Most Preferred Filipino Blade

Barong can be easy to wield if you are accustomed to using short swords at close range. They can also be held reverse grip when needed. The traditional shape of the handle is superb and easy to use. I recently saw a short demo clip on Barong use and it was devastating.

Bolo and Itak, great multi-purpose blades!

My favorite is still the Ginunting! That's one mean blade!!! :D
 
"kitsen nayp ni nanay nga mahabol!!!!"
trans: mom's dull kitchen knife!

and my fave Sangot
 
Pakal-knife & Kris Bolo by Kris Cutlery. And..Hmm.. OK. allmost every blade what
fits my hand =)
 
the shape of the ginunting is strange. you can't stab with it and is hardly good for slashing. it's a pure chopper. why is it so popular among FMA artists? one university in the philippines even issues its ROTC cadets with ceremonial ginuntings instead of the usual cermonial rapier.

17789951717510l.jpg
 
It's popular because it's used a lot by Pekiti Tirsia practioners.

Leo Gaje has spent some time lately training various military units in the Philippines, so that may explain why it's popular among R.O.T.C. organizations.

Cf. the following clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9Cz8N1sarg

Apparently the clip can be a bit confusing so I just want to point out that "correct" ginunting technqique is shown from 02:47 to 03:23.

Best,

Steve Lamade
 
You can't stab with ginunting? Sorry, but either the problem isn't in the blade, but in technique, or you have one badly made ginunting! I can stab, slash and chop with mine, whatever I please... It is pretty natural for me. Stabbing is easy, most slashes are more like draw-cuts, but still nothing difficult, and as you pointed out, hacking/chopping action is the most dangerous of all. I think it is popular because it is a good fighting blade. :D
 
IMG_07181.jpg


ummm, maybe i was wrong to say "you CAN'T stab with it, but it's definitely not a rapier. the blade angle just looks weird to me. needless to say, i've never hefted one so you surely understand it better.
 
If you can, try one in hand. It begins to make sense very fast - I remember when I trained with one for the first time - it was definitely enlightening (I almost dismembered myself, too, but that's another point...).
I prefer a narrower point than the ginunting in your picture has, and more acute angle between blade and handle - if you grab a ginunting, it should feel almost like an elongated index finger.
 
The weight of the sword plus the speed plus the fact that the edge is on the bottom (during a "pistol grip" thumb-up thrust) ensures that the wound will keep getting bigger on the bottom as the blade enters the body. It's an excellent design for thrusting provided that the practitioner has the body-mechanics to support the size and weight of the sword. Pekiti's side-step is tailored made for this weapon and vice versa.

A rapier will tend to make a smaller, deeper wound with less effort provided that the practitioner's wrist, arm, and shoulder is lined up correctly with his torso.

As far as "hacking" vs. "cutting" goes, you can definitely hack with the ginunting but keep in mind that the concave edge allows you to pull through the limb and effect a very deep cut at close range if you exagerate the cock in the wrist and maintain edge-allignment. A longer-range weapon, such as a pinute or sabre, is generally designed to effect a cut from a longer distance, but the cut will usually be made a bit closer to the tip of the weapon and will in most cases be shallower.

If you watch my friend Wes in the clip above you'll see that the ginunting is both an effective cutting and thrusting weapon.

Best,

Steve Lamade
 
looked at the video. yes, the down offset of the blade from the handle does make an effective draw cut/slash. it also shears better during a short chopping action like the ones being done on the vid.

i see it's effective given the moves (close-in cutting and drawing movements from the looks of it). a lot of heavy krises (tausog) also feature a drooping blade and now i understand why. but it will be a sorry weapon for someone with a more western fencing background.

but swerving back to the topic, i find the slim, wavy maranao kris the best for me. it basicallty handles like a short rapier. yes, i put a lot of stock on the thrust, rather than the cut.
 
hank_rearden said:
looked at the video. yes, the down offset of the blade from the handle does make an effective draw cut/slash. it also shears better during a short chopping action like the ones being done on the vid.

i see it's effective given the moves (close-in cutting and drawing movements from the looks of it). a lot of heavy krises (tausog) also feature a drooping blade and now i understand why. but it will be a sorry weapon for someone with a more western fencing background.

but swerving back to the topic, i find the slim, wavy maranao kris the best for me. it basicallty handles like a short rapier. yes, i put a lot of stock on the thrust, rather than the cut.
Click to expand...

Some nice Kris here:

http://www.palacio.ph/oldasia/kris_swords.htm

Best,

Steve Lamade
 
I've had a look at the video clip, and I can say that the SM moves with the Rapier and main-gauche are quite alien to the European way of using them, and don't suit them.

I have never used a ginunting, but it looks a poor overall shape, and for me I would rather have a Pinuti, barong or khukuri, and dagger or a Kutsilio.
 
Interesting that you should know about the Kutsilio, not many people out side of Cebu know of this name, much like the Plimenko which is used for dispatching pigs here. I don't know much about the Khukuri.. isn't that a Nepalise weapon, I've handled a few and they feel real good but being an FMA practitioner I still prefere the Blades of the Philippines especially the Barong. If your'e into Khukri check out the web site www.toratoratora.co.uk its a UK based site, they have a nice selection there.
 
It looks an interesting site stickmaster, I have a few originals and those look real close. I like to look around at different weapons to see if they can be used in my FMA, its suprising how adaptable some seem to be, and yet others don't seem to suit it at all.

A friend of mine brought back a kutsilio when they were in Cebu, a very nice blade, you can get some good stuff out there, I would love to train in the Philippines, but its a question of finance, maybe one day.
 
What style of FMA do you practice, and if ever you get the opportunity to come out here let me know and I'll show you around.
 
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