We’re ready for this 14-year-old Fil-Canadian’s big break in martial arts

Jayzelle Policarpio, 14, is Winnipeg’s young martial artist on the rise | Screencap from Jayzelle Policarpio’s feature on CBC Manitoba

As a young athlete, being called one of the best in the game can be both an honor and a daunting legacy to uphold. But for Filipino-Canadian teen Jayzelle Policarpio, such praise only fuels her determination to forge her own path in the martial arts world. 

Hailing from Winnipeg, 14-year-old Policarpio hones her athletic skills through two ancient Philippine fighting styles—sikaran, a kick-based martial arts sport, and arnis, which uses sticks as a weapon in combat. She’s been practicing and competing in both sports since she was nine. 

Policarpio is currently a member of the Winnipeg Sikaran Arnis Academy (WSAA), where she trains and teaches the two sports to kids.

Sikaran and arnis may be as technical as other more well-known martial arts styles, but they’re creative by nature, which makes Policarpio drawn to them. 

“They’re unique and different from other styles like karate and wushu. It’s a way to test your creativity and discipline your body on different ways to move,” she shares with CBC Manitoba. 

The WSAA has a history of world championship titles, making them one of the best schools in Winnipeg. At 13, Policarpio brought home the bronze and silver medals for team sparring and creative weapons in the female category. 

Though she’s never been to the Philippines and doesn’t speak Filipino, sikaran and arnis help Policarpio stay in touch with her roots. According to WSAA instructor Kelly Legaspi, the two action-packed sports have existed since the Spanish colonial era. Back then, Filipinos made the martial arts styles look like dances so they could train for battles in disguise.

For Policarpio, being one of the most promising sikaran and arnis athletes in the world means understanding their historical and cultural elements by heart. 

“Connecting to my culture is important to me. My Filipino friends know a lot about their heritage, and I feel a bit excluded from them because I wasn’t raised like how they were. They know dishes and words that I don’t, but I can learn just as much by being around people at [the WSAA].”

There are still plenty of ups and downs to anticipate in Policarpio’s martial arts journey. But for now, she’s ready to cherish every learning opportunity at WSAA and her future competitions. “I’ll eventually learn all the forms that I need to, and definitely learn to defend myself.”

Policarpio values her current and future experiences as an athlete with the aim of making sikaran and arnis more recognized in the martial arts community. With a handful of achievements under her belt, we’re certain that she’ll fulfill her goal in no time.