True Martial Art or Not?
In response to intimidation, insults, abusive language, vilification and implied threats from certain martial artists in the internet.
Dear respected friends,
From your reference point of view, I am one of those you term "losers" because I truly believe in these sort of phenomena. 50 years ago, acupuncture was a scam, fraud and quackery too. It somehow is reasonably respected and accepted because it is accepted in the West. For us, it is a mere acceptance as a normal fact of life.
In the Orient, especially in South East Asia, there is a widespread belief in these phenomena of invulnerability, great strength, and knocking down attackers (not opponents) from a distance without contact. These are religious as well as martial arts beliefs. Such beliefs are widespread in martial arts circles in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Burma.
Such beliefs and practices are more prevalent in rural areas where Western lifestyle, education and secular influences have not taken over the norm. They are thus closely associated with TRUE, AUTHENTIC, TRADITIONAL martials arts of the regions which have not yet been largely influenced by the so-called 'true' martial arts.
Such traditional arts in the fundamentalist traditional areas have been practised with deadly effect for many centuries without much changes. They have been used in self defence and warfare for centuries. They are not 'pussy' arts. They are as genuine, if not much more genuine, than their modern counterparts that we now are getting to know.
In Malaysia (where I come from and grew up), and Indonesia (my hometown of Tawau is just across the border in Kalimantan), it is expected that all Silat masters have such abilities. It is an assumed fact. It would be presumptuous to teach Silat without proficiency in such powers - generally called "ilmu" which means "skill or knowledge" in ordinary language, but it means something like "spiritual powers and knowledge" in Silat and mystic circles.
In fact, in a confrontation, the first resort of a Silat master in most instances is to use his "ilmu", and if that failed to resolve the situation, then only his physical fighting skills come into play. This is the norm.
Silat is an effective martial art. Its practitioners and masters are very good technicians. Just because they believe in such "ilmus" should not degrade their art, nor themselves as 'pussies' or 'losers' or 'woozers' - and as traditional martial artists, we are offended by such harsh abusive and vilifying comments.
In our view, we have what you have, and those are the physical techniques to resolve a confrontation. We have the same, if not more, ability to kill, as our arts are traditional combat arts, and not modern arts that you call 'martial arts'. Our arts are not 'sports martial arts', nor 'health martial arts' either. They have been used for centuries for life and death situations, and are only emerging to be known to the West. They are still to compete with the more modernised well-known counterparts of our traditions, as well as with what you think are 'true' martial arts - such as Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Ju Do, Ju Jitsu, Hwa Rang Do, Hapkido, Aikido, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Pa Kua, Muay Thai, Bando etc.
Yes, we do have the physical combat (not pussy techniques as many suggested) techniques which we use to injure, maim, or kill in actual defence or confrontation. BUT WE HAVE MORE! We have, in addition, the "ilmus".
We are thus, very perplex, and a bit upset, why you, the so-called 'true' martial artists, denounce us or speak of us in such demeaning ways. Are we not martial artists just because our system have the "ilmus" in addition to our physical techniques? Why this discrimination? Why the vilification and rude comments? Gentlemen?
Taking a case from my own personal experience. I am a teacher of a traditional blade-oriented style of eskrima called "Kalis Ilustrisimo". It was also called "Kali Ilustrisimo" "Kali Illustrisimo" "Ilustrisimo Kali" "Ollisistrimo Eskrima". Our master, the late Tatang Ilustrisimo (1900 - 1997) was an incredible fighter. He came from a family line of warriors and mystics. His uncle Melecio Ilustrisimo was a famous and influential eskrimador in North Cebu (the Saavedras, Romos, and later, the Canettes, were influential in the South and Central Cebu). Melecio Ilustrisimo has students stretching north as far as Luzon. Tatang Ilustrisimo's uncle, the famous Agapito Illustrisimo, was the head of the spiritual communities in sacred Mount Banahaw, the holiest mountain in Philippines. Agapito was accreditted with very strange mystical powers. There is even a book written about him by a Jesuit priest sent by the Roman Catholic Church to investigate those semi-Catholic mystical movements (similar to Brazilian ones). The book is called "Agapito Ilustrisimo - A Mount Banahaw Guru".
