Kuntao

[kroh]

Are there many systems of Kuntao in the Philipines?

Thank you,
Regards,
Walt

[Buwaya]

Hey Kroh,

Kuntao in the Philippines can also be spelled kuntaw. Note the spelling kuntao-kuntaw, Maranao-Maranaw, Mindanao-Mindanaw, its not uncommon for -ao to be spelled -aw.

Probably the most popular form of Kuntaw in the PI comes from Carlito Lanada, sometimes called Maharlika Kuntaw, sometimes Kuntaw Lima Lima. If a FMA has kuntaw in their curiculum its likely to have come from Maharlika kuntaw.

Second after that would be kuntao practised or taught by chinese or tsinoy's(philippine-chinese) in philippine china towns, Wing Chun, Five Ancestors Fist, seven star praying mantis, ect.

Third would be Chinese kuntao-Arnis hybrids like Lapunti Arnis de Abaniko(Shaolin + Cebauno eskrima) or Tatkuntao(empty hand Balintawak plus Five Ancestors Fist).

Lastly would be Kuntao/kuntaw practiced in Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-tawi by Tausug, Yakan and Sama.

[Sheldon Bedell]

for those that are not fimilar with the term would you explain Kuntaw and what it is

[Buwaya]

Its Southern Chinese.

It just means Chinese martial art. Also used to distinguish arts that come from China but have become Philippine/Malay over the generations(ie, Moro Kuntao), or arts that have elements taken from both Chinese and Philippine arts(ie, Tatkuntao).

Kuntaw is just an alternate spelling consistent with how we spell many things in the Philippines. Could mean the same thing regardless of spelling.


Carlito Lananda's Kuntaw is actually an acronym of two Tagalog words Kunsegrado Hataw, Sacred Strike, and according to the founder has nothing to do with Chinese, Indonesion or Moro kuntao and has more to do with Okinawan Karate.

[kroh]

Thanks for the info Buwaya, That is probably the best and most concise explanation I have heard.

Regards,
Walt

[arnisador]

I've never had a chance to do any kuntao. I've always wondered just how Chinese it would still appear--if, like Karate, you'd see some resemblances but many differences, or if it would still be easily recognizable as kung fu. I imagine the answer varies by system!

[Buwaya]

Arnisador,
Kuntao practiced in Philippine Chinatowns is Kungfu. Many of the practitioners are 1st or 2nd generation Chinese living in the Philippines. The PI has very tight nit(sp?) Chinese communities.

[arnisador]

Ah, OK! I figured it was Chinese arts blended into Filipino arts. So, might there be, in essence, a 'Wing Chun Kuntao' as there is Vietnamese and Malaysian Wing Chun?

[Buwaya]

Not sure what you mean by Vietnamese and Malaysian Wing Chun, but yes there is Wing Chun pracitised in the PI.

[arnisador]

I mean it like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branche...B8.E6.98.A5.29

This style has been in Vietnam long enough that it's often referred to as the Vietnamese version of the system, even though it's still clearly a form of (Chinese) Wing Chun.