August Adventure #2: Laging-Una !

Guro Jun says: "You guys really suck!"

Kuya 'Mel teaches body mechanics

The "Presenters"

Our second adventure for the month of August took us across the border into Canada (Toronto to be exact) and it was like stepping into another Universe. Not because of the strange looking Canadian currency; or their use of weird phrases like “G’day eh?” or stuff like that. No. I say it was like stepping into another Universe because for a solid weekend in a remote part of Toronto, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the fascinating World of Kali De Leon.

At long last, we finally made the guest list and were invited to participate in the annual summer camp sponsored by Guro Jun De Leon. It was utterly unforgettable and difficult to put into words – but some of my reflections are below.

My Impression of Guro Jun De Leon Then and Now

I’ve written about Guro Jun in earlier posts so I won’t rehash the history of how we came to know him. The point is that today, I have a different opinion from back then when I wrote those entries. I have a feeling that Guro will read this piece and I hope I won’t get into trouble for saying this…but here it goes.

First of all, in the total picture I am actually less impressed by Guro as a “martial artist” as I was back then. Why? Because first of all, it is impossible for me to be any more impressed. If you study Kali for 100 years you would be very lucky to meet 4 or 5 people that are on Guro Jun’s level as far as skill is concerned. He is just north of phenomenal in every aspect of his practice. It’s intimidating to merely watch him move (even on video), but if he is “working” on you personally, you can feel firsthand what one of my students describes as “Precision Fury.”

With this being said, it would be far too easy to just acknowledge Guro Jun as the caliber of Master that comes around once in a generation, and be awed by his prowess. That however, is only part of the picture. On this particular weekend, we got a far more in-depth look at the theories and principles that power KDL

The Difference

Too many times, especially in the Filipino martial arts, there is one very talented and charismatic guy at the top whose senior students (even a whole generation of seniors) couldn’t even carry the Master’s baston. It’s common. The best practitioners are not always the best teachers. There are many, many subtleties in Kali that are nearly impossible to teach in an explicit way: timing, sensitivity, body-mechanics, flow, etc. Sometimes it is just easier for a student to imitate his teacher in various respects and not dig deeper into understanding the principles and mechanics.

What was so remarkable about this camp is that Guro Jun himself did very little teaching. Instead, he called upon his crew of seniors to take the group through blocks of instruction that included single and double baston, knife, sword and dagger, and empty hands. It soon became abundantly clear to me that all these guys – to a man – were very highly developed in their understanding of those subtle aspects I referenced earlier. Guro Jun hadn’t just developed a cadre of imitators…he’d produced a solid crop of high-level practitioners with in-depth knowledge of the theories and principles of a rich and complex system. Furthermore, each instructor clearly brought his own personal interpretation(s) to the core material. It felt to me like a seminar of high-level jazz musicians teaching variations on a common theme. All with an underlying sense of honor and respect for their Grand Master.

The Bottom Line

The KDL summer camp was one of best training experiences we’ve had to date. My respect for Guro Jun the Martial Artist was actually over-shadowed by my respect for him as a Teacher and Leader. Indeed, KDL is bigger than one man, and in my humble opinion will pass fully intact to the next capable generation when Guro decides to “rest” his bastons – Hopefully not for a long, long time!

It was an honor Guro – Salamat po.

Kuya Doug teaches Dean about the Kerambit

Captured on film for posterity

The Group

August Adventure #1: Coming Full Circle to Texas

In April of 2005, I was blessed to be among the first group of ‘Cikgu Muda’ to complete the first two levels of Silat Kuntau Tekpi during an intensive training camp hosted by Cikgu Omar Hakim in Austin, Texas. It was literally a breathtaking experience, learning the basics of footwork, parrying, locking, throwing, striking, theory, and application of this venerable, no-nonsense Silat system from Malaysia. Away from home and with few distractions, it was almost like a vacation – except for the fact that I was battered, twisted, and exhausted at the end of each day.

Equal in value to any of techniques I learned were the friendships that grew from that experience. Two of my senior classmates in that training group made a tremendous impression on me: Robert Slomkowski and Ricky Rillera. These two gentlemen have a lot in common, beyond the fact that they follow similar paths in the martial arts. You will not find a more perfect example of what the Silat masters call Ilmu Padi – The Way of the Rice Plant – than these gentlemen. The Way of the Rice Plant is thus: when it is young, it stands straight and proud – almost with arrogance. However, the older and more full (wiser), and developed it becomes, it humbly lowers its profile. That’s Robert and Ricky.

After a grueling day of Silat practice, we would eat dinner close to the training facility, and then somewhat informally practice Kali at night. I’m sure it was nothing special to them, but these guys blew my mind. Ricky is a legend in Pekiti-Tirsia circles. Facing him with a baston even doing a simple exercise felt like standing in front of an exploding pipe bomb. More importantly, behind the technique is a calculating, strategic mind that controls the fight like a chess master runs the board.

Robert is much the same way, although his personal style is somewhat different than Ricky’s. I distinctly remember thinking – as he blasted me with three solid kill-shots before I could get off one angle – that my best hope would be to get knocked out by the first crack and be spared the pain of the following volley. At one point, Robert was kind enough to show me a grappling drill that he developed, which made me feel as if my spine was made of rubber. Ah memories!

Although I was certainly the low man on the totem pole, and knew next to nothing compared to these guys, both of them taught me with patience and generosity as if I was their own student. As I flew home at the end of the training camp, I made two resolutions:

1. I resolved that one day my own students would have the honor of meeting and training with them; and

2. I prayed that one day, I could share something with them that was in some small way comparable to what they had taught me.

A few weeks ago I seemed to have achieved both objectives. After much planning, I came out to San Antonio with a small contingent from our Detroit group for 3 days of training with the newest members of The Brotherhood of the Blade. It was great to see my old friends again, and also to make some new ones. It was a proud moment for me to be sharing Pekiti-Tirsia, Silat Melayu, and Batangas knife fighting with the young lions of San Antonio, while at the same time on the other side of the gym, Ricky and Robert terrorized my own students. It was heartwarming.

