Orasyon cont.

"Metaphysics or Enchantment

This is a much discussed and debated topic of FMA. Technically, they are not weapons, but to the extent they can protect the owner from harm or wounds, or confuse or incapacitate the enemy, then they become accoutrements or instruments of war or combat. We are talking about amulets or charms (anting-anting) and prayers (orasyones).

Amulets are physical, such as human bones (sometimes dug up from graves), special stones, etc., while orasyones are special incantations, with spiritual attributes or powers, attributed to God with overtly religious references, oftentimes with specific goals, i.e., to confuse the enemy, to make the owner impervious to weapons, etc.

A most notable Grandmaster who believed in this was Antonio “Tatang” Ilustrisimo, who carried an amulet and had an “orasyon” tattooed across his chest. It must have worked for him, since he survived a lifetime of death matches and violent street encounters to live to a ripe old age of ninety-three."

Save the Date!

Kali Weapons Seminar in South Florida with Kuya Doug Marcaida

Time	Friday, November 11 at 6:00pm - November 13 at 4:00pm
Location	THE SHAOLIN ACADEMY , PEMBROKE FLORIDA
More Info	Weapons theories of kali as applied to the karambit and tomahawk. Seminar will be held on November 11th through 13th... 20841 Johnson St. STE 101 Pembroke Pines, FL 33029 Whether your a beginner, novice, expert, no matter what background in Martial Arts, Cage Fighting, Special Forces, Military, Police Officers, Security, Bouncers, or none at all? You won't want to miss this South Florida! Numbers to call are : John Micheal Venegas (954) 450-4666 Miguel Lopez (954) 523-9110 Clint Cayson (561) 843-3482 Jason Marcaida (954)864-1494

The Esoteric Side of FMA!

If you spend some time perusing the online FMA forums you’ll notice that a few of the same topics keep popping up on a regular basis ad nauseum:

- Endless debates about the etymology/authenticity of the terms Arnis, Escrima, and Kali.

- Versions and reversions of stories recounting challenge matches between certain schools and/or masters.

- Point-counterpoint debates over Who-Learned-From-Who, or Who-Pirated-Which-Techniques-From-Who.

- The latest lucky guy who inherited a particular system after the previous guy was excommunicated.

- Comparisons of FMA’s with other more mainstream martial arts such as Karate, Kung-Fu, Aikido, etc.

To be honest, I completely stopped caring about all of the above topics and their variants about 20 years ago, and have since focused on more “immediate” issues such as refining my overall skill and mastering (or more realistically, just getting better at) the technique that Ama Guro Jun DeLeon calls Hagibis - from my left side. Come to think of it, the raging debate over the use of the term Kali might even be settled before I master the Hagibis on my left side…but I digress.

One reoccurring topic in particular that does happen to peak my interest concerns the various “supernatural” aspects of Filipino culture that are sometimes discussed in relation to the practice of certain FMA styles. These discussions often encompass: anting-anting (amulets), engkantos (spirits), and orasyon (incantations) among other things.

Now, you’re not likely to hear about such things if you training comes from a dojo that happens to offer a “Filipino Stick-Fighting Class” once a week, or if you train in a completely sport-oriented club. It’s true that the Filipino Martial Arts have finally become so American-ized over here that you can find many expressions of it which are devoid of all the cultural decorum. We call it “A Gi and a Stick”.

However, if you’ve spent time in the Philippines or your Guro has trained there, or especially if your Guro is Filipino, you’ll no doubt hear the legends from time to time. When I’ve seen such topics discussed online, the tone of the postings are usually framed as “Do you believe in…” or “Have you ever experienced…” The responses tend to follow a pattern as well. Some folks dismiss them outright as mere superstition. Others relate that although they have no direct experience with such phenomena, they still respect the traditions of their culture. And then there are some who will recount either anecdotal or direct personal experiences.

These topics tend to be my favorite – not only because I am intrigued by the subject matter, but because they are surprisingly the least dogmatic of the discussions. Unlike the above mentioned topics, no one claims to have the only or last word when it comes to metaphysical side!

At the request of one of my readers, in the next few posts I’ll give some background and perhaps relate a personal experience with Orasyon.

Stay tuned...

