Kuntao Silat methods of Training By Guru Ben Fajardo There are various methods of training within Kuntao Silat. Three of which is the the fundamental stage learning of the various forms, the mastering/specialization techniques stage. Then the Refining or the personal expressive stage. Which is called Tan Lung: a basic practice in Kuntao.The "trackless art" An indiviual expression of the understanding of the art, it's principles and techniques expressed as a solo movements. They also can be broken down into Introduction, training methods, entering, and coordination of the external and internal elements. Kuntao Silat is a Chinese martial art, with Indonesian influence, which coordinates the two arts together using the methods of external physical action (yang) and internal mental strength and energy (yin). Through this coordination the entire body is able to manifest power and execute techniques with maximum strength and efficiency. The external empasis on: Hands (shou) Eyes (Yan) Body (shen) techniques (Fa) and stepping (bu) and the internal emphasis is on essence (jing) Spirit (shen) Internal energy (chi) Muscular strength (li) Gong Fu (time and energy) These ten requirements can be concidered the root and foundation of the Chinese martial arts practice. When these internal and external elements are united and hormonized with Silat martial art techniques and priciples. They become live, fast and powerful. Naturally since Kuntao is a part of the Chinese martial arts. These ten requirements are heavily emphasized and practiced. Traditionally, Chinese martial fighting techniques are divided into four general fighting categories (ti) Kicking (Da) striking (Na) Seizing and controling (shu) Wrestling/throwing/Sweeping. In Kuntao Silat taking advantage of your opponent's body posture and centerline and appying the appropriate techniques to control opponent's base, angle, and leverage is an Indonesian principle to make your opponent fall. There are two basic elements in Kuntao Silat to be successful, the entry and the body manipulation to throw. In Kuntao Silat training in fact, the effectiveness of Kuntao Silat, depends totally on all ten training requirements. Externally your eyes must always be on your target. It is the eyes which first observe and detect an opponent's movement, and then a decision is made by the brain, once a decision is made the techniques are executed through the nervous system to hands and legs in coordination with the body. That is why it is said; the eyes arrive, the hands immediatelly respond and the body follows with stepping. Internally, in order to manifest the external techniques effectively, effeciently, and powerfully you must learn how to conserve your essence and cultivate and raise your spirit. Then you can build up abundant (chi) internal energy for when this abundent energy (chi) is directed to the muscles. They manifest strength and power. In addition, once your mind is in a highly alert state, your movements of hands, eyes, body, and foot stepping will become agile, and will move as one unit. One last element of training is the understanding of attacking the Yin and Yang. All meridians are classified as either Yin and Yang. The basis of the classification is the direction of the Chi flow in the diurnal cicle. Yin organs (negative have a chi flow direction of upward, or from toes to head. Yang organs (positive) have a chi flow of down, or head to toes. Other ways to classify yin/yang points are: The front of the body is yin, the back is yang. The left in Yin, and the right is Yang. The top is Yin and the bottom is Yang. To use this method you must use am application series that crosses the body and dirupts the yin/yang balance. I hope my sights to training in Kuntao Silat has helped you to undersatnd yourself!
