Real blade cutting training in FMA

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fernast

Joined
Jun 10, 2001
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Hello everybody,

I am looking for any input about cutting training with a real blade (like a barong, a bolo, a kriss or a kamplilan).

I was wondering if there is something similar in the Philippines to the japanese art of Tameshigiri (sword cutting on targets). How did the filipino warriors train their cutting? What training targets did they use?

Could someone share his/her experience with cutting using a real blade?

Does some school who are said to be blade art like Kali Illustrissimo train cutting?

Thanks
Best regards

Stephane
 
I believe Tameshigiri was used to simulate the cutting of a limb using ONE swift movement from the draw.

With this in mind, you must now take into consideration the type of blade being used. For example, the Barong is a hacking intrument vs. a Kris which thrusts seem more practical. I recently heard of a Military account stating that the Filipinos would simply hack a tree with their Bolos using Ikis(X).

We do not practice cutting of any sort at Bakbakan. However, I cannot speak for the Ilustrisimo practitioners back home.

Regards,

John
BAKBAKAN International
 
hi fernast and john.

in pekiti tirsia (filipinized spanish 'pequete tercia', meaning short thrusts/cuts), one practices live blade use through drills and 'basic' training.

with drills, you have the usual situational forms and the relevant techniques to use, whether to kill, disarm, maim or simply deter.

by basic training, i'm alluding to strength and endurance training which is essential for any contact sport. remember that a large bladed weapon is not an easy weapon to use. if you're used to wielding 1"-diameter 24"-long rattan sticks, you're going to have trouble fighting with even just a 14"-long machete.

aside from doing speed drills using large, dull machetes, PT guys regularly do power striking. they use sturdy, hardwood sticks 24" long and they strike used tires full-force repeatedly. if you can do 250 full-force strikes in one pass, you can wield a machete with confidence.
 
Originally posted by fernast
I was wondering if there is something similar in the Philippines to the japanese art of Tameshigiri (sword cutting on targets)...
Click to expand...

Yes, it is known as farming.

But seriously, the best live blade training I know of is to go out in the brush, and cut up some scrub. Anything with green branches from a half inch in diameter on up will do. You can even combine this with trail maintenance and have the endorsement of the local sempervirons.

Suro tells me one of his favorite cutting practices was in an orchard near his home where he would go and take over ripe fruit from the ground, toss it in the air and try to cut it in half, and half one of the halves before they hit the ground.
 
hello,

there is a certain slashing pattern called kawayan. it is a 4 slash pattern designed to clear a path while walking thru the thick brushes of the jungle. it originally served two purposes. one is to clear the path so you can walk thru thick vegetation. and 2nd is to scare away snakes. if you have some bushes in your yard go and trim those. a bolo/machete is originally used by the farmers so i guess a regular machete will do. but be careful make sure you have a lanyard when you practice. you will soon find that after one full cycle that it is very difficult. it takes a speed, angulation and wrist flexibilty to clearly cut. we were taught to do this in full speed. think about it. if you were a point man in the jungle and had to lead your friends thru the jungle you have to be able to make path quickly or travel is very slow. when we train it is usually ing roups of three or four forming a line. when the point man tires out the second man steps up and becomes the point, and so forth...

one good excercise as well is to skin or husk a coconut. it teaches right angle of execution and helps your sharpening skill as well. you will do it a lot to your blade if you practice this.

another one is like what someone has mentioned above. tossing fruits in the air and hacking them in half. good hand eye coordination. this practice is fun if you have a regular utility knife or bolo that you won't mind being stained from all the natural acids from the fruits.

i forgot to mention...back in P.I. sugar cane was training ground for fast hacking drills among the farmers. most of these people were not even fma's but their speed was amazing.

i hope this helps.
 
hank, are you a Pekiti-Tirsia practitioner too? where are you based, man? hello from the Philippines!
 
a filipino right now based in singapore (not for long!)

an ex-cop in the US taught my family some PTK techniques and drill for three weeks when we were in san diego. he said he trained under a fil-am named erwin gallarte (???) he showed us a picture and i thought, "that's an arnis expert?" honest, he looked like a librarian. but arbough (that's the cop's name) said erwin will whop most anyone who's not quick enough to shoot him.

my brother paid him his fee and gave him a pair of mad dog fighting sticks. seen one of these? they're made of fiberglass sheets wound into 1" diameter rods and impregnated in epoxy. each stick is 24" long and will destroy rattan and soft wood sticks when practiced with often.
 
Ur Pinoy or rather a Fil-Am born in the US. Ur name is fully American pare, di ba? BTW, do u speak any Tagalog (Filipino)?

I know that guy--he's Mataas na Guro Erwin Ballarta. True, he doesn't look like a kick-a$$ martial artist. He looks more like a librarian or a junior college instructor. Pero I've heard stories about him and he kicks real a$$ whether with sticks, knives or empty hands, even close quarter firearms disarming.

Please get in touch with me pare, anytime. What's ur job in Singapore and when could you perhaps come to Manila? Let's train with Grandmaster Leo Gaje. I'm studying with his first Manila students.

www.TexasKali.org (MG Erwin Ballarta's own website re Pekiti-Tirsia)

P.S. Please email me.
 
Hello Stephane,

I practice both Japanese and Filipino arts.I don't know about other arts practicing cutting methods but I also practice cutting various targets with my carry blades as well as various sword types. The rolled tatami type of targets are great for swords and heavy long blades. They can be cut in a one draw and cut method or from a blade out position. It is very difficult to draw and cut through a target with a sword without practice! I have also cut cardboard tubes, rolled newspaper, styrofoam targets, pieces of meat, brush etc. I only have one barong now, but I have cut with a Kampilan, and gununting type blade for Filipino weapons, Bowie, CQC-7, Endura's, Balisongs, Buck , Gerber and a variety of folders as well, as well as the traditional Katana, Yari, and Tanto, Rapier(thrusting), and Cut and thrust swords.

Some other types of targets are coconuts, great for testing thrusting capacity, and dressing your target in clothing.
 
This is a little off subject but knife makers regularly engage in rope cutting. The official competition utilizes bundled 1" Manila rope duct taped every 12". The bottom 1' of the free hanging bundle must be cut in one swing with a 10" blade. The current record is held by a knife maker from Washington State named Ed Schempp. He cut 9 ropes with one swing at the Oregon Knife Show last spring. Interestingly the knives he uses resemble some of the ones used by New Guinea headhunters, being blunt on the end with a slightly recurved blade.

I practice Modern Arnis and rope cutting is a good test of cutting technique and edge quality. Unfortunately it gets expensive! I agree with the others who posted about bush whacking. I grew up using a bolo to cut brush and limb firewood. My father brought the bolo back from the Philippines after WWII. I did not realize what I was using until I became involved in FMA. It now has an honored place on the wall.
 
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