Great Article

Whew! It's been a C-R-A-Z-Y past few weeks (or months???) Well, our big project is still in the works so I thought I come back with a few posts in the meantime.

Enjoy this article by my Brother Nadzrin:

Langkah Senamku 7: Dari Selangor Ke Michigan a.k.a Senaman Jarak Jauh

Pada tahun 2002, seorang guru Kali bernama guro Omar Hakim dari Amerika Syarikat yang bertugas di Kuala Lumpur menghubungi guru Azlan Ghanie dengan niat berkenalan di samping mempelajari silat. Menurutnya, beliau berminat mempelajari sejenis silat di Malaysia.

Walaupun permohonan rasminya menuntut silat itu ditolak atas alasan perguruan itu sendiri, guro Omar terus memburu silat untuk dipelajari, sehingga berjaya mencapai tahap jurulatih dalam Silat Kuntau Tekpi dan beberapa tahun kemudian, Silat Kalimah.

Beliau turut menuntut Silat Melayu Keris Lok 9, tetapi tidak lama, dan mungkin tidak begitu menepati seleranya. Namun, yang menarik minatnya adalah Senaman Tua. Katanya, senaman ini begitu advanced, hinggakan kaedah nafas dan konsep senaman yang ada padanya jarang ditemui di dunia Barat, melainkan daripada beberapa tokoh sahaja.

Apabila beliau pulang ke Amerika, beliau mengasaskan Silat Kuntau Tekpi USA dan membawa sekali ST. Walaupun beliau tidak bertauliah jurulatih (itu sebelum zaman lesen bertauliah), tetapi beliau gigih menghidupkannya dalam pengajaran silat dan kalinya. Nampak benar ada kesan kepada murid-muridnya.

Pada tahun 2005, ketika saya mengalami pengangguran kerja selama enam bulan, saya mula menghabiskan masa di kafe internet bagi mencari kerja dan aktif di forum beladiri. Dalam menukil-nukil di papan kekunci, saya berkenalan dengan seorang pesilat Kuntau Tekpi USA bernama Phil dan melaluinya, gurunya, cikgu muda Jeff Davidson. Asalnya, kami bertukar-tukar emel, tetapi akhirnya lebih rancak berbincang di Yahoo Messenger.

Jeff, juga dikenali sebagai Jaafar ibn Daud adalah guru muda Silat Kuntau Tekpi dan Kali Pekiti Tirsia. Beliau juga sering dijemput pasukan polis Detroit untuk mengisi silibus pertahanan jalanan pihak berkuasa yang dikenali sebagai Defensive Tactics. Beliau sudah menuntut pelbagai jenis seni beladiri Asia dan Afrika dan kini mengajar kelas beladiri di rumahnya.

Beliau mula bertanya-tanya mengenai silat di Malaysia khususnya mengenai Kuntau Tekpi kerana kami seperguruan. Tetapi, lama-kelamaan, persahabatan kami berubah menjadi persaudaraan yang cukup erat, dan walaupun belum pernah bertemu berhadapan, tetapi terasa sungguh perhubungan keIslaman, persilatan dan kemanusiaan yang utuh.

Namun, setelah beberapa lama berbincangan mengenai, Jeff mula bertanya mengenai Senaman Tua, kerana dirasakan tidak mencukupi apa yang diterima daripada guro Omar. Guru Omar sendiri 'mengisi tempat kosong' dengan pengalaman lamanya dalam dunia seni beladiri. Hasilnya, Senaman Tua yang diajar di USA tidak sama dengan ST di Malaysia.

Sebagai pembuka bicara, saya bertanyakan kepada Jeff, apakah lingkup ST yang diterimanya. Cukup terkejut. Nafas yang diajar adalah salah (atau berlainan dari yang diajar guru Azlan). Gerakan senaman pula banyak yang singkat, tidak lengkap atau salah posisinya. Disebabkan kasihnya saya kepada saudara saya itu, saya mula membetulkan sedikit demi sedikit ilmu yang diterimanya, melalui chat! Mungkin juga perlakuan kami itu adalah kejadian belajar Senaman Tua jarak jauh terawal di dunia secara elektronik!

