In Memory of: Bob Orlando (Oct 26, 1944 - Aug 11, 2016)

Bob Orlando passed away 2 yrs ago on this date. Bob Orlando lost his long fight with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Bob Anselmo Orlando
Lakewood, Colorado
Oct 26, 1944 - Aug 11, 2016

As tribute, I'm archiving his "Author of the Month" entry from the now defunct Paladin Press.

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PALADIN PRESS
Author of the Month

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BOB ORLANDO -- September 1996

Bob Orlando was introduced to the martial arts while on active duty in the U.S. Marines (1961-1964). However, it was not until after he left the service that the flicker of interest kindled overseas became his consuming fire and he began serious study in Chinese kenpo-karate. Shortly thereafter he switched to kung fu, studying under Al Dacascos (who was then teaching in Denver, Colorado) for three years until a back operation made it impossible to continue in that high-kicking style. It was back to Chinese kenpo, where Bob received his first-degree blackbelt from Dr. John P. Cochran. Although Bob has subsequently earned additional rank, he prefers to say that he is a student of the arts and leave it at that. "Rank," he says, "is excess baggage. It becomes a hindrance to learning because everyone expects that you already know everything."

Ever a student of the arts, Bob's quest for knowledge has taken him into aikido, iaido, arnis de mano, and escrima. However, what has impacted him the most are the years spent studying Chinese kuntao and Indonesian pentjak silat under Dutch-Indonesian master Willem de Thouars. After nearly 12 years of training with de Thouars, Bob received his teaching certificate from him in 1994. He now owns and operates his own martial arts school in Denver.

In addition to authoring Indonesian Fighting Fundamentals: The Brutal Arts of the Archipelago, Bob, a graduate of a Jesuit university, has also written numerous articles for both national and local publications and has just completed his second book, Martial Arts America: A Western Approach to Eastern Arts, which he expects to have published sometime next year.

No longer a tournament competitor, Bob still supports tournament and sport karate. As a founding member and past director of the Colorado Karate Association (CKA) -- a nonprofit organization that works to provide competitors with a positive tournament environment -- Bob believes that the arts' sporting element still provides training benefits for the serious practitioner. He currently serves as one of the CKA's top referees. 

Although he is not a "professional" martial artist, Bob, a computer professional for more than 30 years, still considers himself a "full-time" martial artist, because he studies and trains constantly. His school is a small one, and that's just the way he wants it. "Our school is our laboratory. There, we test everything from the practicality of forms training and techniques to the latest craze in self-defense. We have a formal curriculum -- from white to black belt -- but it is not set in stone. For us, the concrete is never quite dry."

Of his own abilities, Bob says, "I have many skills. After nearly three decades in the arts, I ought to. But my skills came not because of any natural talent, but because I worked very hard to get to where I am today. My fortés are my analytical mind and my ability to share what I know with others. I take the complicated and make it simple. I am a teacher."

An experienced seminar presenter, Bob is available for seminars and may be reached by email at borlando@amoco.com.

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Index of Paladin Press site archived pages:

• Paladin Press (1970-2017) - The end of an era :(

Stickgrappler's Note: I am guessing the Paladin site will be shut down at the end of the 2017 year and I'm archiving select Paladin Press pages to my blog to preserve an essential part of martial arts from 1970-2017. Archiving some of the Paladin "Author of the Month".

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Fight Quest S01E05: Pencak Silat

Posting a Fight Quest episode today which aired 10 years ago on this date!

Fight Quest is a television show on the Discovery Channel that followed Jimmy Smith and Doug Anderson as they travel around the world learning different styles of martial arts, spending five days training with notable masters of the styles they are studying, before exhibiting what they have learned in a final demonstration and/or fight.

Enjoy!

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Country: Indonesia
City: Bandung
Martial Art/Style: Pencak Silat
Masters: Rita Suwanda, Dadang Gunawan
Synopsis: In the remote streets of Bandung, Jimmy and Doug learn the ancient fighting art known as Pencak-Silat. While training with one of Indonesia's toughest Silat masters, Doug injures his foot and has to decide whether to fight in his final battle or not.

