What separates the art of Kali or FMA from many other styles and systems of Martial Arts is it’s use of destructions. In FMA the term “defanging the snake” is understood as the way to eliminate the opponents weapons. To defang, so the snake can not bite, is one of Kali’s most useful techniques. I remember classes with Dan Inosanto, when he would say ” Imagine Muhammad Ali with no legs or arms, all he would be is a stump, just bouncing around with no way of harming you”. In FMA the practitioner knows hitting the opponents hand will cause an immediate disarm, if he swings a weapon. Disarming first, bends the fight in your favor. If you are armed and your opposition is not, odds of winning are now on your side of the encounter. In the Youtube Video we demo the use of the Gunting or scissor strike to the bicep. This technique stuns the muscle in the arm and makes it more difficult for the opponent to re-attack you with the same hand. If done correct it will produce numbness to the arm along with pain that will stop or slow down any further attacks. If you have a quick offensive followup behind the gunting, the opponent may not be able to defend your attack. If this method is used in MMA, I can see them changing the rules in a heart beat. It’s not sport, but good selfdefense.
Inosanto’s backyard gym in 1973, before the opening of the Filipino Kali Academy in Torrance California. Many of Dan’s early student’s trained here. Ted Lucay Lucay, Chris Kent, Tackett and Poteet to name a few. This gym was in Dan’s backyard behind his house. It just goes to show that the school can be anywhere. The people in the arts are more important then the building with four walls. I’m sure the old crew have some great stories to tell that took place in this gym.