Apabila saya menurunkan Nafas Melayu yang tepat, di sebelah dunia sana, Jeff menulis bahawa terus beliau merasakan perbezaannya daripada kaedah nafas yang diterima, dan apabila saya menetap dan menepat gerakan senamannya, baru terasa impak yang sepatutnya. Beliau cukup-cukup berterima kasih, namun saya sentiasa mengingatkan bahawa ilmu itu bukan milik saya, tetapi adalah usaha kajian dan susunan guru Azlan Ghanie. Beliau akur.

Saya juga mengingatkan bahawa Senaman Tua belum lagi rasmi dibawa ke USA, kerana guru Omar sendiri tidak terlesen di bawah sistem baru kejurulatihan. Segala apa ST yang diajar di sana oleh Jeff hanya diiktiraf saya sendiri, bukan guru Azlan dan bukan oleh badan kawalan ST di Malaysia. Beliau tetap akur dengan maksud, bila-bila sahaja beliau mungkin menerima surat rasmi daripada guru Azlan untuk berhenti mengajar ST. Tetapi, kata saya, selagi itu belum berlaku, amalkanlah sendiri dan ajarkanlah kepada keluarga dan muridnya.

Hasilnya cukup menakjubkan. Kegigihan Jeff, keterbukaannya belajar (walaupun umurnya jauh melangkaui saya sendiri) dan keikhlasannya menyampaikan ilmu mendapat sambutan hangat daripada murid-muridnya sendiri. Buktinya seringkali dipaparkan di blog beliau Balisong Journal. Saya sempat kutip beberapa emel yang dikirim kepadanya oleh muridnya:

Testimonial Senaman Tua dari USA
Senaman Tua saves another student
Senaman Tua - Another satisfied client!

Malah, sebelum murid-muridnya, Jeff sendiri menulis dalam blognya bahawa:

"In response to numerous requests from my students for more information on Senaman Tua, I offer the following brief explanation... As anyone who has been put into at least one full-body lock from Cekak or Silat Kuntau Tekpi can attest, it is murder on the joints. I liken Senaman Tua to 'yoga' for the joints. We have been doing it for 7 months, and I have seen remarkable results in my students strength and flexibility.

"By way of a personal testimony, in the summer of 2004 I tore the ACL in my right knee during a dumog match. After 3 months of physical therapy I decided not to have surgery, but the knee was obviously not fully functional. I learned Senaman Tua from Omar Hakim in April of 2005, and after a rigorous program of x2 per week for an hour my knee was stronger than it was before the tear - by July!"

Dalam buku Senaman Melayu Tua, terdapat berpuluh testimonial daripada orang Malaysia mengenai keberkesanan ST dan saya sendiri tidak sempat memasukkan testimonial-testimonial daripada Jeff dan murid-muridnya dalam buku itu (juga kerana status ST yang tidak rasmi di sana), tetapi hakikatnya, ST sudah sampai ke luar negara, sudah melepasi ujian akal dan praktikal orang Amerika (manusia yang paling pengkritik dalam bab-bab seni beladiri tradisional) dan menerima pengiktirafan daripada kerajaan Malaysia sebagai rawatan alternatif.

Sehingga kini, Jeff masih lagi berlatih dan mengajar ST, dan masih bersahabat rapat dengan saya. Satu hari nanti, kami pasti akan bersua muka, dan tibalah pula masa saya menuntut daripadanya.

Coming Soon...

A new offering, for an expanded audience of seekers willing to 'take a chance' and dedicated to one student in particular who unfortunately learned the hard way to take his training seriously...

More to come.

Happy GURU'S DAY!

As many of you may not know, today happens to be Guru Purnima which is celebrated by many in the Hindu/Buddhist communities across the world. I don't usually quote wikipedia, but I'll save you the trouble of clicking over there right now with this brief summary:

The relationship between the Guru and the Disciple is considered very sacred. This relationship is purely spiritual in nature and is independent of age of the two. It is based on maturity of Gyan (Spiritual Knowledge) and Shrada (Spiritual Practice). The only awareness that a Disciple should foster is, ‘I should be uplifted spiritually’. The Guru too harbours only one thought, ‘May this Disciple be uplifted’.

So, specific religious overtones aside take some time today and think on this. Of course just like your mother, father, and every other important person in your life, you should always carry a feeling of gratitude and "connection" to your Teacher.

My deepest and most sincere Salutations to all of my Teachers everywhere in gratitude for all you have - and continue - to share. On behalf of my own students...

