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Dedicated to the Filipino Martial Arts and the Culture of the Philippines

Dedicated to the Filipino Martial Arts and the Culture of the Philippines

Dedicated to the Filipino Martial and the Culture of the Special Edition 2010 Contents FMAdigest Publishers Desk Publisher My Life as a Writer - Perry Gil S. Mallari 2 Steven K. Dowd Aeta : An Original Filipino Martial 4 Symbolism in Pre-Colonial Filipino Warrior Culture 6 FMAdigest Representatives Esoteric 8 Marc Lawrence Ancient Filipino Sea Warfare 10 The Fighting Prowess of the Iranun and Balangingi Pirates of 12 The Talibong-wielding Pulahanes of 14 The Cimarrones of Bicol 15 The Warrior Tribe of the Bagobos 17 The Characteristics of Traditional Filipino Training 18 Contributors The of Arnis-Escrima 20 Perry Gil S. Mallari Power Generation in Filipino Stick Fighting 22 FMA Pulse Archives to Empty Hand Transition in the 23 Various Forms of Filipino Indigenous 25 The Role of Solo and Two-man Training in the Filipino Martial Arts 26 The Role of the “Alive Hand” in Arnis-Escrima 28 Filipino War Dances 29 Anting-anting and the Filipino Martial Arts 31 Possible Foreign Influences on the Filipino Martial Arts 32 and the Filipino Martial Arts 35 The United States as the Second Home of the Filipino Martial Arts 36 The Panday of Pre-colonial Philippines 38 Fighting with Paired Weapons: An Important Filipino Martial Arts Skill 39 The Bolo: A Filipino Utility Tool and 41 The Filipino Balisong 42 Largo and 44 The Cordillera Head Ax 46 Filipino Flexible Weapons 47 Pragmatism in the Practice of the Filipino Martial Arts 49 Lessons of Strategy from the 50 The articles are the prop- Revisiting a Classic: “Mga Karunungan sa Larong Arnis” erty of the author’s that wrote them by Placido Yambao and Buenaventura Mirafuente 52 and cannot be used without the Traditional Remedies for Filipino Martial Arts Injuries 53 permission of the author. The Filipino martial art in and Cinema 55 The FMAdigest is the FMA Pulse - The Pulse of the Filipino Martial Arts Community 57 property of Steven K. Dowd and is for the promulgation and promo- tion of the Filipino martial arts and the Philippines. NO issue can be printed and Sold for Monies, without the express permission of the Owner and Publisher Steven K. Dowd. Publishers Desk

Kumusta The FMAdigest and the FMA Pulse have been working together to educate and serve as a resource for the current and new generations of Filipino martial arts enthusiasts. When the FMA Pulse began they obtained the services of Perry Gil S. Mallari a professional journalist who has a column “Martial Talk,” published every Sunday in the Times and is the only column about martial arts published in a national broadsheet in the Philippines. He was also a regular writer of the Rapid Journal, the country’s only martial arts magazine for the past 11-years. His articles on the Filipino martial arts are a weekly feature of FMA Pulse, a US-based website aiming to unify the global Filipino martial arts community. In this Special Edition are some of the articles by Mr. Mallari so you the reader can experience some of his researched writings and see that this is a writer / practitioner that has the desire, ambition and heart of a dedicated Filipino martial arts enthusiast that not only seeks knowledge, trains in , but promulgates and promotes the Filipino martial arts, history, and the Philippine Culture. Visit the FMA Pulse (www.fmapulse.com) to read more articles that Perry Gil S. Mallari has written and continue to visit, for Mr. Perry continuously submits articles. Become a member and be notified so to stay up-to-date with current Filipino martial arts events, news, and of course when Mr. Perry’s articles become available. The FMA Pulse is the new wave of keeping current with the Filipino martial arts.

Maraming Salamat Po

The FMAdigest is published quarterly. Each issue features practitioners of martial arts and other internal arts of the Philippines. Other features include historical, theoretical and technical articles; reflections, Filipino martial arts, heal- ing arts and other related subjects. The ideas and opinions expressed in this digest are those of the authors or instructors being interviewed and are not necessarily the views of the publisher or editor. We solicit comments and/or suggestions. Articles are also welcome. The authors and publisher of this online magazine are not responsible for any injury, which may result from fol- lowing the instructions contained in the magazine. Before embarking on any of the physical activates described in the magazine, the reader should consult his or her physician for advice regarding their individual suitability for performing such activity.

The information in the FMAdigest is a compilation of many sources. If there is any misinformation or information that is not given the proper credit, please contact us. FMAdigest 1297 Eider Circle Fallon, NV 89406 (775) 423-3253 [email protected] My Life as a Writer By Perry Gil S. Mallari

studied the knife as a weapon of newspaper itself. My column, the Filipino martial arts (FMA), “Martial Talk,” was born in March I have seen what it can do and its 2008. From then until now, it is has lost its glamour. the only martial art column pub- also has a lished in a national newspaper in tremendous influence in my life. the Philippines. I am very grate- Lee at one point in time realized ful to my editors in for that the best way to propagate his always being supportive of my philosophy and vision of martial martial arts reporting. When the arts was not through teaching in a Arnis Bill was finally enacted into classroom setting but through the a law, The Manila Times’ coverage medium of . I feel the same on the subject was unmatched. My with my writings. I could have exclusive interview with Senator pursued teaching martial arts a , the author of long time ago but I didn’t pushed the Arnis Law runs three pages in- through believing that there were cluding the whole front page of the Looking back at my life, already more than enough good paper. I believe it was the first time I now believe that I was destined martial arts teachers around. Like that arnis received such a treatment to become a writer. I had an early Lee, I realized that my ideas could from a national daily in my coun- affinity for words. Long before I reach more people through writing try and elsewhere. learned to read, I remember asking good martial arts articles. I like the my mother everyday to read for comment of Daniel Go, the pub- me magazines and comic books or lisher and editor of Rapid Journal whatever writing materials were on the matter, he said, “There are around. The smell of printing ink a lot of good practitioners around on the crisp pages excites me. but there’s a dearth of martial art- I first finished reading a ists who can write well about their book from cover to cover when martial arts.” I was about seven, shortly after It was Rapid Journal that I learned to read. It was a book published my first full-length mar- about the Philippines’ National tial arts article in 1998. More sub- Hero Dr. Jose . missions followed that first story Since I began training and I became a regular contributor in martial arts, I always had this and columnist of the journal for yearning inside me to convey in the next 11-years. It was also dur- words the complexities of martial ing this period that I began writing arts practice and principles. professionally for a number of In 2009, another important One may notice that prag- magazines. landmark in my writing career matism is a constant element in But it was in 2005 when happened when I joined fmapulse. my martial arts writings. This I joined the Manila Times, the com, a website aiming to unify the may stem from an early child- Philippines oldest newspaper that global Filipino martial arts com- hood experience. I grew up near my martial arts writings penetrated munity. I was awed by the passion a bunker of butchers and on one the mainstream media. Initially, of its owners Romeo Maguigad occasion had witnessed the bloody I wrote martial arts stories for its and Michael Quirubin to elevate havoc that ensued from a liquor sister publication HealthNews the Filipino martial arts into same fuelled . Long before I Magazine and eventually for the level that other Asian martial arts

2 like and are enjoying. I was brimming with excitement with the fact that fmapulse.com is now one of the most frequented sites of Filipino martial arts aficionados worldwide. Through my weekly column FMA Corner on fmapulse.com, I was able to share my research on the Filipino martial arts to a global audience. The year 2010 marks my 12th year as a professional writer. I was amazed that during this period, I have literally churned out thousands of articles on various topics for print and online media. I am currently in the process of writing my very first book - this, I believe is the next logical step in my career. Yes, it is about martial arts - the one subject closest to my heart.

Perry Gil S. Mallari has been a practitioner and researcher of the Filipino martial arts for the last two decades. His single stick method of escrima bears the stamp of approval of Ignacio Mabait an old-school escrimador who was also a former eight-rounder boxer. Manong Ignacio, a product of the juego todo (all-out stick fighting matches) era, has employed his Escrima while fighting the Japanese in Manila duringWorld War 2. Realizing the connection of Filipino Escrima and Western fencing, Perry studied the art fencing with the in the early 1990s under Socorro Olivan at the then City Fencing Club ran by Celso Dayrit Jr. Dayrit’s father Celso Sr. is the father of sports fenc- ing in the Philippines. Perry considers himself primarily a largo mano (long hand or long range) fighter because of the influence of his Western fencing training. Perry also practices , the Filipino healing art of bone setting and therapeutic massage. While concentrating on the FMA, Perry also -trains in other martial arts whenever his schedule permits. Perry believes that the prin- ciple of body mechanics is the uniting factor of all martial arts.

3 Aeta Archery: An Original Filipino Martial Art

The Aetas (also called to 15-meters as the skill of the Agtas) of the mountainous part of archer improves. Soria related that northern , Philipines belong they usually shoot at banana trees to the “Negrito” group of people during practice. The soft exterior that was believed to be the first to of the banana tree allowed them to inhabit the country when the land extract the arrow easily and also bridges in Asia still exist. In terms prevents rapid wear-and-tear of the of physical features, the Aetas are arrowhead from repeated use. dark skinned; short in stature and The Aeta man revealed the with a curly hair and dark round materials they used to make a bow eyes. and arrow. He said that Aeta bows, Compared to other indig- which in archery jargon are clas- enous people groups in Luzon, sified as a straight-limb bow, were like the headhunting tribes of the commonly made of thin planks Ilongots, the Aetas are docile. from the core of the anahaw palm They originally lived as foragers tree (The anahaw palm tree is the moving from one place to another same source of the bahi fighting in search for food. While the Aetas stick). They used “baging” [wild Aeta elder Pepito Tanglao are highly skilled in the use of the vines] from the jungle for the spear and the , they child’s education. Hailing from string of the bow, a reed called use it mainly for games the mountains of , Soria “uyong” for the shaft of the arrow and rarely for warfare. himself learned the skill from his and feathers of wild birds for the fletching. Because of its abundance If chronology would be the sole grandfather and describes his abil- in the lowlands, common nails basis, then it could be said that ity to use the weapon as second were just hammered flat and filed Aeta archery was the original Fili- nature. He declared that it is now into shape to make arrowheads. pino martial art. their turn to pass the skill to the I’ve seen a wide variety of Junior Soria, a 23-year younger generation. arrows used by the Aetas of Zam- old Aeta man I interviewed nar- Soria said that their typi- bales - some have simple points rated that the skill in the use of cal target practice with a bow and while others have elaborately the bow and arrow is something arrow starts at a distance of 10- barbed points. I even saw a three- that is part and parcel of an Aeta meters then gradually progressed pronged arrow used for certain kinds of birds. Soria point- ed out that it is essential to know what kind of arrow would bring down a certain animal. He said that most games go down with one arrow while certain kinds require another shot. I’ve have witnessed Aeta archers shoot their arrows at a target, reload another arrow while running and shoot again with im- pressive accuracy. While highly skilled at shooting animals, they would The writer receiving instruction from Aeta archer Junior Soria on rarely use their weapons against how to use the bow and arrow a fellow human being. The Aetas’ 4 pacifist nature was evident in some tion usually lasts three days. Aetas diers with their bows and arrows.” of their techniques in the use of the commonly hunt for wild boars, De Jesus, in the same work also bow and arrow. Pepito Tanglao, an deer and certain wild birds. Tra- narrated how Aeta archers served older Aeta man, demonstrated to ditionally, they barter these goods as lookouts in various gatherings me a method of pulling the string with the products of the lowland- of the resistance forces during the of the bow and releasing it without ers. war, it reads. “Negrito bowmen led an arrow, a move, which he em- While I mentioned the by Pam Melicia provided security phasized, is just meant to scare an docile characteristic of the Aetas at during these delicate meetings.” enemy. the beginning of this article, these | Soria narrated that they indigenous peoples indeed en- perform a special ritual before they gaged in warfare in certain phases go hunting. This may consists of of Philippine history. A number a dance and prayer offered to Apo of historical works significantly Namalyari, the deity of Mt. Pina- mentioned the role of the Aetas in tubo volcano. A hunting expedi- the fight against the Japanese in Luzon during World War II. One book, “On A Mountain- side: The 155th Provisional Guerrilla Bat- talion Against the Japanese on Luzon,” by Mal- colm Decker, describes how the Negritos of An Aeta dance Luzon helped the American forces in driving out the invaders. The book was based on the accounts of Malcolm’s father Doyle who had served as an American soldier in the Philippines during the war. On the heroic exploits of the Aetas during the Japanese occupation, Filipino writer Ramon de Jesus penned the following words in “World War II in Zambales:” “Only seven Japanese soldiers escaped from the . A few days after the massacre, a Japanese punitive force was sent to avenge the death of their comrades. When the Japanese force was passing through Poonbato on its way to Sitio Villar, Negrito guerrillas Aeta archers aiming at a target killed 30 of the Japanese sol- 5 Symbolism in Pre-Colonial Filipino Warrior Culture

Symbolism is part and parcel of ence in battle as Scott notes in the dub, those on the chest up to the pre-colonial Filipino warrior cul- following texts, “Chest throat; and daya-daya - or tagur ture. A certain clothing, or which looked like breastplates in - on the arms, Bangut (a cicatrix may connote the wearer’s - less frequently, tattoos on the muzzle or halter) were the ones status in the warrior society. abdomen - only came after further that made of the face such a fright- Tattooing was widely action in battle; and still later, ening mask, also called “gaping” practiced in pre-colonial Philip- those on the whole back, widest like a crocodile’s jaws or the beak pines both for the purposes of field for the tattooer’s artistry. Fa- of a bird of prey. Hinawak - from ornamentation and rite of passage. cial tattoos from ear to to eye hawak, a tight, lean waist - were This was particularly prevalent in were restricted to the boldest and men tattooed below the waist, and the and among the high- toughest warriors.” lipong were heroes tattooed all land tribes of northern Luzon. So Just like in modern times, over (except under the G-string) widespread was the practice of tattoo works then were done by like the fancy linipong porcelain tattooing in the Visayas that the skillful artists who charge for their from .” Spaniards coined the services. The process is pretty Besides tattoos, certain ele- “” [painted] because their much unchanged over the centu- ments of clothing of pre-colonial bodies were covered with tattoos. ries, which include the tracing of connote an individual’s Batuk is the general term for tat- the design on the body, pricking warrior status. A red pudong [head- toos in the Visayas. Even today, it with needles then rubbing soot dress] called magalong for instance an annual feast called Pintados into the fresh wound. The process was donned by those who have Festival is celebrated in Tacloban is very painful, which is why some already killed an enemy in battle. to pay tribute to the ancient tattoo- men though qualified as warriors The most coveted kind of pudong ing tradition of the Visayans. On avoid the operation for as long as in the Visayas was made of pinay- the other hand, in the mountainous possible until shamed into it. On usan, thin abaca fibers tie-dyed and part of northern Luzon, tattooing this, Scott comments, “The opera- polished to a silky shine. This kind traditions are still preserved today tion was not performed all in one of headdress was reserved only for within certain tribes. sitting but in installments, but a valiant few. even so, often cause a high fever The Visayas and occasionally infection and William Henry Scott, in his death. Baug or binogok was the book “: Sixteenth Cen- healing period when the wounds tury Philippine Culture,” explains was still swollen, and if infection that the display of tattoos plays caused the designs to be muddied, an important part in psyching up they were called just that - mud one’s opponent in battle, he wrote, (lusak).” “Still more rugged were those In addition to tattoos, who submitted to facial tattooing. battle-hardened warriors were also Indeed those with tattoos right up known to burn decorative scars on to the eyelids constituted a Spartan their bodies. elite. Such countenances were re- Scott names a few common ally terrifying and no doubt intimi- patterns of tattoos of pre-colonial dated enemies in battle as well as Filipinos, he says, “Labid were the town mates at home. Men would distinctive inch-wide lines, both be slow to challenge or antagonize the straight ones and those which, a tough with such visible signs of in Father Sánchez’s (1617, 283) physical fortitude.” words, “go snaking or zigzagging The location of a tattoo up the leg to the waist.” Ablay A vintage illustration from the Boxer also indicates a warrior’s experi- were those on the shoulder; dub- Codex depicting a Visayan Pintado 6 The Cordilleras the needles. Among the Bontoc, the individuals who are permitted Analyn Ikin V. Salvador- and tribes of the to wear the chest tattoos and other Amores, a teacher of Social An- Cordillera, the ritual of tattooing is elaborate insignias (like the head thropology and Political Science closely associated with headhunt- axe) at the side of their stomach, at the College of Social Sciences, ing. The term for warrior in the back, thighs and legs and even University of the Philippines Ba- Cordilleras is ”mai’ngor.” the cheeks to connote unrivalled guio published a scholarly paper Explaining the symbol- bravery of a warrior in a certain titled “Batek: Traditional Tattoos ism of Kalinga tattoos, a part of village (warrior status as mai’ngor and Identities in Contemporary Amores’ paper reads, “Tattooing or mu’urmut).” Kalinga, North Luzon Philippines.” starts at the back of the hand and The advent of Catholicism Her report, which was presented to the wrists. The first kill is denoted in the Philippines vanished the the 17th International Conference with stripe patterns which appear traditions of tattooing to a large of Association of Historians in Asia like tie band called gulot, or pinu- degree. at the University of Dhaka, Bangla- pungol. The term munggolot refers The practice of tattooing desh in 2002, tackles in details the to the chief of the headhunting raid survived among Escrimadores dur- connection between tattooing and and literally means the “ of ing and after colonial period, this warrior culture in certain highland the head” (Billiet and Lambrecht time though tattoos were often Lat- tribes of northern Luzon. 31), so when the gulot tattoo is in prayers for protection in battle. A tattoo artist in the Cordil- earned, this means that the person Two Filipino martial arts legends, leras is called “manbatek.” Two in- has killed someone or has become uncle and nephew Regino and An- struments were used in the process, a “headtaker.” Those who have tonio Illustrisimo both have tattoos the “pat-ik,” a light stick that is killed two individuals have tattoo of oraciones [magical prayers] on used for tapping the “gisi,” which patterns on their hands. Warriors their bodies. Regino had one on his is the tattoo instrument that holds who have killed ten or more are leg while Antonio on his chest.

7 Esoteric Arnis

There are many classifica- teric arnis was classified as Type upon the onset of European and tions of Arnis; the better-known 5 healing. “In Type 5 healing, he American in the coun- categories are Arnis matador [the practitioner] unites with the try. ( Arnis), Arnis entablado universe, but remains aware that On this transition Reyes (theatrical Arnis), Arnis jugado he is a part of the universe, dif- wrote, “In many cases, the changes (sport Arnis) and Arnis guerrero ferent from other parts, though were not too traumatic. For exam- (warrior Arnis). The late Filipino still united,” he explained. Reyes ple, the Arnisadores simply moved martial arts scholar Pedro Reyes pointed out that such an equa- the great days of initiation into stated however that there is one tion where the practitioner can the oraciones of the Mood God- more type of Arnis unknown to still “differentiate himself while dess to the days of the Lent and to many. In an article titled Filipino remaining united,” allowed him to All Souls Day. As for the celebra- Martial Tradition, he wrote, “At the summon the power of the universe tion of the Earth God – Christmas same time, a branch of Arnis that to heal the patient. “Note that it is became one of them, leaving only so many aspire to learn but only a not the healer who heals, it is the the summer initiations without handful can master became Chris- universe,” he emphasized. Christian equivalents. Incidentally, tianized. I refer to esoteric Arnis, While Reyes discourse Arnisadores prefer to offer them- which deals with healing and the may sound vaguely esoteric, it has selves to the Goddess. A traditional use of oracion” or magical prayers obvious parallels with the findings practice, for example, is to drill (Rapid Journal, Vol. 4 No.1). of Quantum physics. Physicist during the nights of the moon In another article he wrote Fred Alan Wolf said that new dis- to seek the favor, protection and titled “Echoing the Energy’s Equa- coveries in Quantum physics point strength of the Great Mother.” tion,” (Rapid Journal Vol.3 No. 2), to the direction connoting that the While their function in the Reyes recalled his personal experi- universe couldn’t exist without the community was basically spiritual, ence with esoteric Arnis through mind entering into it, that the mind a number of babaylans participated the person of the late Antonio actually creates the very thing that in various uprisings. Two known Illustrisimo, “At one time I went is being perceived. To this excit- babaylans, Ponciano Elofre, also to the Rizal Park to discuss some ing development Wolf also stated, known as Dios Buhawi (God of the business with Gran Maestro An- “We’re really now moving in to a Whirlwind) and Dionisio Seguela tonio “Tatang” Illustrisimo even new era, it’s the era where the last (or Dionisio Papa y Barlucia), though I had a bad cold (flu). Dur- frontier is not space as ‘Star Trek’ also called Papa Isio (Isio the ing a pause in our conversation, would say but it’s going to be the Pope) incited and participated in a I mentioned the misery the cold mind.” politico-religious revolt in Negros was causing me. The old master The origins of esoteric in the late 19th century against the fell silent. Then a bolt of energy arnis that Reyes mentioned in his Spaniards. jolted me as it entered between my writings could be traced to the ba- A former cabeza de ba- shoulder , sped down my baylan traditions of pre-Hispanic rangay, Elofre’s 1887 revolt was spine and spread throughout my Philippines. A babaylan is a spiri- grounded on two issues: forced body. By the time I left the park tual leader possessing the ability payment of taxes and religious my knees had stopped aching, my to heal and to foresee the future. freedom. He revived the ancient fever was down, and I was cough- A male or a female could perform rites of the babaylans resulting to ing only occasionally. I never had the function though the majority of his group, which numbered around to go to bed. He aborted the flu by the babaylans before the coming 2,000 to be called “Babaylanes.” silently reciting an oracion.” of the Spaniards were women. The Elofre died in the town of Siaton Reyes wrote that based on babaylan is also a wisdom-keeper in 1888 after an encounter with the the classifications made by Ameri- and philosopher of the community Spaniards. can psychologist Dr. Lawrence and was highly esteemed in pre- Seguela, meanwhile rose LeShan of paranormal healing, the Hispanic Filipino societies. The from the ranks of a remnant group kind of healing elicited by eso- babaylan traditions were abolished of Babaylanes after Elofre’s death. 8 He combined the issues of religious freedom, agrarian reform and nationalism in his revolution. It took a long time before he gave up his struggle. While General , argu- ably the last leader of the to surrender to the Americans gave up the fight on April 16, 1902; Seguela lay down his arms only on August 6, 1907. The Americans sentenced him to death but the punishment was later reduced to life imprisonment. Seguela died in the Old Bilibid Prison in Manila in 1911.

