From: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: eskrima-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V8 #480 Reply-To: eskrima@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest Thur, 1 Nov 2001 Vol 08 : Num 480 In this issue: eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V8 #479 eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V8 #479 eskrima: Chinese Missile Sales: Iran/Iraq/Libya/Syria eskrima: Antennae eskrima: Coup rumors likely false: Stratfor eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V8 #479 eskrima: Re: Rick Rescorla eskrima: . ========================================================================== Eskrima-Digest, serving the Internet since June 1994. 1200 members strong! Copyright 1994-2001: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource The premier internet discussion forum devoted to Filipino Martial Arts. Provided in memory of Mangisursuro Michael G. Inay (1944-2000). http://InayanEskrima.com http://Inayan.com Replying to this message will NOT unsubscribe you. To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe eskrima-digest" (no quotes) in the body (top line, left justified) of a "plain text" e-mail addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com. To send e-mail to this list use eskrima@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com See the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) FAQ and the online search engine for back issues of the Eskrima-Digest at http://MartialArtsResource.com Mabuhay ang eskrima! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Javier Palomo" Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 16:17:01 -0600 Subject: eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V8 #479 The finger cuting thing is just a myth... http://www.btinternet.com/~britishempire/empire/forces/armyunits/gurkha/gurkhaskukri.htm There are a lot of theories as to what the notch symbolizes, but last I checked historians were not sure one way or another. I believe "religeous symbol" is the most commonly sighted explaination. Javier >From: "Bill Lowery" >Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 18:12:07 -0000 >Subject: eskrima: Re: Kukhri > >Hi Gary, > > The notch is there to cut your finger on. Once this is done the blade is >not resheathed until the blood of the enemy has been spilt! > >Bill _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ From: Bladewerkrr@aol.com Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 07:47:17 EST Subject: eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V8 #479 In a message dated 10/31/01 2:05:24 PM Pacific Standard Time, Bill writes: << The notch is there to cut your finger on. Once this is done the blade is not resheathed until the blood of the enemy has been spilt! >> I am no expert in these matter but the way it was explained to me is that, once the main blade is drawn (there are 2 smaller blades for utility purposes) and if the blade has been consecrated, it must taste blood. If an enemies blood is not spilled, then you use the notch to cut yourself, offering your blood to the spirit of the blade as a substitute. These guys epitomize the "don't pull it unless you're gonna use it" ethic. I learned this from a close friend of my fathers that spent time in Burma, Malaysia and India after WW II. Bear ------------------------------ From: kalkiusa@netscape.net Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 09:46:24 -0500 Subject: eskrima: Chinese Missile Sales: Iran/Iraq/Libya/Syria China is reportedly selling both nuclear and ballistic missile technology to Iran, Iraq et al. - --------------------------------------------- U.S.: Beijing continues missile sales to Middle East despite war SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM Wednesday, October 31, 2001 WASHINGTON  China appears to have used the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan to sell missile components to Iran and Iraq. U.S. officials said Beijing continues to violate its pledge given nearly a year ago to stop missile sales to the Middle East. The officials said U.S. intelligence agencies have evidence of sales and deliveries to a range of clients, such as Iran, Iraq, Libya and Syria. China is also selling nuclear technology to Iran, Middle East Newsline reported. The sale appears to have violated a 1997 pledge by Beijing to halt deliveries of nuclear material. "The Chinese government's continuing sale of arms and other assistance to many of the countries on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism is of particular concern," Sen. Jon Kyl, the ranking Republican on the Senate subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism and Government Information, said. "Beijing has sold ballistic missile technology to Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, and Pakistan. It has sold nuclear technology to Iran and Pakistan. It has sold Iran advanced cruise missiles and aided that country's chemical weapons program. And it has provided technological assistance to Iraq." Kyl, who is also a member of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, said China continues to lie about its nuclear and missile technology proliferation. He said the aid is helping Iran deploy missiles with nuclear warheads. Officials have warned that China could accelerate missile and WMD aid over the next few months as the Bush administration seeks Beijing's support for the war