HAPPY GURU'S DAY!

Even More Class Notes: Silat Melayu

Here are some important questions from last week’s class. If you can answer them, you are well on your way to refining your skill in combat – or you were at least paying attention:

1. Which petua deals specifically with the transfer/release of energy?

2. In sequence, this petua would be […] gerak? (fill in the blank)

3. How does this petua apply to grappling in Silat? Do other forms of grappling – wrestling, jiujitsu, etc - employ this principle?

4. Find this petua (if it exists) in Pekiti-Tirsia:

a. In footwork

b. In a stick drill

c. In a stick disarm

5. Cite a specific buah that clearly emphasizes this petua –hint: it’s the one that puts the opponent “to sleep”.

6. Cite an example of this petua somewhere in nature.

The first person to email me with the correct answers wins a prize!

Got Training? Thank Your Wife! pt 2

If you’re really fortunate, you may have the kind of wife that my student Panday is blessed to have. No, he’s not the student I referenced earlier, but I’m still going to talk about him for a minute. Panday is our role-model not only in the arena of Combat Shooting, but also as the quintessential husband and father. Sort of like the late Michael Landon’s character on Little House on the Prairie, only he routinely apprehends armed robbers and dislodges barricaded gunmen (you thought your job was stressful?)

If Panday befriends you, you will inevitably come to know his family, and you will realize he could not be who he is without the unconditional support of “Mrs. Panday”.

I’m referring to the kind of true Partner who understands that your training in Martial Arts is as much for your family as it is for you. Does your training affect only YOU? Of course not. Your training makes you a better person in every aspect of your life. If you have found a Path that strengthens you mentally and physically, hones your discipline, refines your character, and globally enriches your life on every level – is it worth devoting time to? Is it worth a few sacrifices in other, more permeable areas of your life?

If you answered those questions in the affirmative, and you have the full support of those closest to you, then the difficult Path to Mastery has been made a lot easier for you. Count your blessings.

Now finally to the student I referred to in the beginning. After training seriously for just under a year, he recently suffered an unfortunate medical setback and was forced to take a leave from his job and also from several other activities that he shared with his family. I saw him just after Father’s Day for what I assumed would be the last time before a necessary hiatus.

He related to me a very strange “argument” that he had with his wife the day before. Although physically able, he was prepared to suspend his training indefinitely while his personal setback worked out. After all he reasoned, his wife would be working extra hours to make up the difference in the family’s expenses. Here’s where the argument came into play. His wife would hear nothing of it! In his words: “She told me that no matter what, these lessons and being a part of the group have had such a strong positive influence on me, she would not allow me to stop under any circumstances and would do anything in her power to help me continue – especially now.”

Another student who just happened to be privy to the conversation offered this timeless wisdom “Dude, while you’re budgeting for your training, you better also be budgeting weekly for flowers!”

I wholeheartedly concur.

Got Training? Thank Your Wife! pt 1

With all praise to Heaven - I had a great Father’s Day this year. So did one of my students in particular, but we’ll talk about that in a minute. As for me, it was an early dinner at my favorite restaurant in the ‘old neighborhood’ followed by a long, sprawling, winding hike with my daughter through the same magnificent woods that I used to carry her through on my shoulders so many years ago.

Back to Martial Arts. Now realize, that it’s very difficult to train seriously and actually develop true skill and virtue through martial arts training in our time, for reasons other than the inherent challenges of learning a martial art. The tough part is that so many people have to support you unconditionally. Not just your teacher and your training partners, but the people closest to you – namely your own family – have to stand firmly behind you 100%. That is the tough part.

Unless you’re a monk and you train with other monks; or you’re still a teenager with a teenager’s responsibilities, it’s very difficult indeed to balance time for your training against the weight of all the other responsibilities that an adult member of our society must shoulder. The truth is that if you take this really seriously – and the people that train with me usually do – and you look at Martial Arts training as something deeper than a simple hobby or pastime – you will make sacrifices. Social life, recreational life, professional obligations and yes, even time with your family become part of the balancing act.

Here is something to ponder: for a typical man who trains religiously and spends a considerable amount of time in pursuit of the Art, the person you are most accountable to – aside from your Guru – is invariably your wife! Indeed, her level of compassion, respect, and understanding can literally make or break your training.

to be continued...

