Sayoc: All Blade All The Time

Heather Speaks:

"Everything I have done up to this point has been to make me better at this" - I raise my training blade to my newbie student, who up until this point has not experienced training with an edged weapon and just looks at me blankly as he continues attempting his dexterity drill. "All the martial arts training, teaching and experiences I have had up to this point is all for this: to make me better at one thing-blade." This statement when it came out has since become the banner of my personal martial arts world. May I explain further? My whole personal journey and great drive I have had in the martial arts, now over a decade has been to pursue an effective personal protection system. Along the road it has stretched to; eventually be mature enough to teach it in a tasteful manner, and honor the ones who have poured themselves into me. This desire has lead me to change my previous unhealthy lifestyle as well as direct me on a path to train with some of the best martial artist in the world. Those of who include: Guro Dan Inosanto and his martial arts family, who are wide and deep. NOTE: I could write a whole book on his influence in my life and how because of this one man, I have met people who have become so important in my life I would be someone else other than who I am apart from them. Some of these people include the late Guro Terry Gibson, Guro Harley Elmore and Tuhon Chris Sayoc (there are many more), whose influence has been pillars of character, courage-strength, love and loyalty. Developing my personal protection system includes particular views as a female as well as our society we live in. That I will cover in another article.

ENTER: Sayoc Kali

There is now such effective knife technology and methodology available to the public that whoever stands on the opposite side of it will come away with great losses and/or highly possibly, their life. Difficult to counter because it is always ahead of you. This knife technology is called Sayoc Kali, its tag: "all blade all the time". It does not matter your size your sex, your experience nor talent. There have always been and are effective knife systems. The blade has proven itself throughout history as a highly effective weapon even with little to no training. The ultimate equalizer in close range.

Martial arts are evolving at a phenomenal rate, the blending of arts, the training methods, equipment and sharing of knowledge is at such a pace through technology, it has never been seen at this level before this time. Not to forget high caliber instructors on the seminar circuit. Those of us who are on the edge of this, mainly those who function under the Jeet Kune Do Concepts umbrella are recognizing this new evolution and technology. Just as we ran to the freedom taught by great martial arts teachers like Guro Dan Inosanto, those same people are running to Sayoc Kali, because they smell the same growth and learning opportunity. And so I say, everything I have learned up to this point has been only to make me better at the blade, as taught by Tuhon Chris Sayoc. This systems effectiveness is proven in the growth of already long established martial artists under Tuhon Sayoc's direction who are blowing up American martial arts culture in effective application development. How so? First his system is attracting already experienced, seasoned quality martial artists. Who not only have a foundation in other systems that complement his, but in most cases have influence as instructors already as well. This creates a fertile soil for learning and developing in the evolution of the martial arts as described previously that has not been known except through war and blood. The Sayoc system is founded on blood, the Filipino martial arts are proven effective through out war.

Sayoc Kali: Art of the Blade

The Sayoc system is the apex of my personal protection system of development. Understand my path includes the foundations of, Tae Kwon Do which taught me fitness and body awareness most importantly the first card of a personal protection system which is confidence. Then to be introduced to the challenging art of, Muay Thai Boxing, and Western Boxing: blood sports, which developed the gross motor skill through hard gym training and introducing the hard contact training. Training further developed like through a filter in the arts of Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu, the Filipino martial arts of Kali Silat as well as grappling and other exotic arts. These systems in the well rounded presentation through the years have been foundational to appreciate and respect the blade system of Tuhon Chris Sayoc.

Sayoc Kali all blade all the time. The filter has come to fine threshing. All previous experience martial arts training allowed, add elements to vital areas. Drawing from the families war, medical and spiritual influences these areas called vital templates are difficult if not impossible to stand against. The body is now a map. Everyone is a map and the blade is the instrument in the mapping. Martial art is no longer "who is stronger," "faster," or "who hits", "who submits," or.. "who locks," "who chokes, sweeps, "who.." arena. It is now who is all that is mentioned, AND who has the blade.

Enter: Sayoc Kali "all blade all the time."

Heather MonDee (Content Copyright © 2004)