Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 11:05:14 -0700 (PDT) From: eskrima-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: Eskrima digest, Vol 9 #130 - 9 msgs X-Mailer: Mailman v2.0.8 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Sender: eskrima-admin@martialartsresource.net Errors-To: eskrima-admin@martialartsresource.net X-BeenThere: eskrima@martialartsresource.net X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.8 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net X-Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net List-Help: List-Post: X-Subscribed-Address: rterry@idiom.com List-Subscribe: List-Id: Inayan Eskrima / FMA discussion forum, the premier FMA forum on the Internet. List-Unsubscribe: Status: OR Send Eskrima mailing list submissions to eskrima@martialartsresource.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/eskrima or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to eskrima-request@martialartsresource.net You can reach the person managing the list at eskrima-admin@martialartsresource.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Eskrima digest..." <<---------------- The Eskrima/FMA mailing list ---------------->> Serving the Internet since June 1994. Copyright 1994-2002: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource The Internet's premier discussion forum devoted to Filipino Martial Arts. Provided in memory of Mangisursuro Michael G. Inay (1944-2000). http://InayanEskrima.com See the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) FAQ and the online search engine for back issues of the Eskrima/FMA list at http://MartialArtsResource.com Mabuhay ang eskrima! Today's Topics: 1. Blade vs stick disarms (Jamie Hutchins) 2. Re: disarms (geezer883@juno.com) 3. Re: 10 ultimate MAs (Buz Grover) 4. Supperiority and Inferior Silat (Seraksatu@aol.com) 5. Re: Supperiority and Inferior Silat (Ray Terry) 6. Re:visualization (Johnaleen) 7. Disarming... (Guro Dave Gould) (KaliDave@aol.com) 8. Non MA Help Needed (Howard Wilson) 9. from Pak Vic, Interview with Guru John de Vries (Ray Terry) --__--__-- Message: 1 From: Jamie Hutchins To: "'eskrima@martialartsresource.net'" Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 10:52:07 +0100 Subject: [Eskrima] Blade vs stick disarms Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Hi Ray, This comment of yours reminded me of a story I was told by my Guro at a recent weaponry seminar (the emphasis being on weapons we don't often see in training). Apparently there was a violent altercation outside of his house in which he was forced to step in a defend the guy on the receiving end who was being pummelled badly. Anyway basically my guro ends up disarming the assailant without really thinking about it only to find that the weapon was an axe (the type found in hardware stores the world over). I guess its a situation which highlights how one has to be mindful of both bladed and impact weapons (the axe having the attributes of both types of weapon). I remember later watching as one of the other students at the seminar attempted a snake disarm on a sword...! So basically my thoughts are that disarms certainly do have their place and teach certain attributes which are useful (i.e. one has to use the correct response to the situation). However as you and others have mentioned the amount of time spent on learning disarming cannot be at the expense of training more combative techniques. Good topic of discussion by the way! J -----Original Message----- From: Ray Terry [mailto:raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com] Sent: 07 April 2002 01:56 To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Subject: [Eskrima] Disarms, again So here is another thought... When I think and talk disarms (in this thread), I've been thinking blade disarms. I note that others seem to be thinking stick. Nothing wrong with that, just an observation. Back to the old 'is Eskrima a stick or blade art'? Yes it is both. But I first tend to think of it as a blade art. Others probably think of it first as a stick art. Thus all my comments/points about disarm training were made with a blade attack in mind. Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com --__--__-- Message: 2 To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 10:46:15 -0400 From: geezer883@juno.com Subject: [Eskrima] Re: disarms Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Just catching up with several days lists. On Thursday Steve Kohn brought up a very important point about practicing disarms. IE " b)your hand ends up in a familiar place (because of your training of disarms) while defending an attack " The more you play the easier it is to identify those familiar places. You may not choose to disarm at that time, for whatever reason, but it is comforting to receive the signal that you arrived. Rob --__--__-- Message: 3 Date: Mon, 08 Apr 2002 10:50:46 -0400 From: "Buz Grover" Organization: George Mason University To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Subject: [Eskrima] Re: 10 ultimate MAs Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Mike sez: Commiseration to the Dog Brothers for placing only ninth on the list of the 10 Ultimate Martial Art. . . . There certainly seemed to be a high positive correlation between where The Learning Channel ranked an art and the degree of "classical mess" intrinsic to it. At least I got a chance to put a face and voice to Crafty. Nothin' wrong there that a charm school and good plastic surgeon couldn't fix ;-) . I've been enjoying the disarm thread. As a not particularly talented beginner I'm not sure I have much to contribute. I've been working a fair amount on my ground game lately, though, and have noticed that FMA disarms have infiltrated my game when I roll. Whenever a couple of bones cross on the mat, for instance, it seems like I can riff off of a vine disarm. Another reason to cross train, I guess. Regards, Buz Grover --__--__-- Message: 4 From: Seraksatu@aol.com Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 11:50:10 EDT To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Subject: [Eskrima] Supperiority and Inferior Silat Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Greetings mr. Mike Koblic Wow! you have to be an absolute expert to call silat "Inferior" very impresive to say the least, and you have won many battles defeating Silat practitioners, wow!. Please share with us your great wisdom, since you have already reached the opinion of supperiority. Must be very important to you to be on the list, well maybe you try harder next time, and you can be famous too. I am sure the pannel of the show will pick you personally. On a personal note mr. Marc (Crafty) you really looked good in speaking, with a sense of pride. Great Job in progressing your Ideas, heart and expression. Pak Vic ps. In Silat Sera were never to deadly to have fun, it is only personally with prejeduce how you preceive a opponent and how personal attributes can be expressed. << (such "inferior" arts as silat never made the list!). If a humble soke of Daikon Do (which incidentally did not make the list either!) may advise on placing higher next time: 1) Get an unseen force (equivalent of ki, would that be dog-breath?) 2) Quit this nonsense of trying to prove your art in combat - it must be so lethal that you dare not fight anyone lest you killed them accidentally with your left earlobe strike. 3) Spirituality, spirituality, spirituality... Mike Koblic, Campbell River, BC --__--__-- Message: 5 From: Ray Terry Subject: Re: [Eskrima] Supperiority and Inferior Silat To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Date: Mon, 08 Apr 2002 9:43:21 PDT Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net > Greetings mr. Mike Koblic > Wow! you have to be an absolute expert to call silat "Inferior" very > impresive to say the least, ... Pak Vic, I'm pretty sure that Mike was kidding, joking... Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com --__--__-- Message: 6 From: "Johnaleen" To: Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 12:58:48 -0400 Subject: [Eskrima] Re:visualization Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net ********* Michael Koblic" Wrote: This is an interesting observation. How much does visualization contribute to mastering a technique in absence of the opportunity to practise it? (quite a lot IMHO). ********* i would agree with you that its a very important and equal part of training. But i teach this tool as an important part of your overall training, not for just when you cant train it physically. but part of your overall education in the system your learning. weather its SDA-MA-FMA- or Holistic Healing. For most of my teaching career, when teaching physical techniques i have always taught and teach my teachers to teach from a bases of 4 learning avenues. 1) physical, 2) verbal,. 3) written 4) visualization. The FATE org TAO SDA system of SDA, Lifestyles Scenario training, FMA and are all of are body mind healing classes have an actual visualization program that is part of the core curriculum for each of these areas. i spent a number of years developing these tools and curriculum for the organizations classes specifically for each of the venues. i would say that these techniques are just as important as the physical practice and application. For us here its just an equal part of the 4 when teaching any kind of physical technique and is a very important part of the organizations Lifestyles Scenario training course. The bases for the physical technique and scenario training visualizations has been outlined