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That's ok as long as they don't back up. And if there is any trouble at the party there's no need to worry because they are bullet proof.
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Filipino never backing up, so what's backing up?
So, you want to study Kali Silat?” Said my second teacher in Kali Silat.
Ok I’m going to hit you, it’s going to be fun, until I teach you how to hit me back, and he continued later with “if you’re going into battle, I gonna beat you until you understand it’s life or death.” That’s how the Filipino really passed the determination of this art and science to me. And that’s how it was passed from father to son for generations and we call this one Kali Silat, or Pencak Silat as told to me by my historian friend and the late Master Atienza and b Suryadi Jafri, of Pencak Silat. I’m certain there was some blending with many Southeast Indigenous Asian Cultures as well in there.
In my study was encourage by Tuhon Gaje, Jr. to meet with General Fabian C. Ver, in 1974 to discuss the development of Kali Silat in America but it wasn’t until I arrived in Cebu in 1977, to meet with over 20 masters and grand masters and hear things I didn’t yet understand like Doce Methodos. “I don’t want you to die, but some time it happen”, said GM Tio Cacoy Canete, as he told me to call him. Making light of a serious situation, he always smiled as he shared something like this with you, and everything he threw me down, I thought “I hope I don’t die too!”
This is not about the teacher, it’s about how Filipino shared with you us that’s important. And when they asked for the meaning of 64 attacks of Pekiti Tirsia, I really began understand that’s the secret to growth and practices. It was substantiated when when GM Juni Canete told me there’s a drill for everything. It’s the “how to” practice and “determination to better oneself”,” the feeling of importance”, those things. It wasn’t about fighting, you never give a choice to be hit, it was feeling the blow to be struck and to strike, in either order. And this practice is about concept: of battle, of battle practice, of fighting, of fighting practice, and protection of protection skills practice. The fact the Filipino were eager to share was an important part of which art to study back in 1963, only I couldn’t find it then. Afterwards I was became thrilled as the insurgence of instructors traveling to America began. And we have been meeting many, masters and grand masters along the way and I continue to hear things like my comment: “Filipino, Never Back Up.” “Doce Methodos” and of course, this is in relation to 1945, the American Marines aka Leather Necks. Maybe too there’s something about learning from friends, especially in their own country.
The arts and sciences of life give all a way to find choice to do it. And, they find that within is to look cultures and accept all cultures. They contained the skills for survival in some way shape and form from the beginning of time, only today it’s appears as a form of the book, “Hundredth Monkey”. Through and through American, as now is Kali Silat and Pencak Silat, and so too other Southeast Asian Cultures or paths if you will. There’s a common place that all have in the decision to practice, the practice practice and the meaning of practice. Some how though we all know “how to life” as my teach would say it. And rightly so, practice is the discipline to commit to study, sacrifice and achievement (without reward) in study of oneself. All cultures take this look into oneself, who you are, how you accept responsibility, and your words and actions. Throughout some history of American and The Philippines we see a stronger bond and relationship that those that fight together live together. Yet in every country the major share finds we need to: “Feed the babies, with no food left to eat. Shoe the children, with no shoes on their feet. House the people, with no place to live.” Dave Miller Band.
