Academy of Jeet Kune Do Fighting Technology

Athens

Greece

Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Instructor

Vagelis Zorbas

Filipino Martial Arts

The Empty Hands of the Filipino Martial Arts

Filipino Martial Arts include in general:

• Panandatas (weapons skills)
• Suntukan Panantukan (empty handed boxing skills)
• Suntukan Pananjakman (kicking skills)
• Dumog (grappling skills)

Empty handed training includes:

• Boxing skills - fist / open hand / elbows
• Kicking Skills - feet / knees
• Trapping skills
• Nerve destruction techniques / Pressure point strikes
• Standing grapple techniques - Throws / Trips / Sweeps / Locks / Chokes
• Ground grapple techniques - Pins / Locks / Chokes
• Self-defense (general)
• Self-defense techniques - against impact weapons
• Self-defense techniques - against edged weapons
• Multiple opponent strategy

Weapons training include:

• Single stick (largo - long range)
• Single stick (medio - medium range)
• Single stick (corto - close range)
• Double stick (sinawali)
• Stick & Dagger / Sword & Dagger (olisi y dagga - espada y dagga)
• Staff (bangkaw) - Spear (sibat) - Palm stick (tabak-malitt)
• Flexible weapons - (olisi toyok) - (lubid) - (latigo)
• Bladed weapons - Knife / Sword (single - pared)
• Projectile weapons - (sumpit) - (songil) - (yo-yo)
• Sparring (Full protective equipment)
• Sparring (Limited protective sparring)

PANANTUKAN

Also known as Suntukan, refers to the empty handed boxing skills of Filipino Kali and consists of a wide variety of punches, open hand techniques elbow strikes and nerve destruction techniques. There are a large number of training drills which, when performed with a training partner develop the reflexes and tactile sensitivity. These methods of training are known as Corto Kadena which mean, close range chaining. These drills help develop the concept of "flowing" from technique to technique in a fast continuous flurry of attacks which target vulnerable areas of the body such as, the eyes, throat, solar plexus, groin, bladder, kidneys and various nerve and pressure point areas.

Many of the empty handed flow drills also teach the concept of trapping which involves manipulating an opponents attacking arms in such a way as they become "tied-up" thus rendering effective defense almost impossible. Trapping is a highly sophisticated skill requiring a high level of training.

PANANJAKMAN

Pananjakman refers to the kicking methods employed in Filipino Kali. Because Kali is a weapons based system, most kicks are centered below waist level, kicks target vulnerable areas such as the instep of the foot, ankle, knee and hip joints as well as areas such as the bladder, groin and shin bone. As with the empty handed boxing skills, kicks also target nerve and pressure points in the legs so as to inhibit mobility.

Both Panantukan and Pananjakman, when combined, offer a vast arsenal of highly effective combat applications which attack the limbs and body of an opponent in a flurry of devastatingly fast combinations designed to overwhelm an opponent thus making any form of effective defense almost impossible.

DUMOG/BUNO

The Filipino art of grappling includes a wide range of locks, known as trankadas, chokes, throws, trips, sweeps and pins which blend and flow naturally from the empty handed boxing and kicking methods, applied with or without a weapon.

Dumog is primarily concerned with felling an opponent in such a way as to cause maximum damage to joints, ligaments and tendons followed by a ferocious flurry of ground striking techniques designed to distract and disable an opponent prior to applying a pin, lock or choke.

Due to the combative nature of Kali and the fact that weapons are often employed and due to the vulnerability faced when dealing with one or more opponents, or of an attacker wielding a knife or such, Dumog does not primarily concentrate on sport style grappling,  However a number of reversals and counter measures are taught.

KINA MUTAI

This is the brutal Filipino art of biting and eye gouging. Although it cannot be used as a primary fighting style, you can use it as an add-on to any other fighting art. When mixed with grappling, it can render an opponent virtually helpless. The art's effectiveness has been proven in battle, and is now being taught to high-level military teams, such as the Navy Seals, and U.S. Army Rangers.

