What are some of the other arts used in the Phillipines? Besides escrima/arnis/kali, I mean. Specifically anything used by any of the Igorot tribes, and the Bontoc in particular. I haven't seen anything about any type of fighting skills, or weapons used by them, except for spears, in a couple of carvings my mom used to have (I'm half igorot, Bontoc but apparently not head hunters). And of course large knives such as bolos, used mainly for farming, daily chores type stuff. I'm curious what helped them keep from under Spanish rule for so long, other than being in the more mountainous regions of the country.
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Other Fillipino martial arts.
- Thread starter Unicorn1
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Kumusta ka? Of course your family isnt headhunters, been banned for a long time, and has been supposedly not been practiced since the 50s 
Though you always hear stories 
Read the Bontoc Igorot by Albert Jenks. Probably the most in depth study of the Bontoc Igorot. However it is almost a hundred years old, so be careful in interpreting its observations and conclusions. Besides bolo, spear, and shield I would throw in the head axe as another Bontoc weapon. If I remember correctly he does not mention any martial arts in the way we would think of them ie. a formalized structured art. I do seem to remember mention of something about him speaking of natural talent, familiarity with the weaponry (eg. hunting builds skill in spear usage), and a few ceremonial dances (but then ceremonial dances often have very little to do with actual fighting technique). Then again its been a while since I read the book, so I may be mixing things up. Also could just be the racist mis-observations of a white man at the turn of the century that he didnt observe a MA. However Im more of the train of thought that tenacity and familiarity with weapons usage goes a long way in the fierceness of a warrior. There are many groups of peoples in these world who are known to be great warriors, but have no formalized training.
As for why the Spaniards never really got into the mountain regions I believe its a multitude of reasons. But primarily I believe its terrain. At the time of the Jenks study, the trip to Bontoc country was a gruelling bushwack through often hostile mountainous territory, even today the highway from Manila to Baguio (built in the 60s?) was considered a breakthrough. Even just to get to my moms village is a struggle in rainy season, and it is in a supposedly developed region. Another factor to me would be greed. Spaniards tended to be after one thing only, gold and profit. If there is no money there why bother. Also much of Spains success in the Philippines did not come at the end of a sword but with a bible instead. Much easier and affordable to send a couple missionaries off to convert the natives, than build up an army to invade conquer and occupy. There are many more reasons, but I think these two would probably be in the top two.
Though you always hear stories Read the Bontoc Igorot by Albert Jenks. Probably the most in depth study of the Bontoc Igorot. However it is almost a hundred years old, so be careful in interpreting its observations and conclusions. Besides bolo, spear, and shield I would throw in the head axe as another Bontoc weapon. If I remember correctly he does not mention any martial arts in the way we would think of them ie. a formalized structured art. I do seem to remember mention of something about him speaking of natural talent, familiarity with the weaponry (eg. hunting builds skill in spear usage), and a few ceremonial dances (but then ceremonial dances often have very little to do with actual fighting technique). Then again its been a while since I read the book, so I may be mixing things up. Also could just be the racist mis-observations of a white man at the turn of the century that he didnt observe a MA. However Im more of the train of thought that tenacity and familiarity with weapons usage goes a long way in the fierceness of a warrior. There are many groups of peoples in these world who are known to be great warriors, but have no formalized training.
As for why the Spaniards never really got into the mountain regions I believe its a multitude of reasons. But primarily I believe its terrain. At the time of the Jenks study, the trip to Bontoc country was a gruelling bushwack through often hostile mountainous territory, even today the highway from Manila to Baguio (built in the 60s?) was considered a breakthrough. Even just to get to my moms village is a struggle in rainy season, and it is in a supposedly developed region. Another factor to me would be greed. Spaniards tended to be after one thing only, gold and profit. If there is no money there why bother. Also much of Spains success in the Philippines did not come at the end of a sword but with a bible instead. Much easier and affordable to send a couple missionaries off to convert the natives, than build up an army to invade conquer and occupy. There are many more reasons, but I think these two would probably be in the top two.
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kamusta kabayan...
some tribal groups in Mindoro known collectively as Mangyans do practice Buno or Lumad Buno. The Mangyans actually look at Igorots as their relatives bec. of similarities in their customs. Their buno (wrestling) looks similar to some of Silat and Jiu Jitsu but it is strictly Indiginous. Their type of buno was originally designed to take down large animals when hunting. subdue them and then tie them up, much like the cowboys tying down small calf. then they realized they can apply the same technique for humans.
The only person i know who teach this at the moment is Gat Puno Abon Baet of Garimot Arnis/Eskrima. He is one of my guru. check out his website. just do a search on garimot.
some tribal groups in Mindoro known collectively as Mangyans do practice Buno or Lumad Buno. The Mangyans actually look at Igorots as their relatives bec. of similarities in their customs. Their buno (wrestling) looks similar to some of Silat and Jiu Jitsu but it is strictly Indiginous. Their type of buno was originally designed to take down large animals when hunting. subdue them and then tie them up, much like the cowboys tying down small calf. then they realized they can apply the same technique for humans.
The only person i know who teach this at the moment is Gat Puno Abon Baet of Garimot Arnis/Eskrima. He is one of my guru. check out his website. just do a search on garimot.
1. There's grappling in Visayas which is usually learned by escrimadors and practiced during fiestas as a sport (just like Turkish wrestling or Mongolian wrestling) called Dumog. There's Sikaran in Baras town in Rizal province near Manila but there are questions if it's really indigenous.
2. The Igorots are actually not related anthropologically to the Mangyans as they are of different racial stock or Malay varieties.
3. The tribes don't have substantive martial art systems, only fighting techniques with weapons not organized formally.
4. In the south in Mindanao, some ethnic groups (the Maguindanaws and the Maranaws and the Tausugs) have different forms of Silat, often called "Langka Silat".
2. The Igorots are actually not related anthropologically to the Mangyans as they are of different racial stock or Malay varieties.
3. The tribes don't have substantive martial art systems, only fighting techniques with weapons not organized formally.
4. In the south in Mindanao, some ethnic groups (the Maguindanaws and the Maranaws and the Tausugs) have different forms of Silat, often called "Langka Silat".
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this is true, but if you ask any mangyan they will say that they are related. in their world there is only mangyans (who wears loin cloth similar to their garb) and non-mangyans. which is everybody else who looks different from them. they have no concept of other countries existing. (maybe now they do) it must be nice to have a simple worl like theirs...
1. Sari-an (similar to Krav Maga, a form of streetfighting evolved from karate, boxing, muay thai, aikido, taekwondo, judo, and some arnis/kali). Taught in Metro Manila, Philippines.
2. Yaw-Yan (similar to Muay Thai and with some Kyokushinkai influence). Also taught in Metro Manila, Philippines.
3. Sikaran (said to be the indigenous version of taekwondo but its authenticity as a Filipino art is questionable IMO). Taught in the town of Baras, Rizal province, next to Metro Manila.
2. Yaw-Yan (similar to Muay Thai and with some Kyokushinkai influence). Also taught in Metro Manila, Philippines.
3. Sikaran (said to be the indigenous version of taekwondo but its authenticity as a Filipino art is questionable IMO). Taught in the town of Baras, Rizal province, next to Metro Manila.