The number one choice for PRINCIPLE in America, share and we can all grow. Any way, I digress, a characteristic trait, often blahhhhhhhh in my humble opinion. So, on to knowledgeable Filipino and I’ve been fortunate in meeting Filipino in their country, regarding these arts and sciences we call Kali Silat and Pencak Silat. I am thankful for even having the privilege to have a lesson from many. I also found that lessons come from everywhere and sometimes those small words carry real meaning, personal to everyone reading this. Grand Master Dionisio ‘Juni’ Canete once said, “In Doce Pares we have a drill for everything.” Working in many ways makes the most amount of sense in practices and to every extreme we do learn from everyone. Within the most knowledgeable practitioners of many cultures I often heard the words, “Doce Methodos”, “You gotta’ practice every way you can appeared to be the heart of Kali Silat’s knowledgeable. During the times of Spanish rule some time in 1521, much of the philosophy was in tact, and related to the principles, not what practice or system being studied, because of the meaning. Of course they didn’t always share it seems with the Spanish, and I know you understand what I mean, because of the language differences Kali Silat being taught to the Spanish, “guro” became the spelling used. Yet, in most Southeast Asian Cultures it’s all guru and of course in English. PRINCIPLE: Assimilation. While in retreat, incorporate language but not the meanings of why Filipino practice the “why” they do the drills for example. In the Philippines too, there’s not so much to do or what you can afford to do, and in many of the provinces it was practice. Practice was NOT like us hobbyists, but as martial (military, art and science, warfare) arts, and I not kissing anyone here, you practice you get it, there’s no other way. It is perhaps something to do with reality and why in Kali Silat we start with the weapon first.
So, during retreat organize and lead rebellions uprising. Again and again, until after WW1 when we began the process of American democracy in the Philippines and America returned sovereignty in 1946, although there might have been some strings attach. Yeah, the Spanish really did take the gold too and enslaved the people, sadly many, many Filipino lost their lives, yet surviving for their people and their culture. In Mactan, where it was said the Spanish were in full force and the legendary battle and death of Magellan took place. There’s a huge bolder marking the historical site and incident. Indecently, the Filipino, I was told, in the providences and elsewhere there, still carried their weapons, tools of the jungle and the Spanish had no, especially in the deep south, when even today original people flourish. May be that’s their principle of never backing up. Surely retreat is correct in battle and is not backing up.
Well those that learned of course did not always get the same share as the friends of the Filipino. Check your history. PRINCIPLE: Don’t tell the enemy, give a little, after all we have to survive, "we try again soon………etc, to rid ourselves of these invader." I'm sure I heard them say. PRINCIPLE: Life in battle, and life after battle must be the major concern. People and culture must survive. Assimilation is better then annihilation. Major Principles in life and death. Retreat if necessary, fight again tomorrow. As many Filipino shared the true story, “…..the Filipino had to surrender, the Spanish would have slaughtered us all!” I heard many say, retreat is OK.
I ‘ve noticed here as in many classes there’s always someone that knows, or feels and understands what is the correct answer and we have that person on this forum too. Any way as I know sometimes I sound what! Huh! I have over the years learned that kindness, respect, love are always key issues of how and what I put on this forum I have only one intention, to share. That’s what helps us all to grow, sharing these arts and sciences, least many more systems be forgotten.
Since so many people question me, and hear stuff about me, I always say why not find out for your self. Take a class, if your not happy I’ll give you your money back. Why would anyone speak negatively of anyone else? I’ve had a lesson from people didn’t even know they were sharing with me. And, yes I want students; it helps me to continue to learn and to grow. I benefit from this culture and I’d like to see more people practicing and sharing like a martial artists. Strive to understand why, why I do what I do, and why you do what you do. PRINCIPLE: We learn from everyone.
Yeah, everyone likes to be different, an individual, a person. A who? One guy talked so bad about me I sold about 500 more DVD in the three months that followed. Someone even put a sequence up on Youtube telling everyone about the video I didn’t want to show, because he is my student. That big guy, taking credit for my practice, imagine that. Showing me backing up, yeah, I was trying not to get hit with a flurry of stick and daga coming at me from a young Master. I knew he would get there; he practiced like martial artist, everyday, not like us hobbyists. Any way, I was going to get I hit, I would have died if it was real when he hit me. And, I was surprised I could not him! But glad, as then and now he is still with us, Master Ocampo, Director for SinaTirsiaWali. We both understand the same principle PRINCIPLE: Backing up to protect oneself is not backing up.
