what kind of martial arts used by our Marines? is it really kali arnis ?

PMC Force Recon are all proficient in it.

Pekiti-Tirsia Kali as practiced by PMC Recon Marines

In recent time it showed, that the majority of contemporary wars and military conflicts are not decided by huge amounts of infantry soldiers anymore. Having seen the media coverage about the Gulf War or the military operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan, everybody understands, that modern armed forces are confronted with different situations and have to meet different requirements. The opponent in modern warfare often utilises Guerrilla-Tactics and can only be defeated by good understanding of this type of warfare and by application of suitable methods.

This was also experienced by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In the second world war, it have been the Filipino warriors, who refused to back down after General Mac Arthurs withdrawal, and, who continued to fight despite of inferior weaponry. By showing great virtue and by application of Kali strategies (Bolo Battalion) these people delayed the advancement of the Japanese Army until the Americans managed to re-organise their war machinery in their home land, finally successfully fighting the Japanese.

But despite the fact, that this World War II veterans are still celebrated as heroes in parades (see our Report about the Filipino Centennial) and their contribution has also been acknowledged in the USA, the Filipino government didn't learn their lesson (in contrast to the Americans, who early realised the importance of special forces units like the Delta Force and the Navy Seals). The Filipino Armed Forces (as many others did all over the world) continued to train and act according to the methods of the colonial army (maybe because military elite units could have been considered as a danger to democracy). Until today the encounters between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the militant separatist in the south of the Philippines show, that conventional military tactics are almost useless if used against guerrilla fighters.

Some years ago this was understood by the leaders of the Filipino Armed Forces and it was decided, that some of the special units should additionally be trained in the strategies and tactics of the almost forgot Filipino martial arts.

The first ones, who understood this situation and also put the program into action were the Force Recon Marines. The Recon Marines which is short for Force Reconnaissance are specialists for Deep Reconnaissance and Direct Action and they spent many of their missions in small teams in hostile territory. They usually can't hope for extensive air dispatch - in combat these people have to stand on their own. The Recon Marines motto is "Swift, Silent - Deadly" or "Outnumbered - But Never Outfought" In the Philippines - may it be friend or enemy - the Force Recon are the most respected, admired and feared among the special units.

When the Recons Marines started to look for "their to-be Close Quarter Combat System", of course there were plenty of applicants from inside and outside the Philippines. Everybody wanted to be able to claim the reputation to be the instructors of this highly prestigious special unit.

But the Recon Marines, with their extensive combat experience, had a very good idea what they were looking for, what they wanted and what they didn't want. So there was a selection process, in which the applicants had to present themselves and their teaching programs. Among all, the Pekiti-Tirsia Kali system under the guidance of Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje was the only one to be successful. The Force Recon Marines choose to be trained in Pekiti-Tirsia.

The Pekiti-Tirsia training of the Recon Marines is under the guidance of Grand Tuhon Gaje and in case he can't be there personally (as for example at his last visits in Europe and Canada) his nephew Rommel Tortal takes over. Convinced by the success of the Recon Marines, the Seals and other Elite Units start to train their teams in Pekiti-Tirsia. Army and Air Force have big interest in Pekiti-Tirsia training as well.

Kali Arnis is especially deadly when using bladed weapons. US SOCOM units have shown keen interest in this Filipino fighting system when during the Balikatan a number of US specops personnel were disarmed and put down by Filipino counterparts in friendly matches.

Wow, I never thought we have Force Recon in our Marines.
Why are they not so well known and celebrated as the Scout Rangers?
:bow:

Its because Force Recon Marines rarely involve themselves in direct action ops like the SRs. Their mission is to be the eyes and ears of the MBLTs and are trained to operate deep inside enemy territory, unknown and unseen, gathering the necessary intel for the main Marine assault force to act upon..

From time to time, FRs are used in direct action ops like the ones they did during the Abu Sayyaf hostage crisis.

If Im not mistaken, it was a Force Recon team who rescued Jeffrey Schilling.

:armysmile:

It seems like Kali, a genuine Filipino Martial Arts style is the ULTIMATE Special Ops choice for martial arts.

The US Navy SEALs have long been using Kali.

The Phil. Army Special Forces were the first ones who got Kali training. I believe that was when Pres. Ramos was the President then.

Kali was made famous by Martial Arts Hall of Famer, Dan Inosanto.

:specool:



I miss working out in our dojos.

Sayonatsi Extreme Martial Arts?