against Afghanistan. The administration has proposed lifting sanctions from China relating to its proliferation activities in the Middle East. Mitakuye Oyasin. Be well, Mik __________________________________________________________________ Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape! http://shopnow.netscape.com/ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/ ------------------------------ From: kalkiusa@netscape.net Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 09:52:35 -0500 Subject: eskrima: Antennae When I was a teen we used to snap the antennas off of cars in the blink of an eye. They did come off easily if smacked very quickly. I don't want to promote any antenna ripoffs, but today's variety often twist off. Issue then becomes ... is there time enuf to twist the thing off if you want/need to? No tools required, just good fingers. I just discovered this while trying to put a flag on my car's radio antenna ... the thing started moving around so I just turned it twice and lifted it out. __________________________________________________________________ Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape! http://shopnow.netscape.com/ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/ ------------------------------ From: "Marc Denny" Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 13:39:51 -0800 Subject: eskrima: Coup rumors likely false: Stratfor A Howl etc: What follows is from www.stratfor.com Subscribing is recommended. Woof, Crafty Dog - -------------------------- Philippines: Coup Rumors Likely False 2000 GMT, 011030 Summary Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has denied rumors that plans for a coup are afoot. Even if rumors of a plot are true, Arroyo is in no political danger at this time; elements for a successful coup are simply not in place. Analysis President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Oct. 29 denied that her former political allies are plotting a coup in the Philippines. Presidential advisers claimed allies of Arroyo's ousted predecessor, President Joseph Estrada, started the rumors, according to Agence France-Presse. The government in Manila must treat any whispers of a coup seriously. Attempts to oust the president have become a political standard since the first People Power revolution in 1986, which ended the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Estrada fell from power in January after finding himself on the wrong side of corruption charges. The current political situation, however, is not ripe for Arroyo's removal. Barring some heinous act that would turn the public against her, such as involvement in corruption, she likely will complete her term as president. Stability in the Philippines is more important now than ever to United States. The Christian Science Monitor has chronicled links between Muslim separatists and Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, and the Philippines could become a planning ground for future terrorist actions. Washington needs stability in the Philippines and full cooperation from the archipelago for the U.S.-led international coalition against terrorism to succeed. Arroyo took immediate action to ensure the rumors do not come to fruition. Authorities are monitoring the activities of small paramilitary groups deemed likely to take action against the government, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez told reporters Oct. 24. Golez gave special mention to the 50-member Urban Poor Liberation Front, which he said had received "paramilitary training" from a right-wing army colonel. The training was likely preparing the organization to destabilize the country. Arroyo's presidency will remain secure in the near future for several reasons. First, she still has the backing of the army and the police and is working to maintain that. Military and police officials have not denied Arroyo's Oct. 26 assertion that "the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP [national police] and the entire nation are solidly behind me and supporting the government." Moreover, two police officers -- both leaders of the Young Officers Union -- were reassigned Oct. 29 after their implication in a destabilization plot. Their demotion came only days after YOU leaders -- including one of those reassigned -- met with Arroyo to assure her the organization would not attempt to overthrow the government. The officers' demotion signals that the national police will not tolerate dissidence within its ranks. The military has its own reasons to ward off potential coups: funding and training from the United States. According to the Philippine Inquirer, 23 U.S. advisers are now in the Philippines to train troops for action against Muslim guerillas. Filipino Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu said he hoped the advisers' witnessing of Manila's equipment shortage would spur the Pentagon to increase aid. The army would not risk more money from Washington to join another plot that would only place more stress on its forces, and the United States would oppose another presidential ouster so soon after Estrada's removal. The business community, which also wields much political clout, would balk as well. A coup would threaten investment and the nation's economy. With a global recession looming, the economy of the Philippines cannot afford more shakiness. The 1997 Asian financial meltdown caused a contraction in the