in the TAO SDA book. This book is almost done but i am still waiting for some of my teachers to get their additions and corrections in to me so i can send it to be copywritten and then published. Ms. J.. --__--__-- Message: 7 From: KaliDave@aol.com Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 13:49:29 EDT To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Subject: [Eskrima] Disarming... (Guro Dave Gould) Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net There has been a lot of discussion about the reality of disarms in a combative venue as of late. I feel on a personal note that a determined man can make anything work for him in his time of need when he is forced to do so, should an opportunity exist... I`ve always felt that it isn`t so much "what" you do but rather "how" you do it which makes the biggest difference in fighting. As for disarming I can`t say that it doesn't work because I have successfully used them to positive effect in crisis situations in the past. I have under duress taken knives and machetes away from people intent on doing me great bodily harm. Instead of doubting the ability of disarming I think that maybe we should re-define our understanding of this concept. Just because it doesn't work for one doesn't mean that it can`t work for another. As well just because it works in one situation doesn`t mean that it will work in all situations. Disarming is situational at best. Disarms come in many different facets. 1)~ You completely sever the weapon hand from the wrist. 2)~ You completely sever the fingers along with carving the knife from the hand. 3)~ You cut the arm off at the elbow. 4)~ Incidental disarms that just happen in combat whereby you or your opponent not having full control of a weapon will lose it somewhere in the exchange. 5)~ Controlled disarms where you have full control of your opponents weapon hand long enough to disarm him of his weapon. Here`s the reality of controlled disarms, if you can not contain and control the weapon hand of your opponent for more than 1/2 a second it will be very difficult to achieve a positive disarm. It comes down to the way that you train and what your working knowledge of disarming involves which will determine your over-all effect in implementing this aspect of your training. As I stated above disarming at best is situational, the fact is that there are some people whom you will be able to disarm and then there are others which you will not be able to disarm. The secret is to take advantage of an opportunity only as long as it exists in real time and should you encounter failure you have to recover as soon as possible and move on to the next opportunity until you are either dead or successful in putting down the situation. I, as did my instructors before me, feel that there are very few people on the planet that can take "my" knife from me if I choose not to let them have it. I train as to "not" cooperate or comply with my opponent's intent. As soon as someone tries to gain control of my weapon hand long enough to disarm me they will lose control of it very quickly, because I will not allow them the opportunity which they need in order to disarm me of my weapon. Non-cooperation happens often when one is forced to choose between life and death. It exists in realistic forced response and with this being the case we owe it to our-selves to introduce it into our training in hopes of creating as similar a training environment as possible with that of reality. However, we must be realistic and acknowledge that not everyone has the knowledge to resist such attempts, but some do. Someone "not" in the know may not see the opportunities that you see and they may not have a working knowledge of how to contradict your efforts in taking their weapon from them. Against these types of people you may have an opportunity to disarm. Some people will resist and have the knowledge to do so with great effect and against them you may not have a good opportunity to disarm. I didn't say that disarming would be easy only probable if you know what you are doing, have the opportunity and are able to control the weapon hand long enough to take the weapon with positive effect. For the record, I feel the same about a disarm as I feel about firmly grabbing my opponents weapon hand and slamming him face first into a telephone pole, the side of a building or flinging him into heavy traffic in front of a moving bus. I don`t rely on any one technique as the "end all of techniques" which is guaranteed to work in "all" situations "all" the time. I was simply taught to perceive a threat and react with the most appropriate response as dictated by necessity, opportunity and target availability for that specific situation. If that involves disarming than so be it... If not than I will move on to more