Training progression

[Brock]

What would the general training progression, or curriculum for the arts be? In other word would a new student expect in the first year or even beyond.

[KaliGman]

Albo Kali Silat training begins with the stick, but knife and empty hand are taught early on. A new student learns the eight angles (seven if you count the vertical downward strike as 7A and the straight thrust as 7B, which is sometimes done since they both end up on the center line of the body) for striking. The first instruction is in solo baston, with a “slash through” attitude and the baston being held in forward grip. Use of a small knife is taught, where the same angles are used, but with both the wide “stick based” arcs and shorter arcs/lines of travel more suitable for fast work with a small blade. The three ranges (long, medium, and short) are taught, as well as how weapons and terrain can dictate the range of the fight. Elbow strikes to all of the eight angles are taught. All of this is taught along with as much of the beginning level footwork as the student can handle. Witique jabs, or strikes with retraction, are introduced as is sinawali (single side, then double “heaven pattern,” etc.). Later, the student is introduced to knee strikes, as well as open hand and closed fist strikes using the same eight angle template. The eight upper level (standing) footwork patterns are covered. The student is taught multiple methods of parrying, trapping, and bridging, using stick, knife and empty hand. A lot of emphasis is placed on the living hand. Combinations and compound movements are taught. Some disarms and locks/limb destructions are also taught at this level. Since one of the tenets of Albo Kali Silat is that, in general, the most reliable disarms involve deanimation of the weapon arm, methods to accomplish this with stick, knife, and empty hand are taught. An introduction to low level (kneeling, etc.) postures and stances is provided. Students engage in sumbrada and free sparring. By the time the students are ready to go on to the next level of training, they will have transitioned from a dependence on Single Direct Attacks (SDA) to Attacks By Combination (ABC) or multiple blows targeted at vital areas.

The low level work begins in earnest after students have mastered the above. Balance disruption, leg immobilizations, attacks, and destructions are taught in this phase. The sikaran or kicking aspects of Albo Kali Silat are introduced at this level, as are more hand striking techniques. Throws and falls are taught. A twelve strike series with the baston and knife is introduced. Grandpa Albo’s Dance One is taught (empty hand, stick, and knife applications). Reverse grip is utilized a lot at this level, both in single and double weapons. In particular, some emphasis is now placed on one weapon being in reverse and the other in forward grip during some sumbrada and other drills. A lot of emphasis, at this level, is placed on learning to fight on the vertical as well as horizontal plane. Transitioning from a high line to a low level attack and leg destruction followed by a takedown or balance disruption technique or a lethal cut to the femoral artery is drilled repeatedly. At this point, the karambit is introduced and simple drills in its use are taught, though the advanced techniques in the karambit are introduced at the next level. An introduction to flexible weapons, in particular cipecut or sarong/belt fighting is conducted. Espada y daga is worked a lot during this time period. At this level, espada y daga (primarily worked with a baston and a small folding training knife) teaches the student to move in and out of the various ranges quickly and smoothly, as long range for the daga is already well into middle range for the baston.

After these first two levels, students work on grappling, both with weapons and without. Dance Two and Dance Three are introduced. The intensity and duration of sparring is increased, and sparring at all ranges is conducted. Sparring consists not only of baston vs. baston, but empty hand against baston, knife against baston, and all other possible combinations. Low level only sparring is introduced, where students must stay in one of the near to the ground postures taught in the art (a practice which forces students to get comfortable with low level techniques and rapid movement while close to the ground).

This is but a brief introduction into what the student of Albo Kali Silat learns. The above training will normally occupy a student for two years or more. The complete syllabus is in outline form and is five pages (Times New Roman, 12 point font and single spaced for the more “techie” people reading this). Please keep in mind that, during the entire training syllabus, the student is repeatedly drilled in the vital points of the human body (the location and method of attacking major blood bearing organs, blood vessels, nerve clusters, tendons, ligaments, and muscle groups). Lethal techniques, limb destructions, and joint manipulations and destructions are taught. Striking and pressing nerve clusters, as well as carotid chokes are taught. The several ways to develop power in striking and other movements are drilled as are the multiple ways to take an opponent’s balance (biomechanics are explained and techniques practiced). Also, please note that Albo Kali Silat primarily uses the stick as a simulated large blade. The goal is to have all movements work regardless of the weapon used or the weapon faced. Albo Kali Silat does teach large knife tactics, but does little work with sword and primarily focuses on small blades for the bladed portion of the syllabus. The reason for this is twofold: first, in Albo Kali Silat, stick trains knife and knife trains empty hand, so virtually any cutting or clubbing weapon, including improvised weapons, should be able to be wielded by a skilled practitioner; secondly, in the United States, where Albo Kali Silat is currently based, and in many large urban centers throughout the world, the carrying of a very large knife or sword is a pretty rare occurrence (at least without raising a few eyebrows), but pocket knives, utility knives (razor knives), and small fixed blade knives are encountered frequently. Students are required to purchase a Spyderco or Emerson folding knife trainer. These knives are used because they are steel, and nothing trains for the use of a steel weapon like a steel weapon. The training knives can be folded so students can practice drawing a knife and opening a blade under stress while sparring (it is amazing how many people carry a folding knife for defense, but have never practiced drawing and deploying one when someone is trying to hit them), and the knives have lifetime warranties backed by companies that stand behind their products (we beat the snot out of these trainers and if they break, they normally get fixed for free). Defending against firearms is a part of the art, but this is taught later in the syllabus. Similar to many other specific weapons, balisong is introduced to students, but, is not taught in detail unless requested by a particular student.