continued information! Kuntao Silat methods Basic physical applications of self defense Method of Entry There are many ways to enter deflecting the attack, parries, cutting the centerline, Checking and hitting, and destructions. the use of angulations and Ranges: Stay at (Long range) offensively attacking what attacks you, using kicking to close the gap to close range (Close range) trapping it and follow up with elbows and knees to throwing. Boxing method Kuntao Chinese boxing phase used for offensive purposes to enter to elbows, head butts, knees, etc.various concepts to manuever and off balance the opponent to throwing, sweeping, takedowns. Kuntao Silat Chaining Empty hand trapping drills that check, trap, redirect, counter, with a chain reaction of Kuntao and Silat follow ups. Kuntao Silat Drills that heighten sensitivity. Silat knife Concepts (knife fight) Empty hand defenses originate from the knife, slashing becomes checking and retaining, cutting become slaps, thrusts become finger jabs, palm smashes, vertical punshes, multiple low line kicking, foot trapping, with angulation and quick footwork. Offsetting The offsetting of the structure, turning opponent's body pivot points begining with the head, attack the head the body will follow, turning the shoulder's, foot trapping, sweeping the legs, pushing and pulling, go with the force. Training concepts three areas of self defense 1. standing in front of your opponent waiting for the first move 2. Offensive phase making the first move 3. Infighting phase counter for counter, sweeping, foot trapping, reversals, hand trapping, locking, grappling. The possibilities in Kuntao Silat defense and offense are endless. The art leads you to self discovery, through concepts and principles of simplicity. Nubreed Kali Silat
continued information!!! Principles of Kuntao The feet are the roots-motivated by the thighs, controlled by the waist, and manifested in the fingers. The shoulders should be drooped and relaxed. With Diaphragmatic breathing, Elbows drooped, Neck/chin drooped, Chest sunken, Legs protect the groin, This stance or posture is sometimes called the stance of the bear . Use evenness in all movements- not quick at one movement and slow at another. Interrruption of movement is the gap in space and time which allows us to be attacked. The mind controls everything, when one part moves, every part moves. You either move away in the same direction of the attacker or move to the side and stick to him. In force your attack should be exerted when the attacker is about to attack or move but not, a moment before or after. If you first move up, you should always move down next. Every joint in the entire body must be linked together so there is no interruption in movement. If the opponent does not move, I do not move. If he makes the slightest move, I should move before him. The idea of force still continues- you mentally follow through the action, ready for a counter attack. When you are not required to move, you are as calm and sedate as a mountain. But when you move, you move with speed oft he torrential river. A curved force is a circular force. A straight force is a square one. But, circularity must employ squareness before an issuing force can be produced. Force should be stored all of the time- not just before an attack. You store it in your body and direct it when needed. The primary defenses within Kuntao are evading, parry, intercepting, trapping, destructions cutting into the angle. The secondary defenses are hand strikes, kicking, destructions, elbow strikes, knee strikes, takedowns and sweeps, throwing, joint immobilization. The keys in primary and secondary combinations are using natural body mechanics, natural laws of combat including principles suchas base angle leverage, your advantage of physical strength/speed, working within your physical limits (personalized) physical movement which economizes. The training to find the weakness of opponent, The understanding of all the about takes many years of training, and will come like a flash of lightening one day! Nubreed Martial Arts Systems Sifu/Guru Ben Fajardo
Kuntao Silat De Thouars Kuntao Silat De Thouars This will give you a general idea of the requirements in Uncle Bill's Arts 1. Jurus Satu (medium bassin) Application : the entries (the most important learning) follow up(striking)free flow takedown: throw: puter kepala reverse puter kepala hip throw thigh trow Kengit neck twist arm drag leg drag sweep sapu & beset joint lock wrist lock arm bar figure 4, etc. Next from here you learn some application but you workout with a opponent who attacks you. And you use a free flow attitude (defense we play), You begin the latihan tiga (sweep sapu/beset) Jurus satu Low bassin application to low attack to leg & takedown groundfighting Jurus Satu(hight bassin) more street self defense in upright position you begin Jurus Satu in the monkey attitude...from hight to medium to low bassin you express the monkey.... free flowing, unpredictable moves you can flow from the first part of the jurus to the third part ....no pattern now