Profile of Sigung / Guru Marcelo Rainero Video

Here is a video profile of one of Uncle's senior instructor's in Kuntao Silat de Thouars.  The video clearly shows the family style of training and friendship between the practitioner's while providing a glimpse of the potentially lethal techniques trained.  You'll also see some other familiar faces. A link to Marcelo's website can be found to the right of this page in links.

Guru / Tai Si Hing Philip Sailas at a Seminar 2010

Here you can see Uncle's most accomplished and longest practicing student, an amazing martial artist and person in every sense of the word, Philip Sailas.  This video shows a very casual bit of instruction during The Family Gathering 2010 Seminar for Kuntao Silat de Thouars.  Guru Sailas will be here for the Blood, Sweat and Steel Seminar in the New Orleans area May 12 & 13, 2012 demonstrating Monkey Kuntao, Kuntao Silat knife and Uncle's Pencak Silat Serak.  It will be so good to see them both.  It's been too long.

Fencing with the Sabre

Uncle speaks quite often about the integration of the fencing he learned while living in Europe.  Kuntao Silat de Thouars contains quite a bit of fencing in the footwork, lunges, and usage of the arms while entering.  Fencing is a simple system to learn, but takes a lifetime to master to any real degree...much like good Kuntao Silat.  The attached video demonstrates the fundamentals of sabre fencing.  It's the closest to a large knife you'll find in an officially sanctioned international sporting context.  Notice the timing required for even one pointed moves.

The Kuntao Silat Design Store is Now Open!

Be as water.  Kuntao Silat Designs including the Seminar Shirt for Uncle's arrival May 12 & 13, 2012.

The Kuntao Silat Design Shop for a shorter link.  Exclusive designs for Kuntao Silat you can't find anywhere else!  Proudly support your art.

Basic Sapu and Besset Drill with Guru Stevan Plinck

Video of a great basic exercise to assist with awareness, sensitivity, familiarity and mechanics in a relaxed manner with some langkah movements.

Pukulan Pentjak Silat with Guru Stevan Plinck

Here is video of some well instructed, very basic information regarding silat movement that is universal to the de Thouars silat arts.

Pencak Silat Five Experts

These short silat videos were sent to me asking some questions about our art.  Many of the same techniques are used in Kuntao Silat.  There is some difference due to the kuntao influence and the shen fa, or body movement/expression, is necessarily different causing some change in response and technique, but many are very similar.  It must be remembered that Kuntao Silat incorporates several different styles of silat and kuntao.  Each practitioner, once obtaining a solid foundation through many years of practice, eventually specializes in what suits their nature.

Djuru Satu performed by Trevor.

Please note, this video of our first form in kuntao silat was done spontaneously and I missed the very first movements of my student. I walk with the camera a bit to show the movement more clearly, but it changes the perception of the angles.

Silat Serak in Uncle's Own Words

  At the beginning when Paul started to teach in Los Angeles and later upon a (drift) of my invitation to come to Colorado, (there was stories to behold), coming from Paul himself - most was recorded and through notification he stated that pak serak had practiced, " several Chinese styles, 4 Hindu arts, 5 Muslim and unique to history telling, also several other pentjac silat styles".  it was also noteworthy being written dawn, by several of my old students and to top it of, his spoken words in a voice, was also on tape. Victor can much relate to my actual fact to minus serak's history.     It was before he created the Bukti Negara fighting art, impartial to old kung fu (san soo) and for sure Serak. Try to deny it, and an embarrasment is to follow a great reputation. When Bukti Negara was created, he founded the art based on a vision from God, also noted and candidly, Paul tries to declined Pak's Serak's  Chinese arts, out of pak Serak's systems. There are actually to many who can actually attest to my statement in issues. Nothing against Paul, but is time for him to be more truthful to himself, because by hiding the truth, relates only to a misinterpretation to actual facts, and can worsen the true history, that is non to discover - and leads only by confusing it further - in later years. There are others in Holland and here in America that had gone off the side, when it comes to serak, the art of Pak Serak.   I decided to strengthen my bond with the VDT Academy under pak Victor and guru Horacio. Serak at the academy is more stable with information and also in the practice and training of serak. My headquarter here in Colorado, is an information source for Hakka kun tao and with the VDT academy is a centre source to obtain informatio for the value of the art Serak. There are two opposite styles in djurus and langkas being taught; the Mas Djoet art and the Mahroen art, makes the practice and training of serak, a very huge fighting art, with a great history and a large formatted art to choose from. I too have been for a long time, (knowledgeable in the art of serak )- and had gotten it through other very reliable sources, outside Paul's, Maurice or de Vries family in Holland.   It is necessary for me to openly attest my declaration of my intent for also starting to teach Serak.

