Pekiti-Tirsia in novels

[TuhonBill]

The first chapter of the audio version of my fantasy novel Asulon is now on YouTube.

I've divided the 27 minute chapter into seven segments so they will be easy to download. Part 5 has a knife fight based on Pekiti-Tirsia techniques. Each segment is paired with a different illustration from the novel. The audio is done by veteran British actor James Brinkley.

You'll find the first segment of Asulon here:
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=TNS69i_ VncM&feature= related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNS69i_VncM&feature=related)

You can also find it by entering Asulon into the YouTube search bar.

Thanks,
Tuhon Bill McGrath

[TuhonBill]

Hi Folks,

I question came up on another list regarding the Pekiti-Tirsia DVDs I've been including with my novels when they are purchased from the PTI website. The question was, what are you going to sell with your third novel (which, if all goes well, will be published late next year). I thought you guys might be interested in my response and in receving the same discount as members of that other list received.
Here is my reply.


I’m planning on doing a short sword and shield DVD to sell with my third novel. It’s a set of techniques I put together for my characters to use in the story. It’s loosely based on the Alphabito set in Pekiti-Tirsia. Here’s the difference:
The letter A in Alphabito is a diagonal 1 to cut his diagonal 1, then a diagonal 2 to cut his attacking left arm, then a forehand horizontal thrust to the armpit, all while you are doing a clockwise foreword triangle, (step in to the apex of the triangle on the one cut, step out off the apex on the two cut while parrying his left hand with your left, the horizontal step left then adds power to the thrust.). There’s a spinning Florete-type flourish at the end that Tuhon Gaje called the period at the end of the sentence (used to deflect a counter attack while you exit). If you do 1-2-thrust in the air you can kind of see the letter A.

I took this idea and simplified it for my second novel and modified it to fit the weapons used there. The characters are using a small shield or buckler and standing in a left lead.
The A technique here is done with a simultaneous block (with the shield) and cut to the attacking arm, then a backhand diagonal cut to the neck, a punch with the shield to the face or helmet, a thrust with the sword, then a push with the shield to help withdraw the blade. That punch-thrust-push combo takes the place of the Florete (which would be difficult to describe in a novel in a way that non-FMA readers would understand). I also keep the footwork simple (just a shuffle step) since this technique also has to work in a line of soldiers. I’m still playing around with the design of the shield (size, shape, attachment points), but should have those details worked out by the time I begin work on book three early next year.

As for the two books I currently have available, I have a special offer for members of FMATalk.

When you order my first novel, Asulon, from the PTI website (www.pekiti.com (http://www.pekiti.com/)) you also receive the Pekiti-Tirsia Overview DVD for $20 (shipping included within the U.S.).
Eretzel, book two in the series, is also $20 and comes with my basic footwork DVD.

Here is the FMATalk special. If you order both books from the PTI website before December 31st, 2008 I will also include my Introduction to Indonesian Knife DVD.
So for $40 you get two books and three DVDs with shipping included in the U.S.
(foreign orders email me for shipping charges).


Merry Christmas,
Tuhon Bill McGrath