|
Pangamut is an empty-hand
fighting art taught by Dan Inosanto. It contains a number of grappling
techniques, as well as hand strikes, kicks, leg sweeps, foot traps, biting,
and gouging. Students of Filipino martial arts typically learn how to use
weapons before learning empty-hand techniques, whereas most other oriental
martial arts generally teach empty-hand techniques up to black-belt level
and then introduce weapons training. Sticks, knives, and daggers are the
most common weapons encountered during confrontations in the Philippines, so
these are the ones that are taught. Many martial artists who learn weapon
arts in the Philippines have little or no experience of empty-hand training.
Pangamut addresses this need by teaching weapon techniques, but with an
empty hand. |
 |
|
A classic maneuver comes when
an opponent thrusts a knife, stick, or sword toward your face— you parry
your opponent with your right hand, making contact with their wrist, then
your left hand makes contact with their elbow, pushing forward before your
right hand goes for a thrusting stab. This stabbing action can be replaced
with a punch or a chop, and the move can be performed in exactly the same
way unarmed as it can armed. It is this underlying thought and genius that
informs many of the empty-hand Filipino fighting arts. |
