Sayoc Blade Methodology

The Sayoc Blade Methodology
Beyond the Blade Arts

By Jeff Chung

There is a new voice being heard in the public world of Filipino martial arts and tactical edged weapon strategies. Tuhon Chris Sayoc of Sayoc Kali is a man who has been involved with the Filipino martial arts since he was a young child. His family art of using the blade has been passed down through 4 generations with a heavy influence on the art, from both his paternal and maternal grandfathers. While Chris Sayoc was fortunate to have encountered and trained with many masters of the Filipino martial arts, today, he focuses strictly on promoting his own family system. The Sayoc system of blade methodology can be broken up into 3 parts or divisions and Tuhon Chris has only recently decided to go public with this valuable knowledge which allows Filipino martial arts practitioners to realize their full potential for combative skills. The 3 parts of the Sayoc System of Blade work are Sayoc Kali, Sayoc Silak and Sayoc Bakal.

Blades also is forced to develop natural weapons retention skills at a reflexive stage, the responses and reactions to such actions by an opponent, must be fast, correct and effective to prevent injury to himself. These types of strategies and tactics on weapons retention serve as an introduction to the speed draw and speed holstering. As will be seen later, these skills and lessons serve to allow the Sayoc practitioner to always have weapons hidden and ready for use against an opponent in a variety of ways, including projectiles.

From a feeders’ perspective, it is desirable to elicit the reflexive responses of an opponent, this makes the aggressors vulnerable and subject to the trained knife fighter’s whim. Sayoc Kali has training formulas for different reflexive and conditioning responses. Tuhon Sayoc feels that in order to attain the skills necessary to engage an untrained or reflexive response, a student must understand and explore the ways these reflexes can be triggered. It is after an understanding is achieved of these two response methods, that the third and ultimate level of response is achieved, the correct response.

It is a difficult progression to develop the correct response. Tuhon Sayoc uses a formula for development that teaches both the feeder and the receiver the proper means to grow in skill, and experience. The formula involves escalating both the feeders’ responses, as well as the receivers’ responses to achieve maximum potential. Tuhon describes it as such, “once the feeder knows how to trigger the reflexive response of the receiver, it is possible to now physically and mentally implant oneself with the conditioned response. The conditioned response is the trained reaction to the opponents’/receivers’ reflexive response. After exploring the conditioned response, the feeder must learn how to elevate the receiver’s response (the opponent’s conditioned response) thereby making it more difficult for the feeder to react with a conditioned response. Finally, by trying to keep up with the higher level of the opponent’s/receiver’s response, we are therefore, forced to use the Correct Response, which is the most effective conditioned response to a given number of reflexive responses. The Correct Response is the end result of the best choices from a given number of conditioned responses. THE CORRECT RESPONSE IS DEFINED AS THE REFLEXIVE RESPONSE OF THE FEEDER’S CONDITIONED RESPONSE DELIVERED IN REACTION TO THE OPPONENT’S/RECEIVER’S REFLEXIVE REACTIONS.”

FEEDER FORMULA

You: A (lead feeder)

Opponent: B (receiver or 2nd feeder)

A + B = C (Reflexive Response from B)

C + A = D (Conditioned Response from A)

C + D = E (Reflexive Conditioned Response from D)

E = (Correct Respone)

The next part of the Sayoc system of training is Sayoc Silak. Tuhon refers to Sayoc Silak as the counterpart for Sayoc Kali. This is the receiver or unarmed phase. While considered to be the unarmed phase, this is not to be confused with not having the ability or means of carrying or possessing blades to counter an opponent. Typically, in training, the blades of the receiver are holstered, and the skills are unarmed dominant. Tuhon states that Silak provides for the development of empty hand skills, footwork, and body mechanics necessary to trap, lock, position and disarm the feeder or aggressors’ blades. The goals of training in Sayoc Silak are for retention of one’s blades, positioning of incoming attacks, preparation for weapons release and for the loading of one’s dominant hand with more blades for various uses. The unique approach to the Sayoc Silak is the way in which it is taught and presented. The Silak techniques are incorporated directly into the transitional flow drills; hence, the techniques are always practiced against a moving opponent, as opposed to just having a partner stand in a static position with his weapon in a fixed and immobile position to allow the partner to properly execute techniques.

This leads us to the next aspect of Sayoc Kali, which is rarely seen or discussed in public forums, Sayoc Bakal. Once the receiver’s basics are established and the skills are equal to the feeder’s basics, in order to complete the training system, the third and final phase of training is introduced. Sayoc Bakal compliments both Sayoc Kali and Sayoc Silak. It works as a complete system with students trained in either Sayoc Kali or Sayoc Silak. The goal, however, is to have training in this order Sayoc Kali, followed by Sayoc Silak, and then on to Sayoc Bakal. These three systems together complete the Sayoc System of Edged Weapons Dynamics.

Sayoc Bakal is the projectile weapons system. This system is the key to closing the fighting gap. Sayoc Bakal has two dominant ranges. Close range which is under 5’ as in Sayoc Kali and Sayoc Silak and the Closing Range, which is the distance between the launch of projectiles and point of contact to the opponent with your weapon hand; this could be anywhere from 0 - 35’+. The opponent/aggressor is not expected to just stand there statically. The opponent is also in motion and this would accelerate the closing time or leave the opponent in an assessment mode of thinking. It will be very easy to determine if the strategies and defenses of the target have training against these types of attacks.

