Slinging.org Forum - Polynesian Martial Arts

Kjev

Senior Member

Offline

Limits exist only in your
mind

Posts: 299

Polynesian Martial Arts
Sep 8^th, 2012 at 6:27pm

I know this topic doesn't directly relate to primitive weapons, but it didn't seem to fit anywhere else in the forums.

I was watching a video on youtube of a guy doing the Haka, and he was performing what looked like a kata with a pair of short war clubs. Is there a style of Polynesian martial arts out there? Were there set ways of training like there were/are with European and Asian weapons? Or did Daddy Islander just hand his boy a club and say, "Go get 'em, son. Good luck!"?

Back to top

K'Jev

"Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter"--Yoda

https://www.facebook.com/StormsForge

IP Logged

Bikewer Interfector Viris Spurii Offline I love Slinging.org! Posts: 1627 St. Louis, Mo Gender:	Re: Polynesian Martial Arts Reply #1 - Sep 8^th, 2012 at 8:54pm The History channel's Warriors show had a segment on the Hawaiian fighters. Looks like at least some of these are up on YouTube.
Back to top	IP Logged

Kjev Senior Member Offline Limits exist only in your mind Posts: 299	Re: Polynesian Martial Arts Reply #2 - Sep 9^th, 2012 at 12:51am Thanks!. I'll have to see if I can hunt it down tonight. I'll try Hulu, too. Interestingly enough, Shorin Ryu, the style of karate I study, was founded by Walter Nishioka, a Hawaiian of Japanese descent. A side effect of this is that we end up learning a lot of Hawaiian words as well as Japanese.
Back to top	K'Jev "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter"--Yoda https://www.facebook.com/StormsForge IP Logged

Donnerschlag

Interfector Viris Spurii

Offline

I put the 'K' in "Kwality"

Posts: 1045
USA
Gender: male

Re: Polynesian Martial Arts
Reply #3 - Sep 10^th, 2012 at 1:27pm

There's tons of little indigenous styles floating around the Pacific Islands. Hell, Hula used to be one before it changed into a dance, if I'm not mistaken. (I assume it was changed into a dance to evade a ban on martial arts by an occupying nation, but never recovered the same way arts like arnis/kali did. That's just me though.)

I practiced a hybrid art called "Limalama" as one of my first empty-handed martial arts. It was a combo of several major Hawaiian/Polynesian arts, with some principles of more modern arts sprinkled in. Ah... I loved that art and how relaxed it was. Too bad the only stuff I can find on it now is "Imua Limalama" (An unsanctioned offshoot based in Mexico that's basically karate with a thin, Polynesian veneer Tongue

)

I also had a book on a Hawaiian art that was similar, but the name escapes me at the moment. (Interestingly enough, it did show some examples of traditional weapon use in it.)

Back to top

IP Logged

Dan Interfector Viris Spurii SlingingGuide Moderator Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 3974 Gender:	Re: Polynesian Martial Arts Reply #4 - Sep 10^th, 2012 at 2:25pm I know very little about this, but there is a martial art in existance commonly called Lua that uses both empty hands and weapons. Pretty practical stuff is my understanding. I bet Wiki has something... AH, here it is, it's not much but it kinda gives you an idea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapu_Kuialua
Back to top	I was pretty good at slinging like 10 years ago. IP Logged

Kjev Senior Member Offline Limits exist only in your mind Posts: 299	Re: Polynesian Martial Arts Reply #5 - Sep 10^th, 2012 at 5:45pm Thanks! That gives me a lot of good information. Too bad about the only thing we have where I live is Tae Kwon Do. (although if you do some hunting, you can find judo, kendo, and krav maga). From what I've seen this would be kind of fun to learn.
Back to top	K'Jev "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter"--Yoda https://www.facebook.com/StormsForge IP Logged

_kava_

Senior Member

Offline

Sling making fanatic ;)

Posts: 343
Australia
Gender: male

Re: Polynesian Martial Arts
Reply #6 - Nov 1^st, 2012 at 5:59am

The fighting art of the Maori from Aotearoa (New Zealand) is called "Mau Rakau" - This actually refers to their stick fighting arts. There is a little info floating around on the web...