appropriate solutions. One technique is as good as the next to me if I can use it to positive effect as to allow me to live for one more second in combat. I`ve always thought that the "best" technique for any situation is the one that will work for you when it is called upon to defend your life. And for the record that technique will be different from situation to situation. I feel that disarming should be taught correctly to those in search of knowledge but only with the understanding that they are only to be used where applicable. I wouldn't suggest anyone to confront a crisis situation and "choose" to disarm their opponent because they feel it an easy task to accomplish, it is not!!! If you have an opportunity than by all means I think that you should seize that opportunity while it avails itself to you in real time. If you should fail to disarm your opponent then you are to go above and beyond by recovering center and relocating the weapon hand all the while finding another solution in putting that situation down while you continue to fight for your life. Defending against a weapon is a dangerous prospect and more times than not it can lead to a very violent, painful and bloody death. As soon as you lose respect for a weapon, it will take your life, there is nothing "guaranteed" in fights which involve weapons other than you may die if you don`t respect the weapon. I always teach my students to realize that there are no "guarantees" in combat, only opportunities. Either you will be able to recognize those opportunities and react with positive effect toward them when they avail themselves to you in real time or you won`t, in which case you may die. The situation will dictate your most appropriate counter response and your abilities will determine your overall performance by which to defend yourself in a crisis situation. A disarm is nothing more than a probable means to an end, not an end all technique guaranteed to work in all situations. Train and recognize it for what it is and you will taste more success in your dealings with possible random street violence. ~ Guro Dave Gould --__--__-- Message: 8 Date: Mon, 08 Apr 2002 13:53:30 -0400 From: Howard Wilson To: Dojang Digest , eskrima list Subject: [Eskrima] Non MA Help Needed Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Hi All, This is non-MA (sorry Ray) related but I need some help about video formats. We have an exchange student living with us, here in the US, from China, who will be returning home this summer and I have some video we have shot that we want to send with him but I do not know what format they use (NTSC, PAL, other??) Any list members from that side of the world that could help me out? Thanks, Howard Wilson OK to send it private to keep Ray happy :) howard@one.net --__--__-- Message: 9 From: Ray Terry To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Date: Mon, 08 Apr 2002 11:40:27 PDT Subject: [Eskrima] from Pak Vic, Interview with Guru John de Vries Reply-To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net Forwarding from Pak Vic's Serak list. Interesting info. Note the reference to Koentau (Kuntao), i.e. Fist Law (aka ChuanFa, Kempo, Kenpo, Kwon bup). Ray -------------------------------------------------------------- From: seraksatu@aol.com [mailto:seraksatu@aol.com Subject: Interview John de Vries A memory of a Pukulan Practitioner "Guru John de Vries" (C) by Victor de Thouars 1962 Interview translated as reported by "Pak Vic" de Thouars, Nephew of Guru John. Interview Circa 1962 translated from Dutch to English. (c) Guru John: For this intense story, that I will go somewhat in my days from my youth. Already at a very young age, did I leave my home of my parents. This of course not with my parents approval at all. But after weighing out the possibilities, my parents allowed my research in life, so they let me go to learn what life is all about. Because of my upbringing, I would still be bound with the respect or adat and hormat of the wishes of my parents. I moved from Jakarta, then called Batavia to a city called "Buitenzorg" that now hold the name of Bogor. The City of Bogor is south of Jakarta. In Bogor I lived in a suburb section that was somewhat obscured from the main part of town, still called "Kampong or Desa". There I lived and studied with a very simple family, in other words with the natives. Note: Johan de Vries recommended John de Vries whom to live with in Bogor, and Johan de Vries was the grandfather of Pak Vic. In living with this family, I learned the Sundanese language, the lower as well as the higher dialect, read, write and speak. For a certainty because of my upbringing I was able to adapt well to the adat or ways from the native folks. To live and adapt and the ability to have the simple native culture with my spirit as well