The Elements of Kun Tao Page is dedicated to initiating a discussion on the fundamental principles of Modern Filipino Kun Tao as a means for practical self-defense. Listed below are articles that have been written and published to date.
Striking and Accuracy The hands and arms in Modern Filipino Kun Tao are an integral in practical self-defense. The hands and arms provide two primary functions: (1) blocking, and (2) striking. These are two simple categories, and as previously discussed, Modern Filipino Kun Tao blocks are strikes. Therefore, all hand and arm strikes within the art are important for the following reasons:
Weakening Techniques – many strikes are not meant to knock out the opponent, but to shift attention away from the attack and ultimately lessen to attack.
Removal Techniques – the hands and arms are used to take away or destroy an attacker’s attack with a block, trap, manipulation and or destruction.
Controlling Techniques – The hands and strikes allow the practitioner to control the attacker and manipulate body movement through striking. Additionally, he hands can help provide balance to the practitioner as well.
Spacing – The hand and arms strikes are used for distancing and proximity control. The strikes such as a lead and rear punch can help to judge distance while also keeping an attacker at distance.
Distraction Techniques – Hand and Arm strikes are used to raise and lower the blocking of an opponent, even if the strike is not meant to strike it potentially opens up a target of opportunity.
The foot and leg strikes are as important in Modern Filipino Kun Tao as that of the hand strikes. Proper foot work and stances enhance the foot and leg strikes. The legs provide the base, but should be effectively used to bridge block, bridge the gap, strike and defend. The importance of the foot and leg strikes can be divided up into the following categories:
Weakening – leg strikes are often a quick and efficient way of weakening an attacker. If grabbed by an attacker, kicking to the shin and stomping on the foot are easy ways to remove that attack.
Destruction – The legs contain massive amounts of power and force that can destroy an opponent. By using a multitude of leg strikes, the attacker can be off-balance, their legs broken, and or swept to the ground.
Speed – The leg strike can be deceptively fast. The strike as carried out as an offensive maneuver to take down, weaken, or subdue an attacker.
Stopping Force – The leg and foot strikes can keep an attacker from attacking. Kicks can keep the attacker at a safe proximity and or can impede the attack by stopping an on-rusher with a well-placed power strike.
Spacing – Leg and Foot Strikes when fighting can keep an opponent from moving in. This is the concept of safe proximity.
Distraction – Foot and Leg strikes can also act as a means for distraction. An example of this would be to bridge the gap, and or to change stances while moving forward.
Basic Stances and Footwork
The Importance of Stances Stances provide and serve three primary functions: (1) Balance (2) Defensive Posture (3) Offensive Posture
Balance is extremely important in all aspects of life. Within a stance balance allows the practitioner to maintain a posture that is conducive to either a defensive or offensive position. Balance affords the individual to control their actions; while potentially influencing their opponent’s actions. When in a fighting stance, sixty percent of weight should be on the rear leg with the other forty percent of the front leg. This weight distribution allows for the front leg to quickly strike for a variety of reasons. Additionally, with this weight distribution, the individual can minimize the risk of being taken down with a simple kick to their front leg. With sixty percent on the back leg, the individual can often maintain enough balance to stay upright.
The second major importance of stances is the defensive posture. Proper Modern Filipino Kun Tao stances seek to minimize the areas exposed and open to attack. A defensive posture in a stance allows the individual to relocate the target, block, and switch to an offensive technique seamlessly. A defensive posture will utilize the weight distribution with sixty percent of the weight on the rear leg. This allows for the front leg to work to keep the attacker outside of the proximity zone and at a safer distance. A defensive posture of stances allows for the easy changing of stances as well. In Modern Filipino Kun Tao, stances are changing moving backwards, or away from the attack. With a defensive posture, and balance distribution, the changing of stances backwards affords the practitioner a quick retreat while providing a maximum of coverage.
