Should I even consider the Filipino/Indosesian arts?

[allswoledup]

I weigh 226 pounds and am 5'11". I look somewhat like the NHB fighters you see in the competitions as far as my body type is concerned.

I'm considering joining a Pekiti Tirsia school that also offers Jeet Kun Do,(Silat-Maude Maud-forgive me if I butcher the name).

I'm not very flexable or fast,but improve much so when train or drop in weight.I"m mostly involved in weight training at a hardcore level.

My question is are Silat or Pekiti Tirsia even right for a person like myself who is looking to start off fresh with no previous experience in the martial arts except for karate classes 16 years ago?

In my search of styles I seem to keep coming up with with these Two styles as styles I might enjoy training in.

I'm looking for an art with weapons training that has empty hands as a very strong portion(equal at least to that of weapons training involved.)

The descriptions of these arts seem to be what I'm lookin for,but are they practicle for someone such as myself to participate in?Or should I just pursue another art all together,I have no interest in NHB fighting,just a good self defense art that will have me in shape and able to defend myself in all situations,and not to be lacknig in any aspect of self defense whatsoever.

Thanks,

[Juramentado]

I don't think your body type will be a hindrance i studying Filipino or Indonesian martial arts.

These arts don't requires a lot of flexibility or strength and are not geared for any single body type.

Pekiti-tirsia would be an excellent choice for what your looking for: self-defense, with equal emphasis in weapons and unarmed techniques. the style covers a broad spectrum of skills, including the use of sticks, blades, flexible weapons, empty hand striking and grappling.

your lack of experience in any other martial art is actually a advantage. it's better to learn a art like pekiti-tirsia without any prior knowledge of other martial art skills. that way you learn faster, without the mental 'baggage" of a prior style. I had the same problem when I started pekiti-tirsia after studying a Japanese style. some people without any prior training pick it up faster.

hope that helps,

[William]

I second what Juramentado says.

Your size shouldn’t have much bearing on whether you would do well in PTK or Silat. I’m 6’ 6” and weigh in at 255 – 260lbs. And have no problem at all training in Pekiti-Tirsia. Training in the FMA’s has refined my movement to a point where people have consistently commented that I move more like a small person, they don’t expect me to move the way I do. Because of my size they expect me to move much slower (heh, heh, heh).

In my experience, people with no (or little) training are usually easier to work with. People who have spent a lot of time in so called Japanese/Korean “hard styles” usually take a bit longer to get them to loosen up and start flowing. One of the hardest things that some people have to deal with in the beginning is getting their wrists to loosen up and become more flexible. In that sense, the weapons training will require good wrist flexibility. That will come with time.

I don’t see a big problem with the Silat either. Though I do think most styles are really geared toward smaller framed people. I’ve trained it but it’s not really my cup of tea. I’m just not a Juru type of person. I use elements of it at times, but it’s really just elements worked from my FMA base. I prefer working MT (old style and ring) in addition to Pekiti-Tirsia. It produces a very different animal.

Bottom line: Try them out. If you have to choose one or the other, I would go with the Pekiti-Tirsia. It’s complete and well rounded. A tested and proven no-nonsense system. You can’t go wrong (of course, I’m not biased or anything ).

William



Hey Juramentado, I haven’t heard back from you. Are you still interested?

[Szczepankiewicz]

It’s complete and well rounded.

Kinda like William hisself!

[William]

Kinda like William hisself!

HEY!

Half a dozen bear claws and a glass of skim milk every morning. What's wrong with that? Breakfast of champions right?



William

[allswoledup]

Question for William?

Do you reccomend the austin tx chapter of the pitbulls down here if you know anything about them?

It looks if there are to camps,the pitbulls and the Texas kali association.

[Veynn]

All Pekiti-Tirsia Pitbull groups are highly recommended. These groups are authorized by Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje to give world class instruction about PTK.

[William]

Do you reccomend the austin tx chapter of the pitbulls down here if you know anything about them?

Veynn took the words right out of my mouth.

Veynn is correct, if GT Gaje has given them their charter/permission to teach (which would be the case if they are Pitbulls), then the standards will be high. Give it a go.

The Texas Kali people are also aligned with GT Gaje. I believe they have a camp coming up with GT Gaje conducting the training. I'd highly recomend going if you can.


Best of luck,

William

[krys]

Most Silat systems require flexibility...... you will have to work on it if you consider studying these arts....
The same is true with Arnis (to some degree).
Besides enhancing your flexibility will decrease the risk of injuries.......

Mabuhay ang filipino Silat at Arnis.
Christian.

[haumana2000]

Don't fret too much, one of my guys is a semi-pro bodybuilder with several titles. Aint got no neck so he cant use anything but head and shoulders-hee,hee get it? Anyway, he moves pretty darn good, but there are certain things I notice where he has problems. I'll tell ya what, getting him in certain locks is a pain in the ass cause his arms are sooo big! One area he has trouble with in particular is learning to coordinate the twist of his body and his feet to generate power An open and closing motion so to speak which is integral for fluidity. but overall, I think he moves good. so, give it a try, but it will require some patience on your part, because a lot of the fine points will require you to relearn and rethink how you move innately as a big guy.

[allswoledup]

Last night was a b*@#& !

I felt like a child trying to play with his older brothers,just left behind.

Last night I tried out my local Pekita kali class and I just couldn't get any of the footwork down or the up close twisting or even using the baston in my right hand.(left handed)I have a nice blister on the inside of my thumb.

It was cool though cause my training partners,to save their lives couldn't apply locks of control with arms or the baston.

The knife just wouldn't reach any where near my throat,and the baston barely held me in check.(It would have to applied full force to make it work I guess)

I did enjoy the silat class however,but I see no point in if you have someone down in an armbar with you above,laying down and flipingthem across you to apply a break you could of applied before,but this is probably for the style of fighting that occurs in that part of the world or something.

It wa a fun experience,but the classes aren't set up for beginners the way the instructor said so since I wa lost for the most part.

Nevertheless the school and people are A+ compared to what else is around here.


I probably need a kids karate class cause I remember doing well back then,you just worked on a set number of techniques till you got them right,no pressure or moving on to something else.

To bad I'm not in the fifth grade anymore?

[Juramentado]

hang in there...

I was all left feet and felt out of place in my first Pekiti class. I even hit myself once or twice. lol

before you know it, you'll be doing contradas at blinding speed

[manofleisure]

A new training group has just opened up in Austin texas and it seems to be a decent oppurtunity to train in many styles without much risk.Just wanted folks to know since I ended my search here for training.

Hell, I joined.Take Care

http://www.freewebs.com/combativearts/

[danjuandesiga]

Texas Kali org.

[B]
The Texas Kali people are also aligned with GT Gaje. I believe they have a camp coming up with GT Gaje conducting the training. I'd highly recomend going if you can.

OH HELL YEAH DO IT!
I spent the weekend at the Texas Kali Mastery Camp in 2003. It was my first ever exposure to formally learn Pekiti Tirsia by (VERY) qualified PTK instructors. It was an awesome weekend!

Take a look at the video link below to see camp instructors, Leslie Buck Jr, Rene Rodriguez, and others training from sunrise to sundown at the camp:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YvrvoBIq__k

Can you DIG IT!

[jeff5]

You'll be fine. I'm 6 foot and around 250 myself. I've been studying the Filipino and Indonesian stuff (kind of same as your saying JKD, silat, Kali, no PT though. The silat your referring to is Mande Muda) on and off for quite some time. No hinderance to me, of course some techinques will work differently for you due to body type, but that's true of any martial art. Go for it, its great stuff I'm sure you won't regret it.