Today, not so many Arnisadores are keen on pursuing the knowledge of esoteric Arnis for the reason that some facets of its teachings run against the grain of their Catholic or Protestant faiths.

9 Ancient Filipino Sea Warfare

Being an archipelago, the Philip- told me of an ancient mari- pines from the very beginning is a ner technology still used seafaring nation. The pre-colonial in Tawi-Tawi, Mindanao, socio-political unit of the Filipi- “They use this special kind nos called “barangay” derived its of . When it perspires, name from “,” an ancient rain surely follows three watercraft. Besides transporting days later,” he attested. people and cargo, the balangay The Filipino’s skill A karakoa portrayed in a Philippine stamp was extensively used for raiding in sea warfare had become the constant pain in the neck of the purposes. the Moros in the area. The Cebua- Spaniards when they first came Art Valdez, the expedition nos then, having to contend with to the country. In Victor Hurley’s leader of the “Voyage of the Ba- Muslim raids on a regular basis book “Swish of the ,” an ac- langay,” a project launched early have no choice but to beef up their count of a Spanish friar named this year aiming to sail the world fighting skills. Padre Crevas reads, “The South- using a reconstructed version of But while sea raids were al- ern Filipino were faster and the ancient balangay gave some ways associated with the Moros of swifter than the European ships of historical insights on the maritime Mindanao, Scott wrote that it was that period and they enjoyed the prowess of the old Filipinos, he also widely practiced by Visayans, supremacy of the seas until 1860 said, “What these early Span- another part of his book says, “The when the steam vessels arrived on ish chroniclers saw were islands most celebrated form of Visayan the scene.” bustling with activity with its own warfare was sea raiding, man- Impressed by the seafar- farming and metallurgy. They saw gayaw, a word which appeared in ing and boat making skills of the our seas gleaming with crafts with all major languages in the Philip- Filipinos, the Spaniards later on our ancestors using the oceans pines. Its root appears to be kayaw employed natives in building the as their natural highways. They (for example, Ilocano kinayawan, karakoa (also spelled caracao) reported of ships with 100 rower’s captive) though Spanish lexicog- fleet, which were fitted against the just on one side. And the incred- raphers extracted ayaw, ngayaw, marauding Moros of Mindanao. ible thing is they even wrote that and agaw, and it meant a raid to William Henry Scott, in his excel- some of the natives already knew bring back slaves or heads. There lent book “Barangay: Sixteenth how to speak some Spanish and is no record of Visayan headhunt- Century Philippine Culture,” de- Latin.” On the latter, he hypothe- ing - that is, warfare for the spe- scribes the prestige of this ancient sized that the early Filipino sailors cific purpose of taking heads - but vessel, “But karakoa cruisers were could have already reached the heads were cut off in the course of not designed simply for falling Mediterranean where they learned battle or . Pedro de Arana on undefended coastal communi- those languages long before the lost his head during the occupation ties: they were fitted with elevated Spaniards came. “Take note that of . Luba, pagot, sumbali, and fighting decks for prowess the guide of tongol all meant to behead, and and were entitled to wear distinc- named Enrique de Malacca was tongol was also the dress plumage tive attire.” believed to be a Filipino.” displayed at the stern of a war- The Moro raids on coastal Valdez even explained how ship.” communities may have have af- the Filipino sailors of yore travel Scott even wrote of a ritual fected the evolution of the Filipino safely from one island to another, the Visayans conduct before a martial arts in certain regions of “Our ancestors were one with sea raid, “The sacrifice that was the Philippines. Filipino martial nature and very sensitive of its performed on launching a warship arts writer Celestino Macachor changes. When doing inter-island for a raid was called pagdaga, and theorized that the high level of travel they’d just basically hugged it was considered most effective if development of escrima in Cebu is the coastline and rowed ashore at the prow and keel were smeared the slightest sign of trouble.” He the result of the frequent raids of 10 with blood of a victim from the of heavy hardwood pointed at both target community.” of the weapons inside a ends were thrown in large numbers were obviously karakoa, “Normal for open combat with an accuracy which attracted the weapons of choice of pre- were spears with fire- the attention of all foreign observ- colonial Filipinos when it comes to hardened wooden points, their last ers. All these missiles were ordi- ship-to-ship fighting. In the Battle section loaded with sand for better narily poisoned with bulit, snake of Bangkusay on June 3, 1571, balance, or, most common of all, venom, preferably from a viper the fleet of 40 war boats under the the sugob, a length of sharpened so deadly it was called odto, high leadership of the king of Macabebe bagakay bamboo. From the fight- noon, because its victims could not was equipped with a cannon each. ing decks of karakoa cruisers, 30- expect to survive more than half a Scott narrates the details centimeter long spikes or javelins day.”

11 The Fighting Prowess of the Iranun and Balangingi Pirates of Mindanao

It was the Filipino martial arts is focused mainly on the Visayan scarlet jackets padded with kapok, researcher and writer Celestino region, the fact is coastal commu- or wearing various pieces of armor Macachor who postulated that the nities all over to Philippines and and chain mail, made a terrifying high level of development of Ce- were once targets sight as their joanga swept along- buano Escrima could be attributed of Iranun maritime raids. The side a merchant prahu or descend- to the frequent maritime raids con- influence of these raids extended ed upon a hapless village.” ducted by Muslim pirates in the beyond the development of com- As previously mentioned, area. A practitioner of Eskrima De bative skills of the settlers of a the scope of Iranun maritime raids Campo-JDCIO, Macachor is the threatened area. During the 1830s, was extensive. On the range of writer of the article “New Theo- houses in Zamboanga were built operations and business savvy of ries on the Origins of Escrima” on posts with ladders that can be the Iranuns, Warren wrote, “The published in the Rapid Journal and taken up at night as precautions Iranun warriors, like the Vikings, Ned Nepangue’s co-author of the against Iranun and Balangingi were worldly raiders who trav- book “Cebuano Eskrima: Beyond raids. eled in search of slaves and work, the Myth.” A part of Macachor’s The fearsome portrait of sometimes for years on end, article reads, “The Province of these pirates were vividly cap- around the great ports of Manila, Cebu stretching from Bantayan Is- tured in Francis James Warren’s Makassar, Batavia, Penang, and lands in the North to Santander in book “Iranun and Balangingi: . They often spoke a the South became the focal point Globalization, Maritime Raid- variety of languages, and were in the development of Eskrima and ing and the Birth of Ethnicity.” familiar with the traditions and that its development and tactical On the hierarchy in a pirate ship of all quarters of South- use outlived the Moro raiders.” and the fighting prowess of these east Asia. Some were literate, able Macachor’s theory of men he wrote, “In addition to the to negotiate ransom, or unravel the piratical raids affecting the de- ordinary crew and oarsmen, every intricacy of colonial legal system velopment of Escrima is sound joanga [a raiding vessel] carried a and they were knowledgeable in considering the nature of Iranun large force of armed fighting men (also known as “Ilanun) pirates trained to serve on land or sea that sowed terror in the seas of between 60 and 80 on the larger Southeast Asia centuries ago. vessels. These warriors, renowned The Iranuns that originally hailed for their martial skill, discipline around Lake Lanao in southern and courage, played no part in Mindanao was once considered the the long ships and comple- fiercest pirates in the Malay world. ment carried on board was there Almost always mentioned next to simply to wage war on land and the Iranuns are the Samal Balang- sea. The exception to this rule was ingi, an ethnic group in -Min- the Iban and Alforean warriors danao region that were known for whose extraordinary stamina made state-sanctioned maritime raiding. them ideal candidates to pull at the These marauders possessed com- sweeps in an emergency. These bat skills of the highest caliber fighting men were armed with and defenders of the communities shields, spears, two-handed lanun they were attacking must be armed , axes, and muskets, and with equal fighting prowess to stop pistols. Standing on the raised up- them. per deck or fighting platform, 40 While Macachor’s treatise or 50 of these screaming warriors, dressed in -proof, sleeveless An Iranun pirate 12 martial arts, weapons manufacture short such as muskets and farmers and fishermen one day and and seamanship.” musketoons with brass and wood as feral marauders the next. Besides , swords, fittings were ideally suited for use The fighting prowess of the Iranuns spears, axes, and cannons, by Iranun and Samal sharpshooters and Balangingis could be attributed one interesting weapon that these on board the joanga and .” to the fact that their training began pirates were adept in using were Another interesting topic that at a very early age, some as young common stones, “When attacking Warren discussed in his book was as 10 or 11. The nautical and mar- walls the Iranun and Balangingi the existence of alternate peace- tial skills of these young boys were frequently made use of stones ful economic pursuits of some of honed in the pearl fishery of Sulu which they threw with great skill the pirates. Published in Warren’s and by occasionally joining raids. and accuracy,” Warren notes. book is a statement of Goa, a While fond of swords Though the reputation of the Ira- pirate who was placed in charge of nun and Balangingi depicts them as particularly the (often one of the vessels of a Balangingi decorated with human hair), the bloodthirsty savages, Warren noted squadron in 1830. His testimony to that these fighting men were bound Iranuns and Balangingis were the judge who had sentenced him also skilled in the use of the , by sophisticated code of conduct, to life imprisonment, reads, “I live which he describes with the fol- which during that time were the at Ballangninhin with my family. most modern hand-held weapon. lowing words, ”These special My occupation is diverse, occa- warriors were bound together by On these pirates’ preference on sionally mangoorap [slave raiding] firearms Warren wrote, “Firearms near total loyalty and strict disci- at other times making salt, plant- pline. Their code of conduct meant were traided widely to the Iranun ing paddy, collecting tortoise shell and Balangingi because they had that there was no place for shame etc. I am a follower of Orang Kaya and dishonor and they would never no means of manufacturing them Kullul and I am compelled to do on a large scale. The type of fire- abandon their commander and and act as he may direct.” This is companions in battle: an Iranun arms the maritime raiders preferred worth mentioning because having were those suited for shipboard use warrior never expected any quarter multiple occupations make the Ira- particularly from Europeans and that could be concealed, cocked nuns and Balangingis difficult to and fired at close range – especial- hence were prepared to follow their identify and thus more dangerous. commander to his death if called ly when boarding another vessel. They may have appeared as docile Flintlock pistols and standard issue upon to do so.”

13 The Talibong-wielding Pulahanes of Samar

The (literally Conference on Local and National These were the talibongs of the “those wearing red”) is a contro- History at the Ateneo de Naga hillmen - the great fighting bolos versial organization developed in University, Naga City, in 2000. of the fanatical mountaineers.” the Visayas before the Philippine The following words are Talde’s Besides using the tali- Revolution. Its members called definition of the movement, “The bong in war there were accounts “Pulahanes” numbered around Pulahan is a socio-political mille- of Pulahanes using this in 10,000-15,000 during the peak narian movement composed of or- . Henry F. Funtecha, PhD., of the movement. The Pulahanes dinary individuals who resided in in his column “Bridging the Gap” who wear red trousers during raids the interior areas of Samar. They published by Views wrote (hence the name) were known for descended from the taong-labas or that Pulahan leader Macario Lukso their use of the anting-anting [an people who refused to be influ- died in a one-on-one fight with a object with magical powers] and enced by the colonizers for they talibong, it says, “Unfortunately, their feral boldness in battle. The dwelt outside the pueblo centers. Lukso was killed by Boni Palomar, group practiced its own brand The Pulahanes organized the said an equally brave and heroic man in of , which is a fusion of Samahan [organization] to rival a manly talibong (long sharp fight- ancient babaylan [indigenous na- the communities of the pueblo- ing bolo) .” centers and paved the way for the tive religious leader] traditions and Escrima style Catholicism. Various historical kind of life they aspired for.” One particular system of accounts paint disparate portraits Weapon of choice Filipino martial arts associated of the group - some portraying the The dreaded weapon of the Pulah- with the Pulahanes is the Derobio Pulahanes as legitimate revolu- anes is the talibong. tionaries, some as bandoleros or style of escrima brought to bandits and some as mere religious by Master Braulio Pedoy during fanatics. the 1920s. Pedoy was among the Among the most extensive masters featured in ’s classic book “The Filipino Martial research done on the Pulahanes A talibong was conducted by Professor Daniel arts.” A short entry in the book Talde of the University of the In his book “Jungle Patrol: reads, “Through Master Pedoy I Philippines Tacloban. His paper The History of the Philippine Con- became more aware of the history titled “Beliefs and Practices of stabulary,” Victor Hurley describes of the Filipino martial arts and Samareño Pulahanes: A Struggle the details of the talibong of the culture, and learn to appreciate his for Freedom and Self-Rule,” was Pulahanes, it reads, “The bush methods of Derobio in escrima.” read during the 21st Philippine Na- opened again after a while, and Derobio, which literally translates, tional Historical Society National Crockett [ “rhythm of a horse,” is a style that Captain Cary Crockett] came back Pedoy said he learned from Fausti- to the beach. His men no Ablen, a renowned leader of the were carrying trophies Pulahanes. A testament to Ablen’s of the chase now; fighting skills is the fact that he great crescent-shaped was among the last of the ban- blades that were heav- doleros or outlaws as the Ameri- ily weighted towards can colonial government branded the point. The knives revolutionaries at that time, that were without guards, were captured. Ablen was first ar- and the handles were rested for initiating revolt in of horn and against the Spanish authorities in heavily mounted with the late 1880s. He escaped captiv- silver. The edges were ity. After the Americans took over Faustino Ablen in captivity as keen as razors. the country, Ablen and his follow- 14 ers continued to fight for independence. Ablen was wounded in the head and captured by the Philippine Con- stabulary near , Leyte on June 11, 1907. Carrying the tradition of the group, Pedoy became known in Hawaii as a warrior and healer. Anting-anting for protection The Pulahanes’ name for anting-anting is “hapin” and each man was not allowed to leave the camp with- out one. Juan Nueva, a Pulahan member of Camp Katagoyngahan that Talde interviewed stated, “We were en- couraged to use the oracion any time as a weapon against enemies and as a preparation for any surprise attacks. One should have his own libretta [prayer booklet]. You can either put it in your pocket or you can wrap it with a piece of cloth, sew it and with a piece of string, wear it as a necklace.” The Pulahanes literally counted on the power of their hapin for survival. They were not allowed to eat even if an operation would last for days because of the belief that eating would diminish the mystical protection provided by the hapin. The term for a Pulahanes combat operation is “salida.” Talde wrote of a pre-raid ritual by the group. Some of the former Pulahanes and descendants of the group he interviewed revealed that before a salida, the mayor or leader orders his men to unsheathe their bolos for him to lace his saliva on the blades. The ritual was believed to endowed special power on the Pulahanes’ bolos, which must not be pulled from its scabbard unless an encounter erupted. The Pulahanes’ steadfast faith on the power of their anting-anting could explain the group’s high casual- ty in battle. The Pulahanes were known to rush boldly towards a hail of gunfire believing that their anting-anting would make them impervious to . Talde in his paper notes that the Pulahanes’ veneration of the two foremost figures of the Philippine Revolution; Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio is a clear indication that the group is, “acting not out of banditry but out of a desire to be free.”

The Cimarrones of Bicol “Cimarron” in Spanish ences in their character, language, The part of Newton’s state- means untamed or wild. In the and culture - Agta, Dumagat, and ment that intrigued me most is the Philippines, the term “Cimarrones” Cimarron.” On the Cimmarones, part saying that the Cimarrones pertains to an ethnic minority Newton commented, “The Ci- could be “fugitives from Span- group inhabiting the mountainous marrones inhabited the slopes of ish control.” If that was the case, parts of Bicol in the southern tip of Mount Isarog and forested hills then there is a probability that the Luzon. Living up to their name, the of Siruma and Camaroan. These Cimarrones were once subjugated Cimarrones are known as a fierce groups were cultivators and hunt- by the Spaniards and may have mountain tribe and their raids on ers but were most renowned for absorbed some influence from the the lowlands were feared during the raids they conducted on those latter. colonial times. in the lowlands. As their names The Cimarrones were In her book “Conquest and suggests, they were probably fugi- labeled as bandits during colo- Pestilence in the Early Spanish tives from Spanish control, and as nial times. Accounts abound that Philippines,” Linda A. Newson such emerged as a distinct group the raids conducted by this tribe wrote of the Spaniards’ documen- only in colonial times. By the end caused terror and displacements tation of the natives of Bicol, it of the Spanish rule the Negritos among lowland communities. reads, “In the nineteenth century and Cimarrones, among whom Greg Bankoff, author of “, the Franciscan José Castaño clas- there was some intermarriage, Society, and the State in the Nine- sified the inhabitants of Bicol into probably accounted for 1 percent teenth-Century Philippines,” wrote three “races” on the basis of differ- of the region’s population.” of the existence of brigandage in 15 the stronghold of the Cimarrones, Style of Arnis Unlike many contemporary mae- it says, “Whatever the claims of In 1999, Dionisio de Lima stros whose exploits are confined its governor, however, banditry and the late Filipino martial arts to their gymnasia, he has used his did exist in . It may scholar Pedro Reyes published Arnis to save his life in several oc- not have been prevalent among the an article in the Rapid Journal casions. He continues to heal. That settled lowland communities of the documenting a style of Arnis that he no longer desires to teach is a central valley, but it was definitely was said to have originated from great loss to Arnis.” a problem in the eastern Bicol the Cimarrones. Titled “Cimar- Conversion to Catholicism Cordillera.” ron Arnis,” a portion of the story While many Cimarrones Bicolano Blade reads, “The Cimarrones have a retained their fierce autonomy, One bladed weapon unique fascinating custom of passing to some were eventually converted to Bicol and often identified with one another a chew of betel nuts to Catholicism. In an article titled, the Cimarrones is the “minas- and leaves on the tips of their “Peñafrancia - A Love Story,” bad.” Like the bolo of the Tagalog bolos. Woe to the man who al- Catholic priest Rev. Jess B. Espla- region, the minasbad has a dual lows the chew to fall. A fight to na wrote that the Cimarrones were purpose of being a weapon and a the death could ensue then and indeed one of the original devotees farm tool. The main features that there. For that reason, only a few of the Virgin of Peñafrancia. A part distinguish the minasbad from oth- lowlanders have learned the arnis of his article reads, “Why fluvial, er Philippine blades are its handle of the Cimarrones. Among those by water! One, because most of with an ornate animal figurehead few is Maestro Rodolfo Ilano, or the devotees coming from neigh- often made of carabao horn and its Ka Ompong among his intimates. boring towns, provinces, used wooden scabbard with exquisite Now in his sixties, he is a healing “bancas” (small paddled boats) as engravings. A graceful curve and a maestro as well. He taught when their means of transportation and flat to rounded tip characterize the he was younger. Now he lives in offered to tow the Virgin’s boat minasbad blade. The latter is an retirement in the hills of Bicol, (Pagoda) back to her Shrine. Two indication that the blade was also having lost all desire to teach.” because the “cimarrones” (moun- used for agricultural chores. Other Being De Lima’s relative, tain people branded by the Spanish minute attributes of the minasbad Ilano granted the interview. For as “rebels”) who were the original are the serrations near the base of the Rapid article, he demonstrated devotees of the Ina [mother] were its blade and an attachment of a the empty-hand aspect of Cimar- afraid to come near the seat of the tassel of hair on its sheath (pre- ron arnis. Ilano named some im- Spanish government for fear of be- sumably meant to wipe off the portant principles for barehanded ing arrested.” blood from the blade). fighting, which includes trying One important observation to get on the side or at the back I made on the minasbad is that of your opponent, wrenching his some of its variations have a hand arms into awkward similar to that of a western positions and the use saber, an uncommon element on of the fingers to dig a Filipino blade. Again, remem- into vulnerable spots. bering Newton’s comment on the Underscoring possibility of the Cimarrones being the ferocity of the “fugitives from Spanish control,” character of Cimar- it is easy to postulate that this ron Arnis, the two element was borrowed from the authors concluded, Spaniards. “Ka Ompong is an Arnis legend in The craft of forging minasbads is Southern Luzon. still preserved in the today. An illustration of the minasbad with its distinct ornate animal figurehead and sheath with detailed engravings