I’m really looking forward to the next time we see these guys. I have a feeling that they will be doing our stuff better than we do it!

Kevin, Ricky, Me, and Robert

"Stop Pointing that Ginunting at Me, Doug"

The Detroit Crew with Kuya Rick

Detroit Meets Texas

I am not the best writer or speaker but I would like to share briefly what happened this past weekend here in San Antonio in regards to our training group. This past weekend our pekiti group here in San Antonio had the pleasure of meeting for the first time our brothers from Michigan for what turned out to be a great time had by all. Ka Jeff and the Maphilindo clan made their way to the Lonestar state to share with us and for us to share with them.

As far as the training goes, it goes without saying that it was second to none, but the friendships and the bonds that were made during this trip are truly ones that I think will be long lasting. Kuya Ricky Rillera and Robert Slomkowski came out to play and Detroit got to experience the broken energy that we practice down here in San Antonio. Robert on day one taught an hour or two on the principles of broken energy and demonstrated how it can be applied in drills as well as in sparring. We also got a glimpse of Detroit Tekpi that blew all of our minds collectively.

Day's two and three had so much information that my head is still spinning and it also gave our group here enough info to keep us busy for months to come. Initially I was a bit intimidated by having our brothers from Detroit in because me, as well as Kuya Robert thought that we didn't have too much to offer past the basics, but we were glad to hear that our brothers from Michigan got their expectations met and left Texas happy.

Saturday night was great we did a bit of sight seeing on our historical Riverwalk (Sorry Guys) and I remember Ka Jeff asking me for a knife so that he could cut his clothes off of him due to the sweltering Texas heat that was terrorizing the Maphilindos. We ended the night with a couple of cold beers and great laughs and conversation. Ka Jeff thank you so much for taking the time to come see us and to introduce us to our other brothers. Jay, Jeff, Basaam, and Damon, thanks so much for your patience in dealing with me. I really hope you guys had a blast here with us, and I cannot wait to see you guys again....maybe next time in Michigan in the winter.

Ka Jeff, the next time you see me I promise to be more lazy! Much love to you guys, and lets not make it too long before we kick it again.

- Lakan Guro Doug Marsh, San Antonio

Alert: Don't Come Here to Learn Pekiti Tirsia

"This is going to be harder than I thought"

Sometime around the beginning of May we accepted a new student who had previously trained in Pekiti-Tirsia in another place some years ago. By his own admission, he did not get very far into his study. We started him off the same way we start off 90% of newbies, regardless of their past experience. After almost every class, he would say to me “This is great, but it doesn’t look like anything we used to do when I studied with ‘X’…uh, when do I learn the 12 attack system and break-in break-out?” My answer: “Maybe never.”

Some weeks later, I allowed this particular student to transfer some of our old VHS tapes of Tuhon Gaje’s training with us to DVD. He came back and said “You know, none of this looks familiar to me. It’s like it’s a different system!” Before I helped him reconcile this mental dilemma, I had a personal flashback to an earlier time, much like Caine in the Kung-Fu series. So fade out and cue the flashback music…

FLASHBACK

About 9 years ago, on a calm night in October, I sat in my living room watching an old Mike Tyson fight with my recently-arrived guest: Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje Jr. It was his first trip back to Michigan in many years, and as he sat intently boxing with my cat, and returning his emails – my mind was on other things… Ye gads, I thought. The Grandmaster of the Pekiti Tirsia Kali system is sitting 5 feet from me in my own house. I can ask him anything I want! Now is the time to clear up a few technical/training/system questions that have been on my mind for a few years now.

When I could no longer contain myself, I transformed from the silent disciple into the nagging chatterbox. Stick in hand, I assailed Tuhon with about 10 years worth of questions on various aspects of Pekiti-Tirsia: footwork, drills, techniques, disarms, grips, angles, sub-systems, terms, knife, stick, etc., etc. Ever the cagey one, Tuhon offhandedly dodged almost all of my questions with the irreverent sarcasm that is his sense of humor. As I studied his face, I could see a mixture of jet-lag, boredom, annoyance, and a definite tinge of disappointment which seemed to express the sentiment "This is going to be harder than I thought.”

Over the next 2 weeks, I had the privilege of many hours of one-on-one instruction from Tuhon. In the beginning, I assumed that the answers to my previous questions would be addressed at some point during our training sessions. I was wrong. Not only did our training NOT address my questions, but it had seemingly little to do with anything that anybody around here knew as “classical” Pekiti-Tirsia! When he instructed my other students during their private lessons, it was the same. I took a different track. When he would show me a drill or exercise I would ask “Tuhon, where in the system is this from?” His answer (accompanied more often than not by a painful slap or torque) was an exasperated “I am the system!” It was 2 weeks of this.

After Tuhon was on his way to the next venue, I had some time to reflect and I narrated my experience to an older and wiser friend – a Japanese-style martial artist who also had the opportunity to train under his system’s Grandmaster. His take on the situation:

“So…you had Miles Davis in your house and all you did was ask him how to play the solo from ‘Footprints”.

Now it made sense! What a gift we had been given. Instead of re-hashing set patterns from 20 years ago, Tuhon had actually given us building blocks for a complete foundation of theory, movement, application, and mindset. It was only later on, over the next few years, that the instruction from Tuhon took more of a structured approach. That’s pretty much the reverse of how most martial arts are taught. Our Art was fresh, it was practical, and the drills had ‘life’ instead of the feeling that we were merely repeating patterns. It was ours.

A little while later, we would go to Rochester, New York where we were able to observe another very-apart-from-the-crowd student of Tuhon -Kuya Doug Marcaida - a ferociously talented Kali player who completely embodies this idea of making the Art one’s own….and that set the bar for us.

