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I see there's a couple Inayan guys here. I understand that Inayan Largo Mano was designed for use with the Kampilan. Any of you guys have a history of actually trying out the applications with a real kampilan? Not with the intent to harm, but to feel the applications and movements with the actual dimensions, angles and weight of a live kampilan. And a actual kampilan, not a trainer or a doce pares replica. Well, any experiance's to share on the matter?
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Sure - and it works beautifully!
When Suro Mike Inay was initially developing Inayan Largo Mano he and some of the instructors under him (including myself) worked in his back yard with both large rattan and live kampilans over a period of six months or so. He did this to ensure the movements and flavorings he added to basic Largo Mano were practical at various speeds and conditions etc. In other words Suro always was the first to test his art and make it battle ready.
Anyway, Inayan Largo feels good with rattan but feels even more natural with a kampilan. The style flows on it own and with a live blade it's just that much more "alive" in your hands if you will.
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Steve Klement
Inayan Masirib Guro
klement@inayaneskrima.com
Inayan Systems International -
Is it mostly evasive? Ie, ranging out, taking out an arm and ranging back in, or does it encompass closeing range as well? ie, catching the opponents weapon with the back of your own, ect. Did you guys play with kampilan vs. diffrent weapons and test cutting? You wouldn't happen to know what regions and people's the kampilans came from, would you(irunan, magindanao, ect)?
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Oh, Steve to awnser you question from a previous thread, I visited Suro Inay a couple times with a buddy of mine who used to teach alot of the Serrada classes in the Bay area. Met him once at his house, once in his backyard with a group of guys, and once at a wearhouse where I think you guys were holding classes. You can PM me if you want more details
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Mostly evasive? I would say yes and no....
It is taught initially to be evasive and to "de-fang the snake" etc. However, Inayan Largo is also very much aggressive in nature as both retreating and advancing footwork are used and after the initial defense one or even a series of countering (attacking) moves can be performed.
We did (do) test one style against the other to make them both stronger (this is one of the assets of Inayan Eskrima) and therefore did play with one weapon vs. another quite a bit.
The Kampilan was favored by the warriors of Mindanao and as I understand were used by both the Irunan and Magindana warriors.
I know the warehouse you visited and I bet I was there... Perhaps we have met though I cannot remember at the moment....
Below is information taken from a student of our organization. His name is Federico Malibago and he has an excellent web site dedicated to the swords of moro land:
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Steve Klement
Inayan Masirib Guro
klement@inayaneskrima.com
Inayan Systems International
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The kampilan is the weapon most favored by the warriors of Mindanao. This large single edged blade is considerably noted for its fearsome look and at total lengths ranging up to 40 inches it is the largest Moro sword. It also is notably the only true two-handed sword of Philippine origin. The kampilan were truly a war sword, and every well-stocked Mindanao arsenal had a number at the ready for battle. While in many court photos, one often sees kampilan bearers, it is alluded that the kampilan was not a weapon of common carry (like the kris, barong, or pira), but rather one of the campaign and court. As such, the kampilan was representative of a Datu/Rulers prestige/power in as much as it was a physical representation of the Datu/Ruler's ability to control violence either positively or negatively.
Related to the parang the kampilan blade is quickly identified by its distinctive taper, narrow at the forte, and gradually swelling in width to the tip, giving the blade profile an almost trapezoidal appearance. The kampilan blade often features damascene patterning. There are many variations to the kampilan tip. Some kampilan blades sport a spikelet at the tip, but it must be noted that not all kampilan have this spikelet. Some were never made with the spikelet, but on certain pieces often due to the fragility of the spikelet, upon close inspection, it is discovered that it has in fact broken off. Some say that the spikelet is purely ceremonial/decorative, but others assert that it serves as a key distraction when countering an enemy blow thereby allowing an effective un-impeded counter cut. Often one will find kampilan blades with decorative holes near the tip. Quite often these holes are filled with brass. Rarer still, some kampilan tips feature kris like fretwork. Some kampilan blades also featured engraved blades, with heavily engraved blades appearing near the late 1800s to early 1900s. It is speculated that these kampilans are perhaps early attempts at creating tourist blades, as the intricate engraving would not be typically be visible as status markers, as it would be a severe cultural faux paux to bare an un-sheathed blade in court, or generally in a non-war related situation.
The hilt form is quite large thereby extended as a counter balance to the large blade. The kampilan hilt is generally bifurcated in what some say is symbolic of the open jaws of a crocodile. However, others assert that this motif is representative of the tail of the swiftlet (a bird common to the area that produce edible nests that are highly valued in Chinese cuisine). There do exist other variants, beyond the common bifurcated hilt. The kampilan hilt can be used single-handed but when necessary the wielder is able to use the sword in a two-handed fashion. It must be noted that traditionally the hilt was bound to the hand of the wielder to prevent slippage. The lashings used to bind the weapon were called munsala, and sometimes served as anting-anting as well. However, munsala were not always used for binding a weapon to the hand, and were often decorative or attached primarily for talismanic purposes. Also often there existed a mail, gauntlet like covering that was attached to the hilt during battle via metal staples that covered the hand of the wielder. However, since these metal staples and gauntlets often covered the okir carving on the hilt, they were often removed when not in ready for battle. Kampilan hilts were made of various native hardwoods such as kamagong (Philippine Ebony), but some extremely high end kampilan hilts were completely silver plated, or made of such rare materials such as ivory or bone.
Kampilan scabbards tended to be very simple. Often when going to battle scabbards would not even be used. However traditionally the scabbard tended to be of two pieces of native hardwood that was held together by a thin natural fiber string or rattan lashing, thereby allowing the scabbard to be cut through in case of emergency. Also there existed a "travel" scabbard made of tubular reed. Some scabbards featured a handle, which allowed the scabbard to be used as a make shift shield if necessary.
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My buddy is webmaster for www.eriksedge.com and has a very large number of Moro weapons, including a nice selection of kampilans. Some of the pics on the site are of a few in his collection.Originally posted by Crucible
I've been able to work largo mano with real kampilans a few times and it's very cool. The movements make much more sense with the blade as opposed to the stick. I have not yet tested them in application against another weapon, as my buddy doesn't want me to bang up his collectibles.Comment
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