THE ARTS
SILAT BUKA LINKGARAN
Founded by Guru Alvin Guinanao, Silat Buka Lingkaran (SBL) is a dynamic martial art focused on the fluidity of movement between various ranges (ground, mid-range, and upright) while over stimulating the opponent with a barrage of striking known as Pukalan. The art’s influences can be attributed to the Minangkabau region of West Sumatra, Indonesia, where terrain can sometimes be unforgiving and adaptability is must. At the core of Silat Buka Lingkaran, mobility is the key in preparing practitioners for an unpredictable environment with multiple opponents. The journey of a student starts with the ground postures, to help reintroduce forgotten muscle groups that are no longer used in daily work life. Once the conditioning and fundamental movements have been ingrained, practitioners start to fuse their upright fighting with ground transitions.
As one progresses through the art, Silat Buka Lingkaran’s softer side becomes more prominent with the student’s exploration of their “voice” through Kembangan. Often used as a way to calibrate postures, Kembangan helps students think outside of the box and freely express all their repertoire of movement learned throughout their training. SBL’s curriculum is divided into 7 phases:
- Ground Fighting
- Upright Fighting
- Locks, Chokes & Grabs
- Multiple Attackers
- Kembangan
- Weaponry
- Full Uniform
Silat is an umbrella term for indigenous martial arts practiced in the Malay Archipelago, while Pencak Silat is the official term used in Indonesia. There are hundreds of different styles of Silat found throughout Southeast Asia as trade introduced different aspects of self defense and weaponry. Popular weapons found in the arts include the kris, karambit, selendang, sarong, spear, and golok. A common theme found amongst the Malay arts is adaptability and being proficient in bladed, flexible, projectile, and empty hand combat. Whether a farmer or part of the royal class, Pencak Silat was a staple amongst the people and gave way for entertainment during celebrations. Both Pencak Silat and Silat were recognized as a piece of Intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in December 2019.
PEKITI TIRSIA iKALI
iKALI is founded by Tuhon Apolo Ladra and emphasizes the indigenous fighting art form from the Philippines. The core of the art is rooted in developing a student’s “flow” through the process of knowing, understanding, and applying the techniques. Known by other names such as Escrima, Arnis, and Kali, the umbrella of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) are characterized by double or single sticks, sword, and blades. Whether edged, impact, or empty hand, iKALI’s teaching methodology helps students develop strategic empty hand striking and footwork that is adaptable to any situation. Sometimes referred to as “Combat Geometry”, the use of apexes are applied to human anatomy and positioning oneself for an attack by quartering a person, which is the definition of Pekiti Tirsa.
iKALI’s cultural and philosophical values trace back more than 1500 years. The Pekiti Tirsia system originated from the Tortal Family in the province of Negros Occidental, Philippines. Presently the heir to the system is Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje Jr., who continues teaching law enforcement and students worldwide. Pekiti Tirsia Kali (PTK) is the only system recognized by the Philippine government including the teaching of the system to the elite ForceRecon Philippine Marine Battalion, Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Filipino Martial Arts are taught with weapons first, before progressing to empty hands. Combat focused, the arts are rooted in the historical preservation of having to defend ones family or village. This characteristic is what separates FMA from traditional martial arts and has helped many practitioners transfer their skill set to other arts quickly. There are thousands of styles of Filipino Martial Arts; many of which have not been exposed to the general public.
