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Hi everyone. My name’s Joshua and I’ve recently downloaded the 10 DVD set DLP program.
I found you on the recommendation of my teacher, Guru Brandt Bollers, who sends his greetings (“Slamet”).
I’m a 34 year old scuba instructor’s son from Hawaii, who has moved to Portland 15 years ago. I have a mixed martial arts background since middle school – Karate, Tae Kwon Do (a few years each), then for the last few years in Portland I have been studying a school of Kali Escrima and Jeet Kun Do called Pele Kai with a teacher (Sifu Ethan Timm). During this time I’ve also studied independently on sword and Aikido techniques from references and with a free-play swords and sticky-hands group that met in Portland for a few years.
I met Guru Brandt a few years ago, and have recently been studying Kilap Betawi with him. Guru Brandt had retreated from society for a while, and after discussing the lineage of the style with him – we wondered if there was a ‘de Thouars Silat’ web presence. A few days of web searching and finding individual videos later I finally came across this site.
So far I have been watching through all the videos and practicing both the Betwai Kilap and Serak expressions of Djurus 1 & 2. Guru Chas’ expressions on Video 008 were especially helpful alongside Guru Brandt’s instructions.
I did notice that on the 009Djuru_Satu video the soundtrack is out of sync with the video by a significant amount. It does make trying to follow the motions onscreen harder, and I’ve been watching it with the sound off – obviously losing context for much of it.
I’ve done some video editing work (I’m a 3d computer graphics guy, code developer, and work as a tester in the video game industry atm), so I could help fix that if I know if it’s fast or slow and then figure out by how much.
That reminds me, Guru Brandt also has a few video cassette tapes that I hope to get digitized. I’m also looking at the Guru Certification Course, as Guru Steve’s Malabar and AKS forms are well put together systems, and use the same movements of power as the Betawi ranges and expressions do.
It’s been a really cool few weeks as I’ve integrated all of my at range weapon muscle memory from Pele Kai Escrima stick and kife work & the ‘swords in the park’ group into the Betwai and Serak range of motions. As an artist, I also hope to be able to express some of these synthesized ideas in some visual media and give back to the style. While I’m very busy, I would be interested in Kuntao Silat project collaboration. 🙂
Nice to meet you all, and I feel honored to join the Kuntao Silat family.
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Joshua,
Welcome to he circle! And please give my regards to Guru Brandt.I’ll pass your invitation to help to the GCC team, help is always welcome!
Just so you know, it looks like there will be a seminar / gathering in the SF Bay area in September. That’s not exactly next door, but it’s close enough that it might be possible for you to join us. Details will be going up soon!
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Howdy Joshua,
Thanks for the informative introduction. It’s good getting to know you.Sounds like you and Guru Brandt might just get a practice group going up there in Portland. Let us know if there is anything we can do to enhance your Kuntao Silat Training experience.
It is good to see all parts of the KunTao Silat Family coming together. Please pass our fond greetings on to Guru Brandt and Pak Chas.
Peace,
Art -
Thanks for the welcome guys! Guru Brandt also appreciates the warm reception.
Let me know if I can help correct Video 009 Djuru_Satu, I’m very interested in the contents there.
Also, Guru Brandt is having me focus on Djurus 1 & 2, and some of the Betawi auxiliary exercises first. The Betawi expressions are actually much closer to the body than even Serak, and ends the Djurus slightly differently, but understanding the parallels has been very illuminating – so I’ve been working both versions. I have also been practicing the “Warm Up” set – up through the triple hit combos at this point. What would you suggest I look at next, after getting comfortable with all of the above?
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Howdy Jon,
05DjurusSatu.mp4 is now up and ready. I just re-mastered it for 2015 and added a clip from Chas’ front yard. I’m sure Brandt will recognize the background. You can go to your KTS account and access it there for a re-download.Sounds like you’re getting a good foundation. I’d say the Triangle exercises would be good next step. Since you’re already working on Betawi Djurus 1 & 2, expanding into the first Eight Serak Djurus would be a good direction too.
Guru Brandt may even want to break you in on some MonkeyFoot training.
Keep on churning through the material!
Peace,
Art -
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Hello Kuntao Silat Ohana! (Hawaiian ‘Ohana’ = Family) Just thought I pop in to post an update on my training.
I have been practicing all 18 Serak Djurus for a little over a week now. Guru Brandt is very happy with the progress I’ve been able to make in both Kuntao and Kilap styles in the last 3 months due to these training resources, so again a big thanks for providing these. 😀
I’ve worked some of the Kilap techniques into the ‘warm-up set’, including 2 versions of Pretty George’s Elbow exercises, ‘the Maiden Bathes’ expression of the Bow opening, and 3 different range expressions of the Covering Tiger. Still skipping the dragon sweeps for now as I build those muscles up with the low dragon covering stances.
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I’ve also gone through many of the supplemental videos and an now very comfortable with the sapuan/basset triangle form, and have found video references to various Kilap Sticky Hand flow drills (such as this basic one here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTTHG_CPG8s).
Things are looking solid and I’m going to be moving on to learning Djuru Satu next week along with maintaining the previous forms. 🙂
Hope everything is good with the other forum-ites. ‘Aloha’ from Portland, Oregon.
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Hi. Just stopping by for an update on my progress.
I’m still practicing Lanka Nol & the Serak Djurus (almost) every day. Also the Maiden Bathes, the elbow/knee set (including George’s Elbow Exercise), & the Sapu/Beset triangle lanka set.
I’ve got the 18 Serak Djurus down solid, & have been working with Guru Brandt on understanding the applications of them. I’ve gotten some of Guru Bob Orlando’s video’s from Palandin Press, Guru Richard Clear’s videos from his YouTube channel, and am enjoying finding the parallels and differences in how Gurus Brandt, Steve, Bob, and Richard express their Kuntao Silat. Guru Brandt says I already have a style distinct from all of the Gurus while incorporating their expressions.
I’ve also been practicing Djuru Satu and feel I have a good flow, both left and right handed. Still working on some of the “transition” moments. The preview of the “Kebangan” tape, where Uncle Bill applies each move on Guru George was also very helpful. Is there more from that tape that I don’t have in my 10 DVD set?
Guru Brandt and I are working on an “application expression” of Djuru Satu, which we like to call “Rescuing the abducted victims from the pirate ship”… basically setting up the environment of a rolling ship-deck with narrow boardwalks & stairs, mapping out the opponents and where they attack from, then stepping through short sets of moves as a take-down on each opponent.
Also, working on footwork on the triangle and the 6-pointed star, oh and Siloh… Wow, Siloh is very interesting (my leg muscles may have other words for it, lol).
So, all-in-all, going well. I’m going to focus on foot-work a bit more, and then jump into Lanka Dua.
Aloha to all the Kuntao Silat O’hana (family).
Joshua Fontny -
This is where we encourage people to send in their videos for review. Poor Joshua was convinced he was on the right path, but his unwillingness to submit for review has resulted in him not really getting even close to what he should have been achieving. It’s hard to live up to this kind of disappointment, and can result in people looking for something easier to do. Don’t be like that! Hard work produces results!
Please, if you are in the program – put yourself out there, you will be better for it!
Your progression will be much greater with right guidance!
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@Kuntaoer
It might help to establish a tradition of “interim” video submissions to the testing group. Videos that aren’t directly for testing to a new level, but just a show of regular practice and a way to get constructive criticism. I made such a video just to see what people thought of my triangle footwork last year, and it led me to completely change my form.
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