Traditional Muslim blades can sit well in any museum showcase
 

            Among the peoples of the Philippines the Muslim produced the most varied and most beautifully ornamented metallic hand weapons. Although they had some weapons in common, different Muslim groups had a few peculiar to them. Unlike the other peoples in the Philippines who fell under Spanish domination and were discouraged from producing weapons of war, the Muslims were free to keep on producing them for their defense as well as for ceremonial purposes or as insignia of rank and wealth. Metal crafts have reached a high state of sophistication as the Muslims were exposed to Arab and Indian influences. A Spanish officer of the 19^th century, who participated in various military expeditions against the Muslims of Sulu and who had developed a fierce hatred for them, grudgingly commented that some of the Sulu weapons he saw did “not in any manner compare unfavorably with the famed blades of Damascus”.

The dauntless Igorot resisted superior Spanish firepower
 

        When the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines, they found some of the mountains of Cordillera Central in northern Luzon inhabited by Filipinos called Igorot who traded wax, rattan and gold with their lowland neighbors for rice, livestock, wine and cloth. These so-called Igorot were divided into different language groups, or “tribes”. They lived independent villages of more-or-less related families like barangays without any real “tribal” governments or rulers. If the people in one village had a grievance against those in another, they went to war and took heads and slaves. Sometimes they went to war with one another and sometimes they went to war with lowland villages, but mainly their relationship with lowlanders was peaceful because of their trade.

Quadarat tames the fierce lion from Castille

        Among the leaders produced by the Muslims in the Philippines in their more than three centuries of struggle against Spanish attempts to colonize and Christianize them, it was Quadarat (known to the Spaniards as Corralat) who fought the longest and hardest while achieving a good measure of success. From the Islamic point of view, he had many of the qualifications entitling him to leadership. Besides being a thoroughly brave man, he was extremely pious and sophisticated in Islamic learning. Patient in defeat, magnanimous in victory, steadfast in the Faith, and utterly selfless as a ruler, he gained the grudging admiration of many foes. However, a friar historian once likened him to Gustavus Adolphus, the Protestant Swedish monarch who had several times defeated Catholic armies, that is, as ”the thunderbolt of Lucifer, the scourge of Catholicism, and the Attila of the evangelical ministers, who never practiced courtesy towards them except when force or some reason compelled him to do so”. His followers, on the other hand, considered him a paradigm of the warrior-saint and often attributed magical powers to him. Undoubtedly, he possessed a charismatic leadership. Moreover, his claimed descent from the Prophet Muhammad made him feel that he was “blessed”.

BIRADA INFUSION TRAINING - THE UNIQUE STICK TRAINING SYSTEM THAT BIRADA USES FOR DEVELOPING A BIRADOR'S (BIRADA PRACTITIONER) RESPONSE MOVEMENT AND TIMING WHILE INSTILLING THE BIRADA CORE STRIKING TECHNIQUES.

THE FLOW OF ATTACKS AND COUNTERS IS FREE FORM, MULTIDIRECTIONAL AND CONTINUOUS.THIS TYPE OF TRAINING DISCOURAGES THE STUDENT'S NATURAL TENDENCY TO MEMORIZE COUNTER ATTACKS THAT IS ONLY USEFULL IN SEQUENTIAL FORMS OF FIGHTING. ("FORMS" AND "SYSTEM" TYPE OF TRAINING).

AS THE TRAINING PROGRESSES, THE BIRADOR DEVELOPS A NATURAL REACTION TO ANY GIVEN ATTACK WITHOUT CONCIOUS THOUGHT (MUSCLE MEMORY).

IN THE END THE BIRADOR'S COMBATIVE REACTION IS NOW INFUSED WITH BIRADA'S THEORY OF HIDDEN, SWIFT AND CONTINUOUS ATTACKS BEING ABLE TO REACT AND STRIKE AT THE SAME TIME INDEPENDENT OF ANGLE AND STRIKING POSITION.

My Congratulations also to all IPEAC and SBMAC members promoted to Lakan, Punong Lakan, Birador, Punong Birador,  Pasantis & Punong Pasantis.

GPB 

Vol 5 No 3
July - September 2008

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"The IPEAC curriculum include trainings of various martial arts methodologies which ever would be beneficial for the practitioners awareness and skill development.Currently the list of the IPEAC training foundation are as follows: Arnis De Mano Kombatan, Kendo, Iaijutsu, Judo, Yawara Ju-Jitsu, Aikido, Bando Burmese Kickboxing, Nunchaku, Long Staff and Knife Fighting."

     "The IPEAC training program follows a dynamic pattern which changes periodically. Any updates will be cascaded to all affiliates."

The insurrection in Pangasinan Province started in the town of San Carlos. Residents defied the tribute collector on the ground that, with the British occupation of the capital, the colonial government no longer existed. They demanded that partial payments made earlier in the year be returned. The rebels also asked that certain Spanish officials be deposed and native-born persons be allowed to hold office. They resented being forced to work with out pay as laborers in the repair of roads and the construction of ships and buildings.