Evade in battle, regroup strategy, very important emphasized by many Filipino Masters and Grand Masters and sons of Masters and Grand Masters, I’ve heard it everywhere, there are many ways to practice but only one to protect you. When it’s not a life and death, like in World Kali Silat Society school or in gym, in park, with friends, with not so friends, but not life and death. Then practice, hitting and taking hitting. As hitting increases, back up to come forward. Control, and some power. Power training on bag, very good. Training on person, very good. Use plenty body pad. This is not fighting, this is training only if used in fighting, then just get tired, never feel that hit, never first blood, never understand.
Guy in street has no gear, so beat up the gear hard as you can. Person with gear can not hit only stop hit, any way he can. This is practice. Few masters, and less of grandmasters that are living the philosophy (understanding) of this mental, physical and spiritual life we call martial arts, are at this level of understanding and enlightenment. So, after enlightenment, carry water, chop wood. Many too, have unusual practice of spirit and energy and can stop you with only thought or word. Highest level in Shao Lin I hit you with big pole, until you can evade the strike. In Filipino my teacher matched that philosophy. I’m going to hit you. He’d say, “Here, learn the foot work first, also here’s 5 strikes, practice #1 until you get it. And, I’m sure I have the notes somewhere. Every class I’m again the wall doing #1. Anyway, I’m still here with him. Ok, can person in gear stop you, no he only try not to be hit. PRINCIPLE: The real skill in every martial art, “How not to be hit!” Hitting already to easy, when your 8 or 10, you learned if from you parents, you got spanked, if you didn’t you wont have and understanding, enlightenment, consideration, well-being, and might ofter kill someone, just to see death.
. You have no gear, you may get hit though, remember this is training and we don’t want you to die too. Get to Ultimate Fighting Championship as my friend teaches some of the winners, you know the one’s that real hit hard. This is fighting, if you use the stick the same practices and fights, proply someone is going to die, once or moth or so. When I met this young master at age 32 he had 25 years in practice, and many by Michael Moore an extremely skilled teacher, fighter grand master by now. My friend in SLC, Utah could finish me with a blink of the eye, so “I asked why he had me there, I was ready to take the lesson, as I’ve also done elsewhere when I see someone weith that kind of experience in the knowledge of the science of these arts. Art, everybody got, everybody a critic. PRINCIPLE: Practice more, everybody question, but don’t worry always some one there can stop you, no matter what.
Evading, backing up, so you can regroup, and again hit harder, is not backing up. Happens in many skirmishing that we do in training. Using less power we don’t want to injure our partner. If he don’t know the dance with a weapon, then without hesitation, without thought, and enough stopping power, I seek finishing. I want you to understand you don’t want to get up again.
Ok, control contact with , PRINCIPLE: I want to stop you, or you stop me. And meaning:
A. Can I hold you from hitting me while I bash you with my weapon, ok, ok, little power and with intent. There no better practice then I need which is to practice hard, with real weapon, stick can kill you. Blade can cut you, so “first blood”, is in Filipino study.
B. Can I protect my self is the key to achieve in practice, from health, to injury, to stress and those things we don’t want in life.
And as Jafri shared with me on the Silat side we say, “I have to destroy how you hit can hold or/could hit me. The principle here is really the same, what can I do to stop/trick you. Using: Mind, body, spirit. All the arts and sciences are the same, as in battle or as in fighting, you want to stop me, no matter what so: Can I stop you, can you stop me. Not this One, or that One, but many. These are the secrets I share with you again, and again if need be before I die.
I enjoy the challenge of Grand Turhon Master Leo Tortal Gaje, Jr. because I’m still here, still doing it. After studying it for 34 years, I remember my words. “No, I said, I will not be the first president of your organization, but I will do everything I can to promote you and this Filipino art of Kali Silat, he the called Pekiti Tirsia System. And we began, and every time I went to class I was against the wall doing only one strike, one way, over and over again. In my office at the Knowhow Workshop, we worked, in the pool in Queens and in the park.
