Maharlika Class notes: Aug 5, 2014

I was able to go up and help Guro Joe Cypressi teach class. Went over TD1 with Alex and Bob. Then, reviewed different cross tapping. First, pendulum to corkscrew to funnel, and we tried percussion tapping. I had them try percussion tapping in TD1 to see where they could use it.

Later, Guro Joe C. reviewed AK material Bolo Evo 1. We also tried a modifier--an aluminum bat. It was interesting because i had a hard time holding it with one hand. I had to either choke up or use two hands to perform certain techniques. We first warmed up with long smooth X-swings. He mentioned how to keep the flow from one side to the other without stopping/jerking. We later tried performing the Bolo Evo 1 with bats. Very loud!! But it was very cool to see how much we could manipulate the bat to do the Bolo Evo 1 drill.

NCIS: LA, with Sayoc Kali

Sayoc Kali blade skills will be represented in one of NCIS: LA up-comming show. Tuhon Raf and Guro Brian on the set with LL Cool J. They were technical advisors on set. Pretty cool stuff! Can't wait to see this. I believe it airs this February 28th, 2012 (NCIS: LA episode 317).

History Timeline: Sayoc Kali, "All Blade-All the Time"

I have always liked reading about the history of different Martial Arts and how they became great. For example, the start of Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has always intrigued me, as well as, Wing Chun's history and the birth of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do with Bruce Lee. I also like reading about Kajukenbo.

There are different systems that make up Filipino Martial Arts (fma). Each founder/master has their own flavor/style of sharing their expression of the blade or stick. I've read the history of Bahala Na's start with Grandmaster Leo Giron, a great warrior named Tatang Bo with Ilustrisimo Kali (escrima), Modern Arnis with Grandmaster Remy Presas, and GM Floro Villabrille with Villabrille-Largusa Kali system. More recently, I've been reading about the Atienza Kali family system which has evolved in New York City. Sayoc La has a good article about AK's history (scroll down to Atienza kali/escrima on the website).

There are many more fma's out there that I could list, but these are just a few that I liked reading about.

This leads me to the present. This article is a very insightful look into the timeline and history of Sayoc Kali. It's a very interesting read. In my opinion, this is a great look into Pamana Tuhon Chris Sayoc's life and how Sayoc Kali started. It also explains how the term 'Tuhon' came into use. Just check it out, I'm sure you'll find it interesting.

Immortals-God and Titans

I went to see this movie recently because I heard that Tuhon Rafael Kayanan from Sayoc Kali helped work on it. Another reason I wanted to check it out is because the directors also did the movie 300.

First, let me start by saying that it has some sweet action scenes. There were a few blade action sequences that showed a nice flow. There was a primal scene where the lead character, Theseus, faces off against a tall beast a.k.a. the executioner. He got some good slashes to the back of the knees to take out the tendons which dropped him, then to the neck area for a vital hit.

I wished the movie developed the story line better. Theseus' character was not as compelling as King Leonidas of 300. I really didn't cheer for Theseus. I just watched it for the action scenes. I think King Hyperion (Micky Rourke) had a stronger impact throughout the movie than Theseus' character. Micky Rourke did a great job depicting an evil mastermind.

If you like to watch a movie for some blade action, Immortals will not disappoint.

Visiting Maharlika Martial Arts (MMA). Aug. 30

In this class, we reviewed receiver grips with Guro Bob teaching. I helped beginners learn the receiver grip techniques. In the second part of the class, Guro Bob had the experienced guys partner up with the beginners and try to perform a receiver grip on them while they were feeding. It was very hard to initially pull of the technique in the air. Joe Cepressi also mentioned that it was hard to just pull-off a receiver grip when just tapping. In all, the class was great! I got to see what works and what doesn't work while free-flowing.

Things I thought worth remembering when trying to get a receiver grip while free-flowing. I can't just grab the blade hand and perform any of the receiver grips. I have to stun the feeder to produce the delay (half-beat) in order to get a receiver grip.

Receiver Grips @ Maharlika Martial Arts (MMA). Aug. 16

We had a nice class at MMA. Guro Joe Cypressi led the class and taught receiver grips. Receiver grips are fused in a flow drill that shows different grips as if the receiver had control of the blade. A few questions were brought up in class like "how are these receiver grips going to help in a fight?" or "when do we use this? No one is going to stand there and let us perform receiver grips on them".

When performing this drill, you are working the receiver grips and attacking targets without the feeder giving much resistance. It might seem unrealistic to those who are just watching... but it is just a flow drill. Just like in brazilian jiu-jitsu. They have grappling flow drills. From guard to open guard->sweep to mount-> mount to americana, armbar, or choke.

The receiver grips is a flow drill. It helps us to memorize different grips without having to stop and start a new technique for another grip. If you want to train it like a knife technique-receiver drill, you can isolate a receiver grip and feed a technique for the grip you wanted to work on. As far as using it in a fight, you might not have your blade out in time if someone attacked with a knife. While he's still holding his blade, you could use his own blade against himself. The blade is yours now, not his. Now you become the Feeder.

Visiting Maharlika Martial Arts (MMA). Aug. 2

I was able to go through phase 2 for 3 of 9 with Joe Cypressi and David Davis. A lot of good pointers to remember from Guro Bob. I wasn't able to hit the finger jab on the first two hits. I thought it was my height, because I'm short (lol) and David is tall. However, Guro Bob pointed out that I needed to throw the finger jab before he threw his first shot. After that advice, I was able to hit my target without having to be super fast or tall.

After that, we worked on TD1 (receiver with blade). The receiver looks for targets while the feeder performs TD1. Points to remember: can have countless amount of targets for each move. Having one way is not always the only way.

Last part of class, we worked on a hold-up scenario with a blade. Attacker holds a blade to your neck and pushes you (receiver) against the wall. Receiver puts his hands up while shrugging shoulders forward and turning his head away from the blade. Then, as the receiver brings up his hands, quickly tap the attackers blade to get away. Points to remember: create space, move outside/behind attacker's blade arm. The more space you create between you and the attacker, the better chance of escaping without vital injury.