THE POINT

So to my new student – as well as current and even prospective students – I say to you: Don’t come here expecting to learn Pekiti-Tirsia based on how you think it should be, or even how it used to be. Specific techniques, drills, blades, sticks etc. are important, but they are secondary to learning the most important weapons you will ever have – your own mind and body. It may seem like an indirect approach, but the rewards are much richer.

If you disagree, well, I’ll allow that I could be wrong. In that case, take it up with Tuhon. After all, HE IS THE SYSTEM!

Get Your CCW!

Currently in the City of Detroit there is a lot of talk about classes for "Conflict Resolution". Fortunately, we already offer some excellent classes for resolving conflicts through the medium of edged weapons, impact weapons, and empty-hand close quarter fighting.

Now, we are pleased to offer a complete course for obtaining your Michigan CCW/CPL! The course is taught by a long-time member of our Pekiti-Tirsia club who is also a veteran Detroit Police Officer and Certified NRA Instructor. The fee is $150.00 and covers:

- Selecting/buying the appropriate pistol for your needs
- Basic pistol safety
- Shooting Fundamentals
- Materials and Range Time
- One-on-one instruction
- Discounts for groups and seniors

Unlike our other courses, this instruction is open to the public, and offered independantly from our other programs. Email me privately and I will forward your contact information to the instructor.

Beginner's Perspective

A long-time student wrote the following essay a few years ago after completing his first year of training with us. Thank you, sir...sorry it took me so long to put it up!

Reflecting on my First Year of Training in Pekiti-Tirsia

The following is not intended to be a philosophical dissertation or an intellectual exercise. Rather, it is a portrayal of my serendipitous discovery of Pekiti-Tirsia and my thoughts, feelings, and experiences during my first year of training. I felt the need to share this with our Pekiti-Tirsia family with the hope of relating to those who started before me, to remind them of the challenges of a new student, and those who started after me, just incase they are having similar experiences and feel uneasy about it!

It was January 2001, I was continuing my training in taekwondo, TKD, and Aikido, holding a 1^st degree black belt in TKD, getting ready to test for my 2^nd in a few months, and a 1^st degree in Aikido. I was feeling pretty good about it, having put in many years of training and having the black belts to show for it! At the same time, however, I was searching for other arts to help round out what I had learned through Karate (many years earlier), Aikido, and TKD. I felt a strong need to learn “something else”. I thought about and tried a number of options:

• Karate (Japanese): been there, done that; when I was an undergrad student, too much like TKD, minus the kicks!
• Wing Chun: had one class with a Chinese practitioner, and thought it could be a good option, provided I could find a good school/instructor.
• Krav Maga: a few sessions were more than enough! I thought it was good aerobics, but I found it to be dangerous in a number of ways; but that could be subject of a paper by itself!!
• Tai Chi: Took several classes, I did like the flow and the meditative aspect, but learning the long form after a couple of classes seemed a bit too much. I realized it did have martial priciples behind it, but thought that transition from the stylistic to a combative approach would not be easy, necessary from a self-defense prespective.

Whatever I felt to be missing certainly was not getting discovered through my ever increasing portfolio of TKD Poomses (Korean for kata or form), which I never liked anyway, or the never ending turns, falls, and dives of Aikido, not to mention tripping over my hakama all the time (the traditional baggy Aikido/Samurai skirt-like pants)!

And then I discovered Pekiti-Tirsia, not through extensive research or expert recommendations, but pure chance! It was not that long ago, January 2001, when I noticed a Martial Arts school while driving home from work. I did not manage to catch the full signage as I drove by, but did notice the words “South East Asia”. That was enough to raise my curiosity. Through my training and studies I was aware of many of the major countries relative to martial arts, such as China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, India, and others; but South East Asia? I had heard of Modern Arnis and Escrima, but did not know much about them, however, I had a feeling there was more!

The following week, after I had finished teaching my TKD class on a Saturday afternoon, I stopped by the school to check it out. Unfortunately it was closed, the sign on the window read, “Warrior Arts of South East Asia, -Pekiti-Tirsia, Kali”. I looked through the glass window to see what the school was like. Well, it was unlike any school that I had ever visited or trained at, looking very bare and lacking the usual trappings found in martial arts schools, such as training dummies, BOB, Bully, punching bags, thick cushy floor mats or any other training tools or toys. What I did see was a bare, well-worn thin red carpet, some blades on the wall, as well as blades and sticks resting on the floor. There were also many pictures, flags, masks, other artifacts, and letters/diplomas, which I could not read from behind closed doors, hanging on the walls. I really was at a loss trying to imagine what this school was about, it did not fit the usual mold, but it certainly peeked my curiosity even further. I wrote down the phone number and decided to call the school to find out more.

After a few phone tags, I connected with a Jeff Davidson who offered to give me a free training session. A week later, on a Friday evening, I arrived at the school for my free training. I was greeted by an unassuming individual, introducing himself as Guro Jeff Davidson. As he led me to a backroom for my private lesson, I walked past four students performing some knife drills, moving in unusual ways, and performing stabbing and slashing moves on their partners. The thought going through my mind was “this really looks strange”, but reminded myself to keep an open mind and avoid passing judgment too quickly; knowing other arts can make one judgmental, especially when people possess “black belts”!

OK, I am finally there, one-on-one with Guro. He starts off by asking me what other arts I have studied. He then gives me an opportunity to defend myself against punches and knife attacks using any of the techniques I knew from previous training. Piece of cake, I thought! So he starts coming at me, not necessarily fast, while I attempted to block and counter as they came. There was one minor issue, the attacks were not coming at me in the structured, rehearsed patterns that I was used to while working with my cooperative training partners. After a while I was totally frustrated, and Guro sensing my frustration switched roles. Now I am attacking him; he instructs me to come at him as fast as I like, punch, kick (remember I am a TKD guy) and knife attacks; now I am thinking “time to make my point, let me get a shot on this guy”. Here we go again, I am coming as fast as I can, but not getting to the targets, getting counter-attacked on every attempt, and losing my weapon every time, when I used one!! OK, I get it, he made his point, much of what I have spent years training does not seem to be working very well! Now what? Next, Guro starts to discuss a few of the Pekiti-Tirsia principles, what he explained seemed to contradict most, if not all, the principles I had been taught over the years! Now I am really confused. Somewhere between the confusion and the frustration experienced during a 45-minute session I decided to sign up.

