Wetzels Poekulan

J

justin

Joined
Sep 17, 1999
Messages
217
I am sorry if I butchered the spelling. (most likely I did!) I ran across this site during a search for indonesian martial arts teachers
here in NYC. i am curious if any of you have any experience with this man's style and if you could give me some advice or perhaps a critique? For instance how combat effective does the teaching seem? Is it presented as combative or more of a spiritual teaching? Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me.

justin.
 
The bulk of my knowledge comes from the Poekoelan Tjimande Pentjack Silat (old romanization) of a student of Wetzel during the late 50's, Thomas Lawrence.

The style is very combative, and has absorbed some of the aspects of muay thai, japanese jiu-jitsu and bando. Of course the nature of the instruction and techniques imparted will depend upon your instructor.

I have been told that some of Wetzel's students are know for "crashing and bashing" which I find curious.

Spiritual aspects are present, but not typically demonstrated until much later in the pesilat's studies. Instruction even later.

Good luck in your search. Also, I find that the instructor is at least as important as the system. If you find that the teacher is not to your liking, you may wish to investigate Mande Muda, Kuntao-Silat (as taught by the DeThouars) Mustika Kwitang, Maphilindo, and some others which I have not seen.
 
Thanks for the reply. What's "crashing and Bashing" Forgive my ignorance. Also I would love to find the DeThouars style but it doesn't sem to exist here in NYC the main reason for my finding this style is that it's present and affordable for me. I am going to check it out today so iw ill let all of you know what I though IMHO.Thanks again. Also what's Bando? I am not familiar with this.
 
Nothng to forgive. We are all ignorant of something. Myself, many things
smile.gif


"Crashing & bashing" is a term used to describe a manner of fighting. "Crash" through the perimeter and "Bash" whatever is in the way.

Bando is a term for the Burmese martial arts. Dr. Mhuang Gyi (sp?) is the most recognized proponent the U.S.A. You have to respect those Gurkhan regiments when looking at history.

I hope I helped. Please let us know how it goes.
 
So I had my first Poekulan class yesterday. I still don't have a fully formed opinion but it's been more than a year since I studied a system that teaches combat by example or techniques with another person. I am finding I used muscles I haven't used very often. i liked it. A calm atmosphere without the typical "badasses" you sometimes find in MA schools. Cool stuff so far. I haven't seen the stuff that makes it radically different as a system yet beyond the tiger ground fighting techniques I saw antoher student doing. I would really liek to learn kicking from the ground like that along with striking. It looked liek it would be effective. All in all I dug it. Thanks for answering my questions.
 
Thanks for the info regarding your class. Where about the NYC area are you taking classes?
 
The school is on west 15th street between 7th and 8th ave. It's a nice part of the city and easier to get back and forth from then the last school I was at. They haven't been stingy with the teaching either. They regocnized that I had studied martial arts before and noticed that I pick things up quickly ad so they have been teachin me accordingly showing me a lot of cool things. I am very gratefull for that. Also the atmosphere has been really accepting and like I said there aren't any "badasses" there to foul it up. There are plenty of good martial artists nad serious students just no hardcases which I like. Some of those guys get really tiring after a while and few of them ever deserve their tough-guy image.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top