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In case you missed the other episodes in the Fight Quest series, you can find them here:

• Fight Quest S01E01: Kung Fu
• Fight Quest S01E02: Kali
• Fight Quest S01E03: Kyokushin Karate
• Fight Quest S01E04: Boxing

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Paladin Press - Steve Gartin's Secrets of Silat

 

Crash Course Volume 18: Secrets of Silat

Knife Fighting Techniques of Silat and Kuntao

with Steve Gartin

SKU SILATDVD-P

805966 052533
60 minutes


DESCRIPTION

It has been said that "without the knife, there is no silat." What this means is that the techniques of Indonesian knife fighting are in fact the backbone of the art of pentjak silat and the secret of its deadly effectiveness. Unfortunately, the connection between the silat blade art and its empty-hand application has never been clearly explained – until now. In this groundbreaking Paladin video production, silat expert Steve Gartin reveals the secrets of Indonesian knife fighting and shows you why the blade and empty-hand forms of the art are actually one. Gartin also demonstrates for the first time the little-known techniques of kuntao knife fighting and shows you how to make the techniques of this lethal unarmed fighting art even more deadly by applying them with a knife. This video is a fascinating exploration of the roots of the Indonesian martial arts and the awesome effectiveness of the knife in personal combat. For informational purposes only.


CHAPTER LIST

DVD CHAPTER LIST 
1) Silat 
2) Kuntao 
3) Silat and Kuntao 
4) Training Drills

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Index of Paladin Press site archived pages:

• Paladin Press (1970-2017) - The end of an era :(

Stickgrappler's Note: I am guessing the Paladin site will be shut down at the end of the year and I'm archiving select Paladin Press pages to my blog to preserve an essential part of martial arts from 1970-2017. Archiving some of my favorite Paladin titles.

Read More

Paladin Press - Michael Janich's Mastering Fighting Folders

Mastering Fighting Folders

Secrets of Reverse-Grip Knife Fighting and Advanced Folding Knife Tactics

with Michael D. Janich

SKU MFFDVD-P

805966 032139
150 minutes

DESCRIPTION

Drawing on the lessons of the first Fighting Folders volumes, Michael D. Janich integrates never-never-before-seen instruction in pentjak silat footwork and throwing technique with all the skills of the other Fighting Folders videos to create an unstoppable edged-weapon fighting system. In this video, Michael Janich shows you how to adapt standard-grip knife skills to the body dynamics of reverse grip, presents step-by-step instructions in his combat-oriented variations of the classic Filipino reverse-grip training drills and teaches you how to extract the appropriate skills from each of these drills so you can reflexively respond with the most effective technique in a defensive situation and more. For information purposes only.

AUTHOR BIO

Michael D. Janich is one of the foremost modern authorities on handgun point shooting and one of the few contemporary instructors to have personally trained with the late close-combat legend Col. Rex Applegate. In addition to making his own martial arts equipment, noted martial arts author and instructor Michael Janich has designed and engineered everything from blowguns to knives, including the highly acclaimed Masters of Defense Tempest folding knife.


CHAPTER LIST

DVD CHAPTER LIST 
1) Reverse-Grip Basics 
2) Flow Drills 
3) Combining Reverse-Grip Drills 
4) Speed Stops 
5) Integrating Empty-Hand Tactics into Reverse-Grip Techniques 
6) Counterdefenses 
7) Grip Changes and Applying Reverse-Grip Skills to Standard Grip 
8) Using Reverse-Grip Skills with Improvised Weapons and Flashlights 
9) Putting It All Together

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Index of Paladin Press site archived pages:

• Paladin Press (1970-2017) - The end of an era :(

Stickgrappler's Note: I am guessing the Paladin site will be shut down at the end of the year and I'm archiving select Paladin Press pages to my blog to preserve an essential part of martial arts from 1970-2017. Archiving some of my favorite Paladin titles.