Trivia says that the movies "The Hunted", "Bourne Identity" and "Bourne Supremacy" used Kali as the foundation of their martial art scenes. Honestly, it is much better than Hongkie or John Wu kung fu on suspended trapeze used by Mission Impossible and the Matrix. It makes it more sane, realistic and fast paced :specool:
:bow: :bow: :bow:

:specool: mAYBE IF ABLE TO WATCH A fRENCH fILM bROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLVES with Mark Dacascus he uses the similar fighting technique ( I think Mark Dacascus have a Filipino blood but I don't know the %)with sticks :thumb:

http://www.philippinemarinecorps.mil.ph/pmcFRBN.html

http://www.philippinemarinecorps.mil.ph/c6_frbn.html

How did Lt. Parcon earn the MoV? :thumb:

http://www.philippinemarinecorps.mil.ph/fmedal.html


CAPTAIN CUSTODIO J PARCON JR 0-9702 PHILIPPINE NAVY (MARINES)
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty during a series of encounters against heavily armed Muslim kidnappers at Bgy Kapayawan, Isabela, Basilan Province, from 07 to 15 May 1993. As the Commanding Officer, 61 Marine Reconnaissance Company tasked to infiltrate the Abu Sayyaf Camp Al Madinah and rescue victim Anthony Biel III, CAPTAIN PARCON JR led his men on a hazardous mission, pitting them against extremely fanatic and suicidal armed elements. Infiltrating into the fortified enemy camp under cover of darkness, he and his men engaged six armed enemies, instantly killing two and wounding two others. Through skillful direction of friendly fires and maneuver, his men evaded detection and sowed confusion within while dislodging Abu Sayyaf Elements from each bunker in close quarter Battle. The next day, he saw armed men preparing for a counter attack. Employing accurate sniper fire, he and his men neutralized four kidnappers and wounded several others who scampered in various direction. At about 1500H on that same day, they were ambushed by the main body of Abu Sayyaf mujahideens, pinning down one section of his men in the middle of the enemy's killing zone. Unable to maneuver under intense enemy fire, he crawled towards the main enemy force amidst hail of machine gun and mortar fires, knocking down single handedly the enemy bunkers along the way. With enemy fires concentrated on his direction, his men were able to get out of the killing zone to deliver covering fires for his advance. He crept close to the enemy, lobbed a smoke grenade at their position to give supporting helicopter gunship a clearer target. Finally, On 10 May, he and his men made the final assault on the enemy's main headquarters which was defended by a 50 caliber heavy machine gun that delivered devastating fires on the advancing troops. Again, he single handedly maneuvered forward and delivered fatal burst of fire to the enemy gunner. Making the last defense of the Abu Sayaf group to collapse, and forcing the remaining enemies to scamper in different directions, bringing with them their dead and wounded. The capture of Camp Al Madinah and the neutralization of 46 Abu Sayyaf extremists greatly pressured the enemy to release Luis Anthohy Biel III. Recovered from the camp were one 50 caliber machine gun, one light anti-tank weapon, and two M2 Carbine rifle. one M1 Garrand Rifle, undetermined number of live mortar rounds several land mine bombs, and voluminous documents. By these Achievements, CAPTAIN PARCON distinguished himself in combat in keeping with the finest traditions of Filipino Soldiery.

very brave officer :thumb:

They say that this event was debatable. :dunno:

debatable?

what was the basis, CDF?

let's just leave it as such

okay. :armygrin:

nonetheless, since you've already mentioned that it was, or still is, debatable there is now a growing perception among the readers here that the Marine troopers involved in that encounter are now intrigued by the thought of "having claimed something that they did not deserve."

Maybe mblt6 and his fellow Marines can answer that.

Recent article about PMC Force Recon training in swordfighting.

Locals sharpen Filipinos' combat skills
Newport News martial arts experts teach soldiers in the Philippines sword fighting against terrorists.

BY JIM HODGES
l 247-4633

Published March 24, 2005

NEWPORT NEWS -- They gathered just outside Manila armed with ginuntings, 20- to 26-inch-long swords with steel blades sharpened to a razor's edge on both sides, wooden handles carved to fit each combatant's hand and wooden scabbards decorated with etched scenes that had personal meanings.

They learned to fight as though it was 1521, as though Fernando Magellan and the Spaniards were invading again, as though life itself hung in the balance.

For some, it does.

