2 Minute Drill

Have a look at this clip.  This is Tuhon Nonoy Garrucho demonstrating  expressions of some flows from his Visayan style.  Tuhon is a legendary senior member of the PTK, and close associate of Tuhon Rommel Tortal.  I liked this clip since it illustrates some very interesting extensions to flows we should recognize from Kali Majaphit.  Watch it again.  What did you see?

For me, several very interesting ideas emerged.  Apart from his fast, accurate guntings (which are ones we also use), pay attention to his entries.  His underarm flow had two pathways.  Following his overhand 4th elbow (00:45) his left arm is inside and he obtains a neck control.  This is an overarm neck control which he follows by breaking balance on the low line against the lead knee (00:47).  This is very interesting because breaking the foundation on the low line is a great way to continue an upper body control --- these flows are common in silat and less common in FMA, but very important concepts to explore.  My senior students are comfortable with sipa kicks on the low line, but leg controls are also extremely effective as shown here.

At 1:01, Tuhon Nonoy shows a similar neck control movement from underneath, which all KM students should be familiar.  This is generally used as a "neck lever takedown", but in this example he uses it as a standing control to set up the knees and ultimately an underarm wing on the far side arm.  I really like this flow and it is a great way to show that the same entry (underarm neck control) need not always end the same way (neck lever takedown).  Each movement needs to be fully explored to be understood, and our flow can leverage common denominator entries into extremely creative outcomes.

Next, watch the entry at 1:17.  To any Yoshinkan practioner this is the setup for Ude Garame (arm wrap).  My students in particular know that this is one of my all time favorite movements from aikido since it is fast, powerful and easily applied from the common outside high line entry we learn as a KM beginner.  However, Tuhon Nonoy keeps this is a standing lock and rolls into a brilliant choke series including knee control.  This is an amazing expression and something that has had me considering other applications since I first watched it.

Finally, at 1:26 he shows an expression of kote gaeshi, a classic aikido wrist control.  In aikido this is generally a projection/throw, but he combines it with a far side wrapping underhook that is phenomenal.  I love this flow because it combines two elements we use often separately:  wrist control and underhook.  In his flow, this ends with an elbow control/head control combination.  For me, the far side underhook would position me for a sweep of the back leg, but that's just me.

I have watched this clip 20 or 30 times since I first saw it, and I find something new each time.  His other videos are in my queue to study in the weeks to come.  I encourage you to do the same.

The clip was not quite two minutes long, but absolutely overflowing with great ideas if you can understand what you are looking at.  Inspiration is everywhere.  As I have written before, aikido is a great foundation body of knowledge for any martial artist.  Many of the flows here incorporate aikido concepts, which make them extremely effective at manipulating the opponent's body and taking away his balance.

Great thanks to Tuhon Nonoy Garrucho for posting such inspirational stuff.

Pugay.