as the structure of habits expected from the Dutch. Living with two cultures was adoptable to my free spirit, for it was my choice. Certainly living with the two cultures gave me a good perspective in adopting also in the martial art. These circumstances led me to the expertise and orientation of Poekoelan (note: Pentjak Silat "slang term" that came on the scene circa early 1900 from Dutch Indo's), and was competent and had obtained the full system and deemed as Guru or Teacher by my "meester (note: meester means teacher or Guru, wrongly adopted as master, that was never used as rank) "mas djoed" and was authorized by him to guide others in the system of Sera. In the years that followed my own reputation became more known, and was it so that folks no longer called me "djoeragan" (Sundanese for mister) or "Anom (Sundanese for young) a short version of "Djoeragan Anom" meaning Young Mister or Young Sir. The cultural Adat and Hormat displayed in addressing someone. Instead folks started to address me as "Mamang" (Sundanese for Uncle). Certainly the word "Mamang" in a true meaning not as a "Title", but more so in a respect sense because of my expertise in the martial art, and then later because of my age they called me "Mang Depris (Uncle de Vries) and as I traveled through the country side and met folks, they would always greet me: "Poenten Mang, Bade' angkat? Meaning in Sundanese: "Good day Mang, where are you going". Certainly in time, even by older folks was I recognized, because I was present at every "Pentjak Silat" event, including at every Old and New Year celebration, to include at every wedding and Circumcision party, folks could find me at the Dutch Governor General balcony or reserved seating from that time period that went by the name of "Van Heutz". At any time the Governor really liked these parties and observed many of to the Silat Challenges that followed every party. The host would reward to the winner 25 Guilders (most likely equal to $250 dollars now). At that time a couple cents would buy you; a loaf of bread, a chicken and a snack or a ice cold drink. So many Silat Players from the time period fought each other for the price money, and many made their style well known to others and were known as "Djago's" or Champion, as myself won almost every event there was and became more feared as time went. Of course, at any of these challenges weapons (Knives. etc.) were forbidden, so you brought your whole hand to hand skills to bear, stand up technical, blow for blow from hands and feet, and grappling if need be. For a certain the looser of any of these contest did not escapes of radical injuries from any of these contest, not only loosing the prize money, only awarded to winners, but ending up with massive injuries or even resulting in deaths that can define the brutality of hand to hand Silat Contest, you no longer can find or even allowed as of today. Many of times those who lost and gotten Injuries, as well as family members of the vanquished would take their case and Sue in Civil Courts for damage. Yes even in those days folks were Sue happy, but of course to no avail. The fight was fair, without any weaponry and the allowance of your whole hands/feet art to be used on your opponent till he/she called it quits or succumb to the essence of a better fighter ("Sans Rancune"). Always to remember folks signed up to either win or loose in these contest, does taking your own responsibility. "Early UFC contest on Java". In the lands of the Soenda People, there are three main divisions in Poekoelan or Silat, namely "Tjikalong", "Tjimande" and Sera. The later named art of Sera System that I am a practitioner of and teach. From the three main groups many subgroups came on the scenes, "Tji Matjan" (Tiger), "Tji Monjet" (Monkey), and the style called "Tji Kampret" (Bat style). For a certain what I know from Batavia (Now Jakarta) there was a very well known Player/Practitioner Mr. Petite de Rooy from the "Petjoet" (Whip Style) from Mr. Shoor from Petodjo, and had a nickname of "Si Pantek". People from Padang on the Island of Sumatra, a specific "Padang" Style was practiced were Kicking was the major role of this system. Further you have the Chinese system called "Koentau" and there, there are divided again in seven (7) different sub-groups with Chinese names that are unknown to me. For a certain I do know that many near the City of Palembang was practiced and had personal contact with in some of my escapades in fighting some of the folks practicing Koentau. For many of the Chinese practitioners living in Buitenzorg (Now renamed Bogor) and with the most feared reputation were "Baba Boek" and Baba Boit, both Chinese practitioners were built very well with a very strong body built physic, and certainly because of their strength were using more