I hope this answered your question in enough detail. Thanks for the interest in the art.

Jon

[gagimilo]

Very nice info, thanx! Hopefully, you will be able to present some of those parts of the curriculum in the video section of your web site...

[Brock]

Thanks! That was the amount of detail I was looking for. In fact I'll probably have to re-read the post a couple of times to get the full of it. I've been slowly switching my students to the folder sized knives as well since they are more common carry on both ends of the fight (attacker and defender) but I find that it's easier to have people new to the blade use the larger versions. I've also been researching the kerambit more and more now that they've started making some really good folding versions of them. I see it becoming a more common carry knife because of the more secure grip on the weapon. I've been trying to view the video clips on your website, but for some reason my Quicktime isn't cooperating.

[WVMark]

I've also been researching the kerambit more and more now that they've started making some really good folding versions of them. I see it becoming a more common carry knife because of the more secure grip on the weapon. I've been trying to view the video clips on your website, but for some reason my Quicktime isn't cooperating.

Try here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jTh5Tfv-UQ

[Brock]

Thanks! That's much better.

[Brock]

Nice video. I'll have to check out the others when I have some more time. I'm still using dinosaur dail-up, so it takes me about 15 minutes to load a 4 minute clip.

[KaliGman]

I see Mark posted the YouTube link. Thanks, Mark.

Brock,

The same video is on the website, but in better quality (the conversion from 6mm DV tape to AVI, to QuickTime, to the YouTube format, sapped a lot of quality--now that I am using an iMac rather than a Windows XP box and don't go to AVI but stay in high quality format until QuickTime conversion for the web, the quality has gone up a bit). On dial up you might have some problems. Some of the video is pretty long. I do have some text to go along with the Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Karambit videos on the site. Updating to the latest version of QuickTime solved the viewing problem for a couple of people who contacted me.

Hope this helped.

Jon

[Brock]

Actually I didn't think that the video quality was all that bad. I could follow it fairly well.

[WuLord187]

I've been involved in martial arts since I was 9 mostly the sport aspect of it (forms, point fighting, PKA kickboxing, boxing, etc.). Being a student in Albo Kali Silat for a year now opened my eyes to what a pure combat system is and the true power of a rare style. Most schools I trained at became redundant in their methods and way too sport focused which only helped my physical conditioning and sport fighting (I enjoyed it but wanted more). Albo Kali Silat is very challenging and getting the basic fundamentals of the art can be difficult. Im athletic and the low level techniques are NO JOKE! AKS has improved my combat tactics in sport fighting (my friends that train in other MAs hardly ever touch me know when we spar after workouts) and personal self defense empty handed or with a weapon. It was blessing to find Albo Kali Silat in WV (of all places) and train under Tuhon Holloway, and I hope I live long enough to learn and apply it with great skill.

[KaliGman]

I've been involved in martial arts since I was 9 mostly the sport aspect of it (forms, point fighting, PKA kickboxing, boxing, etc.). Being a student in Albo Kali Silat for a year now opened my eyes to what a pure combat system is and the true power of a rare style. Most schools I trained at became redundant in their methods and way too sport focused which only helped my physical conditioning and sport fighting (I enjoyed it but wanted more). Albo Kali Silat is very challenging and getting the basic fundamentals of the art can be difficult. Im athletic and the low level techniques are NO JOKE! AKS has improved my combat tactics in sport fighting (my friends that train in other MAs hardly ever touch me know when we spar after workouts) and personal self defense empty handed or with a weapon. It was blessing to find Albo Kali Silat in WV (of all places) and train under Tuhon Holloway, and I hope I live long enough to learn and apply it with great skill.

it is a blessing to have good students. Thanks Joe, for your comments and especially for your enthusiasm and hard work.