PANANDATAS

Panandatas refers to the weapons employed by the Filipino art of Kali. these vary in type from long to short, single and paired, impact or edged, flexible and projectile.

Single Stick:

The rattan stick forms the nucleus of training in weapons skills and is applied at long, medium and close range. The skill developed in the practice of single stick is applied throughout the other stages of study in the art of Kali.

One of the most important aspects of single stick training is the use of the free hand, referred to as the "Live Hand". This is the hand which does not hold a weapon, usually the left hand. This hand is used to check, block &  parry at medium and close range.

Double Stick:

Known as Sinawali (weaving), here two sticks are used which teach a high level of co-ordination helping in the development of both weapons and empty handed skills. There are many training drills for the progression of sinawali which is fast and dynamic. Various concepts such as; chaining, half-beat and reversals are taught within this training phase plus various drills designed to teach application of double sticks in actual sparring.

Stick & Dagger / Sword & Dagger:

As skill is developed, the single stick is paired with a dagger so as to teach the skills required for control of distance. Moving from long range, medium range to close range is an essential component of stick & dagger training.

The stick is used in offence and defence as the dagger is thrust out towards vulnerable targets of the opponent as they come into range. The dagger, when combined with the stick or sword becomes a formidable combination requiring a high level of skill to defend against.

Bladed Weapons:

Bladed weapons play an important role in developing Kali fighting skills and the knife or dagger are central to this development. Learning the principles of knife fighting help to develop awareness and skill in employing empty handed, un-armed defence against the blade. Knife training develops your skills to a high level of sophistication and offers the pinnacle to the physical aspect of Kali. The method used to train the use of the dagger is referred to as Kadena De Mano.

Eskrido

Eskrido, founded by Grandmaster "Cacoy" Canete incorporates joint locks, throws and chokes from Judo, Ju-jitsu and Aikido which are incorporated into the close range stick sparring methods. Eskrido is also known as Stickgrappling. 

The Empty Hands of the Filipino Martial Arts

To most people and martial artists, the Filipino Martial Arts purely concentrate on the use of Sticks, Knives and Edged weapons. To those who have some knowledge of the arts they know that it contains a large section of empty hand fighting skills.

These empty hand skills are derived from the movements with the weapons and are taught within the framework of weapons techniques. For instance, the footwork and arm positioning used in a snake disarm would also be used in delivering an uppercut or hook punch to the ribs.

Footwork

Footwork is one of the key things, which bind all the various fighting areas together. This is basically around a boxing format with the notable addition of the triangular footwork patterns. As any eskrimador will tell you the footwork is the primary means of evasion to an attack.

Male and Female footwork is based around two triangles placed on the floor in the shape of an X. If you stand in the center point, the triangle growing away from you is the female triangle and the triangle going behind you is the male triangle. If you keep one foot in the center and step out into a boxing stance to one of the points or backwards keeping your lead foot in the center you will gain the basic footwork.(Fig 1)

Female Triangle

Male Triangle

fig 1.

If you add a large square around the X pattern you can then practice your step and slide around the X then go through the X and make your own patterns up.(fig 2)

The shapes can either be made up from sticks placed on the floor or you can use tape to mark the pattern out with on the floor. I prefer the latter method because you can use different colored tapes for the triangles and the square which makes it easier for you to pick them out if you only want to practice one particular form of footwork.

Another important piece of footwork is that of the arrow. If you imagine a straight line attack towards you, such as a right cross, is the shaft of an arrow you can step down either side of arrowhead to avoid the attack.(fig 3)

Direction of Attack

fig 3. Application of Female Triangle

Empty Hands(Panantukan)

The empty hand skills taught are essentially a modified boxing format with one key difference, the fighting range. In Western Boxing the fighting range is from the end of the punching hand to your opponents chin, the Filipino styles however have their fighting measure from the end of the punching hand to a distance where you can attack the attacking limb. For example, where you can elbow strike your opponents cross to prevent him from punching you again. A lot of these movements are tied in to the use of the knife, where evasive footwork and parries followed by an attack to the weapon hand is often preferred.

