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Dynamic
Fighting Arts newsletter
Volume
1 Issue 4 |
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In the next few months I will try
to touch on some of the history and background of the various styles of martial
arts.
Arnis, Escrima, and Kali
In general these are all names for
the Filipino Martial Arts, just as we use the terms Kung fu, Gung fu and Wushu
for the Chinese martial arts. It is
stated that the art of Kali is the “mother” art of all Filipino arts and
Escrima and Arnis come from this art. One theory is that the art comes from the
Indonesian art of Tjakalele a form of Silat, another suggests the name stems
from the Kalis a snaked shaped sword also called a Kris. Others claim that the
names are based on regional differences, Arnis in the north, Escrima in the
central regions and Kali in the south. Still others, however claim that the term “Kali” only came in to existence in
the 1970’s when used by the great Dan Inosanto in his book on the Filipino
arts.
It also depends on the
individual practitioners preference or style that he/she is practicing. If they
train in Modern Arnis it would be referred to as Arnis. In the Serrada system
created by Angel Cabales it is called Escrima.. With so many different versions and little available in the
way of written history it is doubtful that the true origin will ever be known.
In current times Kali and Escrima are used in the United States and Arnis
in the Philippines. In fact it is the national art of the Philippines
Most people think the Filipino Martial Arts are stick fighting arts only. This
is a common misconception because the rattan sticks are one of the primary tools
used in training. In fact it is one of the few arts where weapons are taught
first before anything else. This is
one of the things that make the art so popular. This may also be why so many people think of it as only a
stick art. If you start off with the sticks and then leave after a few months
this is all that you know of the art.
Kali (for simplicity sake I will use this term for the Filipino Martial Arts) is
actually a sword-based art, meaning that the original techniques are designed
for use with a sword. Using a
rattan stick allows the students to practice without injury and saves wear &
tear on the weapons. Kali is an incredibly complex art. Mastering the sticks
alone can take years, you have the single stick, double stick, stick &
dagger and long staff (bangkaw). Then you have the dagger, double dagger, whip
and other weapons along with empty hand, kicking and joint locking techniques.
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One aspect of Kali
that I find particularly effective is the use of the left hand.
The left side is always trained along with the right whether using
2 sticks while performing drills or if you are only using 1 stick the left
hand is constantly checking and monitoring or being used to throw a punch
or apply a joint lock. There
are also many partner drills that help develop speed, timing and reflexes.
Kali is what I consider a “live art”, that is, the movements
flow from one to the next effortlessly.
It is not stiff, static or dead. It seems to enhance the
practitioners’ skill and makes even a mediocre martial artist a
formidable opponent.
There are other Filipino arts that we will touch on later such as Dumog
(ground fighting), Sikaran or
Pananjakman (kicking arts), Panantukan (boxing) and Kinomutai (biting,
pinching & gouging).
New Videos
The new Double Stick volume 3 and volume 4 are now available,
5 & 6 will be ready by the end of this week.
We also have a new Praying Mantis video and are working on volume 1
of Kuntao Knife Fighting, which should be ready in the next week or two.
We will also be adding Soft Sticks for training and T-Shirts to our
product line soon. To check out the videos currently available go to our web
site at:
http://www.dynamicfightingarts.com/videos.htm
Upcoming Seminar
We
have a seminar coming up in Muncie, Indiana Saturday, Dec 4
on Chi Gung and Double Broadswords.
For more information contact Daniel Eckart taoistdragon@hotmail.com
or myself.
Helping the Community
One
of our associates in Chicago in starting a program to benefit inner-city
youths. To offer assistance
or find out more information contact:
Ryan Lozano texasmountains@aol.com
Wushu Classes
As many of
you know one of our assistant instructors (Bill Hartmann) has recently
returned from China where he went for advanced training with the coach of
the Beijing Wushu team since October 2003. www.ohiowushu.com
Sifu
Seiwert
www.dynamicfightingarts.com
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Dynamic
Fighting Arts newsletter
Volume
2 Issue 1
In the next few months I will try
to touch on some of the history and background of the various styles of martial
arts.
Panantukan,
more commonly known as Filipino boxing employs all the upper body weapons to
neutralize an opponent, such as elbows, forearms, head butts, shoulders, hips,
and knees (no kicks). Some consider Panantukan to be "dirty
street-fighting," however, no one can deny its effectiveness.
Panantukan is a very effective system for practical self-defense. This boxing
method, in addition to punching and striking with the fist, incorporates the use
of elbow strikes and finger jabs, arm and neck wrenches, guntings and strikes to
vital points, and serves to bridge the gap between striking and grappling.
Panantukan also employs other weapons such as the shoulder (for ramming) and the
head (for striking). Strikes are not limited to the limbs, the ribs, spine, and
the back of the neck are all valid targets in this art.
The empty hand skills taught are
essentially a modified boxing format with one key difference, the fighting
range. In western boxing the fighting range is from the end of the punching hand
to your opponents chin. The Filipino styles however measure from the end of the
punching hand to a distance where you can attack the attacking limb.
Based largely on the use of the knife, the mindset behind this method is
very aggressive and street-effective.
This also explains why parries are often followed by an attack to the weapon
hand.
Guntings or limb destructions are applied by striking various nerve points and
muscle tissue, partially paralyzing the affected limb, thereby making it useless
in combat.
Limb
destructions are performed with 2 tools at the upper body range, these being the
hand and the elbow. Of these the elbow is by far the more potent weapon in terms
of destructive power.
Common
methods in which the elbow is employed are by using the point of the elbow
against the fist or driving it into the bicep or pectoral muscle.
For
example:
Your opponent attacks with a right jab, you step to the outside of the punch
parrying to the right with your left hand and hit the brachial nerve of the
upper arm with
the
knuckles of your right hand and the triceps with the left elbow while wrenching
the arm.
The
gunting can be applied either vertically or horizontally. The tools can be
knuckles, backfist, elbows, forearm or knee.
Flowing
attacks are common and once you close the gap you unleash a relentless attack
until your opponent is incapacitated. Remember, the art revolves around the
flow, very similar to Kuntao, you must flow like water moving from one obstacle
to the next, either going through it or around it.
 Training methods include the use
of focus mitts as well as trapping and flow drills. This system also improves
balance and coordination, maximizes proper body mechanics in striking and target
awareness through efficient striking.
Empty hand skills are taught
against the stick and knife. It must be stressed however that these are
desperate measures after all other options are exhausted. It is recommended that
you seek a qualified instructor to learn these techniques.
New Videos
Our newest addition “Twin Dragon Double Broadswords” is
now available. We are using new editing techniques that greatly enhance the look
of the product. The new Kuntao
Knife Fighting 1 & 2 is also ready. Be
sure to check out videos on Focus Pad Training as well as Speed and Trapping
Drills at our web site:
http://www.dynamicfightingarts.com/videos.htm
Upcoming
Seminar
We
have a seminar coming up in Muncie, Indiana Saturday March 12 on Eagle Claw and
Chin na. For more information: http://www.ngfamilystyle.com/flyer.html
or contact Daniel Eckart taoistdragon@hotmail.com
or myself.
Helping the Community
One of our associates in Chicago is starting a program to benefit
inner-city youths. To offer
assistance or find out more information
http://www.dynamicfightingarts.com/loyola_program.htm or contact:
Ryan Lozano texasmountains@aol.com
Wushu Classes
As many of
you know one of our assistant instructors (Bill Hartmann) has recently returned
from China where he went for advanced training with the coach of the Beijing
Wushu team.
www.ohiowushu.com
Sifu
Seiwert
www.dynamicfightingarts.com
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