The first few classes felt extremely awkward for many reasons. Over the course of a few classes, I started to see the regulars at the school. Many of them appeared stand-offish towards the new students. Some students would try to instruct during the practice drills, fully recognizing that some of them did not know what they were talking about (I was used to that, having been a TKD instructor myself), but I went with the flow anyway. I felt a number of challenges relative to the different aspects of Pekiti-Tirsia:

Principles - The biggest challenge I was facing was not the techniques, the new ways of fluid movement, the dances (bungas), steps, or the body turns and shifts, rather, it was the constant contradictions against all the principles I was taught over the years, such as blocking and countering, solid/rooted stances, focusing and putting everything into a single powerful technique, fully extended techniques, muscular tension to create power, chambering of techniques, training for fighting through constant practice of poomses, and many more!! Pekiti-Tirsia seemed fluid, I liked it, but I knew it would take a while for me to re-program (de-program) after all those years of poomses and one-steps. It seemed hard, and took some time for Guro to stop me from breaking some old habits, such as chambering my techniques, and starting my punches at the hip!

Sense of Belonging - Another challenge for me was lacking a feeling of belonging and being accepted by the group. I was showing up for classes fairly regularly in the first several months, as my schedule allowed it; but I never felt a true sense of belonging or being part of the group. This was just how it felt. Gradually, it started to feel different, I felt better about being there, felt a better connection with the various instructors and most of the students, and started to have a better sense for what was being taught and what was going on.

Finite vs. Infinite – Another aspect of having trained in other arts is realizing that most arts have fairly limited facets and capabilities, although often being presented as having unlimited potential! I would like to see, e.g., a true Aikidoka show how they would kick (although I hear Ueshiba did practice kicks) or see a traditional TKD practitioner do a knife disarm, although some TKD schools do attempt to incorporate weapon techniques. On the other hand, having been exposed to only what I have seen in my first year of Pekiti-Tirsia training, I fully recognize I have not even scratched the surface. I do understand some of the principles and recognize that they provide infinite possibilities, without necessarily having to document and practice every single one of those possibilities.

Attitude – It took a while for me to realize that Pekiti-Tirsia was not just about knowing the moves and techniques, rather a big part of Pekiti-Tirsia was understanding and developing the necessary attitude, ranging from meditative to pure animal instincts! Not exactly a requirement for doing katas!

There are many other aspects relative to the myths and traditions promoted through most other martial arts, but the points raised here do provide a general outline of the issues and challenges I experienced. But please keep in mind that these were mostly due to my training in other arts, and some of the baggage I brought in with me.

Here I am, a year after I started Pekiti-Tirsia, have learned more concepts, techniques, and principles than I ever did over all the years of training in all other arts combined. I started my Pekiti-Tirsia training because of my frustration with the other arts, which were not providing the necessary challenges and learning opportunities that I was looking for. The variety and range of concepts, principles, and techniques covered in the systems we practice is providing me with everything I was looking for, and more. I have stopped looking for that elusive “next art” needed to help further round out my skills!

Due to my schedule, job and family commitments, I am unable to attend classes as often as I used to, and I miss that. I do, however, look forward to every class that I can attend, and leave every session satisfied that I learn something new, or learn more about something I thought I knew already. What I have learned over the course of my first year of Pekiti-Tirsia training has given me a solid foundation to better understand and deal with new concepts and situations, in very practical ways. By the way, after all those years of training I never did master those jump/flying/spin kicks to the head!!!

MABUHAY PEKITI-TIRSIA!

F.K.

Wisdom of the Ages - Pt. 1

Photo courtesy of Mohd Nadzrin Wahab

Below are some time-honored words of wisdom from the Indo/Malay martial arts tradition. Thanks to Bram, Kris, Nadzrin, Reno, et. al. Read and apply...


"Sepandai-pandai tupai melompat ada saatnya jatuh juga."
As clever as a squirrel jumps, there will be a time that it falls (traditional Malay).

"Alam takambang jadi guru"
Nature unfurls to become teacher (traditional Padang)

"Sura dira jaya ning rad lebur dening pangastuti."
The brave and strong and victorious in this universe disolve before the power of love. (old Jawanese)

"Aja adigang, adigung, adiguna"
Don't flaunt your strength, your size or your intelligence. (Old Jawanese)

"Aja dumeh."
Don't do some thing just because you can. (Old Jawanese)

"Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya"
Empty barrel makes loud noise. (Malay)

"Sadumuk batuk, senyari bumi, dibela tekan pati."
One touch of the forehead, one finger width of land, both must be defended till death. (Jawanese)

"Segenggam itu kepunyaan guru"
"The masters use only few"

"Kecik kecik tak nak mampus, dah besar menyusahkan orang"
"You better off dead while you were little".

*best said when you were doing a kuncian on your enemy *

"Kalau kail panjang sejengkal,dalam lautan jangan diduga"
"know your place"

"Gayung bersambut, kata berjawab"
An attack parried, a word replied; good begets good, evil begets evil.

"Gayung tua, gayung memutus"
Words of the wise are normally the right ones.

"Orang bergayung sama pandai, sama bak kundi atas dulang"
Both highly skilled; both warriors.

"Bersilat kepada si buta"
Performing silat for the blind. (Showing your skills for those who can't appreciate it.)

