User:Poidog67/Makoa Kali

Makoa Kali and Makoa Combatives Makoa Combatives is a rare and little known martial arts system developed by Guro Abu Hamza and the vehicle used in learning the Cantley family system, Makoa Kali. Makoa Kali, being a blade based system, is very dangerous. Guro Abu Hamza thought it necessary to develop skill sets that would cover more non-lethal areas of self protection and, essentially, Makoa Combatives was born.

History and Structure

Makoa Kali is a blade based system, taken from the actual combative experience of the founder in the military and many Indonesian, Filipino and Malay systems. The Filipino and Indonesian systems which Makoa Kali derives from are full of rich history and hundreds of years old. Being based on the knife, the beginning of Makoa Kali training usually involves learning Filipino Stick skill sets, which use much of the same angles. Training progresses on to two man single and double knife drills, then to sparring and reality based scenario training. Training is very reality based and is centered on this 'feeder/receiver' training principle. All lethal entries, isolation techniques and disarms can be trained or 'found' within the two man sets. Eventually one translates these skill sets into empty hand, which makes up the Makoa Silak portion of the Combatives. The system can be broken down like this:

Makoa Core Combatives (basic ground skills)

Makoa-Jitsu (ground work with strong emphasis on street effectiveness, ‘dirty fighting’ if you will, and later blade-grappling skill sets)

Makoa Kali (knife skill-sets)

Makoa Silak (empty hand)

Makoa Warrior Skills (offensive mindset, Makoa fence paradigm, firearm offence/defense, etc)

Each element can be categorized as a combative and is as separate as much as it is a part of the whole.

Ranking

Formal ranking in Makoa Kali is simple. There are three belts: blue, tan and black, with 4 degrees or 'slashes' each, indicating a sub-rank within that belt. Initial training involves learning the Core Combatives, which is basically ground fighting, and based solely on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and structured like and based on the Gracie's Combatives program, Abu Hamza being a former Relson Gracie student. The student may even, if he chooses, only be certified in these basic fighting skills and not be ranked. Many become certified to teach the Core Combatives only, so as to enhance the system they practice with superior ground skills. Abu Hamza has placed a great deal of emphasis on learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, acknowledging the obvious contributions the Gracies have made to the evolution of modern martial arts. Even referring students to the Gracie brothers for further ground training.

Blue belt is awarded only after mastering these Core Combatives. Along with the accompanying basic stick skill sets and forms (three basic forms for blue belt). The degrees or 'slashes' are awarded as the required basic skill sets are added to the students’ knowledge base. Blue belts then progress into Makoa-Jitsu, a more ‘street-lethal’ way of looking at ground fighting.

Tan belt is the beginning of true knife training. By this time a student has been deemed suitable to teach knife to, having gained the trust of the organization. The Makoa Combatives Group takes this very seriously as teaching knife skills carries with it tremendous responsibility. Tan belt is awarded once the basic knife skills are learned. Then degrees are gradually earned over the years. Tan belt training tends to be slow due to the precision required to master knife skills.

Black belt is awarded once a student has mastered all of the basic to advanced knife skill sets. Emphasis now lies on fine tuning actual fighting skills and beginning the road to teaching. Once a black belt has earned his 4th degree, he may begin training to teach. There are several different teaching ranks starting with the lowest-Junior Associate Instructor. The teaching hierarchy is complicated and is topped with Abu Hamza himself, who has never really set an official title for himself, aside from 'Guro'. 'Ustaazh' is a term that has been used, an Arabic term meaning 'Teacher' which points to Makoa Kali's Muslim roots. He sees issues like this often means of self glorification and avoids them. Students address him by his name, and classes are relaxed.

Basics

Makoa Kali is not a complete fighting system in of itself, hence the need for Makoa Combatives. Makoa Combatives allows the student to learn all ranges of combat, from ground work to stand up weapons and empty hands, even combat firearm skills. So, a student begins with developing his Core skills with ground fighting. Then on to stick training and working up to the actual blade skill sets required for Makoa Kali, and then integrates all of the combatives together. The Core Combatives are easy to learn and give the student a practical system of self protection very early on in their martial training. Makoa Kali itself is a very practical system which focuses on violence of action, intention, and readiness to face death and life with a similar enthusiasm and a strong desire for victory. The specialization of the system is the close quarter usage of the knife, with further emphasis placed on handling multiple attackers. Engaging multiple attackers is addressed from the onset of stick training and carried on through to knife training. If one were to watch a Makoa Kali knife class, one would get the impression that multiple attackers are not only emphasized, but, it is all that is trained to combat. Abu Hamza came to the realization early on that most people, especially martial artists, don't arbitrarily fight. Rather, one is attacked. And usually one is attacked by an individual or individuals who are younger, faster, stronger, usually armed-and full of lethal intent. He surmised, like many others, that reality of this kind of situation would dictate the use of a weapon. In comes the blade.

Schools and Training

One would be hard pressed to find a Makoa Kali school in their area. Two were located on the east coast, and the Portland, Oregon location which is the headquarters, is open to private students on the west coast. The founders enjoy a very non-commercial attitude in their teaching, and take sharing the knowledge of the blade very serious. The founders are still not comfortable with including a website to the Makoa knowledge base due to the huge volume of accessibility. In the past seminars were made available to Law Enforcement related to gun retention and protecting against edged weapons and the like but, typically one must be an existing associate of the group or be recommended by a member of Makoa Combatives Group to train. This has created a close knit group of people who have acquired a unique trust to test one another combatively. Like a tribe, willing to inflict pain on each other for the ultimate goal of battering ones martial skills. The only thing close to this can be found in The Dog Brother’s method of training, another source of ideas that Abu Hamza admits to pilfering from. As he states, “I admit I am a thief. I have stolen ideas and techniques from everyone from Bruce Lee, Danny Inosanto and Antonio Ilustrisimo to Marc Denny and the Gracie brothers. Why spend so much time developing an idea when you can just expound on one that you agree with, right?”

Realism is the rule of the day. Guro Abu Hamza said once, “Some people say-‘if it works, use it’-but, rather, they should say-‘if you THINK it works, fight with it, SEE if it works’-like Crafty Dog likes to say-‘if you see it taught, you see it fought’-I love that idea man…”

Article by PoiDog67, Kaneohe, Hawaii

links