so force and strength in using their style. Because of their strength they also used heavier Sikoe-Sikoe's (Three Pronged weapon also known as the Sai), for the use in offense or defense against many of battle weapons like the sword, long staffs called 'Toya". What the Sikoe-Sikoe is; this weapon is made from steel and is measures from were the Sikoe hook would rest on the inside hand and thumb, and that the tip of the Siku would be pass the corner of your elbow. It is for this reason that the personalized Sikoe-Sikoe can be no longer then that because it may get caught in the clothes you were, and because the weapon is also held close to the body, and of course you injure your self at the same time if not used properly or have received proper training. As of today, I see many practitioners holding this weapon wrong, and if used improper without the proper training can loose fingers or arms when defending against the sword. In the lands of Pontianak on the Island Borneo, there is a system called "Les", and the training is such that evasion is used a lot in a defensive structure. The body trained is in such in muscle memory, that when attacked the quick side to side movements and reverse will go with such of a timing speed that kicks or punches are avoided and missed by the opponents. In the scheme of things, training is one of the key and part of the daily life of the practitioner. The training tool in such a practice is called "Langkah Lima" or Step Five, or the internal stepping of five. The Langkah lima is a equal lateral triangle that is measured with 26 inches of lines, and added to the triangle two line that are crossed with two equal length lines of 26 inches. As the Physical pattern is a training tool, also to note that Langkah Lima itself is a system that hold many of secrets to the onlooker. For sure I will not go into detail in this interview, and reserve that knowledge for you to teach. What I will go into is what I have found to be very interesting, by training the different patterns of Langkah Lima, you were able to avoid the forces that were directed to you in many of side-to-side movements and forward as well as backward, I seen more then once were I trained a person from Pontianak, he gave a demonstration with his hands tight behind his back. Many of folks attacked him with several fast blows and kicks, amazingly he was able to dodge the attacks. The ability of the man was well noted, as the same system of movement I practiced. Later to find out that Mas Djoet had traveled to the area were the man came from, and actually was one of Mas Djoet's students, or a senior to me. The Idea is to decoy to such that the unwearied attacker gains a false sense of awareness that he had overcome the Player that inducts the Langkah Lima pattern steps. Certainly the farthest from the truth, for the results and tracking was amazingly, and induced me to train harder to gain the same ability what I experience. As I mentioned, it be very difficult to describe point for point on paper the actual essence of the art, as I then teach these to you for you to absorb them and so that muscle memory will be instilled. What we can describe on paper is a training sequence that we all follow in an arena, what we train in, normally it is in our "Pengkalan Pentjak" of course, training arena. Always for you to remember, that we can divide the system in these projects. The Kembang or Flower a dance like movements with hand and feet to describe the rotational energy. Then of course we have the Djoeroes, the alphabet of the system or understanding of Masukan or Entries as a pre-planned process. The Langka's those are the footsteps with the added hand movements that can be expressed as a drill or with partners. Next we have what we call the "Samboetan that is the Fighting system to be absorbed, or also part of the Samboetan is to learn the Counter for Counter techniques. Also to understand that the "Sabet" is the elimination of the opponent described in several ways, by foot trapping or by overpowering in a total trashing technique, and the "Besot" is the understanding of removing or off balancing the opponent, many times the miss-understanding of a "Beset" description in which is only taught to beginners and seldom used by seniors. In the traditional learning with music is the custom and used with the three instruments namely the two "Gendang's, one depicting the Masculine and the Feminine drum. These drums are long cigar shaped, fat in the middle and played on both sides. On the Masculine drum the "Tepak Tiloe" or a three beat is drummed and on the Feminine a "Tepak Doea" the two beat is drummed. Accompany the drum beat is the "Teroempet" a wooden trumpet that has a ear piercing tone , but flowing melody. Most likely the descendent from the Indian instrument and