Malay Fighting Arts Blog

WHAT GOING ON IN THE MFA ACADEMY WORLD

2011-12-21T12:34:00.002-06:00

It’s been a long time since I’ve post a new blog so here it goes.

The Poekoelan Community Social Site:

This year I’ve purchased a new software package for the Poekoelan Community site at www.poekoelan.net. I now have a site 100% owned by Poekoelan Tjimindie Stylist which should be easy right? Not by a long shot!!! When I had my Ning site I had an IT team to assist me to straighten out any and all problems, not anymore. I have me, and Geoff that is the IT staff as well as, what IT help we buy. I found owning a Social Site is a lot of work, and very time consuming.

I have a company making custom Add-ons for my site, and trying to give the best features that my member like about all of the sites like Facebook, MySpace, Blogger, and so on in one site. I’m looking to invest more money into this site to make some add-ons that I have ideas for. However, I don’t know if they can do what I want them too, but it’s worth a try. I’m looking to improve the video player, photo viewer, and other comfort features.

Then I’ll be adding onto the site a Community Store that will allow members to create stores so they can sale products to other members, and non-members. Once it’s in place, I’m hoping to open what I’m calling a Poekoelan Flix. This is where martial arts instructors can send me their instructional videos and have people rent them from the Poekoelan Community, and stream the video straight to their computer. This is how it’s going to go, 15 minute video will be $1.99, 30 minute video will be $2.99, and a 1 hour video will be $3.99. This will happen sometime next year hopefully if God is willing.

MFA Kuntao/Silat Level One DVD:

When I first made a Level One DVD Four Disc Box Set, I only meant this for my students, and not for public sale. After getting so many emails wanting to buy this DVD Box Set on the MFA Level One DVD, I’m making it open for public sale. That’s right, you have spoken, and I’ve heard you.

I’m in the studio reshooting the Level One material to improve the audio and video quality to get you the best product I can give you. The Level One DVD 4 Disc Box Set will have the following information:

1. Basic Strikes from Panantukan, Pukulan, and Kuntao

2. Basic Kicks

3. Blocks

4. Langkahs (Footwork)

5. Cimande Jurus 1-20 with applications

6. Latihans

a. Hand Langkahs

b. Foot Langkahs

c. Elbow Langkah

d. Drills

7. Elbow Form (Kembong)

8. Combinations (Kicking, Strike, Hand-Foot)

9. Entries into Combinations

10. And much more…

So be on the lookout for this 4 Disc DVD Box Set being released to the Public for the first time in 2012.

Guru Jim’s First Book – MFA Pangasinan Arnis (The Article, Teachings, & Rambles of Guru Jim) Vol. 1:

I should be finishing my first book next year sometime after many years of writing it. This book is on just the Filipino Martial Arts that my teacher Tuhon Tony Marcial taught me over the years. I have wrote about my own additions over the years of trading information with other Filipino Martial Artist, and my own additions which I have created out of my many years of experience.

I’ve taken a lot of my articles that I’ve already have out, and added more information to those article as well as new article that I wrote just for this book. This isn’t a book about the 12 Angles, or footwork like so many instructors has out. This is a book about Advance Drills, and Combative Techniques which take a totally different approach than any other book.

My book will be released as a paperback and in digital Kindle form which can be found on my web site www.pukulan.net, or Amazon.com. After this book comes out I’m planning on publishing a Level 1 Student Manuel to assist with students learning from the DVD. So be on the Watch out for these books.

Conclusion:

Well, I have much more planned for 2012, and I’ll be hard at work to keep bring you the very best in the Malay Fighting Arts. You keep watching, and I’ll keep producing them. Thank you for your time in reading this Blog.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!

Man I’ve Been Busy!!!

2011-07-14T13:45:00.001-05:00

Hello to everyone that reads my blog. This has been a very busy month so far, and a lot has happened with my Distant Academy, Testing Mas Geoff for his higher degree, finishing my book, and computer problems. However, I’m over coming it all and making head way.

MALAY FIGHTING ARTS DISTANT ACADEMY

First, a friend of mine has been having problems with his serve, and I lost my MFA Distant Academy. However, I have my new Distant Academy up and running on a new serve at www.pukulan.org. I’ve lost some of my videos due to poor planning on my part. However, I’m redoing those videos, and putting more videos in each section for a better understanding of what’s going on each section. I depend on feedback from each student so I can post more videos of each section so students after you can see and get an even better understanding.

I’ve almost got the whole Yellow Belt in place and starting to work on the Green Belt section. I’m also taping video for the Distant Academy’s new class on Harimau Poekoelan Silat section. This is an A-Z “Instructor Certification” of Harimau Poekoelan Silat. We are also going to be release a Pangasinan Arnis section to certify people in the Filipino Martial Arts as well. Finally, we are going to be placing a Poekoelan Tjimindie section on the site so people can learn Poekoelan Tjimindie. Each item is only $15/Month per class. This is a great deal to be certified under an instructor that’s been doing these arts longer than most of these instructors’ been alive.

POEKOELAN TJIMINDIE 3RD BLACK BELT TEST

I was in Oregon a couple of weeks ago testing Mas Geoff for his 3rd. Black Belt. Mas Geoff underwent a 48 hour test that tested his knowledge of Poekoelan, Poekoelan History, his ability to perform each Langkah, and his ability to use the system. Mas Geoff did a lot of high energy forms, and sparring back to back. I limited him to want animal he could fight with, but his opponents had no restrictions. Mas Geoff did in fact suffer an eye injury during his night walk. This is where you walk along a path and have to fight many different fights along the way. Mas Geoff’s eye injury wasn’t so serious that he couldn’t continue.

Mas Geoff was deprived of sleep except for four hour on the last day of his test. In the end Mas Geoff was award his 3rd. Degree Black Belt by me during the closing ceremonies. Mas Geoff’s hard work is a testament to him and his training. I also want to add that Mas Geoff’s students were very impressive to watch. I was very grateful that I was ask to come out to Oregon and test Mas Geoff, and I look forward to going back to his school.

MY FIRST BOOK IS ALMOST DONE!!!

Yes it’s true everyone, my first book (Malay Fighting Arts – The Articles, Teachings, & Ramblings of Guru Jim” is always done. This book should be out hopefully by Christmas 2011. My first book is on Filipino Martial Arts. I just took my final pictures to finish the actual work on the book’s creation, and now it’s off to my editor. After we get done editing this book then I have to make sure the picture have the correction resolution for the final format.

