My review of Kali Tudo 2 (tm)

[Max22]

About my observation...

GT is always a bit of a "man of mystery", but I would imagine that his ongoing work with the military there has a lot to do with it.

By the way, returning to the subject of this thread, Max's kind review of our "Kali Tudo, the Running Dog Game", Max wrote:


"Unlike KT1, KT2 feels much less like a formal instructional DVD and more like a class or seminar. If you are used to other instructionals this may throw you off. The movements aren't quite polished by all involved. In my first viewing of the DVD this was unsettling, but the more I watched it, the more the approach made sense, and this informal structure became one of the many strengths. You may be like me and pick this kind of thing up pretty rapidly through instructionals, or you may struggle through it but either way, you are learning the material along with the various clans of the Dog Brothers. This necessarily means that you will not always see the moves at their most polished, but that is okay. Because what you get in exchange for everyone not looking polished is immediate identification of problems that people new to the movements (you the viewer included) are likely to have. The participants are learning the material too, and that provides for a very organic set of questions. I am unsure if Guro Denny had this in mind when they were cutting KT2 together, but it works."

Very perceptive Max, it is EXACTLY what I had in mind.

I have my moments.

A phrase that I really liked from the tape, and one I didn't comment on (I was trying to avoid my typical exuberance at the word processor) was "banging on your cage" and the concepts embedded in said phrase. Players in the guard, especially in the MMA forum, are remarkably well covered. Fighters spend a lot of time trying to find openings and not really furthering any meaningful agenda. But there are vulnerable areas on the arms, shoulders etc that could be hammered. This may not bang anyone out, but what ever the case you are reducing the effectiveness of those tools.

What I find very interesting in this game (fighting) is how the unconventional becomes conventional and then goes back again. If memory serves Eddie Futch advised two of Ali's most effective opponents (Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, and while I don't think Futch cornered him, Ernie Shavers did the same thing to Ali to good effect) to hit him in the arms and shoulders. You were not going to catch Ali in the head or body early, but you had to have an answer to his hand speed. Sometimes that answer cannot be simply to match it with your attributes. My point is that some people have doubted the approach on this forum and others, but it actually pretty standard boxing wisdom of a certain era. So...
"Bang on their cage."

Very nice.

[Crafty Dog]

GT is always a bit of a "man of mystery", but I would imagine that his ongoing work with the military there has a lot to do with it.

By the way, returning to the subject of this thread, Max's kind review of our "Kali Tudo, the Running Dog Game", Max wrote:


"Unlike KT1, KT2 feels much less like a formal instructional DVD and more like a class or seminar. If you are used to other instructionals this may throw you off. The movements aren't quite polished by all involved. In my first viewing of the DVD this was unsettling, but the more I watched it, the more the approach made sense, and this informal structure became one of the many strengths. You may be like me and pick this kind of thing up pretty rapidly through instructionals, or you may struggle through it but either way, you are learning the material along with the various clans of the Dog Brothers. This necessarily means that you will not always see the moves at their most polished, but that is okay. Because what you get in exchange for everyone not looking polished is immediate identification of problems that people new to the movements (you the viewer included) are likely to have. The participants are learning the material too, and that provides for a very organic set of questions. I am unsure if Guro Denny had this in mind when they were cutting KT2 together, but it works."

Very perceptive Max, it is EXACTLY what I had in mind.

[Max22]

GT Gaje?

When speaking with GT Gaje a couple of years ago, I inquired after GM/Manong Kalimba's health and GT told me he had died.

As for my trip to the Philippines, truly a fine, fine time. 10 days with the Pekiti camp in Olongopo, then 2 weeks at GT's home in Bacolod (and a few days in , , , Dumagete (?-- the southeastern coast of Negros)-- a small island a few miles off Negros is where the opening footage of our DBMA Staff DVD was shot. Spectacularly beautiful place.

Marc,
I know that GT Gaje spent a great deal of time here in the US, what took him back to the Phillipines where, if I understand his website, he seems to spend most of his time these days.

[george stando]

Thanks again, Marc. Great stuff as always!

[Crafty Dog]

When speaking with GT Gaje a couple of years ago, I inquired after GM/Manong Kalimba's health and GT told me he had died.

As for my trip to the Philippines, truly a fine, fine time. 10 days with the Pekiti camp in Olongopo, then 2 weeks at GT's home in Bacolod (and a few days in , , , Dumagete (?-- the southeastern coast of Negros)-- a small island a few miles off Negros is where the opening footage of our DBMA Staff DVD was shot. Spectacularly beautiful place.

[george stando]

Thanks Max. Did Master Kalimba die or was it another master you were referring to?

[Max22]

Good review, Max. My friend brought a copy over and I watched it with him this weekend.

How is the old filipino master Marc is working with I assume in the phillipines, its I think on the contact click in of the dvd? he is doing alot of those rapid slaps.

Thanks for the kind words. In the promo clip, I believe that guy demonstrated his techniques (which seemed to be causeing Marc all kinds of unpleasant sensations) on agreement that they wouldn't be widely shown until after his death. He seemed like a guy pretty full of life.

Marc, your trip to the Phillipines must have been spectacularly rewarding.

[george stando]

Thanks for the reply, Marc. yeah, I really liked what i saw him doing. alot of those old masters have "heavy hands"--i experienced that many times myself first hand!

[Crafty Dog]

GM/Manong Kalimba (sp?) worked with me in Bacolod, Negros in 1997 or 1998. We were introduced by GT Gaje, at whose whom I was staying after a 10 day camp with him in Olongopo.

During my one day with him we worked his very distinctive staff system and his empty hand system. Both left a lasting influence on me.

Concerning the empty hand system, I would add that even though he said he had not cultivated the quality for several years, his hands had an unusually "heavy" quality-- which combined nicely with his naturally long arms.

[george stando]

Good review, Max. My friend brought a copy over and I watched it with him this weekend.

How is the old filipino master Marc is working with I assume in the phillipines, its I think on the contact click in of the dvd? he is doing alot of those rapid slaps.

[Tant01]

Gotta love the old school, eh?

[Max22]

Later than I wanted to post it but here is my review of Kali Tudo 2

here is the link

I Don't go out for Brunch: Kali Tudo 2 (tm): The Running Game vs. The Guard

Read and discuss!