16 The Warrior Tribe of the Bagobos

I first got interested in Bagobo Spaniards in Davao. The new- warrior culture after interviewing comers were then at war with the Master Yuli Romo, a senior student followers of Mohammed and soon of the late Grandmaster Antonio succeeded in enlisting the Bagobo “Tatang” Illustrisimo in 2003. Prior rulers in their cause. A Chinese to our meeting, I have seen Romo plate decorated with the picture of in pictures wearing a Bagobo a large blue fish was offered for costume. Of all the Filipino martial each Moro head the tribesmen pre- arts masters I have met, Romo has sented to the Spanish commander. the most distinct aura of ethnicity. The desire for these trophies was During the interview, he demon- sufficient soon to start a brisk strated a Bagobo salutation where- trade in heads, to judge from the in the is held at the back. number of these plates still to be seen among the prized objects of Warrior tribe the petty rulers.” The Bagobos are one of Either alone or in a group, Bagobo Chief - A Bagobo chief (Phil- the non-Muslim ethnic minority it is interesting to note the - ippine Photographs Digital Archive, groups in Mindanao originally bos’ courage in entering hostile Special Collections Library, Univer- inhabiting the west coast of Davao. territories to conduct raids. Those sity of Michigan) Similar to Muslim society, the aspiring the status of a magani Bagobos of old were divided into conducted ambushes on passing fight, and at such times festivals or the chieftains, freemen, foes. Raids were also conducted may be held to celebrate the event. and slaves. They however wor- by croups consisting of 60 or more However, the trophy soon loses shipped spirits called “gimokods” men under the leadership of a its value and is hung or buried at whose knowledge lives in their magani. The reasons for such raids a distance from the village. Head- elders called “mabalians.” vary like avenging a death of a fel- hunting for the sake of the trophy A vivid portrait of the low tribesman, securing loots and itself, does not exist here.” Bagobos, long before many of slaves or to get glory and recogni- Unique armor them converted to Christianity was tion. captured in the book “The Wild During these operations, Like other tribal groups in Tribes of Davao District, Mind- The Bagobos used an implement the Philippines, the native weap- anao” by American anthropologist of war called “sogiang,” which are ons of the Bagobos are swords and Fay-Cooper Cole published in sharpened bamboo sticks that were knives for close quarter combat 1913. stuck on the ground to wound and spears, bows and arrows as Cole noted that among the patrolling or pursuing enemies. well as blowguns for long-range foremost aspirations of Bagobo Cole described the cher- fighting. But what is most unique men was to become warriors, ished trophies of the Bagobo about the Bagobos is the type of “Young men strived to attain the warriors with the following words, armor they use and how it affected rank of magani, a warrior class “The warriors of Cibolan and their fighting strategy, on this Cole whose members had killed more Malilla formerly carried heads of wrote, “For defense they carry than one enemy and were entitled enemies to their towns and made shields, either round or oblong and to wear distinctive red clothing.” use of them during the GinEm cover the body with so many strips Cole commented on how ceremony, while at Bansalan and of hemp cloth that a knife thrust strife was born between the Moros Digos a lock of hair, cut from the is warded off. Turning his body and the Bagobos, he wrote, “The head of the slain, answered the sideways to the enemy, the warrior friendly relations with the Moro same purpose. Individual raiders crouches behind his shield, keep- seem to have been broken off upon sometimes carry home a head or ing up a continuous capering, rush- the arrival and settlement of the a hand as evidence of a successful ing forward or dancing backward, 17 seeking for an opening but seldom It has been frequently stated that long decorated strips called gindua; coming to close quarters. Arrows these arrows are poisoned but I they also tell of coats of mail made and spears are glanced off with the was unable to discover a single of carabao horn or . None of shield. An attack is usually initiat- specimen so prepared.” these outfits exist in the territory ed by the throwing of spears, then, Besides hemp, Cole also today, but it is not at all improbable if the enemy is at a disadvantage mentioned two materials com- that they were formerly in use, for or confused, the warriors rush in to monly found in the Philippines the long decorated bands are still close combat. For this purpose they - carabao horn and rattan, which found among the of the rely entirely on their knives, and as the Bagobos used in constructing North, with whom some trade is fencers they are unexcelled. They armor, “Old warriors state that in carried on; and a few coats of mail are but indifferent shots with the former years they not only covered are to be seen among the neighbor- bow and arrow, and that weapon the upper part of the body with ing Moro.” is but little used in actual combat. hemp cloth but wound over this

The Characteristics of Traditional Filipino Martial Arts Training

In the olden days, there was no the practice of handing down because it now possesses the sem- ranking system in Arnis-Escrima a favorite weapon from master blance of the more popular Japa- - it’s either you’re a teacher or to student in his book “Absorb nese and Chinese arts. you’re a student. Originally, the What is Useful.” One passage in The training in traditional art was taught one-on-one and the book says, “Jack Santos later Filipino martial arts was very though the very personal ap- became an advisor to my academy, informal too, done while wearing proach to teaching meant quality and until the time of his death was everyday clothes at a location of instruction, this resulted to a small the oldest living Escrima Master the master’s choosing, which could number of qualified instructors to in the United States. On his death- be his home, his backyard or in an proliferate the art. The use of such bed, surrounded by a small group open field. Mark Wiley offers an titles as “master” or “grandmaster” of Filipino boys, he asked for his interesting comment on this sub- to address an Filipino martial arts Kris shrouded in green scabbard. ject in his book “Filipino Martial teacher is but a later development. His final words were, “Make sure Culture,” it says, “For the Filipino In traditional Filipino martial arts this gets to Dan…” martial arts practitioner, where setting, “manong” and “ingkong” The use of formal rank- a physical door or even a room were mostly used, which are titles ing system through the issuance indicating sacred training space is for a revered elder. of certificates and colored belts in the exception rather than the rule, A part of Dan Inosanto’s some styles of Filipino martial arts other “intangible” thresholds exist. book “: The Art and was mainly introduced during the In the example of training held Philosophy of Bruce Lee” dis- 1960s and 1970s at the height of in “the Luneta” [the Philippines’ cussed the teaching credentials in popularity of Japanese and Chi- national park], coming into the traditional Filipino martial arts, it nese martial established training time with the reads, “As for any type of ranking and around the world. The ratio- master becomes the threshold as it system, Dan explains: The author- nale of Filipino martial arts teach- moves the student’s mental state ity to teach is given by handing ers who have adapted this practice from an ordinary person into a down a favorite weapon or pet was that it was a necessary move martial arts practitioner embarking movement; there are no creden- to make. They believe that the act on a warrior’s path.” tials.” would render the Filipino martial Traditional Filipino mar- Inosanto again mentioned arts more attractive to the public tial arts masters are also reluctant 18 to share their skills to people they consecutively against the Ameri- Another unique character- don’t know intimately. To them, cans. Manong Ignacio himself istic of traditional Filipino martial their knowledge of the Filipino fought against the Japanese in arts training is how one progresses martial arts is an heirloom, which Manila during World War II. Also from being a student to becoming cannot be bought by money. For a former eight-rounder boxer, he a master. In the same article, Reyes a student to be accepted, he must retained much of his strength in explains, “But in that case, when prove himself worthy to be entrust- his twilight years. He was 84-years does an Arnis student becomes a ed with such a knowledge deemed old when I met him but neverthe- Master? Does he promote himself? sacred. less can still pump one-arm push- Strange as it may seem to a Chi- The late Filipino martial ups. nese or Japanese stylist, the answer arts scholar Pedro Reyes described How he shared his brand of in traditional Arnis is, yes. The tra- the distinct traits of traditional Escrima to me was also a unique ditional Arnisador begins to teach masters, in his article “Filipino experience. I’m not quite sure when he feels he is ready to teach, Martial Tradition” (Rapid Journal whether it was because he was not when his master tells him Vol. 4 no.1), he wrote, “When a aware of my past Filipino martial so.” Reyes’ explanation could be student first approaches a tradi- arts training, language barrier or understood better by examining the tional master, the master may say, lack of verbal communication old traditions of Arnis-Escrima. In ‘Yes, I’ll teach you the little that I skill, but he didn’t taught me with the olden days, a Filipino man does know.’ He would then demonstrate the usual “this is angle one... this not flaunt his stick or blade fight- his abilities and if the student likes is angle two... “ but rather by dem- ing skills unless he was ready to be it, he would stay for more instruc- onstrating combative concepts. challenged. The decision to teach tion.” Each contact of his stick on a connotes that he was extremely The above-mentioned surface serves as a springboard to confident of his fighting skills. The reminds me of my encounter with launch an attack on another plane fact that he is willing to step into Manong Ignacio Mabait, an old- generating an explosive forward a death match was also the reason school Escrimador who is a prod- pressure. He was already half- why he commanded respect re- uct of the juego todo [all-out stick blind when I last saw him in 2007 gardless whether he himself or his fighting] era. I chanced upon him and had totally lost contact with teacher elevated him to the status one early morning in 2000 while him when I relocated to another of being a Master. I was out to buy bread for break- residence. fast – he was carrying a pair of rattan Escrima sticks. He answered in the affirmative when I asked him if he was an Escrimador. His reply though polite was brief and succinct and he seemed wary of my intentions for asking. Since our initial meeting, I would spent a couple of minutes of friendly chat with him, whenever I saw him on the street while I’m on my way to work or heading home. It took roughly six months before he opened up about his martial art. Later on when we be- came friends, I discovered that he learned his martial art from his father. He plainly called it “Es- crima.” His father, he intimated, fought against the Spaniards and The writer training with Manong Ignacio Mabait 19 The Footwork of Arnis-Escrima

No matter how good an Es- on its track before it could gain Chinatown during the 1960s. crimador is in wielding his weap- momentum. I personally believe that ons, it would do little good unless On the other hand, moving the practice and choice of foot- he has the right footwork to bring forward on the right diagonal stem work would become a highly him to his intended target. There of the “V” would mean flowing personal thing in the long run. A are varied approaches to footwork with the weapon’s movement until number of factors would affect a in the Filipino martial arts but the it arrived in a “zero-pressure” zone practitioner’s choice of footwork most commonly used is the trian- where it had already lost much of such as his physique, psyche as gular footwork. its force. a fighter and preferred weapons. The triangular footwork Moving along the lower Dan Inosanto once told of how stemmed out of the dynamics of diagonal lines resembling an he tried to copy the footwork of the movement of the stick as a upside-down “V” represents eva- the late Juanito “Johnny Lacoste weapon. The best diagram to il- sion - avoiding damage by staying with no success. A part of his book lustrate the triangle footwork is a out of the business end of your the “Filipino Martial Arts,” reads, box with an X inside it (dividing opponent’s stick. “Danny Inosanto says he’s been the square into four connected Besides the triangle, other trying to copy LaCoste’s footwork triangles). approaches to footwork can be for 14-years. He’s finally gotten to The upper diagonal lines found in various styles of Filipino where he can describe it, but actu- resembling a “V” represent direc- martial arts like the linear foot- ally use it the way LaCoste does? tions to take on either the right work similar to western fencing No.” side or left side of the opponent. and . There’s even some While some Filipino Mas- If the opponent is - that incorporated Chinese kung fu ters offer elaborate explanations on ing a forehand horizontal footwork as in the case of Lapunti the intricacies of the footwork of with a stick from his right to his Arnis Abaniko, which is the result the Filipino martial arts, some pays left, moving forward on the left of the collaboration between scant attention on the subject. diagonal stem of the “V” connotes Grandmaster Felimon Caburnay Samuel Chau, a practitioner and jamming the weapon, stopping it and Grandmaster Johnny Chiuten. coach of Eskrima De Campo- In his article “Lapunti Arnis: JDCIO under Maestro Ireneo The Third Style” (Rapid Olavides stated that there’s no Journal Vol.5 No.1), Rene fancy footwork in their system. Navarro, Chiuten’s friend Chau said that De Campo-JDCIO and student wrote, “Ca- just employs simple small and big burnay and Chiuten met in steps on both left and right direc- 1972 and combined the ex- tions, “It is more fitting with the isting techniques of Arnis de “sniper nature” of our system,” he Abanico - solo , doble pointed out. Chau is pertaining to baston, daga and espada y the largo mano (long hand or long daga, along with the subsid- range) nature of De Campo Eskri- iary techniques of tapi-tapi, ma that employs fast, accurate and palakaw, arko, contadas and rebounding strikes. trangkada - and the decep- Bonifacio “Loloy” Uy, tive footwork and kicking creator of the BDU (Bonifacio D. techniques of Hong Cha.” Uy) System of Escrima even goes Chiuten was the top student farther by stating that, “There’s no of Lao Kim, the legendary footwork in Arnis-Escrima.” The triangular footwork is the most com- kung fu master of Manila’s In my own practice, I mon footwork in the Filipino martial arts found that what works for me best 20 is the step-and-slide method of ting. A good exercise then is to test on solid footing, such as a park- footwork. This kind of footwork is how your footwork would work ing lot or a deserted street corner. accomplished by simply stepping on different environment like on a But there is an unusually heavy first with the foot nearest to the ledge, the slope of a hill, a slippery rainfall in the region where this direction you are taking and then floor or while wading in -deep style comes from, which leaves the the other foot slides into place. waters. ground so muddy and slippery that Personally, I’ve found this method Inosanto in his book “Jeet after the first stroke the practitioner effective in moving in all direc- Kune Do: The Art and Philosophy would invariably slip down any- tions both offensively and defen- of Bruce Lee,” wrote, “To further way.” sively. Because the feet always illustrate the profound impact Unlike other Asian martial remain at shoulder-width apart, it environment can have on one’s arts like karate and kung fu, foot- also doesn’t disturb one’s center of method of fighting, I would only work in traditional Arnis-Escrima gravity much during movements. mention that there exists a style can be learned without practic- But remember that no mat- of Filipino sword fighting which ing formalized stances. In many ter how efficient a particular foot- teaches its practitioners to respond traditional styles of Filipino mar- work, terrain can impose limitation to an encounter by immediately tial arts, the student is encouraged on its efficacy. It’s easy to develop dropping to the ground in a seated to discover his optimum preferences when you are practic- posture. Ridiculous, you say? through body-feel and the under- ing your art in a comfortable set- Sure, if the takes place standing of body mechanics.

21 Power Generation in Filipino Stick Fighting

Power generation is most your body to act in a synergistic The National Geographic Channel important when fighting with im- . While a high number through its program pact weapons. When fighting with of repetitions is the goal in this once aired a special on the Filipino swords and knives, minimal force exercise, one must progress cau- fighting stick featuring Dan Ino- is needed since it is the blade that tiously to avoid undue strain. The santo. In the interview with Fight inflicts the damage. In contrast, best indicator that you are doing it Science, Inosanto explained the Fighting with a stick means you’ve right is the swishing sound of the potential of the stick as a weapon, got to be able to generate bone- stick. Ireneo Olavides, founder of “When you look at the stick it shattering power. Eskrima De Campo JDC-IO said looks very innocent. But this thing There are roughly two that his teacher, the late legend- can travel like a baseball pitch types of strikes in Filipino stick ary juego todo (all out stick fight) sometimes at 90 miles an hour,” fighting: follow through strikes champion Grandmaster Jose D. he said. Inosanto explained that and snapping strikes. While both Caballero puts extra emphasis on the simple motion of the stick required rapid muscular contrac- this, “In all our sessions, Manong could be very deceiving because tions for power generation, the lat- Jose wanted to hear the swishing done full-speed; it could deliver ter is harsher to the joints particu- sound of all the strikes made by a succession of six blows in one larly the elbows and the wrists. the stick, which weighed about second. He demonstrated that to Training of the muscles 150 grams. He believed that the generate power, one could use just is crucial to power development swishing sound of the stick when the wrist, then the shoulder, the in stick fighting. It is pretty well striking is a manifestation of waist and finally the entire body. established now that an abundance power and speed,” he narrated. Inosanto’s demonstration showed of fast-twitch muscles is advanta- Hitting solid objects like sandbags, that a minor strike (power gener- geous for martial artists because dummies and old tires could aug- ated by the wrist) could easily lead of the rapid nature and explosive- ment power stroking. to a major strike (power generated ness of martial arts movements. In Olavides believes that by the waist or the whole body). simplest term, fast twitch muscles relaxation is very important in de- The program’s use of sophisticated are for sprinters and slow twitch livering fast and powerful strikes. motion-capture technology also muscles are for distance runners. I will never forget his insight on revealed that the stick extends the The dominance of either type of the seemingly simple matter of muscles is determined by genet- holding the stick, “Being one with ics. While this is the case, some the stick means the weapon has experts believe that it is poor become a mere extension of your predictor of actual athletic perfor- limb. If you have become one with mance. The nature of stick fighting the stick, then you don’t treat it as dictates that both muscle types be a slave, gripping it desperately as developed. if it would slip out of your hand The most common method any moment,” he said. With his of developing striking power prowess in Escrima, I find it a with the stick is through stroking big surprise that unlike a typical exercises. This simply means that martial arts old-timer, he has very you practice each strike full-force smooth hands - almost like those with no target but thin air using a of a woman. heavy hardwood stick or the stick The Escrimadores of yore you would actually use in a real were known to test the power and fight. Besides power develop- snap of their strikes by cracking Various weights of sticks are em- ment, this exercise would result to husked with their sticks. economical form and would teach ployed in power stroking exercises 22 user’s range by nearly three feet in ern fencing and since these tion of the body and arms towards every direction. This advantage is martial arts display similar move- the target. This would be impor- further magnified by the increased ments. Jonathan Riddle, in his tant especially if an actually sharp leverage that creates a whip-like article “Kinesiology of Fencing weapon were either cutting flesh effect into the target. and Kendo,” published in the De- or penetrating a body. The other While there is yet to be cember 2007 issue of Iaidō Journal fact is, it is hard to defend against a done a study on the kinesiology concludes, “In both systems the strong attack. If the weapon accel- (science of human movement) of power of the attack comes from erates, this affects the timing of a Filipino stick fighting movements, the force applied to the ground, , relative to of the I believe it is worthwhile examine causing a reaction from the ground attack.” a similar research done on west- into the legs, causing an accelera-