This book as taken me almost 2 years to write and it’s been a true labor of love. I just hope everyone that buys this book will get a lot of out of it. This is not a basic book, or the typical 12 angles book. This is a full out drills, and techniques book that pulls no punches. I use my terms, and not the terms that everyone and their brother uses.

This book is on how I was taught, and how I teach the arts to others based on realistic defensive situation I’ve been in. I tell it as I lived it, and I have one hell of a perspective from Bar Bouncing, being a Bounty Hunter, a Correctional Officer, a Combat Veteran, and a Police Officer. These are the skills that helped me develop my fighting system to defend myself from some very dangerous criminals.

IF IT RAINS IT POURS

Is the above statement true or what??? On top of everything happening to me, my computer won’t turn on. My desktop is fried as far as I know and I have to get it in the shop quick, fast, and in a hurry. However, I do have a backup and it’s called my laptop. This is allowing me to finish my book since my book is on a USB Port, and my videos are on an external hard drive.

Yes folks, I have backed up a lot of my stuff, but there is a lot of stuff I didn’t. So because of that I have to redo it. However, I broke out my trusty old laptop, and it’s serving it purpose. It might be old, and it might be slow, but it works damn it. I guess that the same thing my wife can say about me.

However, I don’t see any problems with the academy and no delays on loading up videos once they are shot. I can transfer them straight to my laptop, and then to the Distant Academy. As I said, I’m over coming it all and making head way.

NOW I’M LEAVING THE BEST FOR LAST!!!

On top of all of this, I’m once again a grandfather. My daughter once again gave birth to my granddaughter Jaymee. On July 6, 2011 my granddaughter Jaymee was born at the Olathe Hospital. I was a pround grandfather the first time I became a grandparent and I’m once again a very proud grandfather.

Well, take care, and see on my next posting.

Open Challenge to Poekoelan!!!

2011-06-22T10:19:00.000-05:00

I have an open CHALLENGE to all Poekoelaners out there!!! I challenge people like Dick Kulge, Bill Doubich, Barbara Niggle, Eugene “Peanut” Tuffs, Gale Shotzinger, and anyone reading this that does Poekoelan to the toughest battle of their lives. I challenge you to fight your own pride, and chest pounding. To fight against keeping the family feud from going on. I challenge you to make a new path for our art. We still worry about who beat whom back in the day. Let me tell you this, I HAVE BEATEN CHAMPS, AND I HAVE BEEN BEATEN BY CHUMPS! The one that won was only the better person at that moment in time.

Fight against deeming Roy or Willy an evil person. Fighting against saying an entire lineage is no good based on whom they learned their skills from. The lineage that is no good is the one that has a lot of hate in it. However, you can redeem your lineage by ending that hate. I would love to say that my teach was unbeatable, but let’s get real. Every man is beatable, even Great Grandmaster William J.C. Wetzel. WOW, listen to everyone gasp in disbelief. How do I know Willy was beatable, easy, he was a prisoner of war in Indonesia. They had to get him there somehow, and the Japanese found out what it would take to put him there.

I challenge every Poekoelaner to put away their hate for whomever, and move forwards into a new future. One where we can all learn from one another, and learn all that Willy taught. Myself, I never really heard of Poekoelan Sera, or Poekoelan Tjialong before, and I would love to these arts in action. Willy taught different thing at different times. For example, Gale Shotzinger’s students may never have learned Langkah Satu, Dua, and Tiga because Willy and Goeroe Peanuts haven’t developed them yet. Bill Doubich teaches these Langkahs, but not Umpat and Lima. However, Barbara Niggle teaches them because she was learning these Langkahs after Willy, and Peanuts developed them.

Just because one person doesn’t know this or that doesn’t invalidate their skill. It just means they or their teacher were trained during different times. This is where we all come together all learn every that Willy taught over the years. This way we all can learn, and we all can have everything.

I challenge the Poekoelan Community to put this broken family system, and lineage back together again. I challenge the Poekoelan Community to become one family without saying one person’s lineage is wrong, or an art of demon. I challenge the Poekoelan Community to value everything thing every instructors have. I challenge you, and are you Man/Woman enough to accept this challenge???

I HOPE YOU ARE, BECAUSE THIS WILL BE THE FIGHT OF YOUR LIFE AGAINST AN OPPONENT THAT BEEN KICKING OUR BUTTS FOR YEARS.

Guru Jim’s Poekoelan Award

2011-05-19T13:17:00.000-05:00

When I started to come on the internet scene talking about my training, and the systems I did in 2003. I was quickly attacked by a few of the Poekoelan Crowd. From time to time I still get people challenging me on my skill level, knowledge, and my ranking mostly the students of only one school. I’ve never hid my background, nor did I never lie about my background. I told the truth from the get go, and if you don’t like my instructors that’s on you. Whom I trained with is who I train with, and I put in some very hard work.

I have loved these art from the get go, and I have explored many different methods of combat. I’ve learned upright fighting such as Silat, Kuntao, Panantukan (Filipino Boxing Similar to Western Boxing), Traditional Jujitsu at Rec. Centers, and Kajukenpo Karate. Then I learned locks from traditional Jujitsu and Dumog (Filipino Grappling). After learning Harimua (Indonesian Ground Fight not grappling) I wanted to explore the grappling arts. I started learning more about grappling in the early 90’s. I was teaching my students how to fight in every way possible. You could say I had the first MMA School in Cleveland.

My students would spar with each other using some contact, not full, but mild contact. If someone got knocked to the ground, there were no stopping the fight, and getting back up. The student had to flow right into Harimua if the other student was still standing, and fight his way back up, or take the guy down to his level. Then students had to use either Harimua to continue fighting, or start grappling. In grappling, to win the student had to get the other student to tap, but in the sparing it was who controlled the fight (i.e. the one mostly hitting the other person).

When people saw this in the early to mid 90’s, I was told I was only teching barroom brawling. However, I had to cut this back some in the late 90’s due to the lack of space I had to teach in. So some students didn’t get to do a lot of this, but they still didn’t. Sparing in my school is a big thing. This is what teaches you how to fight, and how to deal with an uncooperative opponent. Of course we use sparing gear such as hand and feet gear, shin guards, and face guards. I found hands, feet, and shin that fit you with little padding but fit you like putting on a sock or glove.

Through out most of my martial arts career I took a lot of crap from Poekoelan, then from people in Cleveland about knowing Silat, and then the way I taught my students how to fight. I had a friend of mine name Ed asked me to teach Silat in his school, and I said yes. I worked hard trying to get students, and I got a few but nothing big. One day I had a student of Ed’s come to me and asked if I knew any grappling. I told I did, and since he was a Correctional Officer he asked me to teach him. Before you knew I became the grappling teacher of Cleveland. However, I wanted to be known as the Silat Instructor of Cleveland, but that didn’t happen. Once I left to join the Army, Ed had to search for another grappling instructor.