Read More

The Accountant (2016) - farm fight GIFs and video

In "The Accountant" from 2016, Ben Affleck plays an accountant who is a math savant. He is hired to uncook the books for a new client as the Treasury Department closes in on his activities.

Affleck learnt Silat for his role as Christian Wolff the accountant. I was a little disappointed in the fight scenes, although I was entertained by the movie. Affleck has said Wolff is one of 5 favorite characters he has portrayed to date. The best fight scene IMO was Affleck's use of his belt to defend himself against Tait Fletcher's knife.

Fletcher played Thug #1 and he deployed his knife in his fight against Affleck. Ben took off his belt to use vs the knife.

Apologies if the page loads slowly, but I didn't want to split up the GIFs and make separate posts.  Enjoy the video as well as 16 GIFs!

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You can find the video at the link below if the embed video didn't work above:

• https://www.facebook.com/www.stickgrappler.net /videos/1371652709552626/

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Here are 9 GIFs splicing up the fight scene:

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Here is the All-in-One GIF of the scene:

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6 extra GIFs isolating for one aspect of the scene:

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Here's hoping there will be a sequel!

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Please check my Projects page for more videos/GIFs on Flexible Weapons in Movies/TV.

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IN MEMORY OF: Herman Suwanda (Feb 10, 1955 - March 21, 2000)

16 years ago today, Bapak Herman Suwanda, his wife and several students have died in a head on collision in Germany.

Black Belt magazine
Oct 2000
Black Belt Times
Pages 130, 132

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With kind permission from Guro Mike Casto of Anjing Gembala Pencak Silat, sharing his favorite story of Herman Suwanda.

Loved Pak Herman.

Here's my favorite story from my personal experiences with Pak. Through a combination of youth and stupidity (redundant, right?) I cut my left index finger badly a couple of days before attending a seminar with Pak Herman.

At the seminar, Pak taught some Cipecut. I sat out. Pak came over and said, "You love Cipecut. Why aren't you training?"

I showed him my bandaged finger and said, "Cut myself a few days ago, don't want to risk getting it caught in a sarong and ripping the stitches out."



Pak shook his head and said, "This is why you should not touch the sharp part of the blade."

LOL :D RIP, Pak.

My sincerest condolences to Bapak Suwanda's loved ones, students, associates and friends.

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Terry Trahan teaching Stickwork, Footwork and Knifework

Today, I'm posting some of the videos of Terry Trahan.

He's teaching Stickwork, Footwork and Knifework.

Enjoy!

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A little about Terry in his own words:

Copied from http://ksma.us/bios.html

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Introduction

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Basic Stick Work

12 angles, 3 payongs, 4 shields and 4 wing blocks.

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Triangle Footwork Part 1 - basic triangle footwork.

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Triangle Footwork Part 2 - basic triangle footwork.

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Triangle Footwork Part 3 - basic triangle footwork.

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Knife Work 1
Introduction to knife work.
TTP; timing tools and positioning,
and POT; point of threat.

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Knife Work 2 reverse grip
Knife work using reverse grip and other ideas

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Knife Work 2 Reverse Grip 2
Knife work using reverse grip more explanations.

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For more information, please check out:

• Kapatiran Suntukan Martial Arts Denver - Site
• Kapatiran Suntukan Martial Arts Denver - Facebook
• Kapatiran Suntukan Martial Arts Denver - YouTube Channel
• Kapatiran Suntukan Martial Arts - Blog

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Silat: The Deadly Art of Indonesia and Malaysia by Terry H. Gibson

Silat: The Deadly Art of Indonesia and Malaysia

By Terry H. Gibson

Eddie Jafri (above) was one of the first to teach pentjak silat in the United States, conducting clinics throughout the country in the 1970s and ’80s. 

You are minding your own business, buying a newspaper at your local convenience store, when a belligerent drunk decides to take a punch at you simply because you met his stare for a second too long. What the drunk doesn’t know is that you are trained in the Indonesian martial art silat, and you are therefore able to move easily into close range where your big guns—the knees, elbows and head—can be brought into play. This range is referred to as the “battleground” by Indonesians.