This limb destruction is also due to the fact that by applying forward pressure to your opponent you are preventing him from hitting you as effectively and you are closing your opponents attacking tools down, i.e. "Defanging the Snake".

Limb destruction is commonly performed with 2 tools at the upper body range, these being the hand and the elbow. Of these the elbow is by far the more potent weapon in terms of destructive power, the only problem is unless you are attacking the hand you have to close the gap to employ it.

Common methods in which the elbow is employed is by using the point of the elbow on the fingers of the fist, or driving into the bicep or pectoral. Against a side kick the point of the elbow can also be dropped onto the side of the calf.

The major hand attacking method used in Limb Destruction is Gunting(Scissor type motion). This is where one hand parries an attack and your other hand attacks the limb which attacked you. For Example :

Your opponent attacks with a Right Cross, you step to the outside of the punch, parry to your right with your left hand and you hit the nerve between the bicep and tricep with the knuckles of your right hand.

The Gunting can be delivered either horizontally, vertically and in either direction, up or down. The choice of tool you use is up to you, it can be the knuckles, backfist or knife hand.

One important thing to note with the use of the Gunting is that in certain situations you are open to very subtle counters which will probably destroy your own limb. This is where your opponent either drops or bends his elbow as you attack. This can be applied against you if you are attacking from the outside line or if you are attacking vertically upwards.

There are no blocks per se but rather parry's and evasions as used in boxing, these are often used with a limb destruction as described above. These include slapping blocks and jams to hinder your opponent whilst you setup your own counter. Twisiting of the body is stressed to move your vital organs out of the line of attack and to present as small a target as possible.

The elbow can be brought up to cover the side of the face whilst the arm covers the side of the head. If you step forwards as you do this it can also be used as a strike to the pectoral or shoulder joint of your opponent.

The major striking tools are the fist (In the major boxing punches), hammerfist, knife hand, knuckles and elbow.

Flowing attacks are commonplace where once you close the gap you hit and hit until your opponent is incapacitated. Remember the art revolves around the flow, you must be like water, moving from one obstacle to the next, you either go through it or around it. This may well be due to the fact that most fights in the Philippines involved weapons and you could not afford to let your opponent gain the advantage over you. For instance:

You counter with the gunting as desribed above, then eye jab your opponent with your right hand, wrench the attacking arm back as you deliver a left hand elbow strike to the bicep, then grab the head and leg sweep your attacker to the floor and finish.

Your stick striking patterns can also be applied into your empty hands, such as Heaven 6 by replacing the sticks with hammer fists or knife hands.

Empty hand skills are also taught against the stick and the knife, in terms of a street attack in the USA or Europe your are probably more likely to face the knife and Eskrima has plenty or parries, evasions and tie ups for facing a knife attacker following up with strikes or disarms. It must be stressed however that these are desperate measures when all other options such as getting away from the area are not available options. I recommend you see a qualified instructor if you wish to learn these techniques.

Dumog

Dumog is the Filipino form of wrestling involving Joint locks and Off balancing techniques. It is basically designed to keep your opponent from hitting you whilst you hit them.

A favourite technique is to use your forearm to wrench the bicep of an opponent down this will drag your opponents upper body down enabling you to headbutt, elbow, take down or lock. This technique is effective no matter how big your opponent is, if they happen to be a bit of a Goliath then step back slightly as you perform it.

Locks are usually taught in a flow during Dumog this is done to help you flow from one technique to another as mentioned above and if your opponent is wriggling out of a lock teach you to quickly change to a different one. The flow I was taught begins with a basic one handed wrist lock and finishes with a figure four armlock, working up the arm from wrist to elbow to shoulder.