Today, I’m best known for Poekoelan Tjimindie, and not the Malay Fighting Arts which is my blend of Kali/Silat/Kuntao. How did I get known for Poekoelan, over everything else? Easy, I took on an impossible task; I’m going to reunited Poekoelan. I opened a small forum and put that on as a category and people in Poekoelan started chatting in it. I then moved my forum to a better forum program which got even more Poekoelaners to join. I then thought it was about time to open the first Poekoelan social site called the “Poekoelan Tjimindie Community”, and even more people joined. This would brand me as a Poekoelan Instructor, over everything else. People started getting along, and moving ahead with conferences. Instead of people calling me names, and making fun of me. The Poekoelan Crowd started calling me the Back Bone of Poekoelan. Really, they’re the Back Bone of Poekoelan. If the members didn’t join the Community, and decide that they wanted peace and unity. I would have been just looking at an empty forum.

So, to the Poekoelan Community, Thank you so much for this award. However, it’s all of you that should be getting this award, because it was you that wanted a new future for our art. I only gave you a place to do it in. But it’s nice to be recognized for all my hard work.

Thank you everyone that is even read this. Without you, I’ll only be talking to myself.

Guru Jim Takes The 5 Second Ride - Taser Training

2011-04-04T21:09:00.000-05:00

The Malay Fighting Arts has a new Guru!!!

2011-03-29T19:05:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Guru Carl Magnuson for achieving his Black Sash in the Malay Fighting Arts. After more than 3 yrs of hard work, he demonstrated great skill, and knowledge to earn the title of Guru. Again Carl, Congrats.

Malay Fighting Arts Techniques

2011-03-18T22:26:00.000-05:00

I Remember When…

2011-03-16T12:28:00.000-05:00

I can remember when I first started hearing about a new system called Silat that just came to the U.S. in the early 1990’s. I had to laugh because I knew for a fact that it’s been in this country for as long as I could remember. However, I did know that not everyone knew of the system, even though articles and books have been written about Silat since the 1960’s. So imagine my surprise to find out that the system was unknown to martial arts community. When I told friends that trained at the local martial art schools what martial arts I did. They asked their instructors about it and were told that there wasn’t any such martial art.

I told them that their teacher needed to meet with my teacher. I’m sure my teacher would disagree with them whole heartedly. I was called a liar and I didn’t know anything because this teacher has never heard of my system. I would explain to friends that Silat, or Pentjak-Silat was the generic term like Karate, or Kung Fu. That my system was Cimande, and it was also mixed with some Filipino Kuntao. Because they never heard of these systems I was laugh at, and thought to know nothing. However, when I had to fight in school they couldn’t deny that I knew what I was doing.

When I found myself without a teacher one day I went to the local Karate School to learn, and I was asked if I knew any martial arts. I had to open my mouth and say, “Yes, I know Silat”. The teacher asked what that was, and I told him that it was Indonesian martial arts. He told me that Indonesia had no martial arts so I couldn’t know it. I went to argue with him saying that my system is Cimande Kuntao. He replied that Cimande even sounds like a made up name.

He handed me my free uniform that came with the class, and I went and changed. This was the first time I ever wore a uniform. I understood the ties because I’ve seen Karate Kid, but I didn’t know how to tie the belt. I knew it wrapped around you twice (Yup, Karate Kid), but I didn’t know how to tie it. The teacher said, “If you took martial arts before you would know how to tie your belt”. Of course I came back with, “I never had to wear a uniform before”. I was told to just get on the floor and workout. Instructors of that school would tell me that I can pick up moves very quick, but I kept quite because I was done with that argument.

I would give their black belts a good run for their money once they got me to stop sweeping their feet with Sapus (Front Sweep) and Bezets (Rear Sweep). They also had to stop me from fighting from the ground once I fell in Harimua (Ground Tiger). We had a few other issues, but they got me in their words, “fighting the right way”. I have also trained in Kung Fu, Judo, and Traditional Jujitsu at the local rec. centers. I never achieved any belts in these systems. I just went to learn and never cared about belts. I decided not to talk about what I knew because I was taught to keep it a secret, and I got tired of being called a lair. What students I had all left, but two because my art wasn’t a real martial art.

I bought martial arts books, and when videos came out I bought them as well. I wanted to get as much fighting knowledge as I can get. However, I had one student see a Jujitsu book on my table at the same time I was taking Jujitsu, and I was showing him Silat throws. Since Jujitsu is an art of throwing, I must be teaching from the book. I tried to show him the book and show him that the throws I’m showing him isn’t in the book. Never the less, he left my little school because I was teaching from books.

When I started teaching Silat as Silat, and not as Kung Fu, I was the talk of the town. I was held as a fraud, and a scam artist. In the words of many, “Silat is new to this country so how could you know it”. I even had a kid name Chris Hoy call me and say, “Silat came into this country by way of California. I know for a fact you’ve never been to California”. I told him that as the years roll on he would hear of people like Willy Wetzel, Willem Reeders, and so on. He would then see how stupid that comment was. Silat came to this country in the 1950’s, and many settled in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York near where I lived.

Students came and liked what they saw and stayed with me. Many old students today find my web site and call me to just talk. I didn’t start getting creditability until one of my students attended a Silat seminar in New York. Grandmaster (GM) Jim Ingram went around asking what martial art people did. When my student said Poekoelan Silat (The begins of my Malay Fighting Arts), GM Ingram asked if it was the Wetzel System. My student told GM Ingram that was one of the influences in the system. GM Ingram invited my student back to his hotel room for a little Silat test.

GM Ingram asked his teacher’s name and he told him my name. GM Ingram told him that he never heard of me. After several hours GM Ingram told my student that he doesn’t know his teacher, and never heard of me, but my student should continue his training because he learning a very good Silat system. After others in the Cleveland area tried to prove me a fraud, they kept finding people in Silat that verified my training. After all of this, I now get calls, and emails that open up with, “Master Hogue”. Looking back while growing up in this system was hard, but it was all worth it.

Take care and I hoped you enjoyed.

FMA & Malay Arts Chronicles Interview with Guru Jim Hogue

2010-12-08T20:15:00.004-06:00

To see the full interview go to http://www.pukulan.net/GuruJimHogueInterview.html

Tournament Fighting – The Good and Bad

2010-12-01T19:28:00.000-06:00

Let me first say that this isn’t a posting for, or against Tournament Fighting. This is just me putting out the good and the bad point of doing such a thing. It is up to you the martial artist to decide if this is for you or not. I have been in Enforcement Security, Fugitive Retrieval, Corrections, and Police work for about 23 years. I’ve had my noise broken, eyes blacked, lip busted, eyebrows laid open, and so on.