Will only be taught to just a chosen view, of my liking. The VDT Academy and the kun tao silat de Thouars, are closed related associates as one family. Other serak related organizations are far apart from us, and should be noted, that we don't have anything in common or are doing the same serak art. I am delighted to notice that guru Dan Inosanto had gone to study further in the art serak from Victor. He had achieved a high rank of guru under pak Victor and in my consideration congratulate him, and consider him our wealthiest martial ambasador in the South East Asian arts, a rewarded legend for a broad scaled knowledge.   In closing we need to stay separated issues, in order to gain success in comprehension.

                                      Bapak willem de thouars.

Kuntao Silat de Thouars on the Bayou! A Seminar

Bapak Willem de Thouars (Uncle) and Sigung Philip Sailas (Uncle’s most senior student) Hai Deng Shrfu Willem de Thouars and Sigung Philip Sailas will be teaching an aspect of Kuntao Silat de Thouars rarely shown outside of inner circle teaching—silat serak djurus, langkahs and buahs, kuntao silat knife and monkey boxing from monyet kuntao. May 12 & 13, 2012 (Saturday and Sunday) from 8am to 4pm each day, Lafreniere Park at 3000 Downs Blvd. Metairie, LA. (LaQuinta Inn at 5900 Veterans Memorial Blvd. is blocks away across I-10, 504-456-0003). • Cost is $150 for both days of training if paid before April 30, 2012, postal money order. May 1st or later is $100 per day payable upon arrival with cash only. Registration with this form must be completed as a liability waiver and agreement to terms or participation will not be allowed. Please bring a personal training practice knife or safety equipment for your own use and plenty of fluids. *You may e-mail for a pdf form to be sent to you to register as it must be legible to participate and you must mail it in to my address to be provided.

Empty Hand vs. Knife Basics with Kuntao Silat

Today I had my students work on some empty hand vs. folding knife attacks from our first form, Langkah Satu, also known as Djuru Satu. Please note that the speed was decreased and the hits were only indicated with body power to avoid injuring the training partners in training. These movements must be experienced to better understand structure and positioning with root which is nearly impossible to demonstrate via video. The knife was continually controlled by the person once contact was made passing the point/edge as necessary.

Hakka Kuntao and Chinese Martial Arts

Uncle continuously asserts that his kuntao derives from the Hakka people of China. For those who don't know what that may mean, the following article is a nice summary.

Origins Of The Hakka People And Their Martial Arts
Who Are The Hakka?

