All martial arts are a set of basic rules that the practitioner must learn and apply to progress in their style of martial arts. In this aspect of training, Dekiti Tirsia falls in line with all the rest.
We have spoken of these three many times not being more insignificant, or more important than the other. However the ability to learn and apply each is in line with the order that they are taught.
First up is footwork. Grandmaster Nene is about 5’2” I have seen him train with much larger students, he really knows how to use footwork. His father in WW2 was able, using proper footwork to evade and counter attacks by bayonet and katana, and was only felled by a hail of bullets. When training my own students, I love to tell them, “get out of the way” because if you are not where the strike is, you’re probably not going to get hit. I have a student, Ryan, strong as a bull and as big as a house, and as fast as a freight train. Now if I as to stand in front of his strikes and try and stop them, it probably would not go in my favor.
Now Dekiti Tirsia footwork is more complex than some, if you watch the motion itself, it could remind you of the jenga of Capoiera or the footwork of Aikido, one foot moving in as the other foot moves back. Now the root word in Ilongo of Dekiti is Dekit which means tightly close, and that is exactly what we a going to do with this footwork, putting us in proper position for the counter attack.
Next on the list is body mechanics, structure.
When ever I start talking about structure, I always start with 135* bend in the joints, the opposite angle of course being 45* of with Grandmaster Nene speaks so often. Although the root idea of the 135* I borrowed from Wing Chun, however you will see it being applied in all martial arts. If you watch anyone holding a pair of Thai kicking pads, or for that matter any set of kicking pads , 135* will be the best angle for both the kicker and the kicky If you hold without enough angle you get kicked in the face, too much angle and there is nothing to kick.
It is also critical to combine body mechanics and structure with your footwork when facing a larger opponent. This will give you the proper position from which to take the advantage in a altercation. If it is blade vs blade or Baston vs Baston footwork and body mechanics become even more imperative for survival
Hand Manipulation
The last key of Dekiti Tirsia is hand manipulation. Now many martial arts practitioners will assume that this means locks and hold on ones opponent, and although controlling ones opponent is critical, controlling oneself is even more important. Tales are told of SGM Tortal picking up a fresh apple and crushing it in his bare hands and offering others a piece to eat. I have trained with Nene and have felt his gripping strength. Tashi Tim as well and many others who have worked with or have been his assistant have felt this as well. This kind of grip strength comes from constant training and conditioning, whether it’s from daily manual labor, or martial training, it must be accomplished and maintained.
But it is more than this, it is about the sensitive redirection of your opponents attack and your own counter attack using your hands and even your entire body to feel what an opponent is doing, so your counter becomes almost effortless. To quote Bruce Lee “It is like a finger pointing the way to the moon, do not concentrate on the finger, or you’ll miss all that heavenly glory.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more on this style, be sure to also check out Mark Warner’s other articles as well!
"One of the greatest things in the martial arts is the transmission of knowledge to the next generation." - Tashi Mark Warner
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