Cebu.
A total of 163 athletes from the different parts of the Visayas will be competing in this three-day Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas (SKP)-sanctioned tournament, which serves as the official qualifier for the National Kickboxing Championship later this year.
Winning participants will earn the coveted opportunity to represent their respective regions in the national competition, showcasing their skills against the country’s best.
The tournament features various male and female age group categories, welcoming competitors as young as seven years old.
Participants will compete in two exciting disciplines: Kicklight and Point Fighting. These disciplines emphasize control, technique, and strategic striking, making them accessible and engaging for a wide range of participants.
Yaw-Yan Ardigma founder and CEO Master Benigo “Ekin” Caniga, also councilor for Brgy. Day-as, and John Ian Nisnisan made Cebu’s first huge kickboxing tournament possible through their collaborative effort and with the support of the Cebu City Government and the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC).
The Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu City Division has also played a crucial role by providing the Mambaling Elementary School as a temporary home for the visiting fighters. Barangay Day-as, meanwhile, will host the technical officials’ accreditation for the event.
SKP technical director Roselyn Hung and assistant technical director Bryan S. Olod will oversee the event and ensure a fair kickboxing competition.
The SKP is a national sports association recognized by both the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
The 2025 Visayas Kickboxing Championship is poised to be a landmark event in Cebu’s sporting history, inspiring a new generation of martial artists and solidifying the region’s place in the national kickboxing landscape. / EKA with PR