I have worked in the worst areas of Cleveland, Ohio. I have worked in bars/night clubs, strip bars, apartment projects, and low income area as store detective. I’ve arrested many dangerous criminal in high crime areas. I had to fight throughout my career, and I can tell you this, fighting for real, is very different than fighting in a ring.

During the 1980’s and 90’s I was hardcore tournament competitor winning trophies. The reasons I found that tournament fighting was very different than in a real fight is in most of these tournaments no one is trying to harm you, or are they bent on your destruction. Most of these tournaments are light to no contact which doesn’t prepare the student to be hit if they really had to use their martial arts skills in real life.

I have known many tournament champions that were national ranked, but would get their butts kicked once they actually had use their fighting skills. One I actually had to save when I was just hanging out in a night club on my personal time. So does this mean tournaments are useless? No, tournaments have a lot to teach a martial artist, you just have to know what the lesson is.

The first lesson is good sportsmanship which is important for anyone to learn no matter their age. This gets you use to facing your fears about face another person in combat. Even thought this might be light contact, injuries still happen from your opponent accidentally striking you too hard. Tournament fighting teaches you to control your emotions and your fight, or flight response. However, the fighters will just lift their legs and tap their opponent because you just need to touch them, and power isn’t a requirement. Tournament fighters will stand on guard with their lead hand extended straight out in front of them. So they can just slightly extended their arm a little and quickly back fist their opponent. Remember, you just have to touch your opponent and power isn’t required.

Then you have the MMA and BJJ groups that said their sport is just like street fighting. I’ll give them that it’s closer to Real Street Fighting than tournaments. However, Boxing and Kickboxing is just as close to a real street fight as MMA and BJJ. They both are in very good shape, and the hits are real. No punches are pulled, knockout happen, and people give up, or Tap Out. I’m sorry to my MMA and BJJ brothers and sisters; it’s still not the same. No matter how close you get, you can’t get dead on without people dying in the ring.

MMA and BJJ fighting will help you get over your fear of being hit. As I tell my students, if you don’t have the heart for battle, there is nothing I can teach you to help you win. Getting hit is just want happens in a fight, and if you can’t fight through that, then you’ll lose if the other person can. Everyone has a plan, and a fighting method until they get hit. Then all their training and their martial arts is out the window. MMA and BJJ tournaments prepare their students for this which is closer to a real life fight. However, they also have some misconception in their system as well.

For one thing, 75% of all fights DO NOT go to the ground. This is something the Gracie family came up with to promote their family art. Only time my fights went to the ground is when I wanted them to. Only two times have I been on the ground without taking someone there. Another misconception is that ground grappling is the end all and be all of combat. There have been many MMA and BJJ guy took their opponents to the ground in a real fight, and their opponent’s friends came along and stomped the hell out of them. Finally, here’s a lesson in law, if you are choking me in a real street fight. I can only assume you’re going to kill me. By law, I can pull my blade and kill you first. A good Malay Fighter as two or more blades on them, and they will get to a blade, and then turn you into a pin cushion.

So what’s the answer? Easy, find an art that fits you and get good at it. Fighting in whatever tournament you want to fight in, light/no contact, or full contact. Stop pounding on your chest saying your system is the BEST, and you’re the BADEST ASS in the world. Remember, no matter how big and bad you are. Someone will change the fight for the worst that you aren’t prepared for. As I say to people, as long as your bones break, flesh cuts, and you’re not bullet proof, I’m not afraid of you. Even though I obey the law, I still obey the law of self preservation. I would rather be tried by 12, than carried by 6.

God Bless

THIS IS MY LOVE, NOT MY CAREER.

2010-09-18T08:32:00.001-05:00

Now a days I have read the postings of Masters and Instructors of Kuntao/Silat, and people say that they have lost their minds. I say it’s a hard fall from the top, or a hard claim to the top when this is all you have. In the late 80’s and 90’s Kuntao/Silat was an unheard of art, even though it’s been in this country since the 1950’s thanks to Masters like William Wetzel, and Willem Reeders. Now, you can find Kuntao/Silat all over this country.

In the mid 80’s these few people were the all around Masters to train with, but today they must compete with others for the center stage. Instructors with grandiose titles like: Pendekar, Mas Goeroe Agoeng, Grandmaster, Grand Tuhon, and so on. Instructors claim heir to a family system from the Grand Pendekar/Mas Goeroe Agoeng/ Tuhon/ Ultimate Grand Master. They talk about Hormat (Respect), but they bad mouth Masters that has passed away. They talk about how their art is a made up art, and has no true lineage. My favorite is how they say that this Masters art was really just Kung Fu, or Karate.

Right now I can say I could have kicked William Wetzel, Willem Reeders, and Rudy TerLinden ass at the same time all I want. The truth being known, I wouldn’t stand a chance with just one of these Masters, little on all three at the same time. However, they can’t 1. Defend themselves, or 2. Make me back it up, so why bad mouth the dead. I have seen people bad mouth Dutch-Indo Silat saying, “This is pure Indonesian Silat, not Dutch-Indo. It’s to fluid for that”. Is this the Hormat they’re talking about?

Then you have the instructors wanting to be the next Inosanto, or Suwanda. These instructors want fame at all cost, no matter what. They claim to know more because they spent a few weeks in Indonesia learning this one art. You promote yourself shamelessly and what happens? Some Indonesian or Filipino comes to that country and is an instant star in these arts. Your greed for fame and/or money fuels your art, and not the art it’s self.

As I was getting mad about what I was reading, I found myself laughing at them. I realized that this is their career. Only by trying to make others look bad, or grinding an axe with someone that made them mad is the only way to make themselves look better. When you bad mouth a deceased Master, it just makes you look bad, not them. When you bad mouth the Dutch-Indo Silat, you could be bad mouthing a friend along with the person you’re mad at. Now you’re saying, Guru Jim, aren’t you doing the same thing? No, I have not wrote one name down, or called anyone out on the carpet. If this sounds like some you know, then it’s about them.

What makes me different? THIS IS MY LOVE, NOT MY CAREER. I love these arts and I just want to share them with others. Right now, I’m putting out more Filipino Martial Arts because I want to help promote my Instructor Tuhon Tony Marcial. You read it correctly; I want to promote someone other than me. I make DVDs, write articles, and I’m currently writing my first book called “The Articles, Teachings, and Ramblings of Guru Jim”. Volume one is on Pangasinan Arnis that was taught to me by my instructor to help promote him.

