Kuntao
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kuntao (Chinese: 拳道) is a Hokkien term for martial arts created by the Chinese community of Southeast Asia, particularly the Malay Archipelago. Literally meaning "way of the fist", the word kuntao more accurately translates as "fighting art." Although it is most commonly practiced in Indonesia among the Chinese Indonesian communities, styles of kuntao are also practiced in Singapore, Malaysia (especially Borneo) and the Philippines, where Chinese martial arts were brought by merchants, labourers and other settlers from south China.
The styles had to be adapted to different terrain, competing against
local styles and fighting with local weapons. Many (if not most) styles
of kuntao have incorporated techniques from silat
and some forms even changed their name from "kuntao" to "silat". Styles
which combine both kuntao and silat together are sometimes called
kuntao silat.Kuntao was once practiced in secrecy and passed down through families; many schools continue to maintain an air of secrecy around their training techniques. It was kept hidden not only from non-Chinese, but also from people of differing clans. Although a few non-Chinese in Southeast Asia are known to have historically learned kuntao, this only became widespread in the latter half of the 20th century. During the colonial period, kuntao was brought to Mindanao by ethnic Chinese from Indonesia, and is associated mainly with the Tausug tribe.
Old styles of kuntao are today considered by modern day practitioners to be "true" Chinese martial arts because they predate the Shaolin Temple's destruction. With the advent of Mixed Martial Arts in the United States, the art has begun to approach mainstream dissemination. Even so, few traditional kuntao schools exist in the United States today and it is little known in the West.
Styles
- Kuntao Harimau Jawa is the traditional Javanese Tiger style of Kuntao. One of its main tenets is a mantra which practitioners chant to acquire the attributes of a tiger.
- Kuntao Angin or Silat Angin (meaning "wind kuntao/silat") was founded in 1977 by Yap Mat from Kedah, Malaysia by combining seni gayong with the knee and elbow strikes of tomoi, the hand techniques of Wing Chun and the energy drills of yiquan. It is known for its deceiving circular attacks and nerve point manipulations.
- Kuntao Mantis was founded in London early 1978 by Gerry Tann, an Indonesian from Sumatra. It consists of two branches, Kuntao and Northern Mantis Fist.
- Kuntao Silat deThouars was created by Willem deThouars by combining several styles of pencak silat and kuntao.
- Liu Seong Kuntao was created by Willem Reeders based on his studies in Indonesia.
- Talio American Kuntao was created by Roberto Torres based on Visitacion Kuntao, Wu Kung Kuntao, Pencak Silat Ratu Duri, Pencak Silat Pecut kilat, Silat Bondowoso, Pencak Silat Cimande, Pukulan Pencak Silat Serak, Pencak Silat Kweetang (Amerindo) and Pukulan Jepara. For more information visit: Talio American Kuntao
- Ou-Dur Kuntao is a Taiwanese style introduced to the United States by Frank Masiello.
- Kuntao Dumpag was founded by Ron Kosakowski. It is the only style of kuntao in the United States recognized by the Grand Kuntaoist Ali Sharief and the Kuntao council of the Marinaw tribes.
- Gumnasia Kuntao Kali System is The Filipino Fighting Arts Practice and developed of the Lumad Tribe,Sandig of System AbiGuru;Arneil adong Salinde
- Yihetuan Kuntao, or Harmonious Fist Kuntao is a Southeast Asian / Chinese Kuntao system taught by Sifu / Guro David Seiwert in USA.
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