"Cakak sudah, silat teringat"
Silat recalled after the fight. (After the matter has been settled, then come the complaints.)

"Pendekar elak jauh"
A person who is very careful.

"Tidak ada pendekar yang tak bulus, tak ada juara yang tak kalah"
No pendekar has never missed, no champion has never lost.

"Bagai gembala diberi keris"
As a shepherd given a keris. (A useless gift.)

"Berapa panjang sarung begitulah kerisnya"
Long as the sheath is, so too is the keris. (Doing something within one's own limits.)

"Berkeras tidak berkeris"
Taking tough action but with no strength to defend oneself.

"Hujan emas perak di negeri orang; hujan keris lembing di negeri kita; baik juga di negeri kita"
Though it rains gold and silver in another land; and rains kerises and spears in ours, better be our own land.
(No matter how rich and prosperous another country is, your homeland is where you belong.)

"Jangan menghulurkan hulu keris ke tangan orang"
Never offer the hilt of your keris to another hand
(This is an actual taboo of silat, to avoid giving a keris hilt first, because the blade will naturally point to the giver, allowing a potential foe to draw the weapon and stab him - Never give power to another, he will destroy you.)

"Keris panjang berkeluk, ke mana bawa ke mana olok"
A person who can be used for any purpose.

"Keris pedang tiada tajam, lebih tajam mulut manusia"
Words are sharper than weapons.

"Keris tersisip di dinding, pedang tajam dalam sarungnya"
Keris hanging on the wall, a sharp sword kept in its scabbard. (Foolish actions.)

"Menyisip keris tak bersarung di pinggang"
Keeping an unsheathed keris at your side. (Raising a child without providing knowledge will eventually trouble his parents.)

"Patah lidah alamat 'kan kalah, patah keris alamat 'kan mati"
A broken tongue means loss, a broken keris means death.
(When the tools are gone, the task will never be completed.)

Batangas Blade

Death Be Not Proud...(or Fancy)

At our training hall, this year has seen another cycle of observation, selection, and initiation into the Batangueno-style knife/gun combatives for a select group of new(er) students. As we prepare for our next long-awaited training session with Tito Jun in a few months, here is an article that conveys some of the "historical perspective". - JD

SAY the word barako and immediately three meanings come to mind: the strong-flavored and robust brew of the liberica coffee; the sex-driven adult male boar ready for breeding; and that certain brand of Batangueño, the rough and tough Filipino male from the province of Batangas. All three possess virility, strength, fearlessness — yes, even the coffee, whose flavor practically leaps up from the cup and straight onto one's tongue. All three carry within the pride of the Batangueños, who claim these qualities exclusively as their own.

It is the human barako, however, who is obviously the most fascinating, because he is at once simple and complex. In a province known to produce the export-quality balisong (fan knife), where every Batangueño is expected to be armed and efficient in the uses of the weapon made only in Batangas, the barako prefers the gun to protect himself and his loved ones.

In the old days, before the permit to carry guns was heavily enforced, the barako would never leave home without his .45 sticking out of the waistband of his pants, pulling his karsonsilyo or undershorts down. He must be prepared, even with his undershorts down, to fight back if someone throws a challenge, a balisong, or even a bullet (through a gun barrel of course) at him. This also means that he should be a good shot, a sharp shooter if necessary, because to stay alive and keep his image as a barako or strongman, he would need to keep shooting until his enemy falls or runs away. A true barako also fights his enemy (or enemies) in the open, and face to face.

In the book Batangas Forged in Fire, which features the province's most prominent families, among other things, a blueblood, Teodoro Kalaw (husband of former senator Eva Estrada-Kalaw) is photographed standing straight in the barako pose, ready to fire the revolver on his right hand, even as he totes his coat on his left arm. Such was the way of the elite barako: classy, but still deadly.

Barakos are also found in the pages of the nation's history, such as the known man of action, Gen. Miguel Malvar, the last military leader to surrender to the Americans. Even a Batangueno who couldn't walk showed kabarakuhan (bravery) in his own way. Although disabled by poliomyelitis, Apolinario Mabini was a man of thought who rose to supremacy as the brains behind the revolution and the first Philippine Republic.

Yet despite the show of virility and the stance of masculinity, the feared strongman known for his kills will often soften or tone down when faced with the woman who captured his heart. A barako is not rude toward the woman he loves. He is in fact gentle toward her and will do everything in his power to make his special woman feel important, even if it means carrying her books or pink, flowery handbag in public and ignoring the hoots of hecklers in the streets, although he is sure to confront them later when she is not around.

The barako is also loyal to his family. Although conflicts may arise between barako brothers and fathers, they all unite and fight for each other when trouble from outside forces threaten their family's pride, honor, and existence. In many instances, the barako will ignore tempting offers of dubious fortune in order to make sure his family's name remains untarnished. Indeed, the real barako would rather be poor than live with shame, just as he would rather die fighting than live in fear.

And fight the barakos did during World War II, ambushing and killing many Japanese soldiers. In retaliation, the Japanese massacred the city's population, taking the lives of 18,000 of its 25,000 residents. Lipa City was also razed to the ground, with only five houses out of hundreds of old mansions left standing afterward.

It was probably a sight that could have made anyone cry, but most probably not a barako, who is the sort of male who believes he is never ever supposed to shed a single tear, even during the wake of his own father, even in the face of their own death. The tears from the known strongmen, therefore, could mean only two things: One is that they are crocodile tears, designed to invoke pity. The other is that they belong to a fake barako.

Barakos can be bullheaded. After the peacetime elections of 1949, a group of barakos from wealthy families took to hills at the defeat of their presidential bet, Jose P. Laurel, whom they believed was cheated. Backed by formidable gun power, they were ready to fight the government head on. Only the messengers sent by their fellow blueblood barakos who wanted peace were able to stop the planned bloodbath.