I’m busy right now with teaching my students, writing my book, making DVDs, and trying to get my Masters Degree in Business Administration. As I said, these arts aren’t my career, they’re my love. I have a few people that know who I am, and I get to pass on my knowledge to whoever wants it, and is a good up standing person to receive it. I do what I do out of the love for what I know, and what I hold near and dear to my heart. You can say that I’m not a true Silat/Kuntao/Kali person. You won’t be the first, and you won’t be the last. I have strong shoulders. I can hold your BS on them.

Who should you train with? Someone who loves these arts, and wants to pass it on. Someone who is more concerned with your learning and not their fame. Someone who doesn’t openly bad mouth other systems. There are system out there I don’t like, but they’re just not for me, however, they are still skilled masters. I’ll just sit in the shadows, and help my Brothers and Sisters in these arts out from behind the scenes.

Guru Jim is 100% about helping his fellow martial artist before himself. I talk about Hormat, and I practice it as well. How many of you can say that. I may not die rich and famous, but I’ll have some really good friends to remember me for years to come.

Take care, and God bless you and yours.

Guru James Hogue

Steven Dowd FMA Digest Editor/Owner Visits

2010-08-04T17:59:00.000-05:00

I had the honor of meeting Steven Dowd on his trip through this great country meaning Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) Instructors. Mr. Dowd is a very accomplished FMA practitioner of Arnis and Kuntwa. He gave me a couple of gifts, two of his books called Arnis Balite, and Kuntaw ng Pilipinas. We sat down and had a nice little chat that I wish could have been much longer. I have had the honor to write several articles for Mr. Dowd’s FMA Digest, and he has published every one of them so far. Mr. Dowd also honored me by doing a Special Edition on my brand of FMA. The edition was a success for me, and it got me many of e-mails telling me how much they enjoyed that edition. This was on the same day of my illness, and I read every e-mail from my hospital and did my best to respond even though I was in a tremendous amount of pain.

If you’re reading this and I didn’t respond to you, I’m sorry and please e-mail me once more. Why did I try to e-mail people even though I was in pain? Simple, you took time out of your day to e-mail me; at least I could return your e-mail.

I took Mr. Dowd to a local restaurant in my town, and introduced them to Buffalo meat. That’s right; we had Burgers made out of Buffalo Meat. I think he was surprised to find out that here in Kansas they have buffalo farms where they raise buffalos to eat. Mr. Dowd and I talked about the martial arts, military service, the types of food we have eaten, and many other things. The one thing I found out about Mr. Dowd. He is a very straight to the point no BS type of guy, but he is one of the nicest you’ll ever meet. Don’t worry about wondering what is on his mind, because he will tell you. I respect this very much in people. If I don’t like you, I’ll tell you, and if I do like you, I’ll tell you. With Mr. Dowd, there is no BS, just honest straight talk.

He truly is a man to be respected. If not for his many years of Military service, or his FMA, but just because he is very up front and honest not to mention just a great person. It was my honor to play host to Mr. Dowd and his wife. It was a very short visit, but a great visit nonetheless. It was great to meet you Mr. Dowd, and I hope to be out your way very soon so we can have a longer visit, and workout session.

Steven, it was a lot of fun.

The Lighter Side of Guru Jim

2010-07-29T19:34:00.002-05:00

As you read this you might think that this can’t be true, or he is making these funny stories up. I assure you that this all actually happened, and I get bored easily which I seek to entertain myself by saying, or doing off the wall things.

One day a about October, 2008 I was told that I had acid reflux and would need an endoscope procedure to see if my stomach acid is causing me any ulcers. Well, they schedule me an appointment and I showed up. This is was the being of my troubles. Why, because I brought my wife with me. See, I needed a ride home. Guys, get a friend to do this not your wife.

My wife knew when I was going through Combat Lifesaver class in the Army, we had to give each other IV’s to learn how to give them to people. After the fifth IV I felt a little dizzy, and sick to my stomach. I made the mistake of telling my wife this, and she remembered this a little differently than I do. Years later, I’m in the hospital waiting room where I’m going to get my endoscope done. An 85 year old hospital volunteer came to get me. When my wife went to come with me she told her that she had to wait until they get me in bed with my IV. My wife says, “I have to come because he is scared of IV’s”.

I told her, “I’m not scared of them! I just got sick after my fifth IV in a row”. Now, all the way back I have this 85 year old grandma patting my hand tell me it’s OK, and not to be afraid. She then tells the nurses that I’m afraid of IV’s. I speak up and tell the nurse about what happened when I was in the Army Combat Lifesaver class. When another nurse came in and the first nurse said, “He might feel sick, but that was after him and his friend kept giving each other IV’s”. Now I have this Nurse looking at me like I’m a nut case that I would just sit around with friends giving each other IV’s. I speak up and told her about the Lifesaver class, and she said, “Oh I see”. I told the other nurse if was going to tell the story, please tell people the entire story.

I had nurse # three coming in and ask me if I know what was happening? I told her yes, you’re going to roofie me and shove something inside of me. She laughed and said, “Where are we going to put it, because we have two placed to put a scope”. I said, “If you’re going to put it there also then please put it in my mouth first. I just don’t want to wake up with a bad taste in my mouth”. I told her it was going to go down my throat and she was happy and walked away. The surgeon walked in and asked, “Jim, do you know what going to happen”? I replied, “Yup, you’re going to roofie me and put something long down my throat”. He got upset and explained it in medical terms. I said, “That’s what I said, but it sounds less gay when you say it”.

When the surgeon walks away and one of the nurses tell me I should upset the man that going to do the endoscope, because I might wake up with a bad taste in my mouth. I said, “Oh yea, good idea”. So the anesthesiologist came in and told me how it was going to go, and the medicine they give me is amnesia medicine. Don’t be worried if you don’t remember people, or even the trip home. I ask her, if I’m not going to remember, tell my wife, because I’m not going to remember this. My wife finally came back to see me and I told her what’s been going on. My wife shook her head, and I reminded it was her fault for telling that I was afraid of IV’s when I’m not.

After the endoscope I woke up and they got my wife to come back. I look at my wife and said, “Who are you? Quick before the medicine wears off lets have sex. This way I can have sex with a strange woman and not be cheating.” Then before I left they once again tell not to worry if I don’t remember the ride home because the medicine is still working in my system. I looked at the nurse and said, “What did you say”? So she repeated it, and once again I said, “What”? The nurse then said, “your will tell you once you get home and can remember”. She did tell me that I was one of the most fun patients they have ever had. You would think my wife learned her lesson after this, but NOOOOO!!!