then adapted by the Sundanese. Then of course the constant beat on the Gong indicating the constant change to the steps of the practitioner. This and foremost to drill the timing into the practitioner, and to be precise when to attack or dissipate the opposing force away. Note: Much of the Interview and written down in my notes from Uncle John. In the second Book of Serak, many of these written accounts done from 1954 till much of the later years before his passing in 1972. In reading this, let me know of all of this is of interest to all of you. Pak Vic Subject: [Silat_International] Part 4 - Interview John de Vries A memory of a Pukulan Practitioner "Guru John de Vries" (C) by Victor de Thouars 1962 Interview translated as reported by "Pak Vic" de Thouars, Nephew of Guru John. Interview Circa 1962 translated from Dutch to English. (c) Note: Much of the Interview and written down in my notes from Uncle John. In the second Book of Serak, many of these written accounts done from 1954 till much of the later years before his passing in 1972. Mang Depris: On the other side of the coin, while Sera is more so the attacking style rather then a defensive style, the timing drills are a bit different. For a beginner and also many of the other people who has never heard the actual music of the different timing beats, and if no one explains, then for sure you would not hear the difference. The different melodies and the drum-beats. Also is there a different take on the kembang stepping or dance. The rhythm of Tjimande still the rhythmic slow and long-threading because of the long gymnastic circles movement, in contrast with Tjikalong the dance is more so in a quick time step, still with the Gymnastic circle movement. Sera on the other hand, because of the founders attributes, and having a clubbed foot and a clubbed hand, the music was more abrupt with spurts of attack like dance steps intermixing with straight as well as circle hand and feet dance movements. While most of the other silat systems are based more so on the defensive structure, Sera that I practice is based on attack. The drills practiced what we call "Poekoelan Petang" or Hitting in the dark, reveals much of our style called Sera. Here the Langkah Lima is used very extensively, and leave the procedure out of these words, so you are able to teach the Sera I have practiced for all these years. In looking at the footwork, and I sketch it down for you on these "Menoelis Gambaran" drawings on paper beginning with the entry from the "Tiga" before the Pantjar platform. The "Djoeroe Perang" (Battle Juru) is now used in the "Tendjek" (Tonjok- Hitting with the fist) style to do the stepping, or what we call the "Djalan Langkah Lima"(Walking the jurus on the Langkah lima platform), were now the Djoeroes as well the Upper Djoeroesan (Higher sets of Jurus 19-14) are used, or the full twenty four movement to complete the ABC's of Sera. Also the "Djoeroe Balik"(the turn around juru) performance as "Djoeroesan Dua Poeloeh" most forgotten in name. Always remember the "Sikap Badan" (Body Posture) of the "Sikap Toedjoeh Belas" (Stance 17) and the "Sikap Enam-belas" (Stance 16) are used extensively. The "Gendang's" (Drumbeat) is methodical and hard paced, changing from abrupt to long tone to a brake tone with the Gong on a constant beat so the practitioner feels the rhythm flowing through his "Badan" Body. As I mentioned, I have not seen the same Langkah Lima performed by the other Silat styles as Sera would steps the platforms. For sure the "Sha-Bhandar" style use a Square with "X" lines, with shuffle stepping. A big difference from Djalan Langkah Lima to Djalan Pantjar, Satoe, Dua, Tiga and Ampat, were the Upper Djoeroesan are not practiced on. So at least in Sera, the Langkah Lima more used to "Belajar Menggasak" (Study Attacks) versus "Sikap Bertahan" (Defensive) Note: Always give thanks to my first teacher Pak Tisari Mardjoeki and "Mang Depris" my Uncle John for sharing much of the Sera system to me. Next I may translate the understandings up to a point from the "Samboetan", to learn the Sera as taught the old way and as tradition holds with no changing and open to all to study. Come to the Pusat VDT Academy in Bellflower or any of the VDT Academies in the different states. VDT Academy students and members may obtain the footwork from me if you have reached the level. Regards and hormat, Pak Vic --__--__-- _______________________________________________ Eskrima mailing list Eskrima@martialartsresource.net http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/eskrima http://eskrima-fma.net Old digest issues are available via ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com. Copyright 1994-2002: Ray Terry and the Martial Arts Resource Standard disclaimers apply. Remember 9-11! End of Eskrima Digest