Now that you’ve entered the battleground and are literally in the drunk’s face, you can begin the “tranquilizing process”—a vicious combination of elbows, knees, finger jabs, head butts and kicks to his groin, shins, thighs, eyes or any other vulnerable target. If he is still a threat after your initial salvo of blows, your combinations must continue. Can you sweep him to the ground? Can you elbow his spine? Can you stomp on one of his feet and force him off-balance? These are just a few of the possibilities available to an accomplished silat stylist.

What Is Silat?

Roughly speaking, silat means “skill for fighting.” There are hundreds of different styles of silat, most of which are found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, southern Thailand and the southern Philippines. Common to all of these styles is a combat-oriented ideology and the use of weaponry.

In Indonesia, there exist hundreds of styles of pentjak silat, as well as many systems of kuntao, a form of Chinese boxing that bears many similarities to silat and is found primarily within the Chinese communities in Indonesia. There are also many systems that blend pentjak silat and kuntao. According to noted martial arts historian and author Donn Draeger, “Chinese fighting tactics have had positive influences on the development of pentjak silat.”

Malaysia is home to a style known as bersilat, which can be divided into two forms: pulut, a dancelike series of movements intended for public display, and buah, a realistic combat method never publicly displayed.

Bersilat is also found in the southern Philippines, as well as langkah silat, kuntao silat and kali silat.

Silat techniques vary greatly, from the low ground-fighting postures of harimau (tiger) silat to the high-flying throws of madi silat. One particularly vicious madi throw involves controlling your opponent’s head, leaping through the air, and using your body weight to yank him off his feet as your knee slams into his spinal column. A typical harimau takedown involves coming in low against an opponent’s punch, capturing his foot with your foot, and forcing his knee outward with a strike or grab to the inside knee to effect the takedown.

In Filipino silat, it is common to trap your opponent’s foot with your own foot while controlling his head and arm, then spin him in a circle. The opponent’s body rotates 360 degrees, but his knee and foot remain in place, causing severe injury.

The sheer number of silat styles allows practitioners a tremendous amount of variety, as well as a certain amount of freedom and self-expression. By researching a number of silat systems, you can add tremendous diversity to your combat arsenal.

In this self-defense sequence, silat stylist Terry H. Gibson (left) scoops (1) his opponent’s jab and simultaneously traps (2) his foe’s other hand in place. Gibson is now free to deliver (3) an elbow to his opponent’s face. Gibson then grabs (4) his adversary’s hair with both hands and pulls (5) his head into a knee smash.

 Weaponry

Virtually all silat styles, particularly Filipino silat, emphasize weapons training. In the areas where silat originated, carrying a weapon - usually one of the bladed variety - was for generations a fact of life for the general male populace. A silat practitioner will normally be skilled with a knife, stick, sword, staff, spear, rope, chain, whip, projectile weapons or a combination thereof.

The kris, with its wavy blade, is one of the most common weapons in Indonesia and Malaysia. Another wicked weapon found in Indonesia is the karambit (tiger’s claw), a short, curved blade used to hook into an opponent’s vital points. According to Draeger, the karambit is used in an upward, ripping manner to tear into the bowels of the victim.

Most silat systems emphasize low, quick kicks, primarily because of the likelihood the practitioner will be confronting an opponent armed with a bladed weapon. A good rule of thumb is to never try a kick against a knife-wielding opponent, unless the kick is delivered at close range and is used as a support technique.

Defending against an opponent’s left jab, silat stylist Terry H. Gibson (left) parries (1) the blow and simultaneously strikes the biceps. Gibson blocks a right cross, countering (2) with an elbow to the biceps. Gibson then applies (3) an armbar maneuver, finishing (4) with an elbow smash to the spine.

Silat Components

What comprises a good silat system? Following are some of the key components:

• Efficient entry system.

The style must have techniques that allow you to move quickly and efficiently into close range of your opponent. It must also include training methods that will hone your timing, precision and accuracy when employing those techniques.