And then Norris Domangue, John Hackman and Jim Edwards went back to Newport News, where they teach Pekiti-Tirsia Kali in a gymnasium.

And the Filipino Force Recon Marines returned to Mindanao, where they use Pekiti-Tirsia Kali against Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic terrorist group allied with al-Qaida that they fight in the Southern Philippine jungle.

For some of the Filipino marines, the course was a refresher. They have already fought sword battles with Abu Sayyaf. One gave Domangue a sword taken from an enemy on Jolo, one of the Philippines 700 islands and just off Mindanao.

For other marines, it was new stuff.

"We went 110 percent, because we knew that two weeks after we finished they could be dead in the jungle," Domangue said.

Abu Sayyaf is the most fierce of the four terrorist groups in the Philippines, and its stated goal is an independent Islamic state in Mindanao.

The BBC reported Wednesday that an Abu Sayyaf plan for bombings in Manila and Mindanao during Easter week had been foiled with the arrest of a terrorist.

"For so many years, they have fought against the Christians in the Philippines," says Leo Gaje, a Filipino who teaches Pekiti-Tirsia Kali to his country's military and commutes to the United States to work with his martial arts disciples.

He recruited the Americans to help in the Philippines for two weeks in February.

"The Abu Sayyaf believe that if you can kill an enemy with a blade, when his blood hits the ground, it's a blessing for Allah," Gaje says. "Also, that if you are killed with a blade, when your blood hits the ground, it's a curse to Allah."

Abu Sayyaf means "bearer of the sword."

Pekiti-Tirsia Kali is a variation on an ancient Filipino martial art that involves fighting with swords. It's an aggressive, intensive skill, with kill-or-be-killed movements of the hands and quick footwork.

Unlike many other martial arts, its philosophy is that "a good offense is the best defense," says Domangue, a retired Air Force command master sergeant who runs the Eastwind Academy in Newport News and carries rankings in several other martial arts. He has taught knife and blade combat to Special Forces troops at Fort Bragg, N.C.

If the skill seems primitive, that's because it is. Both the Abu Sayyaf and Filipino Recon Marines are conventionally armed with rifles and hand grenades, but sometimes necessity calls for an improvised attack.

"In jungle operations, at close quarters, sometimes it's not possible to swing your M-16 to shoot," Gaje says. "Then you have to be prepared to hack your enemy to pieces. It demoralizes them. They are afraid of the blade.

"The concept is to fight against an ideology."

The fight began almost 500 years ago, when Magellan and the Spanish invaded the Philippines armed with muskets. Magellan was killed by the blades of chieftan Lapu Lapu and his men, but eventually muskets won out. Pekiti-Tirsia Kali was saved in the Filipino culture by being woven into native dances performed for the pleasure of the unknowing Spanish.

It was resurrected when the Spanish were sent packing. It was refined by Conrado B. Tortal, Gaje's grandfather. Forms of it were used against the Japanese during World War II.

It's perhaps odd that Americans could be teaching a Filipino art to Filipinos to use in combat in their homeland. But these are difficult times in the Philippines.

"Every day there are operations on Mindanao," Gaje said. "Every couple of weeks, someone is killed."

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp-86...ews-local-final

from the article i learn that this sword fighting art is of filipino origin but then the trainors are mostly foreigners, so this means that this martial art is no longer practiced in the phils and needs foreign assistance to be taught to filipino marines...how come? this seems to be a very excellent martial art, this should have not been allowed to die

we have nepalese gurkhas in singapore and ive seen them practice using their kukri knives, these gurkhas are very terribly effective soldiers and they did not allow their knifeskills to turn rusty, their practicing it constantly

The skills was adopted by the Americans in the 30's during the commonwealth period transcending it into combat fighting for soldiers.

The local version, is totally different, in high school you learn the basics of one version and is part of HS physical education classes.

There are schools that teach the old and transcended versions and they tour around the world to teach them. Several schools have sprung up in europe and US, Some foreign masters were even used as fighting consultants for the movies, the hunted and bourne identity.

If you have seen the movie bourne identity, the art is suppose to be as fluid as shown.

hello to my Marine and Force Recon Kali brothers. musta na training niyo diyan?

keep up the good work!




Silentblade
Assistant Instructor
of
Pekiti-Tirsia Kali Manila Pitbulls
under Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje
and Mandala Maginoo Rommel Tortal

Now we are almost complete here at PDFF, we now have an instructor of martial arts!

