Some years back, I saw old photos of Gurkhas training in CQC, and their drills and movements looked very much like some styles of silat (the Indian name escapes me at the moment). Yeah, I was reading a knife manufacturer's touting of the superiority of their version of the kukri over the actual one used by the Gurkhas, but the true kukri is also used for common field chores including digging trenches. I don't think a "refined" blade would hold up to duty like that for long. At least, it would be far more costly to replace regularly.

Mike, I agree completely with you on sensitivity, but WC does not have an exclusive on that at all.

WC chisao is so much more than a sensitivity drill, it is also a foundation from which to fight.

Alex brings more clarity to my point. If you look into the various shapes and sizes of bladed weapons in philippino MA you'd think you walked into 100 different means of bladed torture. In other words, where and how would you stick if dealing with a double edged straight, curved, etc. blade 3, 8, 16, 24 inches long, in one hand, the other, both? It is common in philippino MA to practice with all different shapes and sizes of weapons and ranges.

Rumbrae,

You're right about the wide range of PI blade & martial-art styles. But for clarification I would like to point out that it's common among PI martial-arts for a school to specialize in just one of the ranges (close, middle, or long range) & to prefer a special style of blade or two. In a recent trend, new schools have integrated two or more of these different schools (example: the Lameco school is a mesh of several schools & covers all three ranges); but most schools still specialize.

Someone once wrote that specialization is for insects. All I can say in response to such reasoning is that there are some bad-ass insects out there in the world; so be wary.

Kenneth Sohl,

I don't doubt that the military has drills for Gurkha knife-fighting practice -- whether it's necessary or not. Knowledge of a Silat can only help a Gurkha become even more efficient (so while it may not be necessary, it is practical).

Just as it's not necessary for a farmer to learn a martial art to become an effective fighter with a pitchfork, learning such would most-likely make the farmer super-proficient; so it is with the Gurkhas.

Ok, fine in your experience

How about being a jack-of-all-trades, and a master of ONE?

Hey Guys,

How about me just feeling like one big jack-ass: as I just figured out (with a little help from SysOp) that I've been off topic with this Gurkha & Filippino martial-art stuff, as this topic/thread is on Old Dangerous Masters of Chinese Martial Arts.

Sorry folks.

like to watch this?

www.wtny.com/what_is_philosophy.php

Hi Mike,

well, I guess I started the Gurkha stuff, so I apologize. Actually, my point was about knife-fighting practice. And, I recall that someone mentioned that their school practiced with the knife for all situations. So, the question --which may belong on another thread, if it hasn't been discussed already-- is did the Old CMA masters do this? Any stories about it? And, maybe as a sidenote; do any bjj practitioners practice with blades? Tim?? BTW, I don't think it has anything to do with the ultimate effectiveness of the arts.

Respects,
Steve James

Hi Mike,

well, I guess I started the Gurkha stuff, so I apologize. Actually, my point was about knife-fighting practice. And, I recall that someone mentioned that their school practiced with the knife for all situations. So, the question --which may belong on another thread, if it hasn't been discussed already-- is did the Old CMA masters do this? Any stories about it? And, maybe as a sidenote; do any bjj practitioners practice with blades? Tim?? BTW, I don't think it has anything to do with the ultimate effectiveness of the arts.

Respects,
Steve James

The discussion board software is now working correctly after months of problems. Therefore, I'm going to start to enforce the rules again as much as possible.

Rules, all of these rules!? Sysop are you sure you're not a commie?

Steve,
BJJ has knife defenses. Many of them are much like the old Kodokan Judo techniques.

Hi Tim,

thanks, is the training situational, drill-based, or free form? Or is there a progressive system?
Well, not to be obscure, I was wondering if there was something systematic that was trained. For ex., it will probably make a 'technical' difference whether the opponent is using one blade or two, or is left-handed, etc. Anyway, I was just curious about the approach. I think that, like anything else, the idea is to make it 'second nature.' But, I am interested in your personal pov and that of the bjj system.
Respects,
steve James

Respects,
steve James

Meynard;
I'm a Dictator. Learn the differences of types of Tyrants.

Excuuuuusssseee...me, please enlighten me. It seems you've done a great deal of study in the subject of tyranny.

Well, this thread has meandered more than an overflowing swamp since it started. Just goes to show, nothing exists in a vacuum.

What happened to my thread?

Anyway, I trained with a 72 year old judo master today. Scary!!! He moved like a cat and was as smooth as silk. He was probably the best conditioned man Judoka at this Masters workshop I attended.

Physical fitness became as important to him as his Judo as he aged.

I think if the "Old Master" can combat what aged can do to his physical tools, then he is just as dangerous or more than a young master. But many martial artist in general think too little of conditioning.

That man was scary!

Speaking of conditioning does anyone know, what excercises are contained in Orlando Cani's "Natural Gymnastic" ?

Yes, about Orlando. But there is no humanly way I could describe the animal movesment of this style of yoga. It's good.

Rumbrae,
There is an excellent interview with Orlando Cani here, he goes into quite a bit of detail on his system.
http://www.geocities.com/global_training_report/orlando.htm