To be continued…..

What Happened To Guru Jim?

2010-07-21T19:47:00.002-05:00

Hello to all my readers,

I told you I was going to post what happen to me this past month, and here it is. On June 17, 2010 I had a minor pain in my chest that felt like a muscle pull. By that evening I was in a lot of pain in my chest and shoulders. The ER treated me as a heartache patient, and found nothing wrong with my heart. Then they thought I had blood clots in my chest, test came back that I’m fine there too. So they told me it was just a bad muscle pull, and gave me muscle relaxers and pain killers.

The next day I went to my doctor in even more pain, but it was in my back below my right shoulder blade. So my doctor said I had a Kidney infection and gave me some powerful antibiotics and better pain killers. I was back in the ER in even more pain while running a fever. They took a chest x-ray and told me that I have a kidney infection, and pneumonia. That doctor gave me another antibiotic and increased my pain medicines. The next day I went back to my doctor the next day. He finally admitted me to find out why I wasn’t getting better. As I was being laid in my hospital bed the ER called my cell phone to tell me to come to the ER right away because they found something in my blood culture. My wife told the Nurses about the call, and they told the ER I was in the hospital as inpatient. I had a staph infection in my blood with an abscess a long my spine that was the cause of my pain.

The doctors keeping telling me that this type of infection isn’t shouldn’t happen. Out of 6 doctors, only one that has been practicing medicine for over 30 years have ever seen a case like this before. I asked that doctor how that person turned out and he replied, “That patient died”. He did tell me that they found the infection in just enough time to treat me, and for me to make a full recovery. I was very lucky and I’m counting my blessing that the good Lord spared my life, and let me have much more time on earth.

Guru Jim Featured In FMA Digest

2010-07-17T14:46:00.001-05:00

I know it's been a long time since I post but I have been hard at work with my newest projects. One June 17, 2010 I came down with a very serious illness that I'm recovering from now. I'll post more about that. I wanted to share the FMA Digest that feature me and my brand of Kali. When the FMA Digest edition came out I was on my back in extreme pain. I'm on the road to a full recovery. So I hope you enjoy my special edition.

http://www.pukulan.net/files/Special-Edition_Pangasinan-Arnis.pdf

About Willy Wetzel’s Death - Tell Your Students the Truth

2010-04-23T10:56:00.001-05:00

I can’t count how many times I get a Poekoelan student e-mailing me, and asking how Willy Wetzel actually died. So by them asking me, they already don’t believe their teacher. If they seek the truth with me, that’s what I’ll give them, The Truth. These students are told a story of a virtuous death for Willy Wetzel. They are told how a mugger attacked Willy, and instead of killing the attacker he chose to die being a true Poekoelan Master.

Let’s examine this story for the B.S. it is. Willy’s job in the Dutch-Indo Military was to seek out rebel camps and kill their leaders. That right folks, Willy was an assassin back in the day. What is Poekoelan about? It’s about defending your life against those who would try to do you harm. So why would Willy allow himself to be kill by a common street hood?

Another story I’ve heard, that Willy and his son Roy got into a fight. Instead of fighting his son, Willy chose to allow his son to kill him, really? Then how did Roy get the injuries he suffered? The facts of the case are all over the internet. It’s not just on my web sites; it’s on other web sites. The following facts are from an actual court records.

Wife Recovers Under Accidental Death Policy After Son Kills Father in Kung Fu Battle Over Tax Return

Wetzel v. Westinghouse Electric Corp., 393 A.2d 470 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1978):

Willy C. J. Wetzel died on March 16, 1975 at the hand of his son, Roy Wetzel. Roy Wetzel was tried by a jury for murder and voluntary manslaughter . . . and was found not guilty. Mary Margaret Wetzel, appellant and widow of Willy Wetzel, then brought this suit to recover the insurance proceeds from an accidental death policy issued on her husband's life. At the close of the pleadings, both parties moved for summary judgment, [asking] . . . the court to decide, as a matter of law, whether the death of Willy C. J. Wetzel occurred through "accidental means" within the meaning of the insurance policy on his life.

Willy Wetzel and his son, Roy Wetzel, were experts in the martial arts, including karate, and operated a [martial arts] school.... On the day of Willy Wetzel's death, Roy had been working on his father's income tax return. Willy visited his son and began reading the completed tax forms....As Willy Wetzel started to sign the tax forms, he threw the pen against the drapes and began to scream obscenities. He walked toward the front door mumbling that he was going to lose his house, car and everything. Grabbing a Hawaiian sword, Willy Wetzel turned and let out a battle cry called a "kewah." The fight began.

Willy began to remove the sword from its case when Roy attempted to grab the case. Willy kicked Roy and the sword was bent in half. The hand-to-hand fight continued for approximately twenty-five minutes. Roy made several attempts to reach the telephone to call for help, but was stopped each time by his father's tactics. Finally, Roy placed nanchukas sticks, used in karate, around his father's head to try to render him unconscious. Shortly after that Roy realized his father was dead.

Reference Site: http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2005/11/wife_recovers_u.html

If you don’t believe me look it up, even track down the case number. Now you can explain this fight between father and son has driven a wedge in the Poekoelan community from March, 1975 until this day. You can explain that the facts of the case are still in debate because of personal biases, and personal suspicion. Teach them all you know about Willy’s death, and hold nothing back. However, teach them to respect other Poekoelaners beliefs, and not breed hatred that divided this art for over 30 years.

Students look to their teachers to be truthful, and honest with them. Once you betray that trust, how can they believe anything you say again? In the back of their heads, they will be wondering if you’re lying to them. That’s if they will stay your student. To me, once an instructor betrays my trust, then I start looking for another instructor. If it’s the whole association, then I leave the entire association. Only by being honest in the first place will your student keep their respect for you. They’ll know that you’re not going to hide things from them, or lie to them. Their trust in their instructor will strengthen, and the student won’t feel a need to go outside your school, or association to find the truth because you already told them the truth.

Am I writing this to be hateful? No, I respect everyone that is Poekoelan, and I want you all for my friends. If your spouse lied to you, would you have the same trust as you did before? The relationship between teacher and student is just as special in its own way, why damage that? Now that there is a movie coming out about the fight between Willy and Roy called, “In Self-Defense”. Your student will be able to watch it over and over again thinking, why didn’t my teacher tell me this? Do my instructors even know about this?