Now the only member role left is a psycho therapist!

:funnypost:

whats up guys?

check out our site. medyo hindi nga lang updated.

http://www.manilapitbulls.com/

ayos a , san ba ginawa ang mga blade weapon nyo at ano tawag dun, jungle bolo lang ba?

Our sword, blade, itak, bolo, or whatever you want to call it, is called the Ginunting. Originally, it is an Ilonggo weapon of war. This model, however, is design for the Philippine Force Recon Marines who first trained Pekiti-Tirsia Kali.



I don't know where is it made, but i know the Marines has a supplier (or blacksmith) of blades, combat knives and other weapons. Every standard issue Ginunting has serial number embedded to it. My own Ginunting has one too.

beautiful weapon, is it double edged and why the unusual shape?

I want one!

its single edged.

if you notice the shape of the blade, it looks like one part of a scissor.

in my own opinion, the purpose of this blade is to cut and chop/hack. imagine if your arm, leg, and neck is exposed to the curved blade. the curved blade would easily chop/hack it because our limbs, neck and other parts of our body is cylindrical. the blade is also effective in long range melee combat because of its edged tip. thats how i play/spar with it.

At our province there are still some lucky ones who possess the old Imperial Japanese officer swords. Unlucky for me my grandpa threw his away when martial law came down. There was one spotted though being used by a butcher in the local wet market. What about the Filipino Muslim kris? Heard that these are as good as Japanese swords. I'll probably settle for one of those being sold by street vendors made from steel used for railroad tracks.

I wonder why they made the bolo to have the tip of the blade positioned like that and not of the usual design?

Can anyone explain to us why?

I dont know. :dunno: But just getting curious about this and nothing so technical like what the Force Recon guys know too well now.

Ive tried holding several bolo designs and i prefer the typical one (see photo) because of the balance. It is best if they make it a little narrow though.

The heavier weight on the far end of the blade gives me more control, power and balance.

So what's with this new design?

To increase the damage inflicted with upward strokes. Most likely the style uses ground to sky attack. Its definitely a martial artists' weapon compared to the standard bolo. Would like to see too if our local soldiers adapt the kris. Its a weapon that is respected and feared and is as good as the Japanese swords.

BTW, are the Americans still using smatchets? Haven't seen any American troops during the Balikatans in pix sporting blades. The Spets are still fielding those spring knives and the ChiComs those with .22s at the very least. Our AFP and allies would be outmatched if faced against those in a blade fight.

flipzi

the Ginunting blade is not your regular jungle bolo or machete. its a fighting blade. bolos and machetes have a different purpose. basically, the structure of the blade complements the fighting techniques of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali.

City Hunter

actually one of the techniques in Pekiti-Tirsia called 'Panastas' uses an upward-downward-upward-downward motion of attacks. basically its a good counter move for an incoming angle 1 attack.

i doubt our military would adapt the Kris as a fighting blade. Combat weapons are battle tested to determine what good it'll do to improve the military. so far, the Ginunting blade is the most efficient fighting long-edged weapon the marine has ever used. and besides, if ever the marines use a Kris together with Pekiti-Tirsia Kali, it would be a disaster. Pekiti-Tirsia Kali uses a shoulder chambering postion, which means the blade is rested at the marines shoulder for maximum power strike. Imagine a double edge long blade like a Kris chambered at the marines shoulders.

I see.

This is just a fighting blade... so i can have one and even buy it from where the Marines buy it from, right?

:armywink:

well, you just cant buy it in any army/marines surpluses, even inside fort bonifacio. the marines dont just buy it somewhere. these blades are especially made for them. my Ginuntings even have serial numbers and words engraved into the blade. im not sure if they're sold to the public because every ginunting made for the marines has a serial number.

btw, this blade is not 'just' a fighting blade. these blades are made to cross kris-wielding muslim terrorists in battle. im very proud to own one. it is like owning a piece of history.

Is the design patented?

What if some swordsmiths make one?

Our Marines are the only warriors in the entire world who use this sword, are they not?

The Ginunting is actually an Ilonggo weapon of war. In other words, its an Ilonggo bolo or itak. It comes in different sizes and design for different purposes. The pic that I showed is the Marine Force Recon design. I don't think its patented. If I have the time and money baka magpagawa rin ako ng custom made.

As far as I know, the Philippine Marines are the only ones whos using this kind of blade. It's a Filipino blade after all.

So who is the best maker of this sword in the Philippines?