Belated Father's Day

Proud Dad and Daughter

I am horribly remiss in that I have allowed Father’s Day to come and go without saluting all the dedicated, hard-working, devoted, loving, and self-sacrificing Fathers out there. MABUHAY to all the Dads everywhere – and that includes so-called “step-dads”, Grandfathers, and any Elder man who may have played that role in your life. It is indeed a terrible thing to have a Void where the Father should have been.

In 25 years of teaching Martial Arts, I can attest that so many people are in truth searching for that Father when they come into your training hall.

As demographics would have it, there are more ‘Dads’ among the ranks of my students - some old(er), some new(er) – than there are single guys (sorry ladies!) Each one to a man would tell you how much training in the Martial Arts has made him stronger, more courageous, more flexible, and in every way better prepared to confront the awesome and terrifying responsibility of Fatherhood.

Update

I want to say that I really appreciate the patience of the 3-4 people who actually read this blog on a regular basis. In response to a lot of kind feedback and encouragement from you guys - and one student in particular - I have decided to write an actual book featuring material along the same lines of The Balisong Journal.

So, The Balisong Journal will stay online and i will update it, but I am putting a lot of energy behind the 'new' project. I welcome all of your thoughts and suggestions either by comment here or by private email.

Please stay tuned for details...

MABUHAY

JD

Soul Searching

To start with, you are encouraged to mentally cue up something like the closing theme music from the old Incredible Hulk television series (starring Bill Bixby) to set the appropriate tone for this next series of posts.

Yes, I’ve been doing some ‘Soul Searching’ lately in regards to teaching, learning, students, the role of the teacher etc.

Looking back, I never thought that I would ever be a Guru (teacher) in any of the Southeast Asian martial arts that I have been privileged to study. So many years ago, I remember standing in my own teacher’s yard during training sessions - watching in awe of his skill and the skills of the advanced students - thinking “This is so far beyond me, I’ll probably never really get ‘good’ at this…it would be enough if I could just learn it.” A somewhat defeatist attitude to be sure, but I felt like I was being realistic.

This was about 1987-88, long before Youtube and the Internet, when I still held the outrageous notion that a person would at least have to possess a high level of technical skill and understanding to be awarded a teaching license from a legitimate Master of Kali or Silat. I guess either I was wrong to begin with…or times have changed. Today, you certainly don’t need much in the way of skill and understanding to be granted the title of Guru by some (even legitimate) Masters. In fact, a lot of folks these days just skip that step altogether and award themselves the title of Teacher, Master, or even Grandmaster and go about trolling for students. I guess it’s a variation of “If you build it, they will come”…especially if they don’t know any better.

To be continued...

Thought for the Day

All pleasures come to us from Paradise, even good jokes. Joy is on a higher plane than grief. Even with the new-born child, tears come first and then smiles. Joy constitutes a higher state, for it springs from the Higher Worlds, from the Glory of the Almighty.

Thus it is Joy that washes away all sin.

- Reb Pinchas of Koritz from “Midrash Pinchas”

Perspectives on Silat pt 3

Taqwa will cultivate a true sense of serenity and tranquility. One will have no fear towards any other being in the world. Absence of fear combined with proper and compassionate action, based on the true teaching and practice of your spiritual Faith. One will have aspiration only to God. Truly and fully relying on God is tawakkal. Tawakkal must come with proper physical and spiritual action that is based on the discipline of ‘submission’ to the Lord of All Worlds.

In truth learning silat is actually an act of admitting our weaknesses, an effort in controlling ourselves physically and mentally and it is a way to train our physical body to obey tawakkal - full reliance to the Divine. It is actually among our religious obligations to learn and master the way of self-defense, thus utilizing it with proper manner. Silat – or any martial art - itself can never be the ultimate goal in our life. It is one among many tools of knowledge that can be utilized for a holy purpose.

Don't allow yourself to become obsessed with “fighting” but rather allow yourself to completely be submerged into following the path of the Divine. This is the true teaching and practice of our Faith.