But you could and did in practice, the strike was coming and clear avoidance was mistaken and the evasion was incorrect you got hit. Once such Filipino I know of died in a fight, but it was not a death match as we hear from time to time, but the Filipino as in many cultures there’s a principle involved, PRINCIPLE: called First Blood in many cultures, I’m sure there’s a Visayan and Tagalog word as in many of there over 500 dialects +/- some dialects as well. Not a death match too, as I practice in practice, and I want to hit you, and I want you to hit me, not with a lot of power, but with speed, timing, precision, all the traits I’ll need to protect myself in a REAL situation.
See Part 2A for continuation.Comment
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Filipinos Never Back Up So What's backing Up, part 2A
So, practice hard, sure I’m gonna hit you in the side, sometimes even controlled thrust in the stomach, sometimes a slash or punyo, cepa, or anything I can use and anything I don’t know, all I want is to stop you, no matter what. Just as there are many cultures of martial arts in America, they are all correct ultimately in any real situation you want to get away. That’s not backing up. I’ve met many such individuals that brought Karate to this country like Great Grand Masters of them all, Peter Urban, Aaron Banks, Ron van Cliff, and not among the first, but the most outstanding, in the Philippine Arts and Sciences like Grand Master Tuhon Leo T. Gaje, Jr, Great Grand Master Ramey Preses, and others I may not have mentioned.
There must be a principle here, if not some guidelines as in life and in all martial arts:
#1) Retreat in battle is not backing up.
#2) Evasion in fighting, is not backing up.
#3) Backing up to protect yourself, is not backing.
So, what is backing up? There ain’t no backing up.
· Belief or not?
· To quote those most famous individuals that led crusades and said of many great prophets, scholars, and world leaders and all of us that say, “There is always a peaceful solution (should have been – peace full solution) in any conflict as is the balance of nature” I began to believe that in studying some of the Chinese Culture as I began my journey of martial arts in the early 1963’s may be July looking around Chinatown, And after all this I found that in every practice of or by any such master of any art, Judo, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Bando, Kali Silat, Muay Thai, all of them that SHARE, you will find that study in the country of origin had more meaning, then without it. Like in Kali Silat, Pencak Silat, Silat Malay and all disciplines in this meager planet ship, cultures contain those elements to have a clear enlightenment of the study to survive, both in art, science and those unseen phenomena. You really want to study? Take a trip to the country of origin; nothing will enlighten you or your students more. Because we know and follow our belief, all the insight of every art and science, “practice of every Kali Silat, Pencak Silat systems of the most important is”. Tuhon Leo T. Gaje, Jr. 1972. and Suryadi Jafri, 1977 of independent study, but that’s another story. And me, I’m just a pawn, and I’m just landed on the other side. Old Filipino Proverb, circa 1914 or some time(s) when the Marines arrived.Comment
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It is a well know fact if you start with the number one, and proceed to 10, someone is bound to misinterpret the point you made from one to ten, what ever is said. The reality of training in the Philippines is the result of paying back to the country of origin the place where you get your skill and the benefit that goes with it.
Training like a Filipino in the country of origin is the equivalent of helping those that have helped you, so many Americans take, take, take, but never give back. Asawa ko ay Filipina, and my daughter too speaks the language and appreciates the culture as well, having lived there for a year. Now if you think that just training gives it to you, and you've never trained in the Philippines, you still can not appreciate how a Filipino has to train. Must of us in America have never trained like Filipino had to.
A well advanced student of mine for over ten years, Master Dennis, learned in America, from an American, and from a Filipino while GM Tortal was on tour in America. And Master Dennis, trains like a Filipino, that's everyday, 2 to 3 hours before work, and sometimes after work as well.
In America, I've found most Americans are just hobbyists, so until you live in the conditions and train like the people of the culture in which you train, you ain't got a clue. During our last tour in the Philippines two of the ten guys fainted, couldn't take the heat. So, see what all of the hoopla is about when you visit the Philippines and train like a Filipino, I'm sure then you'll understand what my original post is all about.Comment
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...........................lol!Comment
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