the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

I like the style of the teacher. He adheres to the sticking as in jian or staff training and using "energy' of the other or being propelled b that energy to reach the target of the Other.
Close to the end, he is "teaching" a son and the son did not move his body positioning or blade angle (it remained static) and the son got a slight cut just to edge above left eye.

Very interesting, thanks.

I doubt the old man can even pass the sobriety test, let alone surviving a real fight involving edged weapons. Nonetheless, it was fun watching his "drunken machete" kung fu.

The only way to truly know his skill level would have been to find out in person.

Not a fan of that blade work as it was shown. For one the hand and lead arm look very vulnerable as it was being played.

I got the impression he was just playing with his students.

There are some vids of his students training here.

zrm wrote:I got the impression he was just playing with his students.

There are some vids of his students training here.

That's some good stuff.

Looks like Mike needs to pay a bit more attention, though. Roland tagged him on the throat area exactly where he kept his own hand pinned at least 5 times while I was watching. Slow learner.

I doubt the old man can even pass the sobriety test, let alone surviving a real fight involving edged weapons.

I think Millenia of drunken soldiers would not agree with the idea that being drunk precludes you being able to survive a battle with edged weapons.

Just sayin.

S

shawnsegler wrote:

I doubt the old man can even pass the sobriety test, let alone surviving a real fight involving edged weapons.

I think Millenia of drunken soldiers would not agree with the idea that being drunk precludes you being able to survive a battle with edged weapons.

Just sayin.

S

On the flip side, millennia of military officers would probably agree with the idea that drunken soldiers usually do not survive in battle against sober opponents who are equally trained and armed.

Depends on how drunk, I'm guessing.

I know many people who likely perform the violence dance better with a couple three shots in them.

Fwiw.

S

C.J.W. wrote:I doubt the old man can even pass the sobriety test, let alone surviving a real fight involving edged weapons. Nonetheless, it was fun watching his "drunken machete" kung fu.

This is usually the pattern of practice of non European martial systems, at least in the system/method being taught. It is not aggressive in initial training or strict in adherence to outward manners of skill and precision that is shown.
I doubt that the escaped slaves form Haiti who became the first Republic in the Americas had access to an Armory, access to cannons and systems of strategy based on book knowledge or a fancy Sandhurst or Ecole Militaire!

One does not defeat Napoleon army and France by exhibiting 'softness" without "hardness".

In the second vid, fwiw, I saw that one guy kept his left hand covering his heart and near his throat. To me, that means he knows where not to get cut. Afa the techniques, I think the ultimate idea is "not to get cut." I'd say that people who play or fight with machetes have to learn how to avoid it, regardless of what they look like practicing. Also, Haiti, unlike the Philippines, was not influenced by traditional European blade techniques. So, they weren't as likely to develop specific forms. It's much more improvisational.

Steve James wrote:In the second vid, fwiw, I saw that one guy kept his left hand covering his heart and near his throat. To me, that means he knows where not to get cut. Afa the techniques, I think the ultimate idea is "not to get cut." I'd say that people who play or fight with machetes have to learn how to avoid it, regardless of what they look like practicing. Also, Haiti, unlike the Philippines, was not influenced by traditional European blade techniques. So, they weren't as likely to develop specific forms. It's much more improvisational.

To me, that looks like armor/gaurd. That's about the only easily reachable place where a stray nick can end your life. Putting a bony hand in the way or where it can easily intercept is a really good idea. Asian and Western weapons techniques are all based on formal warfare with centuries of arms and armor races, something that is purely and uniquely Haitian would be developed out of the slave revolts and training without that protective gear.

This is what I was alluding to in my last comment. White boy's off hand is doing a bunch of nonsense.