Weapons to Empty Hand Transition in the Filipino Martial Arts

The Filipino martial arts are tial arts to get so convoluted with One could fit hooking punches and highly conceptual in nature. Under- techniques that people forget the roundhouse on horizontal standing the underlying concepts of Filipino martial arts are more than angles and and knee the Filipino martial arts is the key just techniques.” strikes on upward angles. to mastering the transition from The most common way Even and joint weapon to weapon and to empty of translating Filipino martial arts locks could be learned and under- hand fighting. weapon techniques into empty stood by observing how an Escri- In the following excerpt hand applications is through the from his letter published in the basic angles of attacks. In this September, 1990 issue of Inside scheme, you retain the angle but Kung Fu magazine, Filipino Mas- substitute the blade or the stick ter Rene Latosa expounds on the with your limbs. Take for example conceptual nature of the Filipino angle number one - a downward martial arts, it reads, “The key diagonal blow from left to right element to the Filipino arts is the common to many Filipino martial concept to make transitions from arts styles. The gist of the whole weapon to weapon and to empty thing is it doesn’t matter whether hand. The remarkable feat ulti- you’re using a baseball bat, a mately unifies the Filipino martial kitchen knife or your hammer fist; arts. The common denominator in a downward diagonal blow is a downward diagonal blow. It won’t Understanding the concepts behind the Filipino martial arts is its con- Filipino martial arts weapon tech- take much practice to identify cepts not its techniques. My goals niques is the key to translate it to are to preserve my cultural heritage what empty hand technique would empty hand applications. by not allowing the Filipino mar- fit best a particular angle of attack. 23 mador dislodge a weapon out of why the ancient Filipinos chose targets in knife fighting. his opponent’s hand. A the limbs as primary targets. A An Escrimador could easily occurs when a joint is manipu- bone shattered to pieces resulting destroy his enemy’s upper limbs lated in an unnatural way, twist- from a blunt instrument hit poses even without a stick or blade. The ing it beyond its range of motion grave threat to nearby nerves and nerve-rich areas at the base of or putting a fulcrum under it (a vessels depending on the loca- the arms, the shoulders and the fulcrum could be a limb or a for- tion of the break. Bone slivers armpits are excellent targets. The eign object such as a weapon) and can pinch and tear surrounding armpit areas are so vulnerable pulling it on the opposite direction structures resulting to hemorrhage. that the improper use of crutches of its natural bend. A lock can be Even if the bone survived the could damage the nerve networks applied on any joint - the fingers, impact and there was no exter- underneath it causing paralysis to wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck, nal bleeding, a direct blow on an the triceps and wrist extensors. A spine, knees and ankles. Strangu- artery could rupture it causing grappling move that dislocated the lation can be done using a stick or arterial blood to leak. If not treated shoulder joint may press the arm your bare forearms. Proficiency fast, both conditions could lead to bone on the nerve of the armpits is further gained by developing gangrene and may require amputa- paralyzing part of that limb. Any the physical attributes that would tion. hits on the various points of the make the techniques created more An adept Filipino blade arm could damage the median, ul- effective such as sensitivity, speed fighter knows that he does not nar and radial nerves that run along coordination and strength. have to stab the torso to kill his its length. The effect may range Knowing the scien- adversary. Without immediate from pins-and-needles sensation tific basis of Filipino martial arts medical treatment, a knife slash to temporary motor dysfunction to concepts would broaden a prac- that severed the brachial arteries permanent paralysis, depending on titioner’s option on its uses. The (located inside the crooks) the force of the blow. concept of limb destruction (com- would result to hemorrhagic shock The offensive mindset of monly referred to as “defanging in 15- seconds and death in one- the Filipino martial arts, which the snake”) for instance can be and-a-half minutes. A similar deep preferred to hit rather than block interpreted with or without weap- cut on the radial arteries (located whenever possible could also be ons. Categorically, there are two at the inside portion of the wrists) interpreted with or without weap- ways to destroy a limb: through would cause unconsciousness ons. This particular concept can joint manipulation or by using in 30-seconds and death in two be interpreted as interception or strikes. minutes. The femoral arteries that stop-hitting where you your Under the light of modern run along the inside of the thighs opponent dead on his track using medical science, one would learn up to the groin area are also lethal your limbs, a stick, a blade or even a projectile.

24 Various Forms of Filipino Indigenous Wrestling

While known for the ef- and athletic man, encouraged him . Bultong matches were ficacy of its stick and blade fight- to develop his frail body by means done on grass or dirt and often ing techniques, the Filipino martial of physical exercises, including were meant to settle disputes arts is a multi-faceted and complete horseback riding, walking and involving adultery and landowner- combat system that incorporates wrestling. And Tio Gregorio, a ship. Nid Anima in his book “The empty hand skills like boxing and book lover, intensified his vora- Filipino Martial Arts,” wrote of the wrestling. Wrestling being the most cious reading of good books.” nature of a bultong match, it reads, natural form of fighting known to It is with much certainty “The objective of the bultong, as man thrives in the different parts of that Rizal learned “,” a style with other forms of wrestling, is to the Philippines. of native wrestling popular in the the opponent to the ground. Historians Gregorio F. Tagalog region where he hailed. In the process of a match, they Zaide and Sonia M. Zaide wrote in Another part of the book nar- may be elbowing, boxing, scratch- the book “Jose Rizal: Life, Works, rates how the young Rizal used ing, eye-, nose pinching, and Writings of a Genius Writer, his knowledge of wrestling in an moustache-pulling, hair-pulling, Scientist and National Hero,” that actual fight, it says, “Jose chal- rib-tickling and other unfair tactics native wrestling was included in lenged Pedro to a fight. The latter that cannot be avoided, wrestling the early education of Jose Rizal, readily accepted, thinking that he being what it is: a game that has no it reads, “His three uncles, broth- could easily beat the Calamba boy room for niceties. Once a contes- ers of his mother, exerted a good who was smaller and younger. tant’s back is pinned to the ground, influence on him. Tio [Uncle] The two boys wrestled furiously the contest is declared over and the Jose Alberto, who had studied in the classroom, much to the glee combatant atop wins.” for 11-years in a British school in of their classmates. Jose, having Another form of Fili- Calcutta, , and had traveled in learned the art of wrestling from pino wrestling identified with the Europe inspired him to develop his his athletic Tio Manuel, defeated Visayas particularly the island of artistic ability. Tio Manuel, a husky the bigger boy. For this feat, he Panay is “dumog.” Dumog made became popular among his class- its way into the American martial mates.” arts scene through the teachings It is perhaps Rizal’s early of Dan Inosanto. Paul Vunak, a exposure to native wrestling that student of Inosanto even produced whetted his interest to study judo an instructional video on dumog during his brief sojourn in Japan in and how to incorporate it to the jeet 1888. kune do street fighting matrix. The popularity of “buno” In the Philippines, dumog in the region is evident in the fact contest were usually held during a that the preeminent Tagalog poet town fiesta. Tranquilino Solanoy, Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar a burly Visayan amateur boxer mentioned it along with “Arnis” in and dumog player told me that his epic “.” such contests were done on dirt Buno, today is often taught and offer prize money. Solanoy as part of some systems of arnis- narrated that his grandfather who escrima in Luzon. It is hard to find was a champion dumog player authentic instruction on the sub- retained much of his strength in ject. his old age. The old man, he said, In the mountainous ar- can still carry sacks of rice and can eas of northern Luzon, another throw an opponent in a very bal- form of native wrestling called listic manner. Just like in bultong, Native wrestling was part of the early “bultong” is practiced among the the objective in dumog is to pin the education of Jose Rizal 25 opponent’s back flat to the ground. documented among these are: tling retained much of its original Solanoy revealed that some dumog layug (Cebu), pantok (), war-like character. The latter can players freely incorporated west- tulot (), gabbo (Ilocos), be summed up in the words of ern wrestling techniques into their lampungan (Bicol), dama (Igorot), Mickey Dimic in his book “Mixed repertoire of native dumog maneu- lawidan (), silaga (Sa- Martial Arts Unleashed,” he wrote, vers. mal) and kapulubod (Maranaw). “The aim in all Being an archipelago, the Wrestling, being the oldest is to knock the other person down wrestling arts of the Philippines method of fighting known to man to the ground and get on top of him are as diverse as its stick and blade evolved into a mere or her. The reason for this is that in fighting arts. Besides buno, bul- in many parts of the world. But war, the one on the ground is nor- tong and dumog there are other in the Filipino martial arts, where mally helpless to weapon thrusts forms of native Filipino wrestling weapons techniques are taught to from the one on top, or from his or that need to be investigated and practitioners from day one, wres- her comrades nearby.”

The Role of Solo and Two-man Training in the Filipino Martial Arts

carenza in some learn how to put their body weight old styles of behind a strike. A good indicator Arnis-Escrima) is of power is how loud the swishing still the best form sound your stick can make. of solo training. The following quote from One good thing I Master Amante Mariñas was love about Es- published in Mark Wiley’s “Fili- crima is you were pino Martial Culture,” it reads, “If able to accomplish you want to be become good you a lot in a single must practice, practice, practice. workout. A non- At one time I did 20,000 strikes in stop shadow fight- one day. It took me six hours. The The skills of the Filipino martial ing routine for next day my arm was tired but I arts are traditionally taught one- three minutes for instance carries didn’t stop practicing, I developed on-one. Out of the instructor’s with it the benefits of technique Arnis elbow because I was using presence, it is up to the student development, cardiovascular stim- an anahaw stick, which weighed Escrimador to refine what he has ulation and muscular conditioning. about one kilogram. Swinging was learned. Solo and two-man train- In Arnis-Escrima, power easy but jabbing was difficult with ing have their rightful places in and good structure are mainly the heavy stick.” the practice of the Filipino martial achieved through repetition. A Besides hitting thin air, the Escri- arts. common practice among Escri- mador can practice his techniques Shadow fighting (called madors is to swing their stick on an inanimate object like a heavy over and over again in thin air to 26 bag or a tree. Ideally, the is or at posters. We suggest that you lack thereof cannot be learned a good place to practice where one hang pictures of athletes perform- alone. This can only be acquired can hit rebounding branches and ing your event to perfection where through the guidance of an able practice footwork on an uneven you can see them as often as pos- teacher and by constantly practic- terrain. I have also seen fellow sible.” Porter and Foster explained ing with a live training partner. Escrimadors who have constructed that visualization enhanced per- Finally, the fighting spirit of an excellent dummies as training aids. formance because the brain can- Escrimador is best honed through A word of caution though about not really distinguished between free . Despite the myriad hitting surfaces whether with a mental and physical experience. of drills in the Filipino martial arts, weapon or with your bare hands. While solo training would free sparring is still the closest If your hitting an object with full contribute greatly to the refine- thing to real fighting. The mental power, be sure that it is not some- ment of skills, practicing alone is and emotional fortitude as well as thing that is more stable and more not enough to attain mastery. As in the physical tenacity required to rooted than you are or something other martial arts, there are certain overcome an opponent can only that is very dense. The reason for aspects of the Filipino martial arts be learned through the practice of this is if you opted for such ob- that cannot be perfected by solo sparring. The kind of safety equip- jects, you will be absorbing much training alone like spatial judg- ment to be used is for the individ- of your striking force every time ment, kinesthetic sensitivity (the ual Escrimador to decide depend- you deliver a blow. This could lead ability to read the energy of one’s ing on the intensity of sparring he to joint, ligaments and tendons opponent) and the attainment of wants to experience. damage in the long run. fighting spirit. All these three A common thread I noticed Another potent form of solo components are best polished with among authentic masters of the training though often overlooked a live training partner. Filipino martial arts is their will- is visualization. The late legendary Every Escrimador has a preferred ingness to spar. I have observed death match master Floro Vil- range of fighting be it short, that such trait among these men labrille once said that he practiced medium or long range. In a fight, was born out of sublime confidence visualization right before every bridging the gap between you and on their skills and not because of match. The effectiveness of visual- your opponent is almost always boastfulness and arrogance. Pain ization in maximizing athletic per- the first problem you have to deal is a specific element that can only formance has long been validated with. Gauging the proper distance be introduced best via sparring. scientifically. The following is an is crucial in the delivery of a strike Dan Inosanto, in his book “Absorb interesting quote from “The Mental for it would be the basis if a par- What is Useful,” relates how one Athlete” by Kay Porter and Judy ticular blow would land with accu- of his teachers introduced him to Foster, it reads, “You must know racy and power. The experience is the element of pain, he says, “Pain what you want and what results totally different between banging is important according to my early you are aiming for in a particular with your stick at a stationary sand Escrima instructor Master Ellustri- visualization. It is good to have the bag or a stack of tires and trying to simo [Illustrisimo], who said, “I hit ‘language’ of your event, the terms hit a moving opponent with it. you hard because you will never and idioms of your sport. Along Since clinching and wres- understand. Notice it affects your with this you should have a clear tling happen in real fights, kines- respiratory system not just your picture of how it looks to perform thetic sensitivity is a worthwhile hands.” I didn’t know that. And your event perfectly. This you can attribute to acquire. The ability even hearing it often isn’t enough get by watching the best athletes in to read your opponent’s energy for it to stick so well. Unless you your sport in person, on television, through feeling pressure or the are taken to the threshold of pain, or looking at pictures in magazines you won’t truly understand.”

27 The Role of the “Alive Hand” in Arnis-Escrima

The “alive hand” in Arnis- with a push on the face with the Escrima pertains to the non-weap- non-weapon hand while deliver- on hand. It is called “alive hand” ing thrust on the upper and middle because though at times it may not body with the stick hand. Hits like be holding a weapon, it is never punches on the head and body passive but plays an active role in were also prevalent in close range combat. but I have yet to see a perfect When an Escrimador disarm or lock done by the “alive wields long and short weapons as hand” in a full-speed stick-fighting in the case of espada y daga, which match. was borrowed from western fenc- The use of the “alive a weapons oriented martial art, its ing, the “alive hand” is the hand hand” is taught at length in Fili- practice of the use of the “alive that holds the shorter weapon. In pino martial arts styles that favor hand” particularly in disarms indi- the West, historically, the close-quarter fighting. Balintawak, rectly teaches its practitioners the was originally used mainly for a Cebuano close-quarter style of basics of joint manipulation and parrying. Pertaining to the Escrima uses the “alive hand” grappling. By understanding the fencing techniques of the 16th cen- extensively. John Russel, author principles of how weapons could tury Aldo Nadi in his book “Nadi of “The Balintawak System of be dislodged from the opponent’s on Fencing,” wrote, “Most parries Arnis-Escrima,” describes the by manipulating the joints of were made with the dagger, or by system’s use of the “alive hand” the wrists, elbows and shoulders moving the body out of the line of with the following words: “The (twisting it beyond its range of mo- attack.” empty/live or submissive hand in tion or pulling it towards the oppo- If the Escrimador is using initial defense with the weapon / site direction of its natural bend), two weapons of equal length, the stick can do two simple things; it the student would soon realize that one in the “alive hand” plays a can break/stop or flow through the this is applicable to the other joints secondary role. When not holding opponent’s primary weapon hand of the body as well. any weapon, the “alive hand” is or even the opponent’s empty/live In contrast, largo mano usually positioned near the center hand. What it does after this initial styles of Filipino stick fighting that of the chest. contact is entirely up to the indi- favors engaging an opponent from In an active mode, the vidual and their style.” long range pay scant or no atten- “alive hand” can dart above or In his classic book “The tion on the use of the “alive hand.” beneath the weapon hand to ac- Filipino Martial Arts,” Dan Ino- In my conversations with Manong complish the following objectives: santo relates how Escrima’s “alive Eric Olavides, founder of Eskrima to check on the opponent’s weapon hand” worked against the Spanish De Campo- JDC-IO, he related hand while delivering a counter- swordplay, it reads, “During the that his teacher, the late juego todo strike, to jam an oncoming attack, Spanish reign in the Philippines [all-out, full-contact stick-fighting to apply a joint lock, to execute a and in combat situations where the match] champion Grandmaster disarm, to push to destroy an op- ancient Filipinos fought against Jose Caballero scoffed at the idea ponent’s balance or to hit. the Spanish in swordplay, the of getting close to an opponent and Of all these objectives of “alive hand” played an important grabbing his weapon hand with the the “alive hand,” the easiest to part in confusing the Spanish “alive hand.” Olavides said that come out in a real fight are the swordplay.” Training in the use of Caballero emphasized on targeting push and the hit. In most film foot- the “alive hand” develops im- the weapon hand from long-range ages of real contact stick fighting, portant psychophysical attributes with fast and precise strikes. It is a it is not uncommon to see fighters like kinesthetic sensitivity, spatial testament to the potency of Cabal- driving their opponents backward judgment, reaction time and flow. lero’s fighting techniques that he While Arnis-Escrima is generally fought the best of the bests in Es- 28 crima and retired from juego todo dominant and more observable es the forward motion of the fighting undefeated. body parts when it fights or stalks the same way a ’s tail whips Another important function a prey, a tiger’s agility would be backward whenever it pounces on of the non-weapon hand but often greatly reduced if you cut off its a prey. This characteristic of the unrecognized by many fighters is tail. These movement dynamics “alive hand” is ubiquitous in all that it acts as a counterbalance to are also evident in the practice of forms weapons fighting regardless the offensive or defensive moves western fencing. In my study of of range and whether the practitio- of the weapon hand. A good analo- fencing with the foil, I have ob- ner is aware of it or not. gy to use is the tail of a tiger. While served that the non-weapon hand the tiger’s teeth and claws are the acts as counterbalance and enhanc-

Filipino War Dances

Every tribal warrior soci- formed to the rhythm of percussion Maglalatik is a mock-battle eties in the world have their own instruments. between Christians and Moros. A versions of war dances. The Phil- One Filipino war dance I maglalatik performance involves ippines being an archipelago and personally experienced perform- two groups of dancers; one group possessing a strong warrior cul- ing is the maglalatik (pronounced wearing red trousers represents the ture owns a variety of war dances “mahg-lah-lah-TIHK) or the Christians while the other wearing many of them displaying martial dance. Maglalatik, which green trousers represents the Mo- arts techniques. Performing war involves the wearing of coconut ros. The mock-battle was over the dances have a religious and practi- shells on the body of its dancers, is possession of “latik” (fried coco- cal purpose; besides invoking the tame compared to war dances from nut milk curd), which is a popular protection of a particular deity in the highlands of Northern Philip- ingredient of Filipino snacks. battle, war dances boost a warrior’s pines or the Muslim south of the Maglalatik dancers first fighting spirit and give him the country. The reason for this is that strike the coconut shells attached opportunity to practice combative this dance developed in the Chris- to their own bodies then they will moves. War dances were often per- tianized part of Luzon. proceed to hit the shells on each

A vintage print depicting a headhunting tribe in the Philippines (source: Project Gutenberg) 29 other’s bodies. A person who called “Mingaos.” plains the “langka tradition” in the understands the intricacies of the Still another mountain tribe dances of Southern Philippines, he movements of the Filipino martial from the north is the Ifugaos. The wrote, “The proximity of Philip- arts could easily spot combative Ifugaos performed a dance ritual pine shore to the Malay Peninsula movements in the maglalatik called “monhim-ong” to marked accounts for Malay influences in dance, among them are the criss- a violent death of a fellow tribes- the martial dances particularly, crossing pattern akin to the move- man. Men performing the monhim those found in the islands of Jolo, ments of sinawali double stick ong move in a single file while Sulu, the southern-most tip of the fighting as well as empty hand beating a percussion instrument archipelago. Langka, the term gunting [scissor] trapping motions. called “bangibang.” use to mean “dance,” has many Although no longer prac- Equally war-like as the war types: Langka-Silat, Langka- ticed, headhunting is a long tradi- dances of Northern Philippines are Pansak, Langka-Lima and Langka tion among the mountain tribes of those found in the Muslim south Budyang. Langka Silat is a dance Northern Philippines and associat- of the country. simulation of a fight in graceful ed with it are various war dances. boasts of a war dance called “sa- and flowing arm movement. This The pattong of the Bontoc gayan.” Sagayan is a spectacle to is almost the same as the Burong tribe was meant to instill courage behold as its performers brandish Talo, which is an imitative dance and strength to the warrior prior to kampilans and shields turning and of the fight between the cat and the a headhunting expedition or war. leaping, trance-like to the rhythm eagle in flight. Also, of the langka This dance was also performed of percussion instruments. The tradition is the Langka-Pansak - a during the dry months of Febru- animated motion of the sagayan variation of slow-paced move- ary, March and April to beseech was believed to drive away evil ments punctuated by a momentary the deity Lumawig to send rain on spirits. pause at the end of every stance the fields. Warriors performing the A war dance called “bi- sometimes emphasized by the use pattong brandish their head axes nanog” is still practiced by the of a pis (oversized handkerchief). and spears while clashing their Manobo tribe of Langka-Lima, on the other hand, shields. Another Bontoc pre-head- and . Binanog provides a combat variation featur- hunting ritual was the mangayaw imitates the gestures of fighting off ing five defense positions. There is where new warriors were present- an eagle attacking a hen and her also the Langka-Budyang, the only ed to the tribal council. chicks. The Subanons of Zam- martial dance variation performed The Kalingas, another boanga meanwhile perform a war by women in graceful leaps and mountain tribe of Northern Phil- dance called “sohten” to please the kicks characterized by feminine ippines has a ritual dance called gods. arm thrusts and the use of a fan.” idaw. A ritual leader called the In Sulu, the Tausug tribe, On the original intent of “mandadawak” facilitated the known for its warrior tradition has war dances, Mark Wiley in “Fili- idaw. In idaw, a group of warrior a war dance called “burung-talo.” pino Martial Culture,” wrote, “In watches over the number of insects This dance, which is acrobatic in the past, martial dance was viewed entering a plate; the number of nature and displaying stern facial as a rehearsal for actual combat. which will determine the number expressions mimics the fight be- As such, it was a rite and a symbol of heads to be taken in during tween an eagle and a cat. of initiation into manhood. Various a headhunting expedition. The Larry Gabao, president of unspoken symbolic movements Kalingas also have a celebratory the Philippine Folk Dance Society, and gestures - choreographed and dance called a takiling, which is Cultural Center of the Philippines improvised - centered around performed after a successful head- and the chairman of the Physi- man’s innate desire to be victori- hunting expedition. The crowned cal Education Department of the ous in war - more specifically, in heroes of such missions were Philippine Normal University ex- individual hand-to-hand combat.”