Some towns and cities in the province have more barakos than the others. Among them is the town of San Juan, in the easternmost part of Batangas, that also known for its coconut wine or lambanog.

Batangas City also once had a prominent barako, who by his skill and probably, by luck, was able to live long enough to run for public office and win. This barako made sure the city enjoyed peace and order. When he died, Batangueños praised him for his leadership. Now it is his nephew who sits behind his former desk.

Youngsters who aspire to be barakos or want political clout someday are known as barakitos. These young ones are often seen with the barakos, who take them under their wing as alagang barako (novice barakos). Already quite rowdy, barakitos oftentimes get bolder during election season.

At present, however, Batangueños themselves believe there are only a few barakos left walking the streets of the province. The decrease in the barako population could probably be due to the fact that in their obsession to be supremo de barakos, most of them have killed each other (matira ang matibay or only the bravest remains standing); in worst cases, the killing could have included members of each other's family (ubusan ng lahi). Many barakos, after all, have failed to realize the difference between pride and foolishness. — Mei Magsino

Happy Mother's Day!

Mound of earth called ‘Kata’
Dangerous leopard who kills an animal and eats it raw
Your dress - dusted in camwood - resembles blood
Your silent waters, outwardly tranquil, kill so gently

My mother arrived from Bariba a long time ago
Kata mount, who kills with a knife
The eye of Death is regarded,
She trades indoors...kills outside
She is extremely old, yet she can outwrestle the evil traveller
Wrestling him to the ground
Circling him like a bird circles the World

Earth mound called Kata, we cover you with camwood
Woman who can kill the World
Who kills animals without using a knife.

(Translated from Yoruba by Jeff Davidson)

C'mon Over!

I'd like to invite you all (albeit a bit late) to a great networking site centering on Silat from the Malaysian perspective, where I just happen to have the distinct honor of serving as a humble moderator. If you want to gain some insight into Silat Melayu directly from the Source, it doesn't get any better than this.

Many of us remember just a short time ago, our teachers were a 20-hour plane ride away, and all we had were a scant few books and the occasional magazine article as references. Today the world seems a lot smaller. For better or for worse, thank G-d for the internet!

silat-melayu.ning.com

Tactical Pistol #2 - Seminar Review

The year is certainly off to a great start. Just this past weekend we had our first seminar of 2009, and it ranked up there as one of the best martial arts classes we’ve had in recent years. As with almost all of our seminars, this one was strictly “in-house”. We’ve come to prefer this. Not only does it save time and effort on promotion (and all the BS that goes along with it), but since we all know each other and train together on a regular basis, we can up the intensity to a degree not possible with outsiders. Not to mention the fact that not everyone “gets” the admittedly crude and generally offensive nihilism that passes for a sense of humor around here.

We are very fortunate to be able to study with the real experts in their respective fields. Last weekend was no exception. We were again privileged to learn from Sgt. Ungyo who reprised his previous seminar with an outstanding follow-up of Tactical Shooting for the Kali Practitioner. In the spirit of confidentiality, I won’t really get into what we learned, but rather why we liked it and benefited from it so much.

First of all, Sgt. Ungyo himself is an exemplary martial artist in every sense of the word. A US Army Ranger and SWAT operator, he has established an impressive career in law enforcement that includes serving as an instructor for the Wayne County Schoolcraft Police Academy and also one of the most demanding SWAT schools in the Midwest. Add that he has ranked at #1 in marksmanship for his department since 2006 and that’s an impeccable set of credentials.

Ungyo began training with us in 2004 after attending one of our workshops with Grand Tuhon Gaje. He plunged full force into the study of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali, and last summer was promoted to the rank of Lakan Guro of the Bothoan Batangas Training Hall following a grueling test, becoming the first person to have earned that rank since our inception.

In the past ten years I have attended a number of classes and seminars on tactical shooting, and some were better than others. Most of them reminded me of a typical FMA seminar that focuses on “techniques and tricks” rather than a comprehensive framework of movement and body-mechanics – otherwise known as a SYSTEM. It’s not necessarily the fault of the instructor. If you brought together 10 guys with no background in Kali, and asked me to teach a knife-fighting seminar, what else could I possibly show them except for a few simple techniques?

To his credit, Sgt. Ungyo has applied his considerable expertise in tactical shooting to develop what I consider to be a perfectly sound ‘pistol sub-system’ within Pekiti-Tirsia (or at least our expression of Pekiti-Tirsia) based on the unique body mechanics and skill sets that we’ve already cultivated over years of training.

As a testament to this method, the crowning moment of the seminar involved one of our Kapatids who we’ll call simply ‘DM’. DM is recognized as being a highly skilled Kali practitioner who is arguably the worst shot in our group! With Sgt. Ungyo’s patient tutelage, by the end of the afternoon DM was moving, double-tapping, and scoring center-of-mass hits on the target without looking!

As I’ve said time and time again, Pekiti-Tirsia is not stick-fighting, nor knife-fighting, nor empty-hand fighting. It’s not techniques, nor drills. Pekiti-Tirsia is Mindset and Body-Mechanics. Kudos to practitioners like Sgt. Ungyo for understanding, adapting, and being able to transmit that very idea.

Pekiti-Tirsia History

There is probably only one person that can claim to have the true, authoritative history of Pekiti-Tirsia - and that is the Man pictured above. The following account is as detailed as I've come across - so here it is. I chose a picture of Tuhon for this post because more than any symbol, or logo, or written word...he is the Art!

The Pekiti-Tirsia Kali system is one of the few remaining authentic and complete Filipino combat systems in existence today. Pekiti-Tirsia is system and technology of combat fighting with the Blade. It encompasses all traditional weapon categories and is formulated on the strategic principle of the Triangle. The triangle serves as the basis for footwork, striking, and the tactical principles of close quarters combat.