Before we explore the unique historical and cultural characteristics of this ethnic
group from China, we must first explore the exact meaning of the name that is used to
refer to them, and indeed is used by them, to refer to themselves. The anglocised term ‘Hakka’ should more correctly be written ‘Hak-gar’. It is a term that is pronounced in the Cantonese (i.e. ‘Guandonghua’) dialect of southern China. It means the following:
1) Hak = literally ‘Guest’, i.e. someone unknown who will not be staying and passing
through.
2) Gar = literally ‘Family’, i.e. those bound together by a common bound of blood.
Taken together, the name refers to an unknown group of people that enters (or migrats
into) an area where they were previously unknown to the indigenous occupants.
All Hakka origination stories claim a northern Chinese heritage. And the stories say
that following various, historical events, (normally invasions or inter-ethinc violence),the Hakka people were forced to migrate to central China and then finally to southern China, before leaving the mainland of China and travelling the world, via Vietnam, Indonesia (where, from the late 18th and most of the 19th century the only Hakka kingdom outside of china existed - the Lan Fang Republic), Africa, Europe and the Americas. Hakka history is written down in the 'Tsuphu' or 'Juk Bow', the terms
translating as 'Clan Book'; each Hakka name has a book of its own, with an
originating village somewhere in the mainland. These villages will have a stone tablet with the family name and clan poem engraved upon it. Anyone with a specific family name, is entitled to the heritage and history of that clan. The clans were originally much larger tribes, that through fragmentation due to migration and geographical separation, becme the name clans other time. Many of these names trace their origins to the names of States, or ruling houses. Indeed, many Chinese names are considered Hakka, such as Chin, Li, Lim, Wong. Chu and Sung , etc, but there are many more. The Hakka language has undergone many changes of late. firstly, wherever Hakkas reside in China (i.e. Sichuan, Guangxi, Guandong, Fujian or the north), the Hakka language (which is similar to Guanyu, or old Manderin) has mixed with the local
dialects, giving the Hakkas in that area a distinctive local accent and dialect. Hakkas in the West for instance, tend to be very proud of the area that their recent ancestors came from, be it the New Territories, Fujian or Sichuan! Due to the hard life of the average Hakka of old, a culture imerged based upon 3 basic
principles;
1) Confucian education.
2) Farming.
3) Martial arts. What Are Hakka Martial Arts?
Hakka people, within their own culture, tell stories of an origination to the north of China. Various academic studies carried-out in recent times, confirm that the Hakkas did, infact, migrate from north China, toward the south, in at least five waves of migration, that can be observed over the last two thousand years of Chinese history.
The early Hakka were fierce mounted warriors of the nomadic people referred to as
‘Xiongnu’ (i.e. ‘Fierce People’). They entered China, thousands of years ago, and
slowly overtime, took on elements of Chinese culture, whilst spreading their own.
And, it is believed that the Hakka founded at least two dynasties of ancient China,
namely the Qin (221BCE-206), and the Han (206BCE-220CE). Today, there are
various Chinese names associated with Hakka ancestry, such as Lee, Chow, Chu, Ah
Yeung, Yin, Yau and Chin, to mention only a few.
Hakkas are tough, hard working and fight like tigers! However, due to the insistance
tradition has placed upon correct behaviour, Hakka communities are vary well
ordered. Hakka gungfu is collectively referred to as Hakka Kuen, or Hakka Fist. The
term Hakka being Cantonese for 'Guest People' and kuen meaning fist. Hakka is what
the Cantonese called the original tribal migrants from the north, and it seems to have
stuck! Hakka gungfu styles include;
1) Pheonix Eye Fist.
2) Praying Mantis.
3) Iron Ox Praying Mantis.
4) Longfist.
5) Dragon Style.
6) Fatshan Wing Chun.
7) Chen Taijiquan.
A Hakka martial art may be defined in three distinct ways;
1) Any style developed in south China by migrating Hakka - referred to as 'Hakka
Kuen' (i.e. Guest Family Fist).
2) A style in its original northern form, practiced by Hakka people and passed-on
within Hakka families. Some of these styles were brought south by migrating Hakka
