Filipino martial arts guys, I have a question

DannyinJapan

DannyinJapan

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Oct 9, 2003
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Are there any traditional Filipino throwing weapons? Especially, are there any taught in modern Filipino MA schools?
 
The yo-yo originated in the Philippines as a thrown weapon, although I'm not exactly sure how they yo-yo was used. I'm not aware of throwing weapons still being used in modern FMA schools.
 
I am specifically looking for shuriken-type weapons in traditional FMA. If none exist, I need to know that, too.
 
kamagong said:
The yo-yo originated in the Philippines as a thrown weapon, although I'm not exactly sure how they yo-yo was used.
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From the Wikipedia Article:

"It is sometimes asserted that the yo-yo was a weapon in the Philippines. Others assert that this is an urban legend, and that stories about how the Yo-Yo was a Filipino weapon did not originate in the Philippines. Lucky Meisenheimer, author of “Lucky’s Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos – History and Values”, characterizes this as a popular but fabricated. Nonetheless, the allegation was used in a Diet Mountain Dew commercial in 2008 as part of the drink's "Surprising Facts" ad campaign."
 
I dunno squat about Filipino MA,but I do know if you asked my grandma about throwing weapons you'd get laughed at,we mostly do the big choppers :D

I have no cule about other parts of the islands,no telling what those savages use :D :D
 
I used to be married to a filipina years ago, a pinay is one of the fiercest weapons known to man. :D My son is 1/2 filipino. In all seriousness though Danny, i know of no throwing weapons used in traditional FMA. These people, like the gurkha, tend to prefer hand to hand combat with blades of various sorts.
 
There are so many different styles of kali, escrima, arnis, kun tao, sikaran, etc. from the Philippines that there may very well be some throwing darts or something associated with one of them. However, to the best of my knowledge, no shuriken type weapons were used (somebody from a family system in the PI will probably post now and tell me that I am wrong:p--but that is OK, I'm always willing to learn.)

Of course spears and arrows were used as projectiles in the past, as were (or so I am told) blowgun darts. As for current stuff, I understand that the Sayoc and Atienza systems throw knives, often as distraction and entry tools so they can close the distance and use another blade while the opponent dodges or gets hit by the thrown blade. The Atienza brothers have archery in their system, and I understand that Tuhon Gaje was going to reintroduce the old archery training from his family art into Pekiti Tirsia.

None of the Southeast Asian systems I have trained in have focused on projectile weapons much, if at all. In Albo Kali Silat, if you throw a knife it is an entry tactic, but one used only when you are in deep trouble, as we don't like throwing our knives away--we like keeping them in our sweaty little paws so we can use them against multiple vile evildoers :p. My personal projectile weaponry, being in the law enforcement profession, tends to make loud noises--unless I thread on the suppressor:D.
 
If you guys can ask anyone you know who might be an authority on the subject, I'd appreciate it. I need a pretty solid answer, if that is possible.
 
Been asked to review a book being published. I dont want to talk about something unless I have all my facts as straight as I can get them.
 
In Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts they only mention spears and arrows as missile weapons. Under the context, I'd think that other projectile weapons would be mentioned, if only for their peculiarity.

Not to derail, but where do you train, KaliGman?
 
I once asked Guro Inosanto about this. He said that Filipinos have used throwing knives in the past. However, they would only consider throwing a knife if they were carrying several. For safety/liability reasons most academies with which I'm familiar don't train in knife throwing.

When Sayoc gave a seminar at the Inosanto Academy once, he showed several throwing techniques but did not address their historical origin. He can throw small pieces of wood and get them to stick well (as I recall, he used chopsticks to demonstrate).

Guro Inosanto travels a lot and is extremely difficult to reach unless you are able to show up at his academy after he teaches a class. You might have a better chance reaching someone in the Sayoc Kali organization.

DancesWithKnives
 
MagenDavid said:
In Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts they only mention spears and arrows as missile weapons. Under the context, I'd think that other projectile weapons would be mentioned, if only for their peculiarity.

Not to derail, but where do you train, KaliGman?
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I currently have two academies--one in West Virginia operated by a couple of my senior students, and one in the Youngstown, Ohio area (actually located in Warren, Ohio) where I teach.

I trained in Japanese systems for years, then began training in Filipino Martial Arts. I was lucky enough to stumble on Albo Kali Silat, the Albo family system of Kali. I learned directly from Hasting Albo, the grandson of the man who brought the system from the Philippines to Hawaii. There is some more background here, if you are interested:
http://www.fmatalk.com/showthread.php?t=4338

The system is very combative in nature and is truly an "old school" style. There are what appear to be various silat and kun tao influences. I became head of system following Apohan Tuhan Hasting Albo's death in 2008.
 
I'll be in the presense of the great GM Cacoy Canete this weekend, along with some other heavy hitters in the Doce Pares and Inosanto academy community up in San Jose. I'll see what I can find out.
:thumbup:
 
Amante P. Marinas Sr. teaches knife throwing in his Pananandata Arnis system and has a book available via amazon.com detailing the throwing techniques of his system. In Mark Wiley's Filipino Fighting Arts book the chapter dealing with Sayoc Kali shows several techniques performed by Chris Sayoc that involve throwing a knife as an initial movement.
 
Mr. Marinas admitted in one of his books that his "shuriken-like" techniques he learned from reading a book about Japanese shurikenjutsu, so I can't use his info. Knife throwing is not really what I am interested in. (It's too common worldwide to track, historically)
 
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