Ahati Kilindi Iyi (Interview)

https://archive.org/details/NoHoldsBarredAhatiKilindiIyi

http://thinkexist.com/quotes/carlos_castaneda/3.html

The other side of the coin of Martial Arts

The other side of the coin.

Just as in modern times a warriors training is inclusive of developing a mental toughness and intrinsic methods of coping with harsh psychological phenomenon that is a part of martial engagement the old world methods of martial training also included such training though for the most part this aspect is ignored in the west as to not offend the sensibilities of the student. The prayers, words of power or incantations etc.., used to center, strengthen the mind and or trigger biological processes of survival are part of the other side of the coin of training and represent the source of the various systems as a whole which is often referred to as the internal art.

The beginning.

Boxing, wrestling, stickplay and rock throwing were my introduction to martial arts (can't forget a game called " pic'em up mess'em up" ) . In my early teens I began the study and practice of Shotokan Karate-Do. Shotokan and later American as well a Shorinji Kempo would provide me with an excellent platform to study other martial arts. The focus on body mechanics in Karate provided a sound understanding of kinetics while the study of Shorinji Kempo and American Kempo provided more open hand and an introduction to the animal totems, having also studied Aikido formally blending, leading, etc.. became part of my tool box. Unlike most of my contemporaries rather than looking at the differences of the arts I studied, I always sought to find the similarities and foundation principles of the arts. Once the consolidation process began of putting it all together I would meet a Master of the African Martial Art training methodology. I call it that because at the school, various arts are practiced however the African Art with it's unique approach to anything I had experienced was the rule, with the other arts acting as points of reference. I would find there all of the principles I had studied in my years of training were presented all at once. I knew I was home.

Silat Bridge to better translation of African Warrior Traditions into art.

Silat as a reference for translating the War dance of Africa.

In my initial struggle to understand the African martial arts I came in contact with one thing most troubling to me. What is the system, where is the cohesive structure that I was accustomed to in the Asian Martial Arts that I had studied? How could I organize these very organic principals and mechanics into a training method that I could also pass on.

My study consisted of being immersed in the culture, I quickly found that this was to shocking for my student as well as just plain unrealistic for most. I would then meet a Silat Guru (Dutch-Silat short forms) who could articulate pure principles of martial science unlike I had ever witnessed, in a way a college professor would discuss physics. This perspective was my bridge to translating the war dances so to speak into a system of martial science that could be easily transferred to the student. Without expounding, I found Silat and the African martial arts to be so similar in fact that as time goes on I wouldn't be surprised if Silat is eventually considered as part of the African Martial Arts and vise versa, after all it is a art of the Pyramid Temple builders, guard, and priests I suspect. ;)

 

Breath deep, expanding in all directions at once. Feel the surge of energy enter, exhale allowing the flow of vital life force to circulate, flowing, emptying to the ocean and flowing like a stream, nourishing the cells of the body as if vegetation along the river bank.

The last frontier for revolution/evolution

My thought is that the good brothers whole point is that the last frontier for revolution is that of the consciousness. And only by returning to the practices of the ancestors or "your peoples", can you truly come full circle. Look and what has happened in the fields of science, technology, etc... by those who did. A deep thought indeed. What a ministry that brother has undertaken. Respect...

Can't find a place to train?

Ok, you're an African Martial Arts practitioner, and you can find a school where ever you might happen to find yourself. What do you do? You go dancing.

What Makes That African Martial Arts?

My personal qualifying factors when considering African Martial ART Traditions.

It has lineage, culture and traditions.
Similarities can be plainly observed when you trace the system back to its source. It has a source and is based on sound principles and experiences.

There is written and/or oral history.
It has a internal aspect and cosmology which is inseparable from the Martial Tradition.
It has gone through a period of reforming and systematic refining to be presented as ART and taught as Art.

Basically the same standard as any other martial art.