• Effective follow-up techniques.

The system must have effective punching and kicking techniques. Heavy-duty techniques such as headbutts, knee smashes and elbow strikes must be highly developed. “Finishing” techniques are more effective if your opponent is properly “tranquilized.”

• Devastating finishing techniques.

After you have entered into close range and applied a “tranquilizing” technique to your opponent, the next step is to apply a “finishing” technique -throw, sweep, takedown, lock, choke - to end the confrontation. Locking maneuvers will break or render ineffective an opponent’s joint. Choking techniques will produce unconsciousness. Takedowns, throws or sweeps will slam the opponent into the ground or other objects with enough force to end a confrontation.

• Realistic weapons training.

Most silat systems emphasize weapons training at some point. This training will include realistic contact-oriented drills rather than forms practice and will greatly improve your reflexes, timing, accuracy, rhythm and precision. It’s amazing how quickly practitioners improve when facing a bladed weapon traveling at a high rate of speed.

Silat theory, then, is simple: Enter into close range of the opponent, apply a “tranquilizing” technique such as a punch or kick, and then “finish” the opponent off with a heavy-duty technique such as a lock, sweep, choke or throw.

When facing an opponent who attempts (1) a roundhouse kick, silat stylist Terry H. Gibson uses his knee to jam the kick at the shin, then counters (2) with a hard kick to his opponent’s knee joint.

Silat in the United States

Suryadi (Eddie) Jafri was one of the first to teach pentjak silat in the United States, conducting seminars throughout the country in the 1970s and ’80s before returning to Indonesia several years ago.

The well-respected Paul de Thouars teaches silat publicly at his Academy of Bukti Negara in Arcadia, California, and also conducts seminars across the United States each year.

Another fine instructor is mande muda pentjak silat stylist Herman Suwanda, who divides his time between Los Angeles and his home in Indonesia. Mande muda is a composite of 18 different silat systems.

Dan Inosanto of Los Angeles uses his weekly seminars as a forum to spread silat, as well as other martial arts. Inosanto has studied with de Thouars, Jafri and Suwanda in Indonesian pentjak silat. He has also worked with John LaCoste, who taught Inosanto kuntao silat, bersilat, kali and langkah silat of the southern Philippines. Inosanto also trained under Nik Mustapha in Malaysian bersilat.

There are actually only a few qualified silat instructors in the United States, and most of them are not easy to find. If, however, you have the good fortune to undertake the study of silat under a competent instructor, prepare yourself because you are in for an exciting, invigorating exploration into one of the world’s richest and most effective martial disciplines.

About the author: Terry H. Gibson is a Tutsa, Oklahoma-based martiat arts instructor who teaches various styles of silat, muay Thai and jeet kune do.

NOTE:  This article first appeared in Black Belt Magazine, January 1993, pages 54-56. Please click on pictures for larger resolution. All pictures are are courtesy of Terry Gibson except the first of Eddie Jafri which is courtesy of David Steele.

This article posted in honor of  Terry Gibson (March 28, 1953 - September 26, 1997). He would've been 62 today.

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Please check out these related Silat entries in case you missed them:

• REVIEW:  “Village of the Keris” DVD
• IN MEMORY OF: Pendekar Paul De Thouars (1930 - Sept 11, 2013)
• Bobbe Edmonds - Limb Destructions Vidclips
• Bobbe Edmonds - Mande Muda Vidclips
• Bobbe Edmonds - Penchak Silat Lecture Vidclips
• Bobbe Edmonds - Pecut Pencak Silat Lecture Vidclips
• Bobbe Edmonds - Perception in the Martial Arts
• Bobbe Edmonds - Posture, Structure, Stance and Mobility 
• Some sarong notes from a Dan Inosanto seminar by JMAN
• Silat exponent Saiedah Said banned during the recent National Pencak Silat Championships
• NEWS:  Malaysia looking to revive and preserve Silat

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For another Terry Gibson article, please check:

• Terry Gibson - The Art of Elbow Wrenching

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