The third major importance of stances is the offensive posture. Proper Modern Filipino Kun Tao stances allow the practitioner to be able to attack with maximum effectiveness. Coupled with the proper weight distribution, the offensive posture allows for the use of different strikes (power and speed) with only a slight and simple adjustment of the stance. The stances within Modern Filipino Kun Tao are the same, regardless of offensive or defensive. It is the slight manipulation of the footwork that can transition in the tiniest of moments from the defensive to the offensive. Within the offensive posture, it is imperative that movement forward to attack is done with speed and precision to maximize the effectiveness and minimize the telegraphing of the technique. To move forward, often the quickest and most effective technique would be a shuffle forward. This is a rapid movement with striking that keeps the balance and head position in a safe position. A term that is used to encompass the movement forward, or closing in movement, is simply referred to as “bridging the gap.” Footwork and Movement Footwork in the martial arts is of the utmost importance. Without proper footwork, all technique, balance, and power is lost. Footwork and its applied principles demonstrate how to move, where to move, and when to move. Proper footwork and movement can be broken down into the following categories:
Triangle Footwork
Footwork Within the Stance
Maintaining Eyes Forward
Triangle footwork is paramount within Modern Filipino Kun Tao. The triangle represents the appropriate and safest angles for moving. Moving directly back is something that should be avoided if at all possible due to the fact that this leaves the target (person) still in the direct line of the attack. Proper movement when in the retreat mode would be more on a side to side basis; with the defensive posture moving off on an angle to ensure that the target is not left in the pathway of the oncoming attack. Triangle footwork is also utilized when moving forward. Since a fundamental principle of Modern Filipino Kun Tao is to attack the attacker; triangular footwork aids in the defensive transition of moving away from the point of contact and into the open target areas of the attacker. This movement is in contrast to the direct line approach which is often the easiest attack to defense against. Rather, by working the angles, the offensive attack works preferably to the outside (back) of the opponent.
Footwork within the stance is extremely important. There are two basic set-ups within the fighting stances: positive stance and negative stance. Proper stances are needed for proper technique and movement. The basic fighting stance is also a positive stance. This means that the front foot is one to two inches opened up to allow for the easy attacks and maximum power and reach with the power rear. The positive stance is the base stance and starting point for the art. The negative stance is utilized for the power cross-behind sidekick and all spinning techniques. One fall back of the negative stance is that since only a few techniques can be effectively thrown from this positioning, it is important to incorporate how to efficiently close the stance to a negative posture while starting in a positive stance within a multiple strike combination.
Maintaining eyes forward is an important principle. This covers two main areas of concern: (1) always look at the attack; and (2) never turn your back to the opponent. To disengage from an attack, the retreating movement should be executed with a quick shuffle while looking at the attacker. Turning away from the attacker and showing the back is never acceptable. Many traditional martial arts would say that this is a sign of disrespect; while that is definitely true, the practical reasons are that the exposed back is an easy target to attack with minimal resistance, and without having eyes on the attacker, it is impossible to anticipate any movement. Working to the Outside One of the most important concepts within Modern Filipino Kun Tao is the principle of working toward the outside. In this case, the outside refers to the back of the attacker, away from the rear hand and rear leg. This movement toward the outside alleviates many powerful attacks possible from the attacker. Working toward the outside is often done when within the attacker’s proximity zone. On the attack, utilize the triangle footwork stepping toward the back simultaneously blocking the attack. The movement allows for the easy striking to the open targets of the attack and closes the distance to allow for trapping, joint manipulation, and limb destruction. All of this correlates to the fundamental self-defense principle of attack the attacker. While working to the outside is optimal, and working to the inside has its disadvantages, it is recognized that working to the inside does occur. When working to the inside it is important to be aware of both hands and feet that are in power range. When working to the inside there must be rapid fire strikes that either lead to trapping, joint manipulation and or limb destruction. If the inside movement occurs off of a long range strike; then block, check, and redirect so to be moving back toward the outside. Working toward the outside provides the safest area of control and providing the easiest targets to counter.
Rolling and Falling in Modern Filipino Kun Tao
Rolling and Falling is integral in Modern Filipino Kun Tao. Learning how to land properly will enable a person to take a fall, throw, sweep, takedown, etc. while insuring safety and maintaining an offensive posture if necessary. In both rolling and falling, it is important to protect the vital areas of oneself. For example, if someone were running and tripped, a roll to lessen the impact of crashing on the ground will allow the person to get back to their feet rapidly. Without the roll, this person would be in danger of hitting their head, elbows, spine, and other vital areas. In Modern Filipino Kun Tao, we use the hands and a bent-armed approach to break the fall while continuing to a forward roll that minimizes the contact between the spine and ground by rolling from the lead shoulder diagonally across the back to the opposite kidney.
Falling, unlike rolling, is the act of hitting the ground and staying on the ground. Falling, when done properly will protect the body from hitting vital areas such as the head, spine, and ribs. Falls are done by using the arms and the feet to “break” the fall. After the fall, Modern Filipino Kun Tao instructs to be in an offensive stance on the ground as to be able to protect from attack; attack themselves; and finish an attack with a takedown.