The Lineage

The Pekiti-Tirsia system of Kali originates from the provinces of Panay and Negros Occidental in the Philippines and was formulated and perfected by the Tortal family. The family patriarch and Grandmaster of Pekiti-Tirsia, Grand Tuhon Conrado B. Tortal, passed this system and its attributes onto his only grandson, the sole heir and its present guardian, Grand Tuhon Leo Tortal Gaje, Jr.

Pekiti-Tirsia is a traditional family system of Filipino martial art that traces its existence back to a time and era when carry and use of the bladed weapon was common and required among most men. Oral history of the Tortal family testifies to four generations practicing the family system of Pekiti-Tirsia. Norberto Tortal taught the system to his son Segundino Tortal. Segundino taught his five sons; Balbino, Tedoricio, Francisco, Quirino, and Conrado. Of the five brothers, Conrado was chosen as inheritor of the system with Balbino as one of his principal training partners.

Balbino was later shot and killed by Japanese soldiers in the area of Barangay Conception, Talisay, Negros Occidental, in 1945 after disarming a Japanese officer of his samurai sword and killing two soldiers who attempted to bayonet him.

These generations of Tortal family leaders utilized the laboratory method of research and testing of combat Bladefighting tactics and techniques. Through friendly instructional exchanges, sparring duels with other recognized family and system leaders, and direct combat resulting in the death of the enemy, the system of Pekiti-Tirsia was continually trained, executed, and validated.

Grandtuhon Conrado B. Tortal or Tay Dadoy as he was popularly known, was a highly respected man in the western Visayas and northern Mindanao regions of the Philippine Islands. Born in 1897 in Tigbawan, province of Iloilo, Panay, the Tortal later emigrated to Negros Occidental where they owned and cultivated several agricultural properties.

As was common for the time, Tay Dadoy was fluent in English, Spanish, and his native dialect Illongo, as well as Cebuano and other regional dialects of northern Mindanao where he travelled for commerce and as a Christian Missionary. Grand Tuhon Tortal later served as the first Chief of Police of Victorias, home of the largest Sugar Central (Mill) in Negros Occidental with a reputation as a strict disciplinarian yet compassionate mediator.

Tay Dadoy expertise in the Filipino Fighting Arts was well known and recognized through several encounters such as his public defeat of two of the Lizares brothers, a prominent political ruling family from Talisay, Negros Occidental, in 1928. After attempting to take control of a Tortal property, Conrado, with hardwood Espada y Daga engaged both the Lizares brothers armed with Bolo and disarmed them by direct strikes to the hand and body yet spared their lives. In 1933 Conrado Tortal defeated Tansiong Padilla, authority for the Aldobon style from Panay, in a highly publicized duel arranged by the mayor of Bago, Negros Occidental.

Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje Jr.

In 1938 in Legaspi, Albay, Grand Tuhon Leo Tortal Gaje was born to Feliza G. Tortal (the daughter and only child of Conrado Tortal) and Leopoldo P. Gaje, Sr. Shortly after his birth and the subsequent death of his twin sister and his mother Feliza, Leo was taken into custody and raised by his grandfather Conrado. From the age of six years old Leo was trained in the system of Pekiti-Tirsia. From the ages six to nine he was trained exclusively in footwork. Daily he was placed on top a wooden table with Conrado striking at his feet as he mastered the strategic maneuvering patterns that remain one of the signatures of the Pekiti-Tirsia system. Leo was then trained in the Doce Methodos, Contradas, and other advanced combat methods twice a day beginning in the mornings before school and continuing late into the evening throughout his secondary, high school, and college studies.

At the passing of Tay Dadoy, Leo Tortal Gaje, Jr. inherited the treasure and legacy of Pekiti-Tirsia. At this time, family combat systems in the Philippines were closed to only those that shared genetic history and chosen for their discipline to keep and protect the family secrets. For the next decade Tuhon Gaje kept this promise and soon entered business where he served as President of the Confederation of Free Trade Workers Union and Executive Vice-President of the Bataan Free Trade Zone Industrial Development Corporation. Here he trained his own Security Forces for the escort of cash funds, trained Bodyguards and Protective Teams for local and provincial politicians, and, in his own words wrecking crew of confidants that provided his personal security.

In 1972, Tuhon Gaje emigrated to the United States of America and settled in New York City. Upon seeing the popularity of the martial arts sweeping America at the time, he envisioned the success of Filipino martial arts and recognition of the cultural and martial achievements of the Filipino people through the superiority of its combat systems. In keeping with the philosophy of the Pekiti-Tirsia system and its belief in Life, Health, and Success, Tuhon Gaje opened the door of knowledge to a select few of advanced Black Belt students and embarked to offer to the world, those that persevere, the mastery process of Kali.

Continuing now into a fourth decade, Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje has been the leader in promoting and teaching authentic Filipino Fighting Art around the globe not solely in the martial arts field but throughout the Military and Law Enforcement professions as well. During this time he has joined together with other Filipino Grandmasters in this endeavor and until this day works with the highest levels of the Philippine government in the promotion, recognition, and preservation of the cultural legacy of Filipino Martial Arts.

Grand Tuhon Gaje was the leading Filipino Martial Arts authority in the 1970 in the eastern region of the United States at the same time Guro Dan Inosanto and other Filipino Grandmasters were doing the same in the western region (New York and California being home of the largest Filipino communities in the US). Since the introduction of Filipino Martial Arts to the US and across the globe Pekiti-Tirsia has hallmarked many first in this history.


Grand Tuhon Gaje was the first to organize and conduct large-scale promotions and demonstrations of Filipino martial arts in the eastern US in such venues as New York Lincoln Center and displayed the first ever public demonstration of full-contact Filipino stickfighting at the Great Gorge, New Jersey Playboy Club.

