PEKITI
TIRSIA and the Military
Who
looks around in the martial arts and martial
sports scene, will soon find two very different
training methods: There are those hierarchical-military
like systems, whose teachings are based on command
and obedience, designed for uniformly instructing
a big group of students. Further, there are
the family like systems, that teach a small
number of humans according to their personal
knowledge and individual abilities.
If
one follows the above classification then Pekiti-Tirsia
Kali clearly falls under the category of the
family oriented systems: First, Pekiti-Tirsia
Kali is the martial art of the Tortal family,
represented by Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje. Second,
some of the characteristics for the Pekiti-Tirsia
system teaching process are the family-like,
personal and relaxed atmosphere, that Grand
Tuhon creates and the way he responds to the
peculiarities of the individual person. Yet,
in recent years the Pekiti-Tirsia system has
been mentioned more and more often in the context
with military commando units and special forces.
How come?
The primary focus of training for soldiers became
discipline - but not in the sense of self-discipline,
but to become part of a group and to follow
the Commander. Corresponding to that, only those
methods of martial arts training were useful
for military mass training, that were suitable
to drill soldiers in a way that they are disciplined
to follow commands. Many of the martial arts
in Europe and USA (especially those of Japanese
or Korean origin) have their roots in those
military branches and often this origin is easily
recognized in the training.
This
was also experienced by the Armed Forces of
the Philippines. In the second world war, it
have been the Filipino warriors, who refused
to back down after General Mac Arthurs withdrawal,
and, who continued to fight despite of inferior
weaponry. By showing great virtue and by application
of Kali strategies (Bolo Battalion) these people
delayed the advancement of the Japanese Army
until the Americans managed to re-organise their
war machinery in their home land, finally successfully
fighting the Japanese.
But despite the fact, that this World War II
veterans are still celebrated as heroes in parades
and their contribution has also been acknowledged
in the USA, the Filipino government didn't learn
their lesson (in contrast to the Americans,
who early realised the importance of special
forces units like the Delta Force and the Navy
Seals). The Filipino Armed Forces (as many others
did all over the world) continued to train and
act according to the methods of the colonial
army (maybe because military elite units could
have been considered as a danger to democracy).
Until today the encounters between the Armed
Forces of the Philippines and the militant separatist
in the south of the Philippines show, that conventional
military tactics are almost useless if used
against guerrilla fighters.
Some
years ago this was understood by the leaders
of the Filipino Armed Forces and it was decided,
that some of the special units should additionally
be trained in the strategies and tactics of
the almost forgot Filipino martial arts.
The
first ones, who understood this situation and
also put the program into action were the Force
Recon Marines. The Recon Marines which is short
for Force Reconnaissance are specialists for
Deep Reconnaissance and Direct Action and they
spent many of their missions in small teams
in hostile territory. They usually can't hope
for extensive air dispatch - in combat these
people have to stand on their own. The Recon
Marines motto is "Swift, Silent - Deadly"
or "Outnumbered - But Never Outfought"
In the Philippines - may it be friend or enemy
- the Force Recon are the most respected, admired
and feared among the special units. (Information
about the US Recon Marines can be found here:
http://www.forcerecon.com/strongmenarmed.htm)
Solution
Pekiti-Tirsia Kali
The Pekiti-Tirsia
training of the Recon Marines is under the
guidance of Grand Tuhon Gaje and in case he
can't be there personally (as for example
at his last visits in Europe and Canada) his
nephew Rommel Tortal takes over. Convinced
by the success of the Recon Marines, the Seals
and other Elite Units start to train their
teams in Pekiti-Tirsia. Army and Air Force
have big interest in Pekiti-Tirsia training
as well.
When I met Grand
Tuhon last January in the Philippines, we
have been to the Armed Forces Philippines
Central Command in Cebu. The interest in the
training program was so high, that the leading
officers didn't want us to leave. But we have
been scheduled to train the Force Recon marines
and the present Special Forces from the US
in Cavite (as has been reported in the news,
US Special Forces met with the Force Recon
to prepare themselves for the operations to
come in the south of the Philippines). It
showed that the US Special Forces have high
interest to improve themselves in good knife
work.
Why did the
Recon Marines decide to go for Pekiti-Tirsia?
Obviously one of the more important reasons
is, that the Pekiti-Tirsia combat methods,
with their strict orientation towards blade
and direct counter attack using the Pekiti-Tirsia
COMBAT (Counter On Motion Before Attack Time)
principle, convinced the Recon Marines. But
my cross-training with the Recon Marines revealed
to me another important reason. They choose
Pekiti-Tirsia because the Recon Marines and
Pekiti-Tirsia people share the same philosophy:
training with the Recon Marines shows what
attitude or philosophy somebody needs to have,
if he wants to survive in extreme situations.
To be second is not good enough and success
is only in the team. The Force Recon Marines
are known to be the best there is in what
they are doing. Their training is a product
of their mental attitude towards life.
What
it means for us...
Today Pekiti-Tirsia
Kali is such a practical and realistic system,
because Grand Tuhon and his ancestors tested
and refined it again and again in real life.
Grand Tuhon says, Pekiti-Tirsia Kali has been
developed and tested in the laboratory of
pain.
Same is true for the Recon Marines: Almost
every day the Recon Marines risk their lifes
and prove anew the effectiveness of the Pekiti-Tirsia
strategies and tactics in close quarter combat.
After every mission a debriefing session is
done and experiences are exchanged. What did
the Recon Marines experience? Where have been
dangers or maybe casualties? How could these
situations have been solved in a better way?
Of course, when discussing this matters, the
Pekiti-Tirsia system has been thoroughly checked
many times and practical questions have to
be answered. And this one for sure: The Recon
Marines risk their life on every mission and
if it comes to combat training there is no
way, that they would lie to themselves for
convenience or whatever reasons. The tradition
of the Laboratory of Pain in the Pekiti-Tirsia
Kali is still on.
Of course the
trainers who are in charge of teaching Pekiti-Tirsia
to the Recon Marines must be able to comprehend
the situation and practical problems of the
soldiers. Hence the Pekiti-Tirsia trainers
engage in cross-training with the Recon Marines.
Survival in Jungle Environment, Combatant
Swimming and Diving, Parachute Jumping, Mountaineering,
Moving under Fire, Shooting while moving,
Survival Resistance Evasion Escape, Snipering,
and more is on the schedule. A one-of-a-kind
opportunity for the Pekiti-Tirsia instructors
to benefit from the treasure of knowledge
of this experts.
For Pekiti-Tirsia
it is good to know: The system has been successfully
reality tested in the past, it has been tested
yesterday, is tested today and it will be
tested tomorrow again. And even under this
very special circumstances there has been
no need to change the nucleus of the Pekiti-Tirsia
strategies and tactics. Without doubt: The
system today is as up-to-date as ever before.
Discipline,
Courage and Determination
The Recon Marines learned to value Pekiti-Tirsia,
because our philosophy is quite similar to
the philosophy of the Force Recon Marines.
Believe in Success, Life and Good Health are
essential for the Recon Marines as well. The
Philosophy is the foundation for self-discipline,
courage and determination. A Recon Marine
can't afford a mistake. Because the Filipino
Recon Marines have to rely more on their personal
abilities (the quality of the man) as on advanced
technology or quantity of soldiers, Pekiti-Tirsia
is the choice of this men. Because if you
fight at the sharp end, the training is honest!
Author:
Uli Weidle, 26. June 2002