Philippine economy, which did not battle back to full strength during Estrada's presidency. Arroyo has made few economic strides in the midst of a global slowdown. Even hints of a coup are enough to send ripples of unsteadiness through the Philippines. The governor of the Central Bank, Rafael Buenaventura, said on Oct. 27 the reports of a coup plot caused the peso to devalue from 51.26 to the dollar to 52.01. The stock exchange composite index hit its lowest point in 10 years the week of Oct. 22 as the rumors surfaced in the media. The absence of a strong presidential contender also makes a coup unlikely now. During Estrada's downfall, it was clear Arroyo would take his place. After all, Estrada's friend Marcos had replaced her father, Diosdado Macapagal, as president in 1965. But at present, no opposition figure has the requisite popular backing to lead a challenge. Finally, Arroyo's performance to date has not stirred the anger of the nation. Those intent on removing a president must present a legitimate flaw in the figure's character or show that some action renders them unworthy to lead. Although Arroyo's enemies have accused her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, of misusing funds, the president has said, "Nobody's above the law, not even my husband," according to wire reports. Arroyo has not yet committed an action that could lead to her downfall. Her negotiations with Muslim separatist groups -- the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front -- have remained peaceful. And her crackdown on the Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim extremist group, has won approval from both the Philippine armed forces and the United States. Arroyo still has many challenges -- and therefore potential stumbling blocks -- to overcome, however, before her presidency ends in June 2004. Her crackdown on corruption will likely target certain influential business people. Estrada's corruption trial has proceeded very slowly and still draws media attention -- complicating Arroyo's administration and the country's emotional recovery from his sudden ouster. And although the Abu Sayyaf has suffered several blows since Arroyo's ascension to power, it is still a volatile group capable of committing serious atrocities. Arroyo also must contend with a dispute over the sovereignty of the Spratly Islands. The issue was on the agenda for Arroyo's October state visit to Beijing, although officials did not immediately issue a statement supplying details of the discussion. Arroyo could yet go astray, but the political situation at this time would prevent the success of any potential coup attempts. ------------------------------ From: "hudginsg" Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 09:50:03 -0600 Subject: eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V8 #479 > From: "Bill Lowery" > Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 18:12:07 -0000 > Subject: eskrima: Re: Kukhri > > Hi Gary, > > The notch is there to cut your finger on. Once this is done the blade is > not resheathed until the blood of the enemy has been spilt! > > Bill > > ------------------------------ Hi Bill: I had heard the tale that the knife once drawn was not to be put away until it tastes blood. But I had not heard that that was the purpose for the knotch. IMHO the "do not sheath until the blade tastes blood" is more myth than fact. Whether it is a Kukri knife or any other sword, how do you practice if it has to taste blood. You would bleed to death before you became proficient. I do not think that the Gurkhas (sp?) are issued practice blades to practice with. Fast drawing a blade, cutting yourself, sheathing it, practice again draw, cut your self, sheath it? I think that would cut down on the hours of practice unless you only had to cut yourself once per practice session. Even then, merely cutting yourself once daily would soon leave you with enough scars and infections to cause you to cut down on practice. I still think there has to be a practical purpose for the notch although there may not be. Gary H. ------------------------------ From: "Anthony James Hawkins" Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 18:01:40 -0500 Subject: eskrima: Re: Rick Rescorla Ive read the book "We Were Soldiers Once and Young" multiple times but I never heard about Rick Rescorlas death on 9/11. Its a real shame that the media didnt devote any time to this man. Col. Rescorla didnt even become a citizen until after fighting in one of our nations wars. He was a better American than many who were born here. I find myself thinking about how we as American Martial Artists devote so much time to learning about Fillipino/Japanese/Korean ect. warrior traditions and heroes; but have so little interest to our own. Rest in Peace Colonel A.J. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 16:50:48 PST Subject: eskrima: . ------------------------------ End of Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V8 #480 **************************************** To unsubscribe from the eskrima-digest send the command: unsubscribe eskrima-digest -or- unsubscribe eskrima-digest your.old@address in the BODY (top line, left justified) of a "plain text" e-mail addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com. Old digest issues are available via ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com. 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