Sparring
In this video, my student is armed with a solo baston (single stick) and I start out armed with espada y dagga (bolo sword/knife and Spyderco Gunting training knife). After demonstrating the use of dual weapons for a time, I discard the bolo, leaving myself armed with a Gunting training knife with a blade that is approximately three inches in length. This puts me at a serious reach disadvantage compared to the well over two foot long stick used by my student. My student and I freely move back and forth, attacking and defending. None of this is choreographed; it is just what happened as we sparred. You will notice that, when I have only a knife, I must move very quickly in toward the opponent in order for my short ranged weapon to be effective. Please note the several times that I successfully cut my opponent on low lines, attacking his legs. Also note the fact that I drop to kuha kuha (kneeling stance) in order to attack very low and to pass his attacks over my body while conducting my own attack series. In one instance, as I drop into kuha kuha, I kick out and check the opponents advancing leg, unbalancing him, cut his leg, throw the opponent while rolling backward, stab the knife into the opponent while he is airborne, and cut him again once he lands and I am recovering to a kuha kuha and then standing posture. This demonstrates the trapping, sweeping, and low striking abilities gained by fighting on the vertical as well as horizontal planes and is one of the hallmarks of Albo Kali Silat. The accomplished Albo Kali Silat practitioner will be able to go from low to high level stances and attacks with ease, flowing from level to level smoothly. Once again, this video is narrated, so please ensure that the sound on your computer is turned on so you can enjoy the narration. Also, this video is approximately four minutes in duration, so it takes some time to load.
Tuhan Holloway, July 2007