and served as the base for the southern Hakka Kuen styles - the latter, therefore,
maybe viewed as latter developments. Being of northern origin, these styles maybe
referred to as 'Northern Hakka Kuen', so as to distinguish them from the southern
counter-parts.
3) Any martial arts style practiced and passed-on by Hakka people and Hakka
families. This would include styles taught to a Hakka ancestor and then practiced by
Hakka people. Although not strictly speaking 'Hakka' in origin, these styles have been
preserved, moulded and brought into the modern world whilst in Hakka care.
The original purpose of Hakka martial arts was communial defence. To this end, the
Hakka (putonghua; 'Ke Jia'), evolved, designed and developed both lethal and
practical martial arts systems for the defence of static communities - be they cities,
towns or villages. Before this however, the nomadic ancestors of the Hakka people
employed a highly mobile form of warfare that involved the attacking of fixed
settlements - for the acquiing of resources that they could not grow or trade for
themselves. The Hakka ancestors rode Steppe ponies - ponies that can still be seen
today in that region that are both sturdy and tough. Hakka warriors would sweep into
settlements - seemingly out of nowhere - take what they needed and left before the
enemy could orientate themselves to what was happening. These pony-back attacks
involved the enveloping of an enemy - in their entirety - so that none could escape or
so that reinforcements couldn't get in. As the centuries went by, the Hakka ancestors
settled into more or less static communities in north China - becomiing Sinotised int
he process. As these groups migrated southward over time, they lost their ponies and
adapted their martial arts to suit their new situation. Fighting off pony-back, but
maintianing the essentially enveloping strategy - many northern Chinese martial arts
styles came into existance - including the famous Longfist. The Hakka ancestors had
always been able to fight on the ground, but now it became the main emphasis of the
survival. Now, their descendents found themselves in static communes that needed
defending from outside forces. This tradition of comunial defence came all the way
down through time to the 20th century - particularly in and around the New
Territories - where Hakka martial arts were still taught in a communial manner. My
early experience (in a Hakka village), was just that - namely that when we practiced
martial arts, we also drilled in standing formations around the edges of the villages -
as if preparing to meet an invader. Men and women alike - the women with their
young children tied to thier backs. The Hakka Jeurngs (i.e. Leaders), always stood in
the front of the lines - they were the best martial artists and their job was to taunt the
enemy into attacking and being crushed by Hakka fighting spirit! When they were
killed, the next generations of leaders would move forward to take their rightful place
at the front of the Hakka force - in Hakka tradition, this is a great honour reserved
only for the best martial arts teachers. One favoured weapon for this kind of defence
was the six foot 'Chong', or spear - the Hakkas would form-up in three lines, each line
holding the spear at a particular height and angle. Communial courage was just as
important as individual bravery.
Today, Hakka martial arts are often referred to as ‘southern’ in origination –
particularly the ‘Southern Praying Mantis’ (Tong Long Kuen, famous for its ‘Fung
Nang’, or ‘Pheonix Eye’ strike, whereby the seccond knuckle of the finger nearest the
thumb, is held in such away so as to ressemble a pheonix eye, is used to devastating
effect to strike pressure points). Infact, many associate Hakka martial arts ONLY
with this style. Both these ideas are misconceptions, and are the understandable result
of a general lack of knowledge of both Hakka culture and Hakka history. As the
Hakka people did not originate in southern China – it is a logical conclusion that
Hakka martial arts, (so entwined with Hakka culture in general), must have developed
at a far earlier date than the 17th century, the approximate date of the Hakka
migration into south China.
The southern Hakka styles were essentially modifications of already existing northern
styles that the migrating Hakka brought southward with them. So why were the styles
changed? The answer is that not all styles were changed. Some where changed and
became well known for there modified version. When the Hakkas migrated into