In Sayoc Bakal there are several basic tasks; to be able to close the distance between the combatants, to be able put ones’ blades into your opponents’ vital areas and to map the position and location of launched and fallen projectiles. By doing this it is possible to maintain a stock of weapons, and effect a narrowing of the distance between opponents’ with enough projectiles, to stay within the closing range. The Sayoc Bakal system exists so that one may defeat or injure the opponents before the entry range. Ideally, the methods of Bakal would allow one to defeat an opponent before a need for close engagement ensues.

Projectiles can be released from any position and at any range. The primary range of throwing is at the furthest distances of 25’ to 35’. At this range, it is near impossible to see the projectiles being launched towards an aggressor. At this relatively safe distance, the opponents will have their reflexive responses most visible and able to be dealt with. At a range of 15’ to 25’, this is the secondary range. Here we are at a distance where an opponent can be closed upon before their holstered weapons are drawn. The close range is from 15’ to 5’. At this range, opponents are forced to engage the thrower, or to evade. As the opponents evade, the thrower has greater possibilities of projectiles being able to penetrate the turning and evading bodies. The zero zone range is less than 5’ and represents the common flow drill distance range encountered in the methodologies used in Sayoc Kali and Sayoc Silak. When closing in on the opponent, students will train in the launching of multiples of blades before they reach the zero zone entry range.

Each range may be easily achieved with a few steps, and the distance can be closed rapidly into the zero zone entry range, or a strategic distance allowing withdrawal to gather more projectiles. Obviously, the practitioner of Sayoc Bakal, must also train with the objective or preparing one’s body mechanics to deal with others using projectiles, from similar ranges of combat and throwing effectiveness. Since the use of projectiles is not commonly seen or well known, those individuals lacking this technology would be at a serious disadvantage against blade throwers.

Training in Sayoc Bakal begins with learning the 12 basic projectile grips used for throwing. After the grips are learned, the students are taught methods of power assist used in throwing. A progression is shown of left and/or right hand loading of the weapons, leading to multiple projectile releasing postures. Body mechanics are taught which help to conceal the angles of trajectory being used. There is specific training taught which teaches how to hold a number of blades in a loaded position for the dominant hand to deliver, and also how to develop quick release grips to avoid having ones’ hands being trapped or cut by an opponent. These quick release grips and rapid hand retractions are vital while entering or withdrawing from the zero zone range. In the zero zone range, most injuries are incurred during the opponent’s given reflexive responses.

After the basic mechanics are learnt, students are taught sets of patterns for projectile paths. Strategies are also taught to force opponents into vital postures and positioning, making them vulnerable to the practitioners’ skill. The projectiles enable us to effectively make the opponents reactions predictable. As weapons are thrown at an opponent, it is clear to see whether or not, the opponents have a viable defense against such attacks. These projectiles also serve to keep an opponent off-balance, and cause them to move and react in ways to slow them down from either reaching their own weapons, or causing them to be in an awkward position as the Sayoc practitioner closes in. By observing the opponents’ body mechanics in reaction to the thrown weapons, it is possible to predict target areas and further projectiles may be applied toward them. Typically, if enough weapons are available, the projectiles would be directed towards either side of an opponent, and at the centerline. Some of the targets chosen would be towards the feet or the thighs, and obviously towards the face. Various trajectories, and speeds of the throws will be used against opponents to facilitate a desired response.

As mentioned earlier, the non-dominant hand is often used to “load” the dominant hand for throwing. Typically, the non-dominant hand will be drawing weapons from various holstered positions to “load” the throwing hand. Weapons to be used in this fashion would be shaped in such a way as to allow them to be held easily in the hand. Knife design would therefore be critical and considerations for their primary uses would affect their design and carry methods. There are numerous types of projectiles used in the Sayoc Bakal system. In addition to design and selection considerations of the projectile themselves, there is a need for training in properly holstering ones’ weapons. Proper holstering and carry of the weapons, combined with proper body mechanics and quick release techniques will help to ensure success with these types of throwing techniques.

While specific weapons are designed and carried specifically for throwing, the proficient Sayoc practitioner is able to appropriately manipulate and throw their other bladed weapons as well. As a matter of fact, the Sayoc Silak methods used to disarm an opponent will often permit the Sayoc practitioner to user their opponents’ weapons against them in a projectile fashion.

Clearly the Sayoc Kali system of edged weapons dynamics has a great deal to offer those of us practicing in the martial arts today. It is a Filipino martial art spanning five generations. Chris Sayoc has been teaching seminars about his family art on the east coast. While Tuhon Sayoc is currently based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia, it is not uncommon to have students travel from states such as New Jersey, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida and Connecticut to converge at the sites of Chris Sayoc’s seminars to learn this knowledge which is unique and different amongst the skills commonly seen in the Filipino martial arts. His two sons, Chris Jr., and Jimmie Lee Sayoc ably assist Chris Sayoc in the teaching of the Sayoc system and methodology of knife fighting.