(1) Tools of the Trade
Hello again everyone.
Over the last few articles I've talked briefly about weapons used in different mannerisms
I like to focus this article directly on that subject.
Which weapons are associated with which animal and why?
First no one weapon is solely associated with one particular animal, there's a lot of overlap, even the Pedang or longer sword normally associated in Cimande with the Blekok or Crane is also in some systems linked to the Ular.
So I'd like to look at this subject in some detail and hopefully help clear up some of the confusion and misnomers
I'd firstly like to present the animals in no particular order and firstly go through main and secondary weapon links and then perhaps illustrate
some of the overlaps in a little more detail.
Harimau / Matjan/ Pamatjan / Kuchin (The Cats)
One of the most famous weapons linked with the Harimau and the other cat systems is, of course the Karambit sometimes spelled Kerambit or Karombit.
Said to mimic the design of the Cats natural, attack and defence weapon the claw.
The Kerambit is in my mind, the king of all close range weapons nothing beats it at its range.
Its concealable (Not that I advocate this in anyway) it cannot be removed from the hand, without cutting off the hand! its stab is far more powerful than a normal knife due to the alignment with the wrist and elbow
"casting" the Kerambit can cause very powerful and deadly snap cuts
The ring can be used offensively in a knuckle type striking attack, its blade design means it is excellent for hooking and controlling, while cutting remember all true Karambits are double edged!
The points inner curve is beautiful as an extraction tool for tendons, ligaments and eyes etc.
But even the Karambit is liked to other animals like the Monyet!
In some styles the Karambit is solely used by the Monyet which I never understood until I began training with the Monyet mannerism, now it makes TOTAL sense.
Like the Harimau and more like the Matjan the Monyet works at zero range its evasiveness is an excellent compliment to the Karambit
The jumps and stamps allow the Monyet practioner to produce more powerful snap cuts especially when casting; and the fluidity means the blade never stops until it meets bone and then a stamp can help remove it.
Monyet bridges well to the Harimau using the Kera / Mawas allows you to attack the same lowline targets as the Matjan and then move down further towards Mother Earth and the Harimau proper.
Also our beautiful friend the Sawa has Kerambit affinities, there's even a python griping method,
Which emulates the reverse curve of a Sawa's tooth designed for biting and holding its prey firm so it can roll over its own head entwine and constrict and crush its prey.
As you can see from this picture of a Pythons skull the teeth hook back the oposite way mimiced perfectly by the karambiot in this grip.
Its also not a huge leap to see parallels with fast casting with a heaven grip and the repeated "Pecking" of a birds beak which takes us into the Blekok and bird mannerisms!
As you can see one weapon as a lot of animal affinities even one so sin ominous with the Harimau.
Also in some Silat styles especially the more Chinese influenced we have the Golok linked to the Harimau due to its short powerful slashing curve
This link will take you to an amazing Guru of the Golock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAoPEJUBL2w
Other blades associated with the Harimau and Matjan are the fearsome Kuku-Matjan
And lastly some people believe there is a link between Harimau and the equally brutal looking weapon known as the Cluerit.
This beautiful weapon evolved out of an agricultural tool on the island of Madura
And to my knowledge the only connection to the Harimau, comes from its shape
which could be likened, to a larger Karambit, but the connection is only visual as it also looks like the type of sickle used to cut long grass.
all over South East Asia.
Ular Sendok (Cobra) and Sawa (Python)
As anyone who as read my article on the Ular mannerism will know this is one of my favourite mannerisms, especially the Sawa or Python !
and while one should not try to focus to much on any one in particular it is hard not to; as individuals will naturally gravitate to particular
mannerism which fit either our physics
or just simply resonates with us more so than other mannerisms, but like I said not always easy ;)
The weapons associated with the Ular are the Pisau or knife in general (Pisau are small curved blades like a western Fruit / Butter knife)
These can be used devilishly at zero range and like the animal namesake move in a fluid rapid darting manner.
it fits so well with our long and short elbow shields and black cobra defensive movements circular, triangular and square.