What will you tell your students about this movie? Since it has fiction in it, will you tell them it isn’t true and the movie is total fiction. Even though the movie is based on Police Reports, and Court Records? If you just tell them the truth, they can enjoy the movie as a part of our history with some fiction in it for entertainment value.

Please, start telling you students the truth about the death of William J. C. Wetzel. All your student ask you for is you to be honest, and teach them a good art.

New Poekoelan Community

2010-04-14T13:58:00.008-05:00

With the thaw comes new life. The grass turns green, the flowers are growing, the birds come back, and Poekoelan Tjimindie has its own Facebook type site. That right, it's called the Poekoelan Tjimindie Community, and we have some great people registering. We have students of Willy and Roy's students are signing up. We also have the author (Sam Nicotero) of the book call, "In Self-Defense". This book is about the fight between Willy and Roy (Father and Son) in March, 1975 which left Willy dead. Sam also includes court records in his book. Come join us at the Poekoelan Community.

Link-----> Poekoelan Tjimindie Community.

Only by you taking a stand saying this infighting must stop can we move on as one family, with many Teachers and Masters. We have actual articles, pictures, and other history in our art. This community is truly the biggest resource for Poekoelan Tjimindie on the internet.

The "In Self-Defense" book is also being made into a movie by screenwriter and Poekoelan Community member Brad Thornton. The deadly fight that took place between Willy and Roy, Father and Son, and teacher and student that resulted in the death of the father, and a murder trial for the son. The makings of any Kung Fu movie, but this one actually happened. This fight resulted in 30 years of bad blood between Poekoelan schools. Now because of Communities like this, we are getting this all behind us, and banding together once again.

If you're a Poekoelan practitioner or you’re just someone who wants to know more about Poekoelan. Come join us at the

Come See why Poekoelaners are joining like crazy.

Windy City Raja Hati / Harimau Seminar

2010-01-02T10:16:00.003-06:00

This DVD was taped at the Combat Zone Fighting Academy in Chicago, IL during the "WINDY CITY COMBATIVES CONFERENCE". This looks at how Guru Jim used his system in straight combat fighting. Raja Hati (Royal Heart) will teach how to destroy in coming strikes and kicks from sudden attacks from the stand and kneeling position in case you're knocked to the ground. Once on the ground you must keep fighting because your attack won't back off. That's when Guru Jim will teach you his Harimau System which is based on the Wetzel System of Silat called "Poekoelan Tjimindie". This way you can stay in the fight even though you're on the ground, and your attacker is standing over you.

Rental Download from Amazon.com for only $1.99

TO BUY THE DVD ALSO CLICK HERE -----> RAJA HATI/HARIMAU DVD
OR GO TO THE SIDE BAR FOR MORE OF THE MALAY FIGHTING ARTS DVDS ALONG WITH OTHER KUNTAO, SILAT, AND ESCRIMA VIDEOS

2009-09-03T21:29:00.005-05:00

Laws of Self-Defense
By Guru James Hogue

There is some debate that if a martial artist uses their skill that they will be arrested, and convicted of a crime. In the case of an arrest I'm writing about court cases that would hopefully aid in your defense. Most people would only try to use logic to argue their case. In court you need to be able to show by law and other courts ruled on this matter. Judges are compelled to make the same court ruling as other Judges in the same situation. Only by knowing these court cases and laws can you use them in court. This is the hard facts of law, not "what ifs", or "the police said". Use this information, or don't. It's entirely up to you.

Definitions:

1. Self-defense: Looking out for one's own welfare by using appropriate means to ward off an attack.
2. Force: That force use that could cause bodily injury not amounting to death.
3. Deadly Force: That force use that could cause serious bodily injury, or death.

Less Than Deadly Force in Self-Defense

Section 3.04 of the Model Penal Code says that force can be used in the self-defense "when the actor believes that such force is immediately necessary for the purpose of protecting himself against the use of unlawful force by such other person on the present occasion."

Of course all states, and the federal government recognize the right to defend yourself and others, to protect property, and prevent crime. However there are rules, and laws of self-defense. The level of force used in self-defend can not exceed the amount to successfully over come the force being used against you. The State of New York says in Public Law 35.15 that "one may use physical force upon another when and to the extent he reasonably believes necessary to defend himself or a third person from what he reasonably believes to be the imminent use of unlawful physical force by such other person."

The key elements of deciding if the force use in self-defense is lawful in the defense of yourself, or of another person is:

1. Unlawfulness - Is the force being used against you an unlawful act by that person. If the force being use is lawful, force is not justified.

2. Necessity - The force being used must be immediately necessary to self-protection, or the protection of another from unlawful use of force by another.

3. Reasonableness - The amount of force being used in the protection of yourself or of another must be reasonable under the circumstances that exist.

In determining if the amount of force used was reasonable the court will take into count the age and size of both parties involved, if there was any weapons used, and the aggressiveness of the assault done to the other person.

Example 1:
If a 25 year old man that weights 190lbs gets into a fight with a 27 year old man that weights 200lbs and the aggressor only has his bare hands. The only force that is ordinarily to be use is bare hands (No Weapon). Since the age of the two people are about the same and the weight is about the same on other force than the strength of arm and body would be the maximum amount that could be used in defense.

Example 2:
However, if a 75 year old man that weights 145lbs hit's a 25 year old man that weights 200lbs with a cane. The only force that is allowed by law is for the 25 year old to take the cane away from the 75 year old man and nothing more.

Loss of Self-Defense Privileges for the Wrongdoer or the Aggressor

The wrongdoer is who use unlawful force against another person has no privilege of self-defense. The victim of the wrongdoer has the privilege of self-defense because the force is unlawful. However, the wrongdoer, or attacker can regain their privilege of self-defense by the following examples:

1. The wrongdoer attacks his victim of the same size, age, and weight with his fist only. The wrongdoer's victim pulled a gun on the wrongdoer. The wrongdoer in fear of his life may regain his privilege of self-defense on his victim. The wrongdoer's victim used excessive (illegal) amount of force to over come the force being use against him. This gives the privilege of self-defense back to the wrongdoer. The wrongdoer may use every means to defend himself against the victim, but is not privilege to use deadly force (force intended or likely to cause death) unless he has exhausted every mean to escape, and every means of avoiding death or great bodily harm to himself.

2. The wrongdoer can regain their privilege to self-defense if the wrongdoer withdraws in good faith from the fight, and gives notice to the victim of the retreat. The wrongdoer has a duty to stop his or her attack and retreat. The wrongdoer's privilege of self-defense may given back if the wrongdoer. If the wrongdoer gives notice of this retreat and attempts to retreat, and the victim runs the wrongdoer down to continue the fight.