30 Anting-anting and the Filipino Martial Arts

The acquisition of an later on tried to replicate the “anting-anting,” an object of feat in an independent demon- supernatural powers is a com- stration, sustained a very nasty mon part of the old practice of injury. arnis-escrima. While the mystical Another type of anting-anting amulet is the most common form that is also commonly associ- of anting-anting in the Philip- ated with Escrimadores is the pines, the anting-anting comes in “tagaliwas [diverter]” that varied forms. It could be a prayer claims to have the power to (oracion), a small stone or a croco- cause the bullets to miss from dile tooth. The ways of acquiring guns fired at point blank range. an anting-anting are also diverse. In an article titled “Un- Some were passed on from father masking the Art - Artist“ by to son while others were believed Various oraciones inscribed on a vest. Marilitz Dizon (Rapid Journal This anting-anting was said to belong to be acquired after defeating spirit Vol. 6 No. 3), Romeo Macapagal, to General warriors. The belief system behind one of the senior students of the the anting-anting is a combination late legendary grandmaster Anto- dent . The group, of animism and Catholicism. Those nio “Tatang” Illustrisimo narrates armed with bolos and believing who own an anting-anting believe his experience on his teacher’s that their anting-anting could that its power is best replenished demonstration of this kind of pow- off all harms against their person and tested during Good Fridays. er, it says, “Before Tatang’s health marched against the military and The as well as the deteriorated in 1992, his mind ended up being massacred. various evangelical churches in the was very sharp and focused, his The use of the anting-anting Philippines does not condone the will power tremendous. On Good is almost always associated with use of anting-anting. Its etymology Fridays we would go to empty lots uprisings in the Philippines. Dur- unknown, the anting-anting was to test his power. On a sheet of ing the 1896 Philippine Revolution also known by other names such bond paper, Tatang would scribble against , It was said that the as “,” “bertud,” or “galing.” a few oraciones and have it set up Supremo of the , Andres The anting-anting is distinct from for target. Now, my two elder sons Bonifacio carried an amulet called the “gayuma [love potion],” which and I are competent shots, but at Santiago de Galicia - Birhen del is another popular facet of Philip- a distance of five meters we are Pilar for protection. pine esoterica. only shooting around that 8 x 11 Manong Ignacio Mabait, It was in 1999, at the turn inches sheet of paper, knocking its an old-school Escrimador whom of the century that a number of my edges only at three meters. Good I have befriended in 2000 showed Filipino martial arts colleagues be- sight pictures, good squeeze, good me his own anting-anting – it was gan experimenting with oraciones. ammo, but we could not hit the a talisman implanted in one of his They’ve joined an ancient blade target. Whatever the mechanisms, arms by his father. He intimated to whose initiation rites include it worked.” me that his father was also an Es- being hacked by a very sharp bolo One documented - crimador who have fought against several times. This particular type use of anting-anting that ended in the Spaniards and consecutively of anting-anting belongs to the disaster was the case of Valentin against the Americans. Manong “kabal” or “kunat oracion” cat- delos Santos and his religio- Ignacio himself fought against the egory that were believed to make political society Lapiang Malaya. Japanese in Manila during World the bearer impervious to bladed In May 21, 1967, the then 86-year War II. The implant looked like a weapon attacks. All of my friends old Delos Santos and the members bead that moved about under his emerged unharmed from the hack- of his society demanded reforms skin. I surmised that, that kind of ing ritual. But one of them, who from the administration of Presi- anting-anting was the same kind 31 possessed by the founder of the index finger and swaying it. practice, the majority of Filipino Philippine Independent Church, Aglipay’s trip to Bangued martial art practitioners in the Phil- as mentioned in was characterized by lodg- ippines today, including the top Nid Anima’s book “The Filipino ing in my grandfather’s house. His masters put more importance to Martial Arts,” it reads, “Perhaps siestas there were aided by one practical skills than esoteric prac- the coincidence that this writer is of grandfather’s sons, Agustin, tices. I got the following succinct Aglipay’s godson qualifies him for whom he was particularly fond of. answer from Master Yuli Romo, the revelation of factual informa- The bishop’s back was a strange another senior student of Tatang tion about the Aglipayan bishop phenomenon, according to Uncle Illustrisimo and founder of Bahad which are heretofore unchroni- Agustin. Scattered on different Zubu when I asked his opinion cled. From my grandfather who places on his back were five flesh on the subject: “I believe in ora- was a priest in his church, I gath- corns and about the size of corn cion but I give more importance ered that his early morning gurgle grains, too. Pressing one of these to practical skills. The Bible says constituted not water but . would send them all scrambling that we have guardian angels and Refuted as a man’s extraordinary playfully, taking each other’s they were there for our protection. strength, one manifestation of different places in the manner of I believe in that. But to say that I’ll Aglipay’s strength was in the way children’s games.” use an oracion so that my opponent he toyed a heavy iron bar like While there are still Es- would not be able to hit me, that is a child toying a pencil, holding crimadores that consider anting- another story.” one of its tips between thumb and anting as part of their martial arts

Possible Foreign Influences on the Filipino Martial Arts

Of the many foreign forces who have invaded the Philippines, the Spaniards were the only ones that made a tangible influence on the Filipino martial arts. The concept of espada y daga (sword and dagger) for instance was borrowed from Spanish sword- play. Even today, a lot of Filipino martial art terminologies are still in Spanish. The influence of Spanish may have en- A by National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco tered the Filipino martial art after depicting Limahong’s invasion of the Philippines 32 intermarriages occurred between the friar guerrilleros became so civilization reached the Philip- Spaniards and Filipinos and on fond of fighting they did not return pines. Again, in “Manila, My instances where the Spanish gov- to their convents at the end of the Manila,” he wrote, “The Chinito ernment had to train the natives as war but continued operating in the look would come (along with an auxiliary fighting force against boondocks, this time as bandit and ) only after 1565, invaders. leaders.” when the Chinese began to migrate On the latter, the Spanish Another book that men- here in droves. In the history of clergy may have possibly played tions the Spanish clergy’s valor in Chinese-Philippine relations, an extensive role. On the extent of combat is “Swish of the Kris” by therefore, those ten thousand years the authority of Spanish friars, the Victor Hurley, a part of it reads. of supposed past together have historian Rosario Mendoza Cortes “Indeed, matters reached such a little or no importance. The impact wrote, “As the only Spaniard in state that before the end of the year of Chinese culture on us begins town and for many miles around, warships were ordered out for only in 1565.” he became not only the spiritual another attack on Jolo. Four If official documentation caretaker of the area but the repre- regiments of infantry and a corps was to be the sole basis, the Chi- sentative of the government as of aided the . nese martial arts only influenced well. He became part of the admin- Included was a of Cebua- the Filipino martial art during the istrative machinery of the colony,” noes (sic) who sought revenge for last century. It happened when (Pangasinan, 1572 to 1800, New the Moro raids. The wives of the Grandmaster Johnny Chiuten got Day Publisher, 1974). So great was Cebuanoes (sic) emulated Lysis- involved in the development of the involvement of these priests in trata in reverse. Every wife took an Lapunti Arnis De Abaniko of their communities that some of oath before Father Ibanez to deny Grandmaster Filemon Caburnay. A them even took up arms in the forever their husbands all of their student of the legendary Lao Kim, event of a foreign invasion. favors if the Cebuano men turned Chiuten infused elements of his On the participation of the their backs to the Moros. In the Dragon-Tiger Kung Fu to Lapunti Spanish friars in the British inva- battle of Jolo, Father Ibanez lost Arnis De Abaniko. sion, National Artist for Literature his life in the assault on a Moro But there may be earlier Nick Joaquin in his book “Manila, cotta. The good Father tucked his instances where the Chinese My Manila, wrote, “Also heroes of cassock about his waist and martial arts may have blended with the British war were a host of plunged into the thickest of the the Filipino martial art. One of anonymous friars who left their battle. The Cebuanoes (sic) per- them may have happened after the convents, took arms, and led the formed prodigies of valor and Jolo attack of the Chinese pirate Lima- resistance in , Laguna, fell again. The seat of the Sultanate hong on the Philippines in Novem- and Pampanga. The was removed across the island to ber 1574. On the Chinese corsair’s Franciscans of Laguna held off the Maybun, and the Moros paid invasion Joaquin wrote, “Some 600 British while treasure smuggled regular visits to Jolo to slaughter of the pirates fell in battle, includ- out of hiding was conveyed to the Spanish garrison, which re- ing poor Lieutenant Sioco. Killed Anda in Pampanga. When Chinese mained.” were around 50 of the defenders. rebels armed by the British at- Besides the Spaniards, Limahong lost no time decamping tacked Pasig, they were driven there are other foreign forces that from the bay. He sailed to - back by an impromptu army could have made an influence on nan and there tried to establish a captained by a Franciscan friar. the Filipino martial art. colony but was driven from there The fiercest fighters were the Though the Chinese pre- by his nemesis Juan de Salcedo. Augustinians, whom the British ceded the Spaniards in the Philip- Some of his men escaped to Igorot abhorred as mortal antagonists. Ten pines, their influence came in a bit country, where they sired a Augustinians died in action and late. Joaquin commented that breed among the highlanders.” nineteen were captured in battle. while the Filipinos were in con- Known for their fearsome An Augustian friar led the guerilla stant contact with the Chinese prowess in combat, it is highly band that ambushed British troops primarily because of trade for probable that these Chinese pirates in Bulacan. It is said that several of 10,000 years, so little of Chinese may have had shared their fighting 33 skills with the Philippine highland now stand]. The site has been a the 1640s, “A community of tribes where they found refuge. It Japanese ghetto since pre-Hispan- Japanese and Filipinos,” he ex- is interesting to note that the ic times. When the Spanish took plained. Given the tremendous Chinese pirate Koxinga taught Manila, they found twenty Japa- spiritual and nationalistic charac- combat to the natives of nese living there, one of whom teristic the Japanese attached to the when he came to the territory. In was a Christian.” sword, it was doubtful if they ever an article titled “The Sung Chiang Joaquin told that most of taught (skill with sword) Battle Array - Taiwanese Martial the Japanese in Dilao (literally to a foreigner at that time. There’s Arts Show,” Bernado Tuso wrote, means “yellow” in Tagalog) were a remote possibility though that “Taiwan was a sparsely populated, displaced warriors or they may have imparted some of practically virgin island when ronins. Hence the friars decided their jujitsu (empty hand fighting Koxinga and his people arrived. To that it was appropriate to set up a skills) to Filipinos. aid in the development of the new parish in the area in honor of When the Americans came island’s economy and protect it a soldier saint. So was created the to the Philippines at the turn of the against possible invasion by the San Miguel parish in Manila. 20th century, they introduced Manchus and the Dutch, Koxinga The ronins of Manila Filipinos to their brand of combat trained and armed the peasants. remained adherents of Bushido or sports like western boxing and Many of the weapons used in the “The Way of the Warrior.” Though wrestling. While there are interest- Sung Chiang battle array are the Lieutenant-Governor Antonio ing historical materials presented actually the farm tools--rakes, de Morga commended them as indicating that Filipino martial art sickles, hooks, umbrellas - used by “honest and law-abiding,” they concepts did influenced western the early peasantry.” remained fighters. In fact, 500 boxing, I believe it was not one- The Japanese may have Japanese mercenaries from Dilao sided and an exchange took place. also imparted influence on the participated in Governor Juan de Elements of western boxing made Filipino martial art long before Silva’s conquest of the Moluccas it to the Filipino martial art too their conquest of the Philippines in 1615 and Spain’s battle against particularly the use of modern during the Second World War. the Dutch in Malacca in 1616. equipments like the heavy bag and Another part of Joaquin’s “Manila, These displaced Samurai warriors the speed bag as well as numerous My Manila,” reads, “Dilao, a were said to be hired “at high combat conditioning methods. I village occupying the present pay,” a testament to their formi- have also known players of dumog location of City Hall and the San dable fighting prowess. (the indigenous wrestling of Marcelino area, included a Japa- Joaquin said in his book Panay) who have incorporated nese quarter on the banks of the that the San Miguel Parish did not western wrestling techniques into Estero Tripa de Gallina [where remained exclusively Japanese but their native grappling arts. Hotel Mirador and the Tabacalera became “mixed” in character by

34 Silat and the Filipino Martial Arts

Silat as a martial art is of the 19th century. All three be- characterized by graceful dance- longs to the Celebes tribe known like movements. While it thrives as Bugis. But they seem to be not in southern Philippines, Silat in the really the first, after all. Another strictest term is not an indigenous member of the Bugis tribe by the Filipino martial art. name of Samaru, also a master of I first witnessed an exhibi- this deadly martial sport, came tion of Silat ohlaraga (sport silat) much earlier than these three men in 1991 and I remember being credited with the introduction of impressed with the artistry of the Silat.” movements of the players. The Besides his personal second time I saw a Silat perfor- research, Anima pointed to the mance was in an informal gather- works of the following writers as ing of martial artists in 2006. It the sources of the materials in his art. No one will just teach it to you was combat Silat this time and the book: “The Arnis in Sulu” (Sun- because this art is usually hidden. two practitioners demonstrated day Times Magazine, February Mindanao’s practices are quite their ways of using a knife. I would 18, 1962) and “The Disappearing different as against how the Silat describe their techniques as very Sport of Filipino Wrestling” (Sun- forms are more openly practiced in aggressive and ballistic. day Mirror Magazine, September , or in Manila.” Mark Wiley in his book 4, 1962) by Lamberto Ticsay; and Tanadjalan became the “Filipino Martial Culture” wrote “Ancient Filipino Sports” by Tirzo head coach of the Philippine sport that Silat and Islam came to the Rodriguez published in Go Maga- silat team in 1986. In that year, the Philippines hand-in-hand, “Along zine. Philippine team bagged a , sil- with the transplantation of Malay- Silat flourishes in Mind- ver and three bronze medals when sian martial arts came their practi- anao though not easy to find. One the country’s players only managed tioner’s Islamic religion. The Mus- teacher who once taught Mindanao to bring home bronze medals in the lim religion may have filtered into Silat generously to Muslims and past – a testament to his excellent the Sulu archipelago and Mindanao non-Muslims in the Philippines coaching skills. Sport Silat in the as early as the thirteenth-century. was the late Hadji Yasser Tanad- Philippines falls under the jurisdic- In the Philippines, early evidence jalan. tion of the Philippine of an Islamic presence is furnished Tanadjalan, who has a Association. by a tombstone of a trader-mission- background in judo, Escrima and In the same interview, he ary in Indanan, Sulu. It bears the karate was taught by his father pointed out the differences between inscription “710 AH,” using the their family system of silat. He the traditional and sport aspects Islamic dating system, which in said that there are more than a 100 of the art, he said, “For sport, the relation with the Christian calen- styles of Silat in Mindanao. Tan- artistic aspect is more emphasized. dar, is approximately 1270 A.D. By adjalan named the brand of Silat So the beauty and harmony of Pen- 1380, Islam had spread throughout that he taught publicly “Mindanao cak Silat is shown. There are also Mindanao and Sulu.” Silat Asli.” specific target areas only. Whereas Nid Anima in his book In an interview conducted in non-sport you can fling and hit “Filipino Martial Arts” specifically by Marilitz Dizon for the Rapid anywhere.” named four characters responsible Journal (Volume 4 No. 2) at the Tanadjalan also stated that for bringing silat in the Philippines, turn of the century, Tanadjalan not too many practitioners in the it reads, “Available historical data explained the secret nature of Philippines are knowledgeable in points to three persons – Tubba, Silat in Mindanao, it reads, “In the use of inner power or tenaga Sahudah and Wabulong – as the Mindanao, if your parents do not dalam, “But people in Manila don’t ones who introduced the Silat into know anything about the art, then know anything about this even if this country during the latter half you don’t bother to look for the they are into the sport of Silat. It 35 is only the people of Mindanao, Though Silat technically is have roots in these southern Mus- Indonesia, Malaysia, and not an indigenous Filipino martial lim styles. They tend to be from Singapore who know,” he said. art, styles of Silat that were deeply the slashing school and the original While he taught Silat to rooted in various parts of the design of the Java keris was not anyone he deemed worthy, Tan- Philippines developed a distinct suitable.” adjalan explained that there are character. Indonesian writer and While no official documen- facets of Silat that can only be un- researcher Dipika Rai commenting tation exists on the matter, Silat derstood by Muslims, “There are on the fighting methodology and could have instilled its influence two kinds of silat. One is the Silat practical design of the Mindanao on the various indigenous Filipino that everyone knows as the martial kris wrote the following words, martial arts through intermarriage art or Pentjak Silat and the other “The Filipino blades are different between Muslims and Christians is silat rahmi, which means the because they are used differently. and through friendly exchange of way of the religion,” he said. Hadji The Moro style of fighting is much knowledge between practitioners Yasser Tanadjalan passed away on different than that used in Java. from both camps. December 25, 2007. Many of today’s Eskrima styles