In addition to falling on the ground, it is important in Modern Filipino Kun Tao to learn to land in a defensive posture as to always be able to defend oneself. While commonly taught, hitting the ground and getting into a stance is often practiced. Modern Filipino Kun Tao additionally emphasizes hitting a wall with proper technique to assure safety of the body, while maintaining the defensive posture to protect against attack. Also, a focus is placed on using the wall as an ally and against the attacker.
The Importance of the Blocking Systems
The Blocking Systems are the fundamental elements of self-defense. There is no need to learn the variety of techniques, if the initial attack cannot be stopped. Within the Blocking Systems, it is important to have the proper stance with balance. Since on strike can end any encounter, the blocking systems are utilized to block a variety of attacks. These blocking systems are the foundation of Modern Filipino Kun Tao. The blocking systems teach the following:
How to block an attack by using the concept that the block is a strike meant to disarm and or weaken the attack.
How to move the target of the attack away from the strike in a quick and efficient manner.
How to maintain safe proximately zone when possible dependent on the attack.
How and where to strike after effectively blocking and moving the target.
Understanding the effect of striking on the body
How to move during and after an attack to close the gap to best trap, destroy, and ultimately eliminate the attack.
Blocking in Kun Tao is centered on the belief that the block itself is a strike. The key principle in blocking is to take the attack and strike it with the block. In the case of a punch defense, the block would be a tight outward short blocking strike with the outside of the hand. As the blocking strike meets the wrist area of the attack, the attacker feels a quick pulse of pain causing the attacking hand to slightly weaken or open; also distracting the mind of the attacker from the attack to their hand.
As an attack is occurring, it is important to move the target of the attack away from the point of attack while the block is occurring. In moving the target, it is important to recognize and maintain safe proximity zone distancing. Maintaining distance allows for protecting the target and provides the correct distance to prevent the continued attack through blocking, trapping, striking, joint manipulation and limb destruction. When striking the attacker, it is important to understand what effect each strike will have on the body.
The blocking systems utilize proper anatomical targeting to maximize effectiveness and demonstrate how the opponent’s body will react to specific strikes. An example of this would be to understand that a quick strike to the groin will ultimately drop the attack in a downward fashion, therefore neutralizing any attempt to get under their center of balance. A second example of anatomical targeting would be a thrusting palm to the nose. The attacker would struggle to see as the eyes water. Their head would thrust back leaving the lower torso vulnerable to attack.
The final component to anatomic targeting is to understand vital points of striking. In addition to the nose and eyes, the throat, neck, and ears provide soft targets that effective neutralize the opponent in a quick and efficient manner. While these targets are efficient and effective, they are not always within reach. Often, the best attack is to the base of the attacker; meaning to strike the legs, more specifically the knees. Understanding that removing the base of the attacker weakens the rest of their attack.
The Blocking Systems are the starting point for all self-defense, throws, and takedowns within the Modern Filipino Kun Tao curriculum. While the Blocking Systems are more of a traditional element, they are the cornerstone of Kun Tao. The Blocking Systems are the foundation to which the practical applications and self-defense are built upon.
Providing a False Target In cases where a simple block and movement of target is not possible, it is important to provide a false target. The providing of a false target will allow for the rapid movement and controlling a situation that is dangerous in presentation. An example of providing a false target is evident in close quarter defenses, as in a knife. If a knife is placed on the abdomen in a robbery scenario, the defense would be to provide a false target by pushing the abdomen out. This is done with the idea of quickly opening up and securing the attacking arm while simultaneously bringing to abdomen back in and off to the side. This false target provides the smallest of space for movement, but does prevent larger damage such as slicing open to target as the controlling and turn occurs.
The Theory of the Live Hand The hands in Modern Filipino Kun Tao are essential due to the fact that this is a system of close quarter hand to hand combat. The hands are used for blocking, trapping, striking, joint manipulation, and limb destruction. The theory of the live hand comes into play when weapon attack and defenses are “in play.” The hand without a weapon is referred to the live hand. It is always in a position to aid in the blocking of an attack while looking for openings to trap the attack and ultimately disarm the opponent. The live hand, as sometimes referred to as the sacrifice hand, also is instrumental in protecting the vital targets. The idea is to sacrifice the hand before allowing attack to the heart, neck, and any other major areas of the body that would cause death. The live hand should be active, loose, and moving close to the body.