Perspectives on Silat pt 2

According to our Faith, learning self defense is among the practices of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and his companions (ra.hum). It is essential for a pious man to be able to protect himself, his family, his possessions, and land from any threat from any kind of enemies, seen or unseen. So it is a religious obligation to put sufficient effort into assuring the safety of all in our environment. As a follower of The Way, let this be the only pure intention in learning Silat. This would be the very basic effort in making sure our intentions will not be clouded by bad inclinations. As murids, we learn Silat not to perfect our martial skill but to complete the practice of our Faith, and thus elevate ourselves as servants of God.

Previously I use the word mentally instead of spiritually because there is only one element that can be used to control the spiritual, and that is the study and practice of Piety. Among the most important aspect of Faith that must be acquired by all is Taqwa. Which means fearing only God, and by fulfilling all His commandments with hope towards His (swt) Mercy. Taqwa is important so that we can ensure our physical and spiritual action is correct and on the straight path. Taqwa will prevent us from making physical and spiritual mistakes or deliberate sins, because from taqwa one will fully obey God.

to be continued...

Perspectives on Silat pt 1

In the coming posts, I'd like to share (with minimal editing) a teaching prepared especially for my students (at my request) by my good friend Ustaz Saiful Muhammad of Malaysia. Read, discuss, enjoy! - JD

Silat is an art of control. Not to control others but to control oneself physically and mentally. When one master the art of controlling oneself, the need to protect oneself when facing enemy will seem like one is controlling the fight and the enemy. Actually one is controlling oneself so perfect that one's body will not be harmed in any way by the threat that been delivered. It is not a skill of controlling others but it is an interpretation of self control.

Learning and mastering Silat is actually to realize and accept one’s weaknesses and embrace it so that it can be use to the advantage. We learn how to make specific movements to protect our weak parts of the body. We are forced to master weaponry skill to face against enemy with more strength or with weapon. If we are so strong and mighty, we don't have to put so much effort in learning special skill to protect ourselves. Just let the enemy come and attack that can do no harm to our strong and impenetrable defense. So in truth we learn any self defense techniques or Silat out of our obvious weaknesses.

to be continued...

Senaman Tua Saves Another Student!

Dear Guro Davidson,

I have to say that Senaman Tua has had a great impact on my joints - in a positive way. When you think in terms of most other martial arts and sports in general, the knee is always one of the first things to give as you get older. Knee problems can become like an old transmission that is breaking down.

A few weeks ago one of your newer students very enthusiastically put me in a kuncian during training. I did not realize the danger until I went to move my foot in order to relieve the pressure of the lock. It took my mind a few seconds to realize that although my foot was not moving, my knee was nevertheless twisting as if it were. I gave a loud (but very manly) scream that was heard throughout the training hall. I could feel the ligaments in my knee twisting very unnaturally. I would compare it to thinking you had been shot.

I reacted to the tearing of my knee as if it was destroyed. But I suddenly began to realize that the pain was rapidly subsiding. I was even able to get up after a few minutes and walk around. Within 3 days I was 95% and by the end of the week I was ready to go for my next private lesson - which I would not miss for the world.

I really appreciate the benefit that Senaman Tua has had on my joints because I have twisted my knee like that in the past and it took me well over a month to recover.

Your student,

D.M.

4 Types of Students

From Pirke Avot (Lesson's of the Fathers) :

"There are four types among those who sit before the wise: the Sponge, the Funnel, the Strainer, and the Sieve. Some are like the sponge which absorbs everything; some are like the funnel which takes in at one end and lets out at the other; some are like the strainer which allows the wine to go out and retains the dregs; some are like the sieve which lets out the bran and retains the fine flour."

More Class Notes: Silat Melayu

This week we came to appreciate some aspects of the sarong/malong/panyo, and also learned that the old adage about swimming (i.e. don’t do it soon after eating) applies equally to martial arts.

Last week, we established the following:

When you understand and can apply the sequence of petua in forward and reverse order, you have the formulas to begin your own movement and also to shut-down your opponent’s movement. With this in mind the buah are simply examples of how to accomplish this from different entries, footwork, parries, etc.

If you don’t understand this then you’re simply copying movements instead of really using the techniques in the buah, and you’ll have a hard time applying the techniques in a free-fight.

If you do understand this, you can apply the appropriate technique successfully in real time against a resisting opponent, without much of a struggle.

The buah are not complicated and don’t take a long time to learn. You never need “more” buah…you just need to really understand the petua.

Senaman Tua - Another Satisfied Client!