The United States as the Second Home of the Filipino Martial Arts

Next to the Philippines, I would nos have reached the New World time believed that the settlement say that the United States is the (what would become the United was already in existence for 50- second home of the Filipino States of America) much earlier years however, extensive research martial arts. Transplanted mainly than the American colonization of conducted by Marina Espina, a through various waves of migra- the Philippines at the turn of the librarian at the University of New tion, the Filipino martial art, have 20th century. Orleans revealed that it could have established deep roots in the US. Commenting on the sub- existed earlier. Espina in 1988 pub- The growth, evolution and ject, Greg Macabenta wrote the lished the results of her studies in a mutation of the Filipino martial following words in his column book entitled “Filipinos in Louisi- art in America are incomparable to in the Manila Times, “Natives of ana” (A. F. Laborde & Sons, New any other nations where Philippine Las Islas Filipinas were cross- Orleans, Louisiana, 1988). martial arts were also exported. ing the Pacific Ocean to the New Hearn described the Manil- The Filipino martial art World over half a century before amen as seasoned fishermen who could have been exported to the the Mayflower crossed the Atlan- were robust and polite and could US much earlier than the known tic. They were crewmen in the speak in Tagalog and Spanish. 1900s exodus of Filipino farm Spanish that sailed from Evidences have been laborers to California and Hawaii. Manila to Acapulco in the course found that a number of Filipinos The book “Manila Men in of the Trade, from 1565 to even participated in the American the New World: Filipino Migra- 1815.” Civil War. This was proven by tion to Mexico and the Americas Lafcadio Hearn, an Ameri- the research conducted by Nestor from the Sixteenth Century” by can journalist wrote an article Palugod Enriquez, a retired US Floro L. Mercene tells that prior to in the March 31, 1883 issue of Navy personnel turned Filipino the influx of farm worker from the Harper’s Weekly, about a Filipino American historian. Enriquez Philippines to America during the settlement in Saint Malo, Louisi- located the specific names of 1900s, Filipino mariners under a ana. The settlers of the community Filipino volunteers on the follow- Spanish command landed in Morro that were called “Manilamen,” ing records: the Massachusetts Bay, California in October 1587. were believed to be the roots of State Rosters, Military Images It is amazing to realize that Filipi- Filipinos in America. Hearn at that magazine, original muster rolls at 36 the National Archives, the New farm workers, like anyone else, impressed the other masters who Hampshire Rosters (issued by State should be given sufficient wages were present during the event. Adjutant General. Pension - Pen- to live and support a family.” In 1966, Cabales opened sion Records, National Archives, Mark Wiley, in his book the first public Escrima academy in Washington, D.C.) and the Naval “Filipino Martial Culture” tells the US in Stockton, California. Rendezvous Reports (available at how Giron arrived in America, Then came global recogni- the National Archives, Washington, “Like other Filipinos who relocat- tion via the medium of cinema. D.C.). There is a high probability ed in the United States, Giron did Inosanto briefly but spectacularly that those early Filipinos in Ameri- so by way of boat. He traveled on showcased the Filipino martial art ca may have had used their skills in the President Lincoln and docked to moviegoers worldwide through Arnis-Escrima while participating in San Francisco on November 17, the film “The ” in this war. 1926. Soon thereafter he relocated starring the legendary Lee. Known But the biggest part of the to Stockton, California, and took as Lee’s protégé, Inosanto was Filipino martial art migration in work cutting celery and asparagus responsible in introducing the the US most probably occurred at for seventeen and a half cents an late Founder of Jeet Kune Do to the beginning of the 20th century hour. The hourly wage at that time Escrima - specifically the use of when many Filipino men filled was thirty-five cents an hour.” the . With an interna- in the demand for workers in the Perhaps one of the most tional superstar like Lee picking plantations of Hawaii and the farm- notable early public demonstra- up Escrima sticks, the Filipino lands of California. Many Filipino tions of the Filipino martial art in martial art was finally included in martial art pioneers in America like the US was that of Ben Largusa. the world map of martial arts. Few Angel Cabales, Juanito Lacoste Largusa, a disciple of death-match would argue that this film is an im- and Leo Giron were at one time master Floro Villabrille performed portant landmark in the history of or another worked as farm labor- at the historic Ed Parker Long the Filipino martial art and much ers in Hawaii and California. A Beach Karate International in of the Filipino martial art popular- part of Dan Inosanto’s book “The 1964. Bruce Lee performed there ity today, it owed to Inosanto’s film Filipino Martial Arts,” narrates of too and Parker recalled in one of works. how Cabales made it to the US, it his writings that Lee and Largusa reads, “Cabales left the Philippines in 1939 and joined a crew of a cargo ship that took him to distant ports of the world. Each port, each foreign dock brought a new set of adventures and with them a knowl- edge of survival. After working in Alaska, Cabales wandered from county to county in California. He ultimately joined the Filipino farm laborers around Stockton where he now lives.” In the same book, a high- light of LaCoste’s life as a plan- tation worker was mentioned, it says, “While in Hawaii he headed a major farm labor strike that the Filipinos in Stockton still talk about today. LaCoste is their hero. The strike itself cost the lives of a dozen farm workers and 22 police- A marker near Pasig River in Manila commemorating the 400-year maritime men, but it put across the idea that relation between Mexico and the Philippines. 37 The Panday of Pre-colonial Philippines

“Panday” is the Filipino word for blacksmiths, specifically those blacksmith. Given the fact the Fili- who specialized in sword making pino martial arts collectively, is a practiced mysticism and spiritu- weapons oriented system, it would ality. Using their knowledge of be of great interest to its adherents astrology, they observed certain to examine how the pandays of positions of the planets before pre-colonial Philippines worked embarking in their sword making and produced weapons. rituals. A fine kris or kampilan The most renowned Fili- may sometimes take years to fin- pino blacksmith of the pre-colonial ish. era is Panday Pira who lived On the quality of swords between 1483 to 1576. Panday of Southern Philippines, Victor Pira was a resident of Pampanga Hurley in his book, Swish of the specimens run to 60 to 70 centi- though some historical accounts Kris,” wrote, “Instead of the rude meters), either straight or wavy say his roots was in Southern obsidian knives of the Aztecs, but characterized by an asym- Philippines. So exemplary was this the Spaniards at Lamitan found metrical hornlike flare at the blacksmith’s skill that the Span- themselves opposed by a flashing end, called kalaw-kalaw after the iards later on commissioned him to kris which was the equal of their kalaw hornbill. The wavy kris was open their first artillery foundry in Toledo blade.” called kiwo-kiwo, and so was an the Philippines. Panday Pira was An officer of the United astute, devious man whose move- credited for inventing the lan- States Army’s 22nd Infantry Divi- ment could not be predicted. taka, a portable cannon that could sion, Major O. J. Sweet, during were carved of any solid material - be swiveled at any angle during the American colonization of the hardwood, bone, antler, even shell battle. The could be easily Philippines described Philippine - and great warriors had them mounted on fortresses and raiding blades with the following words, of solid gold or encrusted with pre- boats like the karakoa. “The kris may be of any length cious stones. Blades were forged It is easy to postulate that and two or three inches wide. from layers of different grade of it was because of Panday Pira that All of the knives, no matter what steel, which gave them a veined or Pampanga became the home of a shape, are encased in wooden mottled surface - damascened or number of ancient Filipino black- scabbards, and have a keenness of “watered.” smithing techniques like “pukpuk” edge equaling that of a Scott in his book expounds (heat and hammer method) and blade.” on the unique position of pandays “pituklip at subu” (folding and During the Philippine in pre-colonial Philippine society, forging of hard and soft steel). - American war, there were ac- he says, “Blacksmiths were panday While iron was already counts stating of how a Mindanao - or, more accurately, panday sa produced in ancient Philippines, kris could cut through the barrel of puthaw, workers in iron, to distin- the extraction of metal from the a Springfield . guish them from other craftsmen ore by primitive methods is a William Henry Scott offers like , master carpenters, very tedious process hence it was a more detailed description of the and boat builders, all of whom more practical to trade local forest blades produced in the Visayas and are called panday. Smithing was products for malleable cast iron Mindanao, in his book “Barangay: considered the noblest profession, if available. A regular source of Sixteenth Century Philippine Cul- probably because only the wealthi- such materials then was the Song ture, he wrote, “There were two est datus had the means to import merchants who regularly brought kinds of swords - kris (Visayan the raw material. If they were Chinese cauldrons to the country. ) and kampilan, both words indeed the ultimate source of all Besides being skill met- of Malay origin. The kris was a metal tools, including the swidden allurgists, pre-colonial Filipino long double-edged blade (modern farmers’ bolos, they would have exercised effective control over 38 Visayan means of production. As [furnace]. ing into the wooden handle, and Father Alcina (1668a, 3:105) said, On the kind of works com- was held firm with resinous sap “it is certain that no profession missioned to a panday in those and a ring of rattan or metal. The among Visayans is more profitable days, Scott wrote, “The most head of the ax (wasay) was also than this, and so it is the most hon- important tool manufactured, hafted into the handle; it was only ored and esteemed among them, repaired, or retempered by the about two fingers wide and could since the greatest chiefs are the blacksmith was the bolo. Dohong be rotated a quarter turn to be used best iron-workers.” or dayopak was the ordinary one; as an .” The common tools of the tuwad, a heavier one for wood- Traditional blacksmithing is pre-colonial panday were the cutting; bako or bantok, one with still alive in the Philippines today landasan [anvil], palo [two-handed a curved blade for weeding or particularly in the countryside. stone maul], stone hammer [palo- cultivating; and pisaw, one with a Their earnings usually comes from palo], a pair of tongs [kipit], and an short blade and long handle to be people who want a custom made array of bolos for cutting the smol- pressed under the arm or against bolo or farmers who want their dering metal. A panday usually has the ground with the foot to leave ploughs hammered back into shape in his employ an apprentice called both hands free for stripping rat- as well as the sales of swords and “masaop” who mans the hasohas tan. The blade had a tang for haft- tools they have made.

Fighting with Paired Weapons: An Important Filipino Martial Arts Skill

then suddenly lowering the speed f the many styles of Filipino O at 55 mph. Fifty five mph is still martial arts, the most known for fast, but if you’re used to 90 mph, fighting with paired weapons is it seems to be a lot slower. the Sinawali double sticks fight- ing style of Pampanga (sometimes Developing the strength and coor- called the “Estilo Macabebe”). The dination of both hands is another name Sinawali came from word benefit of Sinawali training. Most “sawali,” a woven split bamboo of these drills teach the practitio- mats used as walls of nipa huts. ner to relate the movement of the The crisscrossing movements of weak hand to that of the strong Sinawali weapons fighting mimic hand hence promoting ambidexter- the pattern of these mats hence the ity. Fighters who possess a very name. high degree of skill with fighting The high-speed nature of with paired weapons seem to have Sinawali drills is good for develop- hands that function independently ing fast reaction. The rapid-fire of each other (not the weak hand The ability to fight with paired weap- contact of sticks in these drills will merely relating to the movement ons is a coveted attribute among sharpen one’s awareness of motion. of the strong hand). In a fight with Filipino martial arts practitioners It’s like the experience of getting paired weapons, the better fighter used to driving a car at 90 mph and displays the ability to strike and 39 defend with either hands at will of your other yantok. If you are that didn’t have a weapon. If he while the inferior fighter would not able to, your second yantok was wielding a long and a short most probably settle with using can interfere with the movements weapon, the alive hand should be the weapon in his weak hand as a of your other yantok. Thus, physi- the one with a shorter weapon. If shield and utilize the weapon in his cally, you will have two weapons. he was empty-handed or wielding strong hand for hitting. In reality, however, you might two equal-sized weapons, the alive Acquiring ambidexterity in wield- have available only a fraction of hand would generally be the one ing weapons has been the goal one yantok.” that come into play second.” of serious fighting men through In a fight, it is logical to assume Fighting with paired weapons the ages. The reason for this is that your opponent would lead should be practiced in various po- that in the battlefield, no matter with either hand hence your first sitions, different terrains and with how good you are, there is always consideration is to deal with the variable weaponry. Sinawali drills that chance that your strong hand weapon nearest to you. You can for one can be practiced standing, would be injured. If that hap- take this barrier away with a squatting and even with one player pens, your survival now lies in the forceful strike with either of your lying down. It is also good training ability of your other hand to use weapons before inserting the kill- to shadow fight with impromptu a weapon. With that said, training ing blow. In the same book Mari- weapons on each hand. For ex- your weak hand to a functional ñas said, “Ideally you should not ample, experience how it feels like fighting level cannot be over em- allow the opponent’s second yan- to shadow fight a tire iron and a phasized. tok to participate in a fight. If you kitchen knife. You’re only limited Fighting with paired weapons are not able to close the distance by your imagination. demands a very high level of skill. and are not able to gain control of The ability to wield a weapon with An Escrimador who have not the opponent’s first yantok, you either hand is a rare ability among still polished his ability in wield- will have to contend with his sec- escrimadors and those who pos- ing paired weapons to perfection ond yantok. If you fail to stop the sessed this talent is highly es- is better off just using a single opponent’s second yantok, then teemed among his peers. Inosanto weapon in actual combat. Amante you will have to deal with his first in the same book mentioned that Mariñas offers a sound advice on yantok a second time.” one of the teachers of Leo Giron this matter in his book “”Panan- Dan Inosanto, in his classic book was capable of this feat, he wrote, andata: Dalawang Yantok (Arnis “The Filipino Martial Arts,” of- “One of his instructors, a man the Double Sticks Fighting),” it reads, fered a useful advice in the prac- people called Mr. Delgado, used to “Your second yantok [rattan stick] tice of paired weapons in relation travel from camp to camp to fight will be a very useful weapon if with the “alive hand,” it reads, “If their best escrimadors. He was you are able to coordinate its he was wielding a single weapon, good, Giron remembers, and he movements with the movements the alive hand should be the one could fight with either hand.”

40 The Bolo: A Filipino Utility Tool and Weapon

Within farming communi- ity piece could go to a “panday” exploits of Filipino bolomen. ties in the Philippines even today, (blacksmith) and have his bolo The 1st Filipino Regiment both young and old wear a bolo on custom-made. of the in the their waists. It is amazing to watch The venerable Katipunan Philippines during World War II the precision of these people as and the 1896 Philippine Revolu- holds the distinction of being la- they use their bolos to unhusk a tion against Spain would always beled the original “Bolo Battalion.” coconut or split a bamboo as if the be remembered with the image Dan Inosanto in his book “The blade is an extension of their limbs. of Andres Bonifacio wielding a Filipino Martial Arts” mentioned Even in urban areas, most Filipino bolo. Despite the advance military how this fearless band of blade households own a bolo because of technology of the United States fighters came about, it says, “The its excellent utilitarian purpose. during the Philippine-American young Filipino enlistees were soon The common distinguish- War, Filipino bolomen remained to disenchanted. In the inimitable ing characteristic of the bolo is be a force to reckon with. way of military services, they were its blade that widens and curves Orllino Ochosa’s book required to conform to the armed towards the tip. With more weight “Bandoleros: The Outlawed Gue- forces’ methods of close quarter at the end of the blade, chopping rillas of the Philippine-American combat. When they were finally becomes forceful and efficient. A War of 1903-1907” made refer- given the chance to demonstrate bolo has a full tang that makes it a ence to a band of bolomen in their native arts, the order was sturdy chopping tool and weapon. Luzon called the “Arma Blanca,” remanded. Their demonstrations The handle of a bolo could be it reads, “Manila’s ‘Arma Blanca,’ included bettering the self-defense made of hardwood or carabao horn that phantom army of bolomen bayonet instructors with long and it may come with or without a whom General Luna had so much leaf-shaped bolo knives and sticks. guard. depended upon in his bold attack Thereafter, all platoons of Filipinos Among Tagalogs, the bolo of Manila at the start of the war were issued bolo knives and they may be referred to as “itak.” with the Americans.” practiced their own arts in basic Being an agricultural But it was during the Sec- training.” country, the bolo is ubiquitous ond World War that much docu- Among those bolomen who in the lives of Filipinos particu- mentation had been made on the lived to tell their experiences was larly those living in the late escrima master Leo Gi- the countryside. It is ron. Giron, who had an all-purpose tool served as a soldier that can be used in of the US Army and clearing bushes, chop- fought in the jungles ping wood and tilling of the Philippines the soil. And when a during World War II self-defense situation recounted his experi- arises, the bolo comes ences fighting with a in handy as a formi- bolo in Mark Wiley’s dable weapon. Book “Filipino Mar- In the Philip- tial Culture,” it says, pines, one can easily “You develop a style buy a bolo either from without a style – chop, wet markets or street chop, chop. One time peddlers. But those I got clipped with a who want a high qual- bayonet. I blocked the samurai sword coming Filipino soldiers during WW II practicing bolo techniques 41 down toward my shoulder, and a boloman remains a ghost---doomed heritage with the Philippine Ma- rifle bayonet went by my side from to haunt the annals of military his- rine Corps Force Reconnaissance another Japanese shoulder. I cut tory in search of recognition.” Battalion designation as the mod- the hip of the bayonet thruster and In 1998, the martial heri- ern BOLO BATTALION. The Fili- then the triceps of the one with the tage of the 1st Bolo Battalion was pino Bolo has been the trademark sword. After that I just keep charg- reclaimed after the Philippine combat weapon for generations of ing and fighting the next ones. It’s Marine Corps adapted as its of- Filipino warriors and heroes from up to the guys behind me to finish ficial Close Quarters Combat/CQC Datu Lapu Lapu to the founding the job because there are too many doctrine the Pekiti-Tirsia system of fathers of the Katipunan and now more coming.” Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje Jr. of the Force Recon Marines.” On the recognition long An article titled “The Heri- Mastery of the blade de- overdue for the valiant bolomen tage of the Past and the Legacy of mands that its use become second of the Japanese occupation, Am- the Future” by Timothy D. Waid nature. The Filipinos of the olden bassador Roy A. Cimatu has the published in the November 1998 days were one with the blade following words, “No one can issue of Citemar6 the official pub- because it is part and parcel of deny the Boloman’s contribution lication of the Philippine Marine their existence. The bolo, which to the intelligence backbone of the Corps reads, “In this year of the was the most popular knife at their guerrilla resistance, or his master- Republic of the Philippines Nation- disposal, was perceived as giver of ful camouflage as meek villager by al Centennial Celebration, 1998, life (being a farming implement) day, recon patrol by night. Yet, for the Armed Forces of the Philip- and a defender of life (being a self- all his courage and selflessness, the pines (AFP) reclaims it true martial defense weapon).

The Filipino Balisong Knife

In the movies, the Filipino Inosanto. It was through the effort balisong knife was once dubbed of Imada and Inosanto that the “the nunchaku of the 1980s.” If the balisong knife made its debut in 1970s was the era of the nunchaku Hollywood. Inosanto appeared as (popularized by Bruce Lee in his a balisong-wielding villain in Burt ), the 1980s belonged to the Reynolds 1981 film “Sharkey’s balisong. Jeff Imada, in his book Machine.” “The Balisong Manual,” pub- Then Came the Tactical Folder lished in 1984 wrote, “Backed by top quality, wide exposure, the Before Sal Glessner of the balisong will undoubtedly rival knife company SpiderCo designed the nunchaku in popularity for the tactical folder during the early sequences. Imada, 1980s, the Filipino balisong was who is among the most respected the popular choice among martial stunt choreographer in the United artists who want a folding knife States today, is a student of Dan A Philippine-made balisong that can be deployed instantly with 42 one hand. In knife jargon, the bali- simplest of the balisong openings sionals that carry a balisong as a song is considered a non-typical may seem impossible to complete backup weapon. One bodyguard folder. and there is even a possibility of I met in province (the Among individuals whose the user dropping his knife. home of the balisong) carried one primary concern is a knife that can While the number and as a back up to his 1911 .45 pis- be opened quickly with one hand, complexity of balisong openings tol. He preferred a balisong with the tactical folder became the more may daunt some would-be bali- a simple design explaining that he popular choice over the balisong. song owners, the truth is there are doesn’t want anything that would The popularity of the tactical three schools of thought on the snag on his clothing when he draw folder is hinged on two primary balisong as explained by Mariñas the knife. factors: it can be opened comfort- Sr. and Mariñas Jr. in their book. A Fine Weapon To Own ably with one hand via the thumb The two authors wrote, “One stud on the blade; and it is very school includes those who practice The etymology of the name secure and comfortable to carry the openings racing against the balisong was believed to have because of its pocket clip. clock. Another school includes originated from “baling sungay,” which in the Tagalog dialect means Knife with a Flash older, wiser men who advocate opening the balisong, deliberately, “broken horn.” The trademark of But beyond the issue of like peeling a banana. There is yet traditional Philippine-made bali- practicality, there are other reasons another school that does not care songs is a handle that has inserts why a serious practitioner of knife about it.” made of carabao horn. combat should study the balisong. There are currently two The first reason is because training The Balisong as a types of balisong constructions: with the balisong demands more The real art of the balisong sandwich construction and channel skill. In their book “Pananandata: begins after it was opened. construction. The latter, which is a The Guide to Balisong Openings,” It should be clear to the product of modern technology, is father and son Amante Mariñas student of the balisong that while characterized by handles that were Sr. and Amante Mariñas Jr. wrote, the fancy openings develop cer- formed from one piece of mate- “How many ways can you open tain combat attributes like reflex rial. Sandwich construction, which a ? One. How many and dexterity, these things does is the way traditional Philippine ways can you bare the blade of a not constitute knife fighting. The balisongs are made involves as- boot knife? One. Draw it from its various opening techniques merely sembling layers that are pinned and scabbard. How many ways can you link the gap between the draw and screwed together. Premium native open a lock back? Two; either with the actual use of the balisong. Filipino balisongs have blades that an energetic or with a push The strength of the struc- were forge out of discarded giant with the thumb. How many ways ture of the balisong is at par if not ball bearings that explain its coin- can you open a Spanish ? greater than the locking mecha- piercing strength. One: using both hands and with nisms of other folding knives. The great difficulty. How many ways two handles that sheathe the blade can you open a balisong? We have when the balisong is closed forms The Balisong’s Place of Origin discovered 169 ways.” a single sturdy handle when the In recent years, there were A simple opening tech- balisong is open. some debates regarding the true nique of the balisong could rival Hand crafted Philippine place of origin of the balisong. One the speed of opening of either a balisongs are known for their tips faction claims that the balisong switchblade or a tactical folder. that can pierce a one-peso coin. really originated in citing The two authors wrote that based Coin piercing is the traditional a technical of a balisong on their research, the fastest open- way of testing the strength of a that appeared in the book “Le Per- ing of the balisong was clocked balisong. ret” that was published in 1710. at 0.16 seconds. Despite this fact, Despite the popularity of The copy of the book is displayed Mariñas Sr. and Mariñas Jr. cau- the tactical folder, I still encounter at The Museum of Thiers, in tioned that under combat stress, the once in while security profes- Thiers, France. Banking on the said

