
Okay, I’ve practiced the Martial Sciences for a long time approximately 45+ years during that time Silat, FMA and the Southeast Asian Martial Arts have played an integral part of shaping me into the modern Martial Practitioner that I am. I have been fortunate to train with Herman Suwanda of Mande Muda Pencak Silat and several other instructors from his lineage, Bob Orlando’s Silat/Kuntao who dramatially influenced me and training with him was awesome! I was also influenced by Brian “Buzz” Smith’s Kuntaw, Josh van Askinda’s Pencak Silat Ciamande Dari Zenshida’i, Mike Castro and many more. I’ve been privileged to have had the opportunity to train a bit in Indonesia as well.
When we think of Silat most people think of Indonesia but there are other countries like Malaysia that have their unique Silat as well. Just check out Maul Mornie of Silat Suffian Bela Diri. There simply are so many islands in Southeast Asia and different systems of Silat and different ways of movement. There is also the Chinese Kuntao/Kuntaw in the area adding once again a very unique flavor to these South East Asian Martial Arts. Plus the Filipino Martial Arts also have been influenced and have influenced Silat as well. This is an important point because good FMA and good Silat have lots of similarities in movement!
Silat is really integral to how I move. The leg destructions, foot trapping, sweeps are integrated extensively in IRT movement. They are a foundational skill set. Not to mention other striking characteristics, locks and throws and or course blade work!
I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to train with some great instructors and learn their approach to blend with my other martial practitioner skill sets. Everything I do is based on it being effective in the here and now. If its not, I dont have much time for it. Silat/ Kuntao whether Indonesian, Malaysian or Silat influenced FMA like Kuntaw and vice versa blend nicely with this approach. The South East Asian Martial Arts are weapon based systems that translate to empty hands. Weapon based systems are in my opinion where it’s at from a modern perspective based in reality. What I practice, I just might have to use at work or in civilian life. It has to work, in the here and now. It has to be effective from weapons to empty hands…

See You On The Mats!!!