Locks are generally not sought after but if there is an opening to use them you should know how to apply them, there may also be a time when locking somebody is preferable, e.g. if a friend or relative is drunk and behaves irresponsibly you may not want to take their head off. A lot of the locks tend to dominate the head, this is because if the head is moving the rest of the body will follow.

One main characteristic of Dumog throws is that they are not very easy to fall from, like Silat they often involve twisting and turning the opponents body during the throw the aim being to cause as much damage as possible. Remember that there are no mats out there on the street just good old tarmac and concrete so the harder your opponent falls the worse off they are going to be when they land.

Kicking (Pananjakman/Sikaran)

The Filipino arts do not kick very high, instead they prefer to kick at waist level and below, the primary targets being the thigh, knee, and shin. The kicks are not very pretty to watch but are delivered with body weight behind them and usually from punching range.

You may be asking yourself "Why from Punching Range?", this is because at this distance you will be trying to counter your opponents attack and the kicking techniques are used to distract your assailant, destroy his mobility and if possible take them to the floor. You should be able to put these low level kicks in whilst punching or locking.

Striking Tools

The most common Kicking tools are the Knee and sole of the foot, occasionally the ball of the foot is used. I have never seen the instep used this possibly being due to the fact that the instep does not give you as much penetration of power.

Oblique Kick(Sipa) - This is delivered with the sole of the foot, usually from the rear leg to the knee or the shin. This type of attack will cause instant pain and is intended to stop the forward motion of the attacker. This kick will also keep pressure on the opponent whilst allowing yourself time to manouver into a better position.

Front / Point Kick - The Eskrima front kick is generally delivered with the ball of the foot or the toes. This gives more penetration to the kick. The kick can either be used as a straight attacking tool or as a counter attacking tool.

Knee - The knee is primarily used to attack the thigh. The points to attack are the Sciatic Nerve ("Dead Leg"), the back of the thigh (Hamstring) and the front of the thigh. Kneeing the front of the thigh is usually done to stop your opponent moving forwards. This is not to say that obvious targets such as the groin are not taken advantage of. The knee is also used in pushing attacks to off balance your opponent, this is done by pushing your opponents knee either to the outside of his body or by pushing the knee straight back. This is sometimes done in conjunction with a foot trap to provide a lever.

Shin - The shin is usually delivered in a roundhouse fashion, either to the side of the thigh, similar to a Muay Thai kick, or to the front of the thigh which has to be felt to be believed. This is usually delivered to help bend your opponent over. The kick to the front of the thigh is delivered from the side and is done in conjunction with a trapping move to the arm.

Feet - The feet are also used to apply trips and sweeps to the lower leg to put and opponent down. Stamping is also another viable form of attack. As said before this is usually done in conjuction with another form of attack to keep your opponent off balance and confused. The heel is also used in a hooking type of kick to attack the rear of a opponents leg, this would be to the Knee, Calf or Ankle.

The preferred targets are the knee and the shin. The knee if pushed from either side is very easy to collapse and will result in your opponent taking a tumble. The shin is very easy to contact and can cause a lot of pain if contacted with boots or shoes.

Sensitivity Drills

Filipino Martial Arts are one of only two arts that I know of which contain sensitivity drills, the other being Wing Chun, the sensitivity drill of the FMA is called Hubud Lubud.

Hubud as it is commonly called is used to train sensitivity in your limbs so you feel how your opponent is moving, this will help you to keep contact and flow from one technique to another.

Hubud can be practiced in many forms and in any number of counts. The easiest method is probably 4 count. This is difficult to explain in words but I will do my best.

1. Your partner throws a straight right punch at you.

2. You parry his wrist with your left palm.

3. Now scoop his wrist to his inside zone with the back of your right hand. This should be in front of your left hand.

4. Slap his arm down with your left palm.

5. Punch towards him with your right fist. The sequence now reverses and your partner has his turn.

This is only a basic Hubud but at even a slightly higher level it includes changeovers from right arm to left arm and also changing from the outside of the arm to the inside.