Again it can be easy concealed behind a cobra fist and before the opponent knows what happened he's lacerated and bleeding out
which also mimics the effects of the Sendok and other vipidS Hemotoxin, which cause severe internal bleeding as it destroys the muscles and soft tissues braking down the "factor 7" in the blood which stops it clotting and causes the incredible swelling
suffered as a result of say a rattlesnake bite due to internal bleeding.
Also linked to the Ular mannerism is the Kanching Stick
this weapon, traditionally a "four fist stick" due to the correct length
of the stick. This also mimics the fluid but rapid, darting off-timing point striking of the Ular especially in the Ular gripping method used for darting energy and blood point thrusting attacks.
I will come back to the Kanching stick in more detail in another article devoted to it coming soon.
Again we see this thing I've coined "MO"or"Mannerism Overlap! the movements of the long sword Pedang or Padan, Padang and some of the Golock movements
contain "Black Cobra" movements even though these longer often straight blades are normally linked to the Blekok or Crane.
Theres even a Sawa grip for the Karambit! using the blade in a reverse hook imitating the reverse curve to a pythons tooth (Shown aready)which helps it hook into prey and hold it still while it coils around its own head and constricts its prey
This grip is used exactly the same way as the tooth hooking into the flesh the reverse curve either hooks into or under muscle or bone so that the prey / opponent cant move while you cut something more vital again as Sawa going for the neck.
What we have to remember in all this; is the weapon should NOT become the mere movement of a stick or blade but an extension of the hand;
which in turn is nothing more than an extension of our core "us" the delivery system.
Its the attitude of the mannerism, that makes the difference where the crude mechanical motor movements may be the same.
The Sarong can even be used as a wrapping and choking weapon in keeping with the attitude of the Sawa, again more on this latter
but its enough to say for now, that a weapon like the Sarong works beautifully for trapping entwining and choking or constricting
its prey.
Leaving the snakes we come now to my other favourite the "King of the Swing"
Monyet (Monkey) Maiass, Mawas, Orang-utan, Kera (Ape)
As I hope you've already read in my last article "Primal Spirit" Animal Magic 3 the Monyet and its subsystems belong to the element of Water
If you have'nt read this article I would recommend going back and reading it first as it will help you understand more about this complex mannerism.
Like the multi skilled and curious monkey this mannerism utilises a lot of different weapons and strategies
Not only in the expression of the Monyet and its movements but also in the "mimicry" of the other animals movements which is a great taster for things to come when we
step into the Naga part of out training where we allow the mannerism s to become one synergistic blending rather than a simple changing from one animal to another.
the Naga is all elements, all animals blended into the fifth animal "Man"
The Monyet could pick up any weapon and through either Monyet movements or the mimicry of another mannerism use that weapon without stepping or shape-shifting
out of mannerism.
That said weapons normally associated with Monyet are the deadlist of all bladed weapon’s (in my opinion as shared by many including William Sanders and the late Pendekar Eddie Jaffery) my favourite! the Kujang.
The Kujang will again get its separate article (As its my fav ;) but for now think of it as wicked combination of
2 Karambits (laid back to back) a chisel a saw a can opener an extraction tool an axe and a hammer all in one blade!
how could it not be the best!
A veritable "Swiss army knife" only thousands of years old, predating even the Indo-Hindu expansions into South East Asia.
Also linked to Monyet is again with the "MO"! the Pisau and Kanchin. While these weapons work well with the rapid slippery Ular they also really work well with the monyets fluid continuously rolling movements
like waves relentlessly pounding a shoreline the "tools" (as thats what all weapons are essentially) are simply used differently dictated by the animals attitude
evasive and passive slipping rolling closer until "BAMB"! the waves come in like a mighty tsunami whever this be with a pisau or a kanchin or empty hands the results are devastating.
As I touched on briefly in the last article on Monyet the longer poles Tongat Panjang and Tongat Satenga have also always been, associated with the monkey.
From all over South East Asia the monkey and the staff are fondly linked thanks to the "Legend of the Monkey King" and "The Journey West"
Stones (either thrown or hidden in sarongs and used as a clubbing manner) and the Cabang also have links to the
majestic "Old man of the Forest".
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