Khukuri Fighting Arts

C

Chad W. Getz FCSH

Joined
Jul 20, 2000
Messages
112
It seems that slot of people here are involved somewhat in MA. Is anyone here formally trained with the Kuhkuri? In the Filipino Arts, the weapons are taught as all being the same and you only adjust to the heavier and lighter, or the choppers and stabbers, etc. I know that Bando is an art that uses the khukuri as well, but not much on the web about it. Maybe we can start some Kuhkuri Fighting Art thread here? Being anyones experiences on it...the Kuhkuri.

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Chad
Full Contact Stickfighting Hawaii
http://www.fullcontacthi.com
 
Chad, you might want to search the HI archives ( Uncle Bill's signature now links to it under the following:

Arvind ( user name ) / gatka ( martial art form ) / Sikh ( religion givng rise to teaching of gatka ).

Briefly, although Sikhs preferred the sword, they apparently were prohibited from posessing them under Mughal domination. The khukuri, however, was an agricultural tool.
Thus, Sikhs trained with the khukuri much as the Okinawans trained with the tonfa, or rice beater.

There is also information about Sikhism on the net with pictures of early weaponry.
Ain't it amazing what info you can come up with when you know how to schmooze and gossip?

( For the record, I admire those who have the discipline to train in the martial arts but have no experience in them myself. Other than playing at gunslinging, that is. )

[This message has been edited by Rusty (edited 08-10-2000).]
 
Chad, the Sirupati or Villager models are pretty good for FMA work, the AK and BAS can be used okay too.. I and a few of the other folks here are also FMA stylists and own kukris.

I've also played with blades from daggers to spears. I can tell you the kukri is similar in design to the Talibon Bolo but is better compared to the Muslim Kris. My teacher thinks it's better compared to the Kris, I think it's closer to the Barong. A good reference to how the Kris and Barong were used is on Cecil Quirino's tape "Crossing the Sulu Seas."

The weight and design are factors and you've got to feel them. I just came back from visiting an extensive kukri collection and one little controversy is the stabbing ability of a kukri.

I've been told you can't do it and probably shouldn't. But I've been trained that if it has a point I can stick you with it.

[This message has been edited by Smoke (edited 08-10-2000).]
 
Smoke, if this is more than a half-inch deep into martial arts, I'm out of my depth, but one of my Sirupatis keeps telling me to just straight punch right through while I'm holding it.

For that matter, in my youth I used to buck bales of hay onto a trailer with hay hooks. I may have swung the hook roundhouse, but the tip of the hook sure drove itself into the bale.
 
Rusty, you can do it. It's a bit of a precise shot, you'd need some calm nerves, it's almost like the joker in your deck of cards/arsenal. Bluntly, you'd better kill what's on the other end of that blade.

Trying it out with a partner who's also wielding a kukri can put some reality into it. To be honest, untrained or trained sticking a kukri in a person's hand and fighting them isn't fun. Not impossible to beat but not fun.


 
Thanks for the info, Rusty. Smoke, I think that the shorter khukris are similar to a Barong as well. But here I sit weighing my 5 lb. Sirupati, and now I have a new perspective of my heavy Kris. It's not heavy anymore. On stabbing, I thik the same motions followed can at least give a back cut with the point, if it doesn't stab in. I am planning on getting Stuart on tape with me using the Khukuris and putting it up on the web site. Stay tooned for that. Khukuri training in Hawaii.

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Chad
Full Contact Stickfighting Hawaii
http://www.fullcontacthi.com
 
One thing that I found out using a Khukuri in my Serrada Escrima training sessions is that with the right one it compares to the Barong. My barong has an overall length of 22.5" and my Kris is about 26" long. They are alot ligther than my Khukuris that I own now. The Kumar Kobras should compare closely. The Barong and Kris/Sundang are used only as weapons vs. the Khukuris could be used as a weapon or tool. I noticed while cutting with my Khukuris, a little snap prior to impact makes the blade cut deeper. While the Barong works o.k. without a snap. I like both styles and now I carry a Khukuri more often than my Barong. When I get that 3D resin cast of my friends Barong, I'll send it in to Uncle. I know tha kamis could handle it.
 
Broken Arrow, I'd like to hear about your 'war stories' one of these days.

On a side note, I visited the Powell Collection again. I think the kora has a similar feel to the kampilan.
 
Powell Collection? Kora? Please fill me in. Yes, I think the Barong has both qualities of a chopper and a slicer, while if you slice with the khukuri, you get a chopped effect.

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Chad
Full Contact Stickfighting Hawaii
http://www.fullcontacthi.com
 
Chad, Mr. John Powell, a fellow forumite has a rather extensive kukri collection.

Here are some pics http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum53/HTML/000579.html

The Kora is a heavy sword with a trumpetlike end meant for chopping. Mr. Powell is one of my "neighbors" and I got a chance to see these blades up close.

One question comment/question surprised me and it was about the Kora. The weight is pretty significant and he asked if I could imagine fighting with it. I said yes pretty quickly and that surprised me because I didn't take too long to think about it. LOL
biggrin.gif
 
Yes, I saw the Kora on the HI website, but I didn't see one for sale. Uncle Bill, do the Kamis make them? BTW, yes just send all your khukuris under the bed, and a few more so that I can match John Powell's collection, and I'll send you my 2000 Nissan Xtera.

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Chad
Full Contact Stickfighting Hawaii
http://www.fullcontacthi.com
 
I've heard of the right to keep and arm bears, but dust bunnies???

Next time my nephew the Baby Cougar complains about monsters hiding under his bed I'll tell him, "At least yours aren't armed with khukuris!"

I don't blame you, Bill ... I'd be afraid to go under the bed after them, too!
eek.gif


-Cougar :{)
 
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