My name is Christopher K., and I am a humble student of Guro Jeff Davidson in the Filipino and Malaysian martial arts. Lately I had been experiencing some knee and joint stability issues, and thus approached Guro for some advice. At this point, I was introduced to Senaman Tua – the so-called “Old Exercises.” Guro Davidson related the history and effectiveness of Senaman Tua and how much it has helped him.

After learning a basic routine, I have found Senaman Tua to be extremely challenging yet almost profound in what it targets and accomplishes. Through the lower, core, and upper-body exercises I feel my fascia and tendon strength improving. Stability and sensitivity are also increasing. All of this in a martial arts/fitness context.

I have a good amount of experience in running and weight-lifting, and I believe they are important for general fitness and muscle stamina. Yet I now believe that Senaman Tua is even more important for the joint fascia and stability needed for greater physical sensitivity and martial prowess. Senaman Tua is the exercise regimen needed to prevent injury and to excel in movement. Even when compared to Yoga, I find it way more useful and beneficial.

Thanks for Senaman Tua!

Christopher K.

Another Great One Has Departed

Wow. 2011 has barely begun and another of our beloved Elders has gone to his Great Reward. The legendary Afro-Cuban percussionist Eugenio Arango (better known as Totico) has passed away in New York. He was the teacher of one of my own conga teachers, and we were actually distant cousins - long story for another time.

In his honor, we will feature his music this week during classes. VIVA TOTICO!

New Logo is Here!

Brotherhood of the Blade Logo 2011

It’s not only the www.maphilindo.com website that has a new look for 2011. Our own Kuya Doug Marcaida , after months of painstaking work has finally put the finishing touches on the official new logo of The Brotherhood of the Blade. So far the new design has met with rave reviews from students and supporters alike. Word has it that this very image has already been uploaded onto cell phones, screensavers, and profile pics across the cyber-sphere.

It is possible that those unfamiliar with the Brotherhood of the Blade may get the wrong impression or otherwise misinterpret the logo, so we thought some clarification may be in order.

The Brotherhood of the Blade is all about martial arts, but it is not about fighting. Obviously, martial artists love to fight; a big part of the problem is they don’t know when to stop. You see, fighting is no challenge. The REAL challenge is getting along with other people in a noble way…in a way that fosters Respect and Loyalty, instead of back-biting and contention.

Kuya Doug, Ka Jay, and I all know what an absolutely miserable experience it is to part of a dysfunctional Martial Arts organization. We created the Brotherhood of the Blade to be all the positive things we wanted for ourselves and our students. The only ranks and titles belong to our Teachers – Ama Guro Jun De Leon, Tuhon Leo T Gaje Jr., and Manong Leon Saludo. Respect is for everyone.

We have never been in competition with any other “branch” of any System. We respect everyone. Those who support our efforts, we support in return. Thos who don’t – we simply choose to ignore with no hard feelings (I promise!) Anyone who displays honor, respect, a passion for learning Kali, and is willing to be supportive of the group is able to join us. Just remember, you have to prove it first.

Our only agenda is to refine and grow. And most important of all – we have a lot of fun doing it!

And now the explanation of the logo from someone who really understands our purpose:

The logo design of expression, there are several meanings to it.

The three hands are of the three main Elders of The Brotherhood whom we never forget. Also the Three original founding members who started it - but mostly it shows the hands supporting each other...that support is what Brotherhood is about.

It forms a triangle, the geometric pattern found in FMA, the most solid shape, the most solid foundation. In numbers there is strength and in a pattern where they can lean on each other for support. The hands extend to hold the weapons, which are the basis of our Passion. We are a Blade-based art.

The background is taken from the Philippine flag. The Sun’s rays of illumination of something that is positive and good. It shines upon a brotherhood to show a glow of good things - a fellowship like this is about shining because of the good it does.

We do not compete with against each other; we help and support each other. The points of the rays explode outward. The patterns of movement are infinite…

New Look for '11

No, hell hasn't frozen over. Its just that finding a reliable web guy is like finding a good Kali instructor. Luckily, I managed to get one - from India, of all places. My good friend and Gurubhai Abhi gave the old www.maphilindo.com website an overhaul. Please have a look and feel free to give me your thoughts and suggestions either here in the comments section or via email.