southern China, they faced aggression and alienation from the indigenous peoples of
those areas. They were forced to live in very small areas of poor farming country.
Space was of a premium. Housing was built in these small areas and there was not
much space for the practicing of the northern forms, with there long stances and
elaborate forms. Up until then, Hakka arts had always had two distinct training
aspects, i.e. ‘external’ and ‘internal’. Both involving various training systems and
years of practice. In the south however, the Hakkas had to adapt to new situations.
Inter-ethnic fighting meant that there was warfare on a regular occurrence, so young
men and women (Hakka women did not bind their feet, and fought side by side with
their men, often with their babies tied to their backs), had to be trained very quickly.
The need for good fighters at a rapid rate, and the lack of space lead to the
development of the southern styles. Stances were shortened to reflect the lack of
training space, and the external and internal training systems were combined into one
user friendly system. It must be stated however, that ALL Hakka systems emphasis
the internal over the external, as mastery of the former is by far more difficult.
northern Hakka styles did not die out however, but remained rare, usually practiced
by the immediate families of clan leaders.
The structure of these arts reflect the nodamic ancestry of the Hakka. Nomads would
ride into battle, encircling their enemies and cutting off their escape. As there were
no stirrups in ancient China, those riding the steppe ponies would kick downward
from the saddle, and often dismount, fight on foot, and then mount again and ride off
in quick succession. The enemy was encircled and confused by fast, precise and
highly disciplined attacks from virtually every and any quarter. This blue-print was
maintained in the forming of norhern Hakka fighting arts. As Hakkas settled in noth
China, they gave-up their ponies, as a consequence, their fighting styles became
ground orientated. Various forms of Longfist (i.e. ‘Changquan’) were developed and
passed-on. In the north of China, the Hakkas were on the offensive, but in southern
China, they found themselves very much on the defensive – this change in
cirucmstance is reflected in the structural changes of their marial forms.
And the development of Taijiquan is very interesting from a Hakka point of view. A
well known Hakka name is ‘Chin’ and is written in Chinese as ‘Er Dong’, which
literally means ‘Listening to the East’ – it is written with the character for ‘ear’ and
the character ‘East’, and is pronounced ‘Chen’ in manderin. However, experts
interpret this ideogram as referring to a migration of the Chin clan, from the west of
China, toward the east, following the Yellow River. This migration happened durng
the Zhou Dynasty (1134BCE-256BCE). And in modern geography, would have been
from Gansu to Henan. The Chin clan, when they entered China – where not yet called
‘Chin’, but went by the name of ‘Gui’. The Gui migrated eastward and settled in the
land of Zhou. Being loyal subjects of the Zhou, they were awarded with their own
state – called ‘Chen’ in manderin. When the Chu invaded and destroyed the state of
Chen (approx: 568BCE), the Gui clan changed their name to ‘Chen’, so that they
could remember their own kingdom. Chen is pronounced ‘Chin’ in the Hakka
language – and the Chen family of Chen Jia Gou (i.e. Chen Village), in Henan – the
founders of Taijiquan in its modern form, are descendence of the Hakka Gui clan that
entered China thousands of years ago. Even in southern China, many descendence of
Chen still practice various forms of Longfist – and it must be remembered that one
alternate name for Taijiquan is infact ‘Longfist’, as its movements appear to flow,
‘like a river’.
Everything has a history and the Hakkas are no acception to this rule. If we take time
to look beneath the surface of Hakka culture, we find an interesting array of
contradictions and development. Hakka history is partly linguistic, cultural, martial
and genetic. Today, Hakka people live all other the world. And a number of
historians make the point that there are distinctly ‘Hakka’ family names. Name
lineages, that if traced, go all the way back to north China – the point of origin, and
possibly entry of the Hakka ancestors.
Adrian Chan-Wyles Ph.D
Published in the march/april 2006 edition of Kung Fu, Tai Chi Magazine.