In addition, 2 other famous (to the West) eskrimadors are related to Tatang Ilustrisimo. His second cousin (maternal side) is the famous Floro Villabraille who migrated to Hawaii. Floro Villabraille was also undefeated in his life in actual unpadded matches. He was featured in Dan Inosanto's book "Filipino Martial Arts". He is also a believer, practitioner and possessr of anting-anting or orascion - the Filipino equivalent of mystical powers. He was originally a student of Melecio Ilustrisimo, and later, when he moved to Manila, he became a student of Tatang Ilustrisimo.
The other relation is Regina Ellustrisimo who is Tatang Ilustrisimo's youngest uncle who migrated to Stockton, USA. Dan Inosanto's book "Filipino Martial Arts" featured his photo with tattos inscribed in Latin. These are his anting-antings. He was also a healer.
Readers are urged to read "Filipino Martial Arts" to validate that the above eskrima masters do exist, and that they are truly masters and formidable fighters. If any reader disagree that they are 'true' martial artists, please email this forum publicly, stating so, and please email me directly stating so, and I will re-direct them for further investigations for an amiable resolution.
Our master Tatang Ilustrisimo fought many actual confrontations in his 97 years of life. He remained undefeated. His first kill was when he was 17 years old, in a drinking tavern (frowned upon in the Islamic south). Tatang Ilustrisimo was an adopted son inthe court of the then Sultan of Sulu in Jolo. The 'victim' was apparently from another rival royal house. The moment the victim drew his sword to attack, Tatang Ilustrisimo, a very quick and sharp fighter, saw an opening as the victim had drawn his sword too far in, and Tatang Ilustrisimo quickly drew his, and in a single stroke, decapitated the victim, whose head fell to the ground, while still standing and in a frenzy - probably unaware his head was already separated from his shoulders.
Tatang killed many during the World War 2 as a guerilla. He was also sent out to kill Filipino traitors. His code name during the war was "The Executioner". He is no fool. He is no pussy either.
Tatang was a believer, practitioner and possessor of anting-anting and orascion. Just like his famous uncles (Melecio, Agapito, Regina etc), he had used his spiritual powers many times for fighting. For example, against some bullies who intimidated all the town's folk and Policemen. He also used it successfully against an Indonesian Silat fighter for a match in Singapore around 1970.
After a debilitating lung collapse during which he was in comatose and was admitted to hospital for about a week or so, he suddenly got up and discharged himself, to the surprise of everybody, as the doctor had advised to prepare his coffin. This shows the power of his spiritual concentration. After he recovered a little, only then Tatang Ilustrisimo showed more of his 'stuff'. This is probably he knew he was already too old, and time is near, and nobody will challenge a weak old man anymore. He started to give demonstrations of the power of his anting-anting and orascion every Good Friday - drawing his mystical inscriptions on a piece of paper (about A4 size), and hanging it on the branch of a tree, or similar, and inviting all and sundry to shoot the pieces of paper. Many tried, but all failed. Even the shooting instructor of the Police academy tried his hand without success. He said that he simply could not shoot it, even at 5 metres. This is an illustration of Tatang's mystical power that he used to save his life many times.
Tatang's last kill was when he was past 90 years, and it nearly got him into jail. As with many encounters, this also ended very swiftly (most of Tatang's encounters end in only one or two strokes). Tatang merely stepped to one side and hit the attacker at the back of the head with his stick 9an iron rod), and the attacker fell down. When down, Tatang's friend stepped in and used a pig-stabber (a stabbing instrument used to pierce a hole into paper to for binding) to pierce the attacker's heart, and then he tore the ribs apart and pulled the heart out and ate it raw. It is believed that this makes one brave, and confers control over the victim's spirit. Tatang escaped jail again this time because his friend took the rap for him, arguing that Tatang merely fell the man, but the death was caused by the piercing of the heart.
If we insist that people who believe in such powers are fools, and those masters who practise and teach such powers are scam and fraudulent martial artists, then, we are also insisting that such great fighters such as Antonio Tatang Ilustrisimo, Floro Villabrialle, Agapito Illustrisimo, Melecio Ilustrisimo, Regina Ellustrisimo, and the Silat masters, and many others, are scam and fraudulent martial artists. This is a dangerous offensive insult and vilification.