43 evidence, this faction theorized before Spain colonized the Philip- the metallurgical skills of Filipino that the balisong was invented in pines. It is interesting to note that blacksmiths that they commis- Europe and eventually came to be the guide of Ferdinand Magellan sioned Panday Pira (1483 to 1576) used in Spain then brought to the named Enrique de Malacca was to open their first artillery foundry Philippines by the Spaniards. believed to be a Filipino. Com- in the Philippines. Panday Pira was This hypothesis clearly dis- pletely assuming that the balisong credited for inventing the lantaka, counted the possibility that it could is of European origin is belittling a portable cannon that could be be the other way around - the the capabilities of the pre-colonial swiveled at any angle during bat- Spaniards picking up the balisong of the Philippines to tle. Historical accounts of foreign- from the Filipinos and bringing the produce such a knife with inge- ers visiting the Philippines through knife to Europe where its design nious design. the centuries have also attested was copied. There are evidences A good counterargument to that the Mindanao kris equals the indicating that Filipino seafar- this assumption is the fact that the temper of the Toledo blade. ers have traveled the world long Spaniards were so impressed with

Largo Mano and Western Fencing

I took up the study of sport fenc- evident in western fencing (par- fencing is very useful in maintain- ing in the early 1990s under ticularly those employing the foil ing the optimal fighting range in Socorro Olivan. Besides being and the epee) and largo mano is largo mano. Whenever possible, a a fencing instructor, Olivan was the mental orientation among its largo mano stylist uses footwork also a Black Belt Karateka and players that the tip (the last three and evasive body movements to a champion Judo player. With a inches) of the weapon is the one avoid blows instead of . couple of years of Arnis-Escrima that inflicts the damage. Largo Again, like in western training behind me, it took some mano fighters recognize the fact fencing, another apparent feature times before I developed finesse in that the stick is first and foremost of largo mano is the nearly total my movements in accordance with an impact weapon and it would absence of the use of the “alive the body mechanics of western pay well to utilize its long-range hand” or non-weapon hand. The fencing. I remember Olivan repri- capability. The stick used in largo “alive hand” is used for trapping manding me a number of times for mano is about 30 inches, consider- and disarms in Arnis-Escrima at nearly breaking the frangible foil ably longer than common Escrima close quarters. This is understand- blade. sticks. able since a largo mano fighter, As an Escrimador who Like in western fencing, given sufficient room, would favored largo mano style of fight- accuracy is paramount in largo always opt to fight long-range. So, ing, my training in western fencing mano fighting. Hits should land if an Escrimador can’t reach his served me well. The largo mano with surgical precision on vital opponent with his non-weapon (long hand) style is among the areas. Using the length of the hand, he knows he is within the simplest and most potent system of weapon to his advantage, a largo largo mano range. Given the kind Arnis-Escrima. As its name im- mano fighter avoids stick-to-stick of speed possible with the stick plies, largo mano is a long-range contact during a skirmish and or blade in this range, it is rather style utilizing distance, evasion attempts to hit the opponent’s foolhardy to try to your op- and the sneaky delivery of strikes. weapon hand instead. The fast and ponent’s weapon hand with your One common thread economical footwork of western alive hand. In western fencing, the 44 non-weapon hands often acts as a ish word for “erudite” pertains to veins – five uncles in his mother’s counterbalance to the sword hand the or educated Fili- side were officers in the Spanish while executing lunging thrusts. pinos during that period. A good Army - and it was not surprising The most renowned master case in point is the Philippines’ that he followed their footsteps.” of the largo mano style is the late national hero Dr. Jose Rizal who Another part of the article says, Leovigildo “Leo” Giron. Giron, was both an adept in western fenc- “As soon as he was allowed to along with the late Master Angel ing and Arnis. Rizal taught arnis leave Spain he proceeded to Gh- Cabales and Master Max Sarm- to young boys during his exile in ent, Belgium, where he took up the iento holds the distinction of being . study of guerilla warfare with Gen- the very first to openly teach Arnis- Because they have the eral Leman, who was to become Escrima in the United States. Giron money to study abroad, members the hero of the Battle of Liege in had used his art in jungle warfare of the class were exposed .” as a soldier of the US Army in to the occidental ways of warfare. It was interesting to note the Philippines during World War One contemporary of Rizal who that Rizal nearly fought Luna in a II. Using the bolo as his primary was also known for his fighting duel in Spain because of the latter’s weapon, Giron’s largo mano skill prowess and his role in the revo- unsavory remarks against his love proved useful when he walked as lution against Spain was General interest Nellie Boustead. Realizing the lead man of guerillas patrolling . Like Rizal, Luna that the interest of the revolution through Philippine forests during was also an excellent would be compromised, the duel that war. His task was to disable and swordsman. Rey Resurrec- was aborted when Luna apologized Japanese soldiers first with his tion, in an article titled “Wizard and when the Filipinos in blade and let those walking behind in the War” published in “Filipino intervened. him finish the job. He was awarded Heritage,” tells of an interesting The influence of western a number of medals for bravery facet of Luna’s education, it reads, swordsmanship was evident in the during those guerilla operations. “In Spain, Luna went into an ear- names of some systems of Filipino The influences of western nest study of war. He majored in martial art. One good example is fencing most probably made its military organization, strategy and “estocada,” which was derived way to the native Filipino martial tactics. He never intended to take from the word “,” a French art during the rise of the Ilustrado up a soldier’s career [he was origi- sword designed for piercing chain class during the Spanish colonial nally trained as a pharmacist], but mail. period. Ilustrado, which is a Span- he has the blood of warriors in his

Jose Rizal (right) and (left) practicing fencing in Paris. Juan Luna is the painter brother of General Antonio Luna

45 The Cordillera Head Ax

Serving as a tool and weapon, every culture in the world has its version of the ax. In the Philippines, no other ethnic group has given heavy emphasis on the use of the ax in combat than the headhunting highland tribes of Northern Luzon. While headhunt- ing is no longer practiced by these tribes, the head ax is still ubiqui- tous in the mountainous part of Two types of Cordillera head axes (left), northern Philippines often carried the R&D Sayoc/Winkler Fighting Tomahawk (right) as part of traditional costume and their origin in this curve; the edge end of the weapon. This could also as souvenir sold to tourists. is formed by a double chamfer, the lead to over commitment and slow One of the earliest works, ax-blade being of uniform thick- recovery time exposing the user to that documented the use of the ness. All together, this weapon is fast counter attacks. head ax of the highland tribes of perhaps more original and char- The head-heavy balance of Northern Philippines was pub- acteristic than any other native to an ax though offers one advantage lished in 1912, titled, “The Head the Philippine Archipelago. With in combat and that is it can gener- Hunters of Northern Luzon From it goes the Kalinga shield of soft ate tremendous force that could Ifugao to Kalinga: A Ride Through wood, made in one piece, with the crash through defenses. Because the Mountains of Northern Luzon usual three horns or projections of its heavy mass, single blow of With an Appendix on the Inde- at the top and two at the bottom. an ax possesses enough stopping pendence of the Philippines” by These projections, however, are power to incapacitate even a large Cornelis De Witt Willcox. cylindrical, and the outside ones opponent. Another advantage of Wilcox, throughout the are continued down the edge of the short ax is it could also func- book noted the omnipresence of the shield and so form ribs. In tion in the projectile range as it can the head ax in the northern high- the ordinary Igorot shield the be hurled at an opponent. lands of the country. On his im- horns are flat, merely prolonging All the angles of attack of pression of the weapon, he wrote, the surface of the shield, or else the Filipino martial arts could be “But the finest thing of all was presenting only a very small relief. used when fighting with a short the head-ax, a beautiful and cruel- As usual, a lacing of bejuco across ax. In addition, the ax head could looking weapon, the head having top and bottom protects the shield be used for hooking and trapping on one side an edge curving back against a separation in the event your opponent’s weapon, hands or toward the shaft, and on the other of an unlucky stroke splitting it in legs. The ax user could still fight a point. To keep the weapon from two.” with his weapon in trapping and out of the hand, a stud is grappling range by choking up left in the hard wood shaft, about Combat Use on the shaft putting his hand just two-thirds of the way from the The movement dynamics below the ax head. With this ac- head, the shaft itself being pro- of fighting with an ax is quite dif- complished, he can now use the ax tected by a steel sheathing half ferent from fighting with a straight blade to slash, rip or . way down; the remainder being stick or blade. The head-heavy The design of the Cordil- ornamented with decorative brass balance of an ax limits the pos- lera head ax makes it more danger- plates and strips, and the end shod sibility of rapid multi-directional ous for the user. Unlike its com- in a ferrule of silver. The top of the attack. Once launched, it is very mon counterparts with a flat poll, ax is not straight, but curved, both difficult to redirect a strike be- the Cordillera head ax has a wick- edge and point taking, as it were, cause of the momentum generated by the weight concentrated at the ed protrusion on its butt, which 46 could severely injure the user at the the U.S. Naval Special Warfare/ lighter than many tactical hawks, slightest miscalculation. This pro- Teams. A part of the article titled coming in at approximately 1.5 trusion has a gruesome purpose for “An Effective Force Multiplier,” pounds, at 13 inches in length, it the headhunting tribes of the olden by Mike Haskew, published in can be carried along without being days. After beheading his victim, Blade Magazine reads, “R&D too cumbersome. The full tang is the warrior would drive this protru- Tomahawk combines elements milled to a taper and also allows sion into the ground, hold the shaft of the best such weapons from the user to use the hawk as a blunt- with his feet and clean the scalp by around the world, including South- force weapon.” A man of multifac- scraping it on the ax blade. east Asian headhunter axes and eted talents, Kayanan first hugged Influence on modern tactical Nordic or European combat axes.” the limelight as part of the team blades Responsible for the Filipino input that choreographed the Filipino The influence of the design was Rafael Kayanan, a master martial art fight scene of the movie of Cordillera head ax has found its level instructor of Sayoc Kali and “The Hunted,” starring Tommy Lee way in modern tactical blades spe- head of its tomahawk curriculum. Jones and Benicio del Torro. He is cifically the R&D Sayoc / Winkler A quote from Kayanan in the also a renowned comic book artist Fighting Tomahawk, produced for article reads, “This hawk is much and concept designer.

Filipino Flexible Weapons While the stick and the of a flexible weapon compared to well-known Filipino martial art blade are the most popular weap- a rigid weapon is that every hit systems that include latigo training ons of the Filipino martial arts, the requires full commitment. Also, it are Pananandata, Pambuan Arnis, truth is it also includes training in cannot be used in delivering rapid Sayoc Kali and Dekiti Tirsia. projectile and flexible weapons. retracting strikes. A variation of the latigo This article will focus on Filipino Only a few systems of though rarely seen outside of the flexible weapons. Filipino martial art teach flexible Philippines is the buntot page or Though flexible weapons weapons, which makes authentic stingray tail. The buntot page is can be wielded using the basic instruction on the subject really a vicious weapon and Filipinos angles of attacks of the stick and hard to find. believe that the wound inflicted by blade, they have distinct character- The most popular flex- it is very hard to heal. Such belief istics from other type of weapons. ible weapon associated with the may be medically valid because In terms of advantage, a flexible Filipino martial art is the latigo the tail of a live stingray possesses weapon can bend over a block and or bullwhip. A renowned master two venom-containing grooves therefore can still hit the defender. of the latigo is the late Eustaquio that could inject a protein-based Its ability to loop around a limb or “Snookie” Sanchez of Waipahu, toxin on a wound. Another Filipino weapon could be utilized to immo- Hawaii. Sanchez’s prowess with belief about the buntot page is that bilize an opponent or to destroy his the latigo involved extinguish- it is an effective weapon against balance. ing several candles with his whip the - a creature of the night The greatest disadvantage while blindfolded. Some of the that feeds on human flesh particu-

47 larly unborn babies. in his movies. Sulite taught the extensive use of Another flexible weapon One system of Filipino the handkerchief as a self-defense that Filipinos use is the simple martial art offering a rich curricu- tool. chain. Calling the weapon “De lum on the combative use of the The yo-yo in the old Philip- Cadena,” Dan Inosanto posed with rope is Dugukan. Ned Nepangue, pines was employed as weapon a chain in his classic book “The in his article “The Dugukan Sys- though such skill is now long lost. Filipino Martial Arts.” Unlike the tem of Martial Arts (Rapid Journal The Philippines’ National Hero whip, snapping strikes are not pos- Vo. 9 No.2) explained that “dugu- Dr. Jose Rizal was a skilled prac- sible with the chain because of its kan” is a Cebuano term for skel- titioner of the yo-yo as a weapon. weight. While it is only a later ad- eton or framework. On the kind In their book “Jose Rizal: Life of weapons used in the system, Works and Writings of a Genius, he wrote, “The armed training Writer, Scientist, and National includes the use of the olisi sticks, Hero,” Gerogorio F. Zaide and the alho pestles, , Sonia M. Zaide wrote of how blades, wasay axes, and the use Rizal demonstrated his skill with of pisi or rope.” Nepangue nar- the yo-yo aboard a ship during rated that Dugukan was taught his trans-Atlantic voyage from by David Gaverola a.k.a. Gabino New York to Liverpool, it reads, Gaverola of Candabong, Argao, “Rizal entertained the American Cebu. “Tatay [father] David was and European passengers with his considered a master of indigenous marvelous skill with the yo-yo as Cebuano martial arts, healing arts an . The yo-yo and esoteric arts. He studied under is a small wooden disc attached to Maximino Pedro, who was known a string from the finger. It is used in his skill in using the ax and by Filipino children as a toy. But . Maximino Pedro Rizal manipulated it as a weapon in turn was a student of General of offense, to the great amazement Adriano de la Concepcion,” he of the foreigners.” dition to the array of Filipino mar- wrote. The Filipinos’ use of the tial art weapons, the tabak toyok or The use of the , a yo-yo as a weapon was also men- nunchaku is now adapted in some piece of cloth wrapped around the tioned in Mary Bellis’ article “The Filipino martial art systems. The waist and handkerchief as weap- History of the Yo-Yo,” she wrote, inclusion of tabak toyok (simply ons are taught in some Filipino “In the Philippines, the yoyo was known as “tsako” in the Philip- martial art systems. These two used as a weapon for over 400 pines) among Filipino martial art common objects can be utilized to hundred years. Their version was weapons happened through the distract, immobilize or strangle an large with sharp edges and studs influence of Inosanto. It is now a opponent. The use of the sarong and attached to thick twenty-foot well-known fact that he introduced is found in Filipino martial art ropes for flinging at enemies or the nunchaku to the legendary systems with strong silat influence. prey.” Bruce Lee who popularized its use The late Lameco founder Edgar

48 Pragmatism in the Practice of the Filipino Martial Arts With few exceptions, stick hand kept him from continuing.” fights with unpadded sticks without The breed of Escrimadors who the aid of helmet and armor do not have experienced the brutal nature last very long. Its either one fighter of juego todo and the battlefield surrendered or suffered a knock were forced to choose practical out or the referee stopped the over fancy techniques, for survival match because of the severity of not aesthetics is the primary con- the injury. This is the norm that the cern in actual combat. Escrimadors of yore have to live The problem with martial with hence in the old Philippines; arts that developed during peace- it is not common for Escrima and ful times is that they lacked the Arnis men to practice in seclusion necessary pressure testing. In for the fear of being challenged. times of war, a fighter is forced to In his book “The Filipino pick techniques that only work for Martial Arts,” Dan Inosanto de- real. In peaceful times, a martial scribes how a juego todo (all-out artist possesses the luxury to tinker stick fighting match) was con- with creativity in formulating they used it successfully during ducted as per the accounts of the fighting techniques but whether hand-to-hand fighting with the late death match Master Floro these techniques will work for real Japanese, he said. (Rapid Journal Villabrille, it reads, “They usually is another story. Vol.12 No.4)” used the stick in the right hand and The basics of the Filipino Masters who have acquired punched with the left hand. The martial arts were designed to be their skills the traditional way use of the elbow, knee and head conveyed easily and learned fast. were also noted for their capabil- were common at close range com- The reason for this is because in ity of teaching functional fighting bat. Combat grappling like tech- pre-colonial times when an inva- skills in the quickest way possible. niques (standing or on the ground) sion of a barangay by another Ireneo Olavides, heir to the late were applied. These included barangay is impending, it is a must legendary juego todo champion throws, trips, sweeps, take downs, that all the able-bodied men be Grandmaster Jose D. Caballero chokes, strangulation, dislocations trained in the rudiments of fighting and founder of Eskrima De Campo and locks on fingers, wrists, el- quickly. JDC-IO told me that if he were to bows, shoulders ankles and knees. This pragmatic nature of impart only one technique to a stu- The feet were used for kicking at the Filipino martial art was again dent, this would be the rebounding low level. It was a brutal art and put to actual use during the Japa- horizontal backhand blow, which only the swiftest, the strongest and nese invasion of the Philippines is the first strike in his system. the most courageous survived or in World War II, the late Filipino Olavides attested that this efficient remained in practice. The rounds martial art scholar Pedro Reyes, technique could take a fight out of were two minutes with one minute expounding on the virtues of an opponent if executed correctly. rests in between.” Cinco Tiros, a style of arnis-escri- He also told me that the X-pattern Inosanto’s book also has a ma that utilizes only five strikes of escrima is sufficient for real graphic description on the kind of (hence the name) wrote, “Because fighting. injury a fighter can sustain from it has proven itself in actual fights, Olavides’ statement re- such matches. In a match fought Cinco Tiros remains as one of the minds me of the words of another by the late Angel Cabales, it says, leading styles in Northern Luzon. Filipino martial art legend, Juanito “Stick fights never last very long My teacher in Cinco Tiros, Ising “Johnny” La Coste. In an interview and this one ended when Cabales Valera, was a guerilla leader in published in Inosanto’s “The Fili- broke open the man’s knuckle. The World War II and he taught Cinco pino Martial Arts,” he said, “You blow lacerated an artery and the Tiros to his soldiers to use against learn first two numbers, you fight blood pumping out of the man’s the samurai [Japanese ]; 49 any style and beat him.” Another practitioner knows is not really the the first thing that goes out of the line from him from the same book indicator of success. An important window were fine motor skills. says, “One month I teach you. You factor often overlooked by many With that established, combative fight okay, any style.” martial artists is the human body’s moves should be based on gross The key to developing a natural reaction to threat. It has motor skills (simple movements) functional martial art is the realiza- been proven scientifically time and and not fine motor skills (compli- tion that the beauty of movements again that when a person is con- cated movements). and the number of techniques a fronted with a near-panic situation,