Uncle's Current List of Students and Teachers

The Colorado group:
Phillip Sailas, Most Senior practitioner.
Keith Moffett, Senior practitioner.
Marcelo Rainero, Senior practitioner.
Ted Garcia, Senior practitioner.
Stewart Lauper, Senior practitioner.
David Conrad, Practitioner.
Brian Earnest, Practitioner.
Kris L Roberts, Practitioner.
Rex Finfgeld, Practitioner.
Bill Maniotes, Practitioner.
James Capri, Practitioner.
Dr. (MD) Westly Nuffer, Practitioner.
Rene Fancher, Sifu
Colby Bock, Sifu
Bob Austin, Sifu
Charles Cook. Sifu
Oleg Umansky, Sifu
Steve Roland, Guru

Santa Monica, Calif
Mathew Cohen, Senior Practitioner.
Ray Robles, Senior Practitioner.

West Hills. Calif
Michael Hirst, Sifu

San Francisco, Calif
Dr Conrad Bui, Senior Practitioner.
Janet Jee. sifu in Chinese - Indonesian arts.

Cupertino, Calif
Dr. Andre Knutskraichen, Pendekar Pentjak Silat USA

Truckee, Calif
Sam Edwards, Practitioner of arts.

Ukia, Calif
Frank Broadhead, Practioner of arts.

El Sequndo, Cali
Steve Williams, Sifu

Rosswell, Ga
Pete Pukish, Sensei Satori Martial Arts.

Rosswell, Ga
Alexei Ouchiknov, Practitioner Russian martial arts.

Maryville, Tn
Richard Clear, Senior Practitioner Internal Arts.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Trent Beach. Sifu

Acton, Ma
Don Ethan Miller, Senior Practitioner of Internal arts.

Somerville, Ma
Westly Tasker, Senior Practitioner Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian arts.

Salem, Ma
Michael and May Williams, Guros in South East Asian Martial Arts Center.

Montreal, Canada
Randell Goodwin, senior Practitioner in South East Asian Arts.

Philadelphia, Penn
Bob Cook, Practitioner in South East Asian Arts.

Baltimore, Maryland
Dr. Scott Sobel, Practitioner in Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian Arts.

Westminster, MD
Brad Nicholson, Practitioner in KTS
Initiated to the extended family, Guro Samuel Scot in Bowie, MD

Greenwhich Village, Conn
Sifu George Kelakos

New Heaven, Conn
Sifu Bruce Walker

Chicago, Ill
Joe Judt, Sifu in South East Asian martial arts.

Brooklynn, N.I
Arkadi Didko, Sifu South East Asian Martial Arts.

Martha's Vine Yards, Ma
Billy Wyatt Practitioner of Arts.

Merrit Island. Fl
Chuck Stahman, Senior Practitioner in KTS

Dr Chad Baley, Practitioner in south East Arts.

Plant City, Fl
Rudy "Danny" Rogers, Sifu

Kansas City, Ka
Shelley Millspaugh, Guro

Bella Vista, Ar
Steve Tod, Guro

Bentonville, AR
John Malmo, Guro

Phoenix, AR
Steve Wall, Sifu

Carthage, Mo
Jeff Sprawls, Guro

Guadalajara, Mexico
Mario Rainero, Senior Practitioner in Imua and KTS

Mc. Allen Texas
Dr Joel Rodriguez, Sifu

St. Augustine, Tx
Kay Kutz, Sifu internal arts, extended family

Tokyo, Japan
Jason Yamamoto. Sifu

Ocean View, Hawaii
Dr. Bahati Mershant . Pendekar Chinese - Indonesian arts.

Dana Mattos, Sifu

Portland, Oregon
Curtis Goodwin, Sifu

Hamilton, East New Zealand
Shinichi Jonathan Sakanaka-Kaleohano Louis, Sifu

Stockholm, Sweden
Michael Marlow, Sifu

Oslo, Norway
Dr. Jimmy Boharfa, Sifu
Dr Armando Soto, Martial Arts Leader Imua Shantung kun tao

Extended Family:
Guro Tom Kier and Guro Ray Raynaldo master instructors of Sayoc Kali and many other arts
Dr. Ray Weathers, Sifu of Internal Arts
Seidjo Glenn Abrescy, Merced California
Sifu Russ Novell, Missouri