The Castle Doctrine and the Duty to Retreat

Some states do have laws that require you to retreat, but they are being over turned everyday. So check with your state laws.

A person who has been assaulted in their own homes by a trespasser has no duty to retreat under the Castle Doctrine. Because a person home is their castle, this is known as the Castle Doctrine. The Castle Doctrine does not require the lawful occupant of that home to retreat when confronted by an intruder. However, a state law varies when the wrongdoer is a co-occupant of the home (spouse, in-live, or family member). A few states have expected the Castle Doctrine with an exception that requires the co-occupant to retreat, if possible before using force or deadly force in self-defense.

The New Jersey Supreme Court pointed out in the 1997 case, State v. Gartland is one of those few state that require a lawful co-occupant to retreat (if possible) before using deadly force on another lawful co-occupant. In the Gartland case, a wife was convicted of manslaughter by failing to retreat before shooting her husband that was attacking her in the bedroom of their home.
The New Jersey Supreme Court reversed the conviction and order a new trial based on the fact, could the wife of retreated safely was not present to the jury. The New Jersey Supreme Court said:

"…Exactly where could she retreat? As we understand the record, there was no other way out of the bedroom other than the doorway where her assailant stood. The (jury) charge should have asked whether, armed with a weapon, she could have safely made her way out of the bedroom door without threat of serious bodily injury to herself…"

Another case in Ohio, a woman was trapped in her mobile home. She was unable to escape but was able to obtain a gun. She fired two warning shots, and then shot her attacker. Ohio Supreme Court in the case of State v. Thomas in 1997 that a domestic partner assaulted in their own home has no duty to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense.

Deadly Force

Deadly Force is the force that could cause serious bodily injury, or death. The mire firing a weapon at a person if the bullet strike its target or not, or you shot to kill or to wound is deadly force. Everyone has the right, including law enforcement officer, to use deadly force. This civil court case shows this rule of law:

Mullins v. Pence

Court of Appeals of Louisiana (1974) 290 So.2d 803

When a belligerent customer in a bar refused to leave, the bartender called the police. Before the police arrived, the customer told the bartender that he was going to tear his arm off and beat him over the head with it. When the customer began climbing over the bar toward the bartender, the bartender pulled out a pistol and fired one shot into the customer (Mullins). When Mullins still did not retreat, the bartender (Pence) rapidly fired four more shots into Mullins. Mullins was six feet tall and weighed 215 pounds, whereas the bartender, who was physically disabled, was five feet four inches tall and weighed 145 pounds. Mullins recovered and sued the bartender. In ruling in favor of the defendant bartender, the Court quoted other Louisiana decisions, holding:

Of course resort to the use of a dangerous weapon in order to repel a supposed attack upon defendant's person…cannot be countenanced as justifiable save in exceptional cases where the actor's fear of the danger is not only genuine but is founded on facts which would be likely to produce similar emotions in men of reasonable prudence.

The trail court in the case seemed especially impressed with the belligerence of the plaintiff, the large difference in size and strength of the two parties confronting each other, an overt act made by the plaintiff toward Pence coupled with threats of serious bodily harm against the defendant, and the impossibility of retreat by Pence. Regarding the fact that five shots were actually fired into appellant, the trial court believed that Pence was reasonable in his fear following the first shot that the appellant was continuing in his act of aggression against him. Therefore, like the firing of the first shot, the appellee's action in firing the next series of shots was reasonable. We find no error in the trial court's application of the law to the facts in this case. For the above reasons, the trial court's judgment is affirmed, all costs to be paid by plaintiff-appellant.
Affirmed.

2009-09-03T21:27:00.001-05:00

Bob Orlando's DVDs

I was just watching Bob Orlando's DVDs called "Reflex Action". This DVD series is on hand drills with an in depth explanation of how to use them. In "Reflex Action PT 1" Bob teaches the basic hand drills of his system Kuntao Silat and even show you how build hand drills from your present system. Bob has his friend that a black belt in Ed Parker's Kenpo does a key move from the system. Bob then show you how he made it into a hand drill. Bob explains how any technique done from the outside of the opponent can be used to the inside of their center line to control and dominate your attacker.

In "Reflex Action Pt 2" Bob teaches you more of the hand drills and more about switching from left to right while mixing the drill up. Bob also goes in depth about the seated position and the importance of it. Just when you thought that there couldn't be anything else he could show you he explains the low line art of his drills. While doing the same drill but showing you how to add low line kicking to them. Bob's video is so complete he even gets a larger student to show how to deal with the problems that comes with fighting a larger opponent.

Once you learn this then put in the "Fighting Footwork of Kuntao Silat" and watch you gain a new respect for the art. In this Bob teaches you how to sector and trap the leg. If you take Bob's advice and remember that all of these are interchangeable or a buffet you can add in what you learn in "Reflex Action" and make your own techniques. Bob show you how to enter and trap the opponent while getting you techniques in on your attacker. These DVDs teach you the low line fighting to build you as a more complete fighter.

My recommendation is to buy both of these series to a great understanding of Kuntao Silat and how to use the high line through hand drills and the low line through Fighting Footwork. As far as I'm concerned anyone wanting to learn more about Kuntao Silat needs these video series. By the way, you may want to buy the "Fighting Arts of Indonesia: Combat Secrets of Kuntao Silat" he makes a lot of reference to it in "Reflex Action". I am not an instructor that is impressed very easily; however Bob really impressed me with his knowledge and skill.

Guru James Hogue

Bob Orlando Fighting Forms of Kuntao-Silat

2009-09-03T20:59:00.007-05:00

The Fighting Forms of Kuntao-Silat

By Bob Orlando

Bob, I must say that I fully disagree with you, your very good at your forms. People must realize that there is no one way of teaching these arts. Just because one teaches Jurus and the other teaching forms doesn’t mean one of these teachers are wrong. This just means they teach their art differently.

You make some very good points in this DVD series. I like the point you made about relaxing and not keeping your body stiff. One great point you made is that most street hoods don’t get into a right lead. They get in a left lead and the importance of practicing against the left lead.

Your forms will give the Kuntao/Silat practitioner a very good understanding of blocking, striking, and evasion and the forms possible combat application. As you have always said, what is in your DVD is only a few of many different applications of these forms. I feel by stressing this gives the person buying your DVD an endless amount of discovery and techniques to practice. I found that with this DVD and booklet series will help people of many systems have a better understanding of combat.

Well done Bob, you’re a great teacher and I really enjoy your DVDs.