Lessons of Strategy from the Battle of Mactan

The Battle of Mactan on chronicles titled, “Pigafetta’s Ac- the chief men, and twenty or thirty April 27, 1521, when Lapu-Lapu count (1521) Part II, published in balanguias.” It is good to note that and his men killed Ferdinand Ma- “1898: The Shaping of Philippine while the sixty Spanish soldiers gellan was looked upon by many History (Vol. II No. 17)” were accompanied by an army of enthusiasts of the Filipino martial Lapu-Lapu and his men native warriors friendly to them, arts as a landmark where native were armed with the following this contingent did not participated fighting skills triumphed over Oc- weapons: (kampilan), in the fight as Pigafetta commented cidental method of warfare. wooden shield, stones as projec- after the battle, “The Christian The most credible account tiles, bow and arrow, spears with king would have aided us, but the of what transpired during the Bat- metal points and bamboo lances. captain charged him before we tle of Mactan was the chronicles On the nature of the latter, Pi- landed not to leave his balanghai of Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian gafetta wrote, “They replied that if [boat], but to stay to see how we and diarist who traveled we had lances they had lances of fought.” with Magellan and recorded the bamboo and stakes hardened with On the size of Lapu-Lapu’s history of his voyage. fire.” native army, Pigafetta wrote, In that encounter, it is evi- Clad in armor, Magellan “When we reached land, those men dent that the Spaniards possessed and his men were armed with mus- had formed in three divisions to the advantage of superior military kets, , lances, swords the number of more than one thou- technology over the natives. But and mortars. sand five hundred persons.” the over confidence they put on the Another important facet of Besides superiority in formidability of their armament this battle is the size of contingents number, Lapu-Lapu’s army won cost them a . from both sides. On the number the Battle of Mactan by mak- It is good to examine the of the Spanish soldiers, Pigafetta ing the terrain work against their weapons of both sides as per the wrote, “At midnight, sixty men of enemies’ more powerful weaponry. records of Pigafetta. The quotes ours set out armed with sorselets He and his army managed to goad in this article were taken from the and helmets, together with the the Spaniards to wade into the English translation of Pigafetta’s Christian king, the prince, some of waters where their heavy armor 50 would compromise their mobility. This is manifested in the follow- ing lines that Pigafetta wrote, “So we continued to retire for more than a good flight from the shore always fighting up to our knees in the water. The natives continued to pursue us, and picking up the same spear four or six times, hurled it at us again and again.” The natives know where to hit focusing on the parts unpro- tected by armor, “The natives shot only at our legs, for the latter were bare; and so many were the spears and stones that they hurled at us, that we could offer no resistance,” Pigafetta said. The Spaniards with all their superior military technology were pinned to a location where their armaments could not inflict dam- age on the natives or could provide them protection, “The musketeers and crossbowmen shot from a distance for about half-hour, but uselessly; for the shots only passed through the shields which were made of thin wood and the arms [of the bearers],” wrote Pigafetta, adding, “The mortars in the boats could not aid us as they were too far away.” A colonial map of the Philippines It was in this compro- (Source: Photographic History of the Spanish-American War, Map IV) mised position that the natives rain projectiles on them, “They shot ground in battle to the very end, he , only larger. That caused so many arrows at us and hurled wrote, “An Indian hurled a bam- the captain to fall face downward, so many bamboo spears (some boo spear into the captain’s face, when immediately they rushed of them tipped with iron) at the but the latter immediately killed him with iron and bamboo spears captain-general, besides painted him with his lance, which he left and with their cutlasses, until they stakes hardened with fire stones, in the Indian’s body. Then trying killed our mirror, our light, our and mud, that we could scarcely to lay hand on his sword, he could comfort, and our true guide.” defend ourselves.” Pigafetta wrote draw it out but halfway, because In honor of the valiant that Magellan was shot with a he had been wounded in the arm native chief, a number of Filipino poisoned arrow on the right leg with a bamboo spear. When the martial art styles were named after before Lapu-Lapu and his men native saw that, they all hurled Lapu-Lapu. The most prominent ganged up on him for the kill. themselves upon him. One of them among these is the Arnis Pigafetta’s description of Magel- wounded him on the left leg with Afficionados founded by the late lan’s death portrayed the man as a large , which resembles a Jose Viñas. a valiant warrior who stood his 51 Revisiting a Classic: “Mga Karunungan sa Larong Arnis” By Placido Yambao and Buenaventura Mirafuente

book on Mariñas’ style of Arnis, of Public Works, built it during the Wiley wrote, “Mariñas’ yantok at 1930s. The structure was to be- daga style was greatly influenced come the site of the 1934 Far East by Placido Yambao’s system, Olympics, 1954 Asian Games and which he studied by way of the the 1981, 1991 and 2005 Southeast latter’s book for more than twenty- Asian Games. five years.” The two authors didn’t Besides expounding on the described what type of equipments technical aspect of arnis Yambao were used in Arnis contests in and Mirafuente’s book offers a Manila in the 1950s but consider- glimpse on how Arnis was prac- ing that Escrima death matches ticed in Manila during the 1950s. was legal until 1948 (the year One Arnis organization when Grandmaster Floro Vilabrille constantly mentioned in the book fought his last bout), it could be was Kapisanang Dunong at Lakas surmised that contact was hard and (Tabak ni Bonifacio, 1946). The the protection minimal. name literally translates “Brother- The two authors though gave a hood of Knowledge and Strength.” Written in archaic Taga- detailed description on what type It was most probably founded in log, “Mga Karunungan sa Larong of weapons is to be used in follow- honor of the Supremo of the Ka- Arnis” [A Body of Knowledge ing the instructions in their man- tipunan Andres Bonifacio, (“Tabak in the Sport of Arnis] by Placido ual. The mode of Arnis practice ni Bonifacio” means Bonifacio’s Yambao and Buenaventura Mira- taught in Yambao and Mirafuente’s Bolo). Yambao was one of the fuente published by the University book is sword and dagger, called founders of the organization and of the Philippines Press in 1957 is “tabak at balaraw” in Tagalog. its president from 1934 to 1938. the first definitive book on Arnis. The recommended measurement In addition to these credentials it This manual became the histori- that they gave is 32-inches for was also mentioned that he holds a cal reference of many books and the sword and 12-inches for the teaching diploma in Arnis awarded articles on the Filipino martial arts dagger. Yambao and Mirafuente by the Magtanggol Sporting circulated up to the late 1980s. emphasized that since the primary Club headed by a certain Joaquin “Mga Karunungan sa goal of the study is just health and Galang. Mirafuente on the other Larong Arnis” exerted profound fitness, only replicas and not real hand was a one-time president of influence on some practitioners of weapons should be used. The play- the committee of teachers of the the Filipino martial art. Professor ers demonstrating the techniques Kapisanang Dunong at Lakas. Amante Mariñas of Pananandata in the book wear no distinct arnis It is evident in the two admits being greatly influenced uniforms only ordinary shirts and writers’ accounts that Arnis con- by the book. A part of a feature on trousers as well as high-cut Elpo tests were popular in Manila Mariñas in Mark Wiley’s “Filipino shoes, the Philippine equivalent of during that time mentioning that Martial Culture” reads, “An im- Chuck Taylor shoes in the 1950s. stick-fighting bouts were held at portant influence in Mariñas’ study It is interesting to note that the Olympic Coliseum. The Olym- of arnis was his introduction in the there was already a formal initia- pic Coliseum mentioned by Yam- 1960s to Placido Yambao’s book, tive to integrate Arnis into the bao and Mirafuente pertains to the Mga Karunungan sa Larong Arnis. education system during the 1950s. Rizal Memorial Sports Complex In fact, Mariñas had already read It was mentioned in the book that in Manila then the first multi-pur- the book prior to meeting his next Mirafuente, with the help of Dr. pose stadium in Asia. Antonio de Arnis instructor Porferio Lanada.” Marciano Santos, a councilor from las Alas, which was the Secretary On the specific influence of the Tondo and other concerned indi- 52 viduals filed a formal request to the that if the Philippines’ native danc- thored by Senator Juan Miguel Zu- city government of Manila on April es were taught in schools then why biri) into a law. It has been a long 29, 1954 for arnis to be taught in not Arnis? Besides the addition of journey from the time Jose Rizal all high schools in Manila. The Arnis to the academic curriculum, included Arnis into the curricu- authors wrote that the request was he also suggested that it should lum he’s teaching to the children approved on August 6, 1954. also be a part of military training. of Dapitan until now that it was The book also mentions He even cited the examples of Eu- finally declared the Philippines’ Yambao’s interview with Antonio rope and America where galleries national martial art and sport. A. Maceda, then superintendent of of arms were built to preserve the The last remaining copy the City High School of Manila. tradition of the art of self-defense. of “Mga Karunungan sa Larong In the interview, Maceda stressed The teaching of Arnis in Arnis” is in the possession of the the need for Arnis to be taught in all the schools of the Philippines National Library at Teodoro M. schools and for it to be declared as is now mandatory because of the Kalaw St. in Manila. a national game. Maceda argued enactment of the Arnis Bill (au-

Traditional Remedies for Filipino Martial Arts Injuries

Training in the Filipino martial a hit of a blunt instrument. arts employs bladed and impact There are basically two ways weapons and with it comes the to inflict trauma with a knife, possibility of injuries. The latter it’s either to slash (creating was very prevalent in the olden a cut) or to thrust (creating a days when dueling was a norm puncture wound). among Escrimadores. This article Felipe Landa Jocano, the is about traditional Filipino rem- Philippines’ foremost anthro- edies for such injuries. The meth- pologist in his award-winning ods of treatments discussed in this book “Folk Medicine in a article are for information purposes Philippine Municipality,” only presented within the context elaborates on the nature of of Philippine culture and traditions. wounds based on his research Any individual who intends to on traditional Filipino heal- employ them for actual use should ers, he wrote, “Sugat caused first consult a medical professional. by sharp blades, made either Filipino martial arts weap- of wood stone or metal, are ons generally produced three types known as taga or hiwa. Taga of injuries namely wounds, bruises deeper; the incisions are vertical – are cuts or incisions inflicted on and contusions. that is, crosswise through the skin the skin by big instruments like The general term for skin and the flesh. Hiwa are smaller; the bolos, knives, or daggers. Hiwa and flesh wounds in Filipino is incisions horizontal – that is the are cuts inflicted by smaller instru- “sugat,” for bruises “pasa” and for cuts follow lengthwise the layer ments like pen knives, shaving contusions “bukol.” The first is of the skin and the flesh. Because blades or broken glasses. Char- caused by contact with a sharp ob- of these characteristics, the two acteristically, taga are bigger and ject while the last two results from terms are often interchanged and 53 the inflicting instruments becomes and applied directly on the wound. Bukol resulting from hits of a of secondary importance in the This medicinal plant is heavily blunt weapon usually involves process of identifying the wound. used by Filipinos to hasten the swelling of tissues and skin discol- Sugat through punctures are known healing of circumcision wounds. oration ranging from reddish blue as saksak, deep piercing wounds Ubiquitous in Filipino kitchens, at the center of the puffed area to made with pointed instruments or bawang (scientific name: Allium ash gray around it. Pain from this objects.” sativum), is the most important injury can be reduced by admin- Mayana, bayabas [guava] and ingredient of adobo the Philip- istering pounded leaves of yerba bawang [garlic] are three me- pines’ most popular dish. Several buena (scientific name: Clinopodi- dicinal plants commonly used by scientific studies in the West have um Douglasii), commonly known traditional Filipino healers to treat already proven the antiseptic as peppermint on the affected area. wounds. Mayana (scientific name: properties of garlic. To disinfect Yerba buena has long been known Coeus blumei Benth), which is wounds, garlic cloves are crushed to possess analgesic properties. cultivated for ornamental pur- and the juice applied directly on Jocano’s book even contained a poses is administered to stop minor the wound. Stories abound of how liniment formula, which may prove bleeding of wounds and to heal soldiers during World War II used useful in reducing muscle soreness bruises and sprains. For treatment, garlic to heal wounds and prevent from hard escrima training, it says, mayana leaves are crushed and the onset of gangrene. “For simple muscular pains only, applied directly on the wound. In Written during the late 1960s and the following medication is used: case of bruises, the crushed leaves early 1970s, Jocano in his book one tablespoon of black pepper, are secured on the injured part with mentioned a type of healer called two tablespoons of salt, a quantity a bandage and are replaced three “tigagamot ng taga,” whose spe- of garlic, and one cup of coconut times daily. cialty was exclusively the treat- oil. The garlic is pounded, mixed The young leaves of a bayabas tree ment of hack wounds, a part of his with pepper and salt, and heated (scientific name: Psidium Guajava) book reads, “This specialists are on a frying pan. is are widely used in the Philippines skillful in stopping hemorrhage poured into the mixture as soon for cleaning and treating wounds. and profuse bleeding. One well- as it is hot. The resulting paste is For cleaning wounds, the leaves known specialist in the lakeshore allowed to cool a little and is used, are boiled in water for a few min- area was a woman who claimed, while still warm, to massage the utes. The liquid is allowed to cool when we interviewed her, that her aching body. After this is done, the down and is applied generously on treatment consists mainly of pan- patient is wrapped in a blanket and the wound while still lukewarm. gungusap (saying prayers). “I do instructed to go to sleep.” Guava leaves can also be pounded not use medicine,” she said.

54 The Filipino Martial Art in Entertainment and Cinema

The dynamic movements plays like the komedya, moro- tion of the Filipino martial art in of the Filipino martial arts offer moro and sarsuela. Today, these Bruce Lee’s last film “The Game great potential for theatrical and traditional art forms are still seen of Death” gave tremendous boost cinematic purposes. during fiestas in the provinces and to the popularity of the Filipino The late Filipino martial art are being revived by government martial art worldwide. Inosanto scholar Pedro Reyes wrote of how agencies like the National Com- and his student Jeff Imada (a top the Filipino martial art were intro- mission for Culture and the Arts Hollywood stuntman and stunt duced as a component of entertain- (NCCA). choreographer) were responsible ment, he said, “Next the Spanish While the komedya, moro- in showcasing to the world the friars introduced the komedya moro and sarsuela were commonly cinematic potential of the Filipino [stage play] and asked the Arnisa- identified with Luzon and the balisong knife. Inosanto taught ac- dores to choreograph the mock Visayas, the Filipino Muslims of tor Ron Maxx how to use the bali- battles. Arnis masters responded Mindanao have grafted martial song in the Jackie Chan film “The by creating a new style or branch arts in their performing arts too. big Brawl”in 1980. He used the of Arnis, exhibition or theatrical In 2007, I did a news coverage of balisong in his appearance in the arnis. Present day masters who an art exhibition of former Moro movie “Sharkey’s Machine” star- coach cinematic actors are heirs to rebels wherein one painting caught ring Burt Reynolds in 1981. Imada this branch.”(Rapid Journal Vol. 4 my attention. The piece depicted on the other hand, demonstrated No. 1). the traditional Tausug dance called the balisong and the collapsible It is interesting to note that “Pangalay.” The movements of steel baton in the 1986 movie “Big Reyes’ statement that the Span- Pangalay, a posted note explained, Trouble in Little China. Through iards commissioned the arnis mas- also come in handy as a form of the efforts of Inosanto and Imada, ters of old to choreograph the fight self-defense for Tausug women. the balisong was later dubbed “The scenes of the komedya contradicts When used for combative purpos- nunchaku of the 80s.” In his book the long-standing premise that the es, the movements of the Pangalay “Absorb What is Useful,” Inosanto Filipinos of yore hid their practice are called Langka Budjang, which wrote this insight on fight chore- in the guise of dances or public has a martial connotation. ography, “The most difficult part performances after the Spanish Dan Inosanto is the un- about choreographing a fight scene government banned the Filipino disputed pioneer of using the is the compromise between what martial art. Filipino martial art in stunt works is practical and what is theatrical In another article (Clas- in the movies. His demonstra- - without getting too hokey. You sifying Arnis, Rapid Vol. 5 No. 2), want to show realism, but it might Reyes described the characteristic not be theatrical enough.” of this unique branch of Filipino Inspired by the inclusion martial art, he wrote, “If he is of the Filipino martial art in Lee’s showing off, he is doing “Arnis “Game of Death,” a number of entablado,” or exhibition Arnis Filipino movies featured Arnis-Es- (“entablado” is a Spanish word for crima during the 1970s and 1980s. “stage”). Because he has to project The most prominent of these were to an audience that may be some the ones starring the late Modern way off, he exaggerates his move- Arnis exponent Roland Dantes. ments, engages in acrobatics and Dantes holds the distinction of favors spectacular techniques.” starring in the first full-length The introduction of cinema movie about Arnis dubbed “Arnis: in the Philippines by the coming The Sticks of Death,” which was of the Americans at the turn of the released in 1984. Besides his 20th century resulted in a steady Dan Inosanto in Bruce Lee’s last film expertise in Arnis, Dantes was also decline of the popularity of stage “Game of Death” a world-class champion body- 55 builder who won the title of Mr. trisimo. anan, a professional illustrator and Philippines five times from 1969 Hollywood continues to concept designer for comic books to 1980. He also placed in interna- notice the cinematic potential of prepared a meticulous storyboard tional contests like the Mr. World the Filipino martial art. Among of the film’s knife fight sequences. and Mr. Universe. the most notable movies of recent The Filipino martial arts use In 1986, another full- years that featured the Filipino of found objects as impromptu length movie on arnis-escrima was martial art are: “Out for Justice” weaponry was displayed in “The released in the Philippines titled starring Steven Seagal in 1991; Bourne Supremacy.” “Kamagong,” starring Juan Car- “The Hunted” starring Tommy By the enthusiastic re- los Bonnin and (now Lee Jones and Benicio del Toro in sponse of moviegoers around the a senator). The most recent local 2003; and “The Bourne Suprema- world, it is evident that more films film on the Filipino martial art was cy” starring in 2004. are bound to feature the unique fla- “Arnis: The Lost Art,” released in “Out for Justice” contains a vor of Filipino martial art choreog- 2004 and starring dynamic fight scene where Seagal raphy. At the time of this writing, and Bruce Ricketts. The former and Inosanto engage in a sinawali it was reported that the old tandem is the brother while the latter is [double sticks] fight using pool of Inosanto and Imada choreo- the son of renowned martial arts cues. “The Hunted” meanwhile graphed exciting fight scenes for Master Christopher Ricketts of showcases the splendid knife fight- the new Denzel Washington movie the Bakbakan Group. Christopher ing choreography of Thomas Kier “The Book of Eli.” Ricketts was also a senior student and Rafael Kayanan, both senior of the late Antonio “Tatang” Ilus- instructors of Sayoc Kali. Kay-

56 www.FMAPulse.com FMAPulse.com is an exciting new website dedicated to the Filipino martial arts. It is the mission of the FMA Pulse to help When we first decided on creating a website to help promote, educate and serve as a resource promote the Filipino martial arts, one of the pressing is- for the current and new generation of FMA sues we encountered on the Internet was the lack of online enthusiasts. content for the Filipino martial arts. Most of the existing The team at FMAPulse.com is pre- Internet content was mainly the different Filipino martial arts senting Filipino martial arts to the world via systems. While this information us very important, we also the internet using Web 2.0 technology. Us- wanted to find content on other aspects of the Filipino martial ers can interact with one another in a setting arts, such as the cultural and historical aspects. much like Myspace or Facebook, only that we In order to help solve this problem, we wanted to find are focused primarily on the Filipino martial someone who was a professional writer, and more important- arts. This on-line community will give users ly a practitioner of the Filipnio martial arts. around the world the ability to share, learn, While searching for this writer, we stumbled upon teach and stay current with what’s going on in some articles relating to the Filipino Martial Arts on the Ma- the world of the Filipino martial arts. nila Times website. The Manila Times is the oldest circulated Not only will this online social net- newspaper in the Philippines which has a weekly martial work cater to practicing Filipino martial arts arts Sunday column called “Martial Talk”. The author of that students and instructors, but also to anyone column is Perry Gil S. Mallari. interested in learning about the Filipino When we contacted Perry and told him what FMA martial arts and culture. Aside from connect- Pulse was about we were excited to hear that he had a similar ing people together, FMAPulse.com will be vision. This vision is to help spread and propagate the Fili- offering viewers their own personal blog, pino Martial Arts and to help elevate Filipino martial arts and articles, upcoming Filipino martial arts events its pioneering founders and teachers to worldwide status and and monthly video or audio pod-casts of recognition. It was just common sense for Perry and FMA different Filipino martial arts instructors and Pulse to form a relationship. You can read Perry’s writings by their respective styles. This will give viewers visiting our website. a chance to get to know these leading Filipino martial arts instructors and their styles on a more in-depth level. We at FMAPulse.com invite you to participate, share your views and ideas so we can all unite to help further promote the Filipino martial arts in a positive way across the globe.

Sincerely, The FMA Pulse Team

57 FMAdigest published in booklet form. These special printings are approximately 5” X 7” in size - in Booklet form. FMAdigest Set: Volume 1 - 5 (1st Five Years Regular Issues) United States and Canada - $ 65.00 USD, This includes Shipping. Outside the United States and Canada - $70.00 USD, This includes Shipping. Note: Orders outside the United States cannot be registered confirmed delivery. Insured mail is high priced, if you desire insured mailing add extra $20 USD. Due to some countries customs security mail is held up for extended time. This includes Canada. Order - Click Here

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58 The FMAdigest has been designed to provide access to articles, information, events, news, seminars, techniques, etc… pertinent to the Filipino Martial Arts and the Philip- pines. The Filipino Martial Arts Digest besides providing information on Filipino martial arts has an online digest which you can subscribe too for Free and comes out quarterly, also with Special Editions that are on particular systems or styles, and Special Issues on events of the Filipino martial arts. Do not miss out! Download past issues and subscribe today so not to miss future is- sues. Advertise Seminars, Workshops, and Tournaments Submit Articles on FMA Instructors. Articles on Systems or Styles. Articles on FMA History. Articles on Philosophies, and Techniques Past FMA events. Also Articles about the Philippines -People -Places -Culture Email Submissions - [email protected]

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