At SMAF This Year

 From Blade to Buah: The Integration of Filipino Kali and Silat Melayu
This unique training experience will utilize a very basic close-quarter attacking pattern with the knife – taken from the Pekiti-Tirsia system of Kali - as a basis to teach an unarmed student how to ‘enter’ (using tangkisan or “soft parries”), disrupt the flow of the opponent’s knife, and place the opponent into various kuncian – or full-body immobilizations drawn from a very rare form of Malaysian Silat.  Various follow-up techniques such as buangan (throws), pins, and knife-disarms will be integrated into practice.  This is a very “tactical” form of grappling that is ideal for scenarios involving multiple, armed aggressors.

The Core of Malaysian Silat.
An exciting opportunity to learn some of the fundamental tactics and strategies of a unique close-quarter system of Silat that is very rarely seen outside of Malaysia! Students will experience langkha (footwork), tangkisan (parrying techniques), kuncian (locking and controlling), and buanghan (throws).  This system of Silat Melayu is renowned for its effectiveness in combat and is presently used by the elite Malaysian “Special Branch” units of the Military and Police, and is highly favored by undercover officers – who due to the nature of their work do not carry firearms.  

The Yoruba Martial Art of Gidigbo 
”Gidigbo” is one of several martial arts indigenous to the Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria.  It is a unique method of grappling, striking, and edged weapons practiced primarily by hunters, blacksmiths, and bodyguards to the traditional village Elders.  There is a “ceremonial” expression of the Art which is performed for the public during annual festivals.  There is also a competitive expression performed at regional tournaments. This session will introduce students to the theory and application of traditional striking and throwing techniques from this Yoruba martial art and their application to modern combat and self-protection.