just free flowing... You develop the jurus in the tiga pattern Jurus Satu with knifes ( solo knife or two knifes) you workout with an opponent you play! Kuntao Waves hands drills Monkey line: 2 opponent go back/forward using trapping, sweep legs exercise 2. Bai Hung (kuntao form & applications) platform footwork pattern exercises 3. Tang lang pai (kuntao) 4. Jurus Dua / sticking hands drills 5. Pai yune(kuntao) 6. Langhas Monjet 7. Ling Sing Toe ( kuntao) 8. Bagua green dragon (form) & a lot of applications Each form is learned and you develop your technique from the form and most important are the entries...you play with a opponent (workout) Basic first Jurus Satu....after training in the basic form, some student go to Baih Hung other to Jurus Dua, no real structure based on the individual physical make up! My instructor is Guru Steeve Malette
Some applications of Kuntao Silat Some Applications of Kuntao Silat 1. Two-hand front push; outward chopping blocks on inside of their arms, grab over arm to left elbow place the arm under your right arm pit and right hand to side of head turn twist to takedown. 2. Rt. Punch defense; Slap block outside of arm, Right eye jab to palm heel face/head turn counter clockwise outward and downward to take down, with footwork 3. Rt. Punch defense; Outward block with left hand, continue the energy to circle the punch downward and inward under your right arm pit, using your right hand, slap the left side of their head while you are stepping on their foot for a pinning takedown. You as a martial artist! do you see three self defense techniques? or can you see a principle being used here? One that once understood can work in any situation. Techniques and principles are like the yin/yang symbol. They must have both energies to work. A good technique will always represent a law or principle that works when done correctly. Techniques are the "what" and "how" to teach and learn the principles. They represent the person's style and specific applications that fit within specific situations. Techniques include such things as the proper stance, the mechanics of a particular punch or kick within the style or system. Principles are the "why" they are the elements which the techniques are built on. Principles include such things as economy of motion, quick recovery, spining the head/spine or centerline to get a takedown as in the above techniques. Principles have universal applications. They are natural laws that don't change or shift. The purpose of techniques is to illustrate principles. Therefore technique is a means to an end; not the end itself. A person must master techniques; yet at the same time not become enslaved by them. There is no set number of techniques in Kuntao/Silat it is a self expression of learning the right principles. If you understand the movements of the human body and the principles of controling it, their are so many ways to create your own techniques. Principles point the way, techniques get you there. If you under stand them and use them you wont get confused, fooled and lost in your training. Techniques are the boat to get you across the river, don't put it on your back, as you tread across land. Remeber it's not how many techniques you know or carry, but how well you apply the principles that count. Nubreed Martial Arts Systems Sifu/Guro Ben Fajardo
Brief explanation of Chinese Kuntao Sets A Brief Explanation of Chinese Kuntao Fist Sets Fist Sets, Kuens, Jurus or forms are formal exercises that Chinese Kuntao Boxers use to practice a series of skills and abilities. To the outsider who knows nothing about Chinese Boxing Kuntao, these series of movements look merely like classical dance. Many people have a misconception that they are interesting to watch, but useless in fighting. Remember....."never judge a book by it's cover"...beneath the graceful and elegant movements lies a highly deceptive force. Some moves are used as diversions. Some are used to develop fluency, power, and speed. And some are means to develop harmony with the soul, mind, and the body. The objectives very, whether the sets are to be done slow or fast, done alone or with a partner... the goal is not to score points, but to perfect the techniques and develop the attitude of the animal set, so that the Kuntao boxer may develop his reflexes and attitude to better prepare him/her to react appropriately in an emergency situation, The application and break down of the techniques within the Sets for self defense, are done to help the Kuntao boxer to determine whether or not his speed, power, and applications are sufficient to stop an opponent. It is also a means to check ones timing, range and the feeling of actual combat in a controlled manner. The key to learning Chinese Kuntao is in the movement and the attitude of the sets, and with the understanding of the applications. Practice your sets with this these concepts in mind and you will go far into the art. Nubreed Kali Silat Sifu/Guru Ben Fajardo
Your posts are excellent, Guru Ben, it's always great to see you post because I know I'll get alot of great info. Your website is excellent as well, VERY informative! Hormat, Bobbe Edmonds
quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally posted by kimball KUNTAU ..not kunTAO....... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not Kuntao - NOT - not kunTAO (work it out)
Kuntao Silat Training methods Kuntao Silat Training Methods The forms of Kuntao Silat are designed to allow the practitioner to practice the principles of Hsingy, Baguazhang and Pentjak silat and combime them with full expression and explosiveness. Each form in Kuntao Silat are taught to develop principles of teaching; suchas in self defense situations, the concepts of footwork, posture and methods of developing internal energy. The various combative energies that one might learn in Chinese Kuntao are; coiling, stomping, shaking, ripping, follow through, and dead energy. In Pentjak Silat the subtle hand forms or Djurus are short but explosive sets that, teach to attack the vital areas in a continous manner using spontaneous, upperbody methods of crashing using palms-forearms-elbows shoulders, head butts. Along with footwork that delivers lower body crashing using feet, shins, stomps, knees, sweeps, and leg traps. The fighting animals sets of Kuntao Silat shown below are taught to develop the energy, and characteristics and power of each animal that builds tremendous fighting ability for the Kuntao Silat practitioner. The Tiger: heavy pouncing and tearing power The Snake: coiling, wrapping and pen point striking power The Monkey: Aggressive, chaotic, charging, evasive and explosive power The Bear: Heavy hitting, shaking, ripping power The Eagle: Smooth, seizing, ripping and clawing power The Dragon: Twisting and wrapping, internal power The unique training in Kuntao Silat is the blending of Chinese Kuntao and Indonesian Pentjak Silat in that, they both make a more efficient and more realistic method of discovering for yourself what hidden movements and structure works for you. You obtain insight into the unifying principles of Kuntao Silat which are used to help the practitioner fight his fight without being confused about what should you do next. These principles are based on the physics of efficiency of technique, and economy of motion and are kept within the forms as secrets of the system. The principles of movement help the practitioner to understand the endless variations of empty hand techniques. There are so many in fact that it is impossible to name them all. They stem from the root movements found in Cimande, Serak, Pentjak Silat, Tai Chi, Hsingy, Baguazhang etc. Kuntao Silat practitioners make use of all parts of the body for joint breakers, locking, and striking weapons simliar to the crane beak, tiger claw, eagle claw, panther fist etc. and are adapted in movement to various techniques and footwork. Adding pressure point tactics to the blend and you now have hitting, ripping, pinching, tearing, and squeezing which are a rich dimention to the art which are especially useful against larger assailants who may need prodding and convincing in order to make a technique work for escaping holds and locks, that the practitioner has somehow found himself caught in. The process of learning Kuntao Silat is an important one, as the capability of correctly executing the movements and understanding what the movements actually mean are the keys to every practitioner of the art. The actual fighting techniques are classified according the the different actions or movement of the animal or form. As an example: kicking (Tendangan), Hitting (Pukulan), Throwing (Bantingan), Locks, (Kunci), parrying (Tangkisan) and evasions and sidesteps (Elak/Gelek). In Kuntao Silat the practice of mock combat where one practitioner circles and than opens with an attack in an unfixed sequence of actions and the defender responds with counters and follow ups. This is an important training aid in learning to deal with combat situations. The training ends as the attacker takes distance and walks back into a circle walking their own way as the defender begins preparing for the next attack. In Kuntao Silat the practitioner is taught to move in accordance, to his will with confidence and self esteem in themselves and in the art. I hope that I have given you some insight into Kuntao Silat Training? Nubreed Martial Arts Sifu Ben Fajardo
hmmm...this one's very interesting since i'm coming from a Tausug Kuntaw-Silat experience & point-of-view (this is the combat art practised by the Tausugs of Sulu in south mindanao, philippines...). as it is, what the noble sifu has mentioned is definitely similar, if not highly synonymous to what we've been doing for how long. guess it will be great if there'll be a sharing of tactics/techniques, views, etc... something for the benefit of practitioners from opposite ends of the globe...
Kuntao,kuontao, kuntau, etc. remember the word comes from the hokkien dialect. Chuan Fa= Mandarin Kuen Fa=Cantonese the symbols are the same in chines. Depends own your language how you pronounce. Keck let's spell it Cun Dao or Cun tao is only latin symbols. Good post Ben .