MABUHAY!

ps. This guy does great work and he is very reasonable. I'll be happy to pass his info along to any that are interested.

...Gone to Soon

Ricky Rillera

Kuya Ricky Rillera was a Brother, dear Friend, and Elder to me. He was also one of the most wonderful human beings you could ever be blessed to know. This world is a poorer place for his leaving it – but it is also richer for the marks he made in the lives of all who knew him.

Brother Ricky, we remember you every single day. I am eternally grateful for everything you shared with my students and I – we are all better people for it. We humbly pray that God rests your Soul in Peace.

I also pray that I merit the opportunity to train with you again…some glorious day.

Al-Fatihah.

2010 Continued: Silat Melayu

Some time in April of 2005 I was sitting over a late dinner with Cikgu Omar Hakim in Austin, Texas discussing various topics in Silat Melayu. We spoke about the similarities/differences in Silat practice in Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as the many fallacies and misconceptions surrounding the phenomena of Silat here in the West.

At one point, Omar was reminiscing about his experiences with different Masters in Malaysia, where he studied under some of the greatest. He spoke at length about Pak Jauhari, venerable Master of the venerable Silat Kalimah – which could be considered a “cousin-system” to the Art I practice – Silat Kuntau Tekpi. Omar related “Whenever I would attack Pak ‘Jo, as soon as he even put a finger on me, he had me totally locked to the point where I couldn’t even roll my eyes!”

For those of you that have the pleasure of knowing (or even having seen) Cikgu Omar, that’s a pretty impressive declaration for him to make about anybody, let alone a typically smaller-stature elder Malay. That vision stayed foremost in my mind throughout the following period of study and research amongst my own group here in Michigan.

We spent a good part of the next few years refining the physical aspects of practice, namely the 42 buah (strikeforms) which encompass pukulan (percussion), kuncian (locking), and buangan (throwing). This was not such a simple endeavor considering that Silat Kuntau Tekpi in theory and practice is very different from Kali in almost every respect.

This year in particular, with the gracious support of several Elders in Malaysia, who for the sake of humility have requested me not to ‘brag’ about them on this blog (except for Nadzrin!) we have achieved an understanding of – and the ability to teach - the intrinsic Petua (Principles of Movement) that put the true ‘soul’ into the techniques, and mean the difference between merely imitating a technique and actually producing the desired effect with a minimum of effort. A recent class gave me a nice bit of confirmation: during buah practice, I observed a beginning student (a veteran of exactly 2 prior Silat Melayu classes) completely immobilize a senior student approximately twice his size - within seconds of the attacking feed – using only the elbow of the attacker.

Also in 2010, we had the pleasure of introducing Silat Melayu to groups of experienced martial artists and laymen through various seminars in the U.S. and Canada.

We’re working on some very exciting projects with our friends in Malaysia for 2011. God Willing, it’s going to be a banner year!

2010 Continued: Barako Batangueno

After a five year apprenticeship under the redoubtable Tito Jun Saludo, I was (unexpectedly) awarded full Instructor status in his personal style some months ago. Even with a high degree a familiarity with this method, I have to confess I am no less intimidated by it today than I was at my first taste five years ago. As one of my students puts it: “Pekiti bladework is scientific, disciplined, and efficient…Barako is just your worst nightmare with a knife.” I’ll second that.

Our training with the Saludos this year focused on some different aspects from times past. Ka Jay spent a great deal of time and effort in codifying the logical footwork pattern to flow with the “template” of 29 basic attacks. One comes to realize that the footwork and body positioning – as counter-intuitive as it is to typical FMA – does as much to hide/assist the delivery of the final lethal angle as the knife-hand itself. So we have been hard-wiring in the footwork.

Tito Jun himself gave us far more than expected during this year’s training. After a demonstrative review of our progress thus far, Tito subjected each student to a full out ‘pressure test’. If he had been using a live blade – or even anything with a sharp point – my whole cadre of senior students would either be dead or out of commission for a long, long time. Following this test came a comprehensive critique of each student’s performance, along with specific directives for improvement. We can’t wait to see what next year’s test will be.

Ever true to his word, Tito never wasted any precious time last year on “trivial” matters like empty-hand striking and grappling. As far as Barako is concerned, it has been –and continues to be – all about the blade!