Grand Tuhon Gaje was the first to open a Filipino Martial Arts school at the Philippine Consulate in New York City and first to promote Filipino martial arts among other martial discipline national organizations. Grand Tuhon Gaje joined with other recognized leaders such as Alex Sternberg of the Jewish Karate Federation and Grandmaster Robert Trias of the United States Karate Association conducting training programs for senior Black Belt students and joint public demonstrations. Grand Tuhon Gaje was recognized as style head of the Filipino martial arts for the United States Karate Association (USKA) by Grandmaster Trias and was inducted into the Indonesian Pendekar Banting, association of Indonesian Silat Pendekars.

In 1979 Grand Tuhon Gaje was a principal organizer, with other Grandmasters, of the First National Arnis (Kali) Tournament in the Philippines sponsored by NARAPHIL (National Arnis Association of the Philippines). Tom Bisio, a student of Grand Tuhon Gaje for 3 and 1/2 years, won as Grand Champion of the Instructor division against a field of senior instructor competitors. In 1980 Grand Tuhon Gaje was appointed NARAPHIL Commissioner for North and South America and promoted the Filipino Martial Arts extensively throughout these continents. Throughout the 80s the first generation of Pekiti-Tirsia students and instructors dominated the full-contact stickfighting tournament scene across the US defining their reputation with speed, power, and footwork.

Grand Tuhon Gaje was the first to introduce the Filipino martial arts to the New York Police Department (NYPD) and conduct department endorsed training programs. This program led to Grand Tuhon Gaje development of the Safety Baton and Edged Weapon Awareness/Strategic Knife Defense programs the FIRST Defensive Tactics system based on safety and liability reduction at a time when the accepted methods targeted the vital areas of the body resulting in substantial liability to police officers and departments. Grand Tuhon Gaje was later appointed National Training Director for the Justice System Training Association and the U.S. Police Defensive Tactics Association leading to his position as Technical Advisor and appearance in the Calibre Press video SURVIVING EDGED WEAPONS in 1988. This highly acclaimed video substantiated the threat of edged weapons to the law enforcement community and established Grand Tuhon Gaje as the leading authority on edged weapons defensive tactics.

Throughout the 1990 until today, Grand Tuhon Gaje has been the leading propagator of authentic Filipino Martial Arts based on the use of the Blade, in the Republic of the Philippines. Through hundreds of radio, print, TV, demonstrations, festivals, tournaments, and training programs conducted at the local, provincial, and national level, Grand Tuhon Gaje has been the leading voice for the education and recognition of Kali and the indigenous Filipino Martial Art systems. Throughout this time he has been endorsed and recognized at every level of the Philippines government including recently as recipient of an Exemplary Achievement Award from the Office of the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for worldwide promotion of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali and the Filipino Martial Arts.

Today in the Philippines, Grand Tuhon Gaje system of Pekiti-Tirsia is the ONLY Filipino Martial Art system recognized as official warfighting doctrine by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Military Edged-Impact Weapon System of Pekiti-Tirsia is the official close-quarters combat system of the Force Reconnaissance Battalion, Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and is part of the official PMC Schools command being taught at Enlisted Basic Training and the Officer Basic Course. The success of this program has spurned training requests from all other branch services of the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP). Today, the Filipino Fighting man is now recognized as a world leader in close-quarter combat skills. Since the program inception in 1998, the Philippine Force Recon Marines have trained US special operations forces and other combat arms units up to battalion level in Close-Quarters-Combat demonstrating the superiority of the Filipino martial technology as acknowledged by the US unit trainers and commanding officers. Presently, Grand Tuhon serves as a Senior Advisor to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police conducting advanced training programs for operational units engaged in the Global War on Terrorism.

Happy Anniversary

They say that men are notoriously bad at remembering anniversaries, and for the most part they are right. The year 2009 however, is a significant year in that it marks two important milestones.

On a personal note, it marks 30 years that I have been involved in the serious study and practice of the Martial Arts. In January of 1979, I announced my decision to begin weightlifting to my mother. After much debate and consideration, I ‘settled’ on taking Karate lessons at the local Jewish Community Center. In retrospect the deciding factor was that a set of weights was $50.00 and Karate training was $15.00 per month. Back at the tail end of the 1970's, you didn’t see a lot of children in martial arts classes like you do today. The instructor initially refused to accept me due to my age, but Mom finally convinced him on the grounds that I had already been studying the guitar for 2 years and was disciplined about practicing, etc. Seven years later, I got my black-belt and took over teaching the program. In the eight years that I taught there, easily 500 students passed through my dojo on the second floor of the Oak Park JCC.

The second milestone is that 2009 is the 10-year anniversary of the founding of our Pekiti-Tirsia chapter in Michigan. Back in the 70's Michigan was a major hub for Pekiti-Tirsia, and I had the feeling that the time was right to bring the Art back here in a big way. I contacted Grand Tuhon Gaje directly, and he officially christened us as the Detroit Maphilindo Pitbulls. Once he had re-established himself here in the States, we had the pleasure of hosting him 2 and 3 times a year for a good stretch, in addition to following him all over the country: Indiana, Maryland, New York, and eventually on his home turf in the Philippines.

It was a new era, so to speak. Instead of the drills and exercises that were once considered the mainstay of Pekiti-Tirsia in the previous decades, there was a new terminology, refined theories, and a sleek, streamlined curriculum called The Tri-V Methodology. Gone were the 64-Attacks, knife-tapping, and about 80% of the old curriculum. Ever the innovator, Grand Tuhon Gaje had refined the Art to a high degree. In my opinion, a student coming in fresh and beginning with the Tri-V Methodology develops all the skill and knowledge as someone from the old-school, but in literally a fraction of the time. It’s a short, direct road to the same goal, which is the foundation for our training in the Brotherhood of the Blade.

We thank all of teachers, students, friends and supporters for helping us to reach these milestones even as we look forward to the next chapter...

Happy Anniversary!

Tactical Pistol #2

By Popular demand our next Tactical Pistol Seminar will take place on Sunday, February 8th, 2009. Contact me for details regarding time and place. I myself am really looking forward to this!