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Kerambit: Blade of Death
A Video Review by Phil Elmore
Ray Dionaldo of
Warrior Craft is
an accomplished Filipino Martial Arts instructor. To be perfectly honest,
I did not realize just how skilled he was when he sent me
three
of his training blades to review. I should have suspected, though, as
it seems just about everyone with whom I speak in the martial arts community
knows, or knows of, Ray and his work.
The somewhat melodramatically titled Kerambit: Blade of Death video
runs for about half an hour and is extracted from a 2002 seminar in Greensboro,
NC. As of this writing, the
kerambit (or
karambit) enjoys extensive popularity and
is becoming more and more “hot” within the knife and knife-arts
communities. Those looking to bring themselves up to speed on this handy
little weapon need look no farther than Ray’s video, which is a great
introduction to the blade and its applications.
The tape begins with footage of Ray taken from the Greensboro seminar, set to
music. Dionaldo moves incredibly fast. This footage is full of all
manner of twirling, checking, and flowing moves that made me wish I’d been in
North Carolina that weekend. There are a few other people I’ve seen on
video who move with that speed and confidence, but I can’t say there are
terribly many of them. (Ray’s movements reminded me immediately of some
Kelly Worden materials I’ve been screening, for example.)
Production values are very professional. The video is clear and the
sound is audible, if a bit hollow at times. (There are also times on the
tape when Ray’s clip-on microphone is covered during a physical demonstration,
producing muffled noise — a very common problem on instructional videos.)
The picture basically stays framed on Ray and his training partner, which is
more than adequate for the demonstrations presented.
I did initially have a problem with perhaps four minutes of choppy video on
my Kerambit tape, which I chalked up to a reproduction anomaly during the
copying process. I ran the tape again on a four-head VCR with better
automatic tracking and the video was entirely visible, though the picture jumped
slightly during the affected portion. The audio was not affected and the
problem did not interfere with my enjoyment of the presentation.
Ray introduces the kerambit as an Indonesian weapon of stealth and
assassination. He covers some background of a similar weapon used by the
Filipinos and explains that the kerambit is very versatile and maneuverable.
It can be used for controlling, locking, cutting, pounding, and chopping.
Speaking without a script in this informal setting, Ray — his belt festooned
with various training blades and other gear — explains that most of his knife
work is done at very close range. The kerambit is very well suited to such
work, of course.
Ray demonstrates fast cuts, checking, and “gunting” moves with his
trainer kerambit, even mentioning (to my pleasure) that many
Wing
Chun practitioners find the blade easily adapted to their fighting style.
He also demonstrates using upward hooking motions of the kerambit to control a
subject (thrusting the blade up under the chin, for example).
The first basic sequence of moves discussed is a tight left, right, up
combination. I almost couldn’t follow the motion when Ray performed it
at full speed. He points out later in the video that one must flow
when using this weapon. He and his training partner repeatedly spin and
check and move in a fluid manner that underscores this.
The next technique covered is the spin, which can be done up or out.
Dionaldo warns that if you perform this move incorrectly you will cut your
wrist, very possibly chipping your own bone. (Buy a
trainer
and practice safely!) He goes on to demonstrate how to aply the spin to
various moves, including using a gunting (scissor) maneuver with the spin
to debone the opponent’s arm.
As Ray encourages the seminar attendees to practice spinning their kerambits,
we hear the unmistakable sound of a fumbled aluminum trainer hitting the floor
with a metallic clatter. Any of us who’ve ever dropped a stick or knife
while practicing such moves can instantly relate.
In the next sequence, Ray demonstrates a gunting and pass taken into a
controlling lock on the opponent. This is followed by a discussion of the 50/50
rule, the point of which is that one should control the opponent’s limbs to
improve one’s chances of predicting whether his attack will go above or below a
blocking limb (which is presumed to be “50/50” in the absence of such
control).
In the next segment, Dionaldo covers psychological baiting. He
demonstrates using the live hand to control the opponent’s head and draw him
into the kerambit as he attempts to block the incoming blade. Considerable
time is spent on doing this move correctly, as to be done properly it must move
the opponent’s head in first one, then another direction. Properly
executed, it turns the opponent’s body in such a way that it is harder for him
to bring his weapon hand to bear on you.
The final technique covered is the palusut (to move, pass, or thread
through). This involves threading around the opponent’s arm and feeding
through to cut him. Ray demonstrates using the elbow as a lever, walking
under the opponent’s limb and checking with his arms and shoulders as he does
so. The basic principle of the movement reminded me of turning a
“high wing” block with a rattan stick into a “witik“,
levering over the stick to turn the move immediately into a strike.
In the final portion of the video, Ray demonstrates using the same move to
cut through the throat and around the neck of the opponent. He warns his
seminar attendees about the dangers of getting a trainer blade caught on their
necks. This is an important point. Even aluminum
training
blades can be dangerous because they are rigid.
I was pleased with this video and felt inclined to purchase more tapes from
the seminar. It left me wanting to see more of what Mr. Dionaldo has to
offer, which is the mark of a good product.
For more information on tapes from this seminar, visit
www.ncfcskali.com.