Of course, we can excuse ourselves that our insults were unintentional (may have truth in this), because we have not investigated fully and practised enough of the systems to have an accurate picture. But by the same token, is that a legal or social excuse? Can I ratter my horrid mouth off at just anybody or any corporation, putting them down as scams and frauds and fools? And tell the court that I did not know the truth then, but now I do?
From the above real life stories (there are many more) of real masters of fighting, it can be gleamed that ancient traditions, and ancient warriors tend to use some form of spiritual power in their fighting arts. Whether these fighting arts can be called 'martial arts' is a matter of personal opinion.
If we define martial arts as physical movements of punching and kicking and striking only, and not other methods at all, then the fighting arts are fighting arts. Fighting arts, in this regard, are not martial arts. Then, probably the critics are right - these fighting masters are incredible masters of combat. They are not 'true' martial artists or sportsmen in the fantasised "area of death". It all hinges on what we consider to be 'martial arts'.
Many rude critics of people who believe in, and practise, such "ilmus" (powers) seem to have the idea that they know the topic of martial arts very well, and fully. They also convey the impression that they think that those who believe in such "ilmus" are either uneducated, know only a little, incompetent martial artists, or fools to be pitied. In actual fact, this is far from the truth because some of these masters are very knowledgeable martial arts (maybe not martial arts - but combatants and killers) and extremely competent technicians.
The account of Tatang Ilustrisimo giving a public display of his spiritual powers is very unusual indeed. Traditional masters of martial arts deeply rooted in ethnic traditions do not give demonstrations. Even testing of the skills are frowned upon. You train in it. And you believe in it because either you heard eye witnesses accounts of your teacher’s powers, or at the time of your initiation, the master gave you a glimpse of his powers. That is all. The power is to be used for a REAL situation, not a faked and conjured up situation, such as a challenge test. It is not practised and tested out of curiousity. It is not tested as a bet to win some money. It must be used in a real life and death situation. We are warned that using it otherwise will not work. The spiritual power can not be used this way. Maybe that is why Tatang Ilustrisimo only displayed his power towards the end of his life. Even then, he had restrictions:- he does not allow the pieces of inscription to be tested on the human body. He said it can not be tested this way and it will fail. Shoot the paper as much as you want, but do not test it on yourself. On yourself, it must be real. Again, this is in accord with the traditional belief.
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing". Before making judgements, especially rude remarks, about other systems, however strange and foreign they may seem to us (at the moment), we should study, investigate, and practise that system in depth, and only is our evaluation reasonable and sound.
Self defence and combat is common to all races, nations, and cultures. Within the martial arts community, there should be mutual respect, and ideally, mutual learning.
Even though I have learnt martial arts since I was a boy, I am still very ignorant, and I am still learning! There are many things that I do no know, and have not heard of yet. New things will be strange and foreign to me. Instead of denouncing and ridiculing such strange things, I want to learn about them - continuing education in life. This is perhaps the attitude a modern martial artist should have? Even though I am a steeply traditional martial artist, I do treat all new ideas with an open mind. I hope my more modern counterparts can do the same.
I am sorry to bore you with such a long letter. I felt that we should try to educate ourselves with the subject matter before making derogatory remarks which may offend many 'legitimate' martial artists (fortunately, many of those affected are in rural areas and do not have access to the internet). I also hope that there is mutual respect, understanding, and co-operation between martial artists of different traditions. Lastly, I think that it is very unethical to insult and abuse very great masters like Tatang Ilustrisimo who we are a fraction of in fighting skills.
As for scams and frauds, yes, there are plenty! And there are not limited to those who believe in spiritual powers. Many scam schools have arisen that rely on purely physical techniques. In fact, traditionalists would complain about such schools.
With respects,
John Chow
of the famed Kalis Ilustrisimo, under the tutelage of the great fighter, Tatang Ilustrisimo, Tony Diego, Romy (Romeo) Macapagal, Raymond Floro.
URL: http://www.yellowbamboohk.com