I saw an awesome display between two practitioners with "Taiaha". They were demonstrating Taiaha techniques and strategies, which was very informative and scary to watch (no, I wouldn't want to face them in hand to hand combat :/ ) This was when I was in Rotorua for a holiday a few years back.

The taiaha is most commonly seen during "powhiri" welcoming and "wero" challenge ceremonies. In this capacity it is not seen as fighting per se, however let me assure you it can be very intimating....

http://wayofwarrior.wordpress.com/2010/06/12/the-maori-martial-system-mau-rakau/

_K_

Back to top

_Orta recens quam pura nites_

some people are like Slinkies
    not really good for anything
      but they still bring a smile to your face
      when you push them down a flight of stairs

www.youtube.com/user/NoturnoNativa

IP Logged

Curious Aardvark Forum Moderation Offline Taller than the average Dwarf Posts: 13965 Midlands England Gender:	Re: Polynesian Martial Arts Reply #7 - Nov 1^st, 2012 at 7:51am given that polynesians were pretty much all dedicated warriors and fighting and warfare was their normal way of life. It's surprising that there isn't more info about their martial arts.
Back to top	Do All things with Honour and Generosity: Regret Nothing, Envy None, Apologise Seldom and Bow your head to No One - works for me IP Logged

perpetualstudent Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 1405 Gender:	Re: Polynesian Martial Arts Reply #8 - Nov 1^st, 2012 at 8:17am It is surprisingly sparse, particularly with the high praise the Maori arts got from European observers. One of the few interesting things I pulled up the last time I was looking into this is this interview with a Maori master http://www.fighttimes.com/magazine/magazine.asp?article=1149
Back to top	"Facts stand wholly outside our gates; they are what they are, and no more;they know nothing about themselves and they pass no judgement upon themselves. What is it, then, that pronounces the judgement? Our own guide and ruler, Reason." IP Logged

Bikewer

Interfector Viris Spurii

Offline

I love Slinging.org!

Posts: 1627
St. Louis, Mo
Gender: male

Re: Polynesian Martial Arts
Reply #9 - Nov 1^st, 2012 at 9:54am

Likely all these indigenous arts were driven underground by colonist/invaders. There is another parallel in the Philippines, where the invading Spanish drove everything underground and indeed various "folk dance" forms were actually Arnis and Escrima moves done to music...

Impossible to keep track of the thousands of islands in the archipelago, so the Filipino arts flourished.

Back to top

IP Logged

Atlatlista

Ex Member

Re: Polynesian Martial Arts
Reply #10 - Nov 1^st, 2012 at 10:24am

It's not just colonialism either. Those warrior arts weren't codified, or formalized - not like they were in Japan, and to a lesser extent China. So, when something better came along (guns), the polynesians would have had no reason to cling to their roots. Being pragmatic warriors, they would have simply left off what no longer worked and moved on to what did. Without a system in place to enshrine the old ways of doing things, they inevitably get lost.

Back to top

IP Logged

Pikåru Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Experience teaches only the teachable... Posts: 1636 Colorado USA Gender:	Re: Polynesian Martial Arts Reply #11 - Nov 1^st, 2012 at 10:49am I prefer Mexican Judo - in that judon't know who you're messin with holmes. You make perfect sense Atlatlista. Being pragmatic is essetial to survival. Without codification of art and customs, things change or get lost all together.
Back to top	I sling. Therefore I am. Tano' Hu I Islan Guahan. http://itanohu.blogspot.com IP Logged

GIMike

Junior Member

Offline

Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 59
Oklahoma City, OK

Re: Polynesian Martial Arts
Reply #12 - Nov 1^st, 2012 at 1:12pm

Pikåru wrote on Nov 1^st, 2012 at 10:49am:

I prefer Mexican Judo - in that judon't know who you're messin with holmes.

You make perfect sense Atlatlista. Being pragmatic is essetial to survival. Without codification of art and customs, things change or get lost all together.

I always heard that mexican judo was the most dangerous. Cause judonno if I have a knife, judonno if I have a gun....

Back to top

IP Logged

Pikåru Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Experience teaches only the teachable... Posts: 1636 Colorado USA Gender:	Re: Polynesian Martial Arts Reply #13 - Nov 1^st, 2012 at 1:24pm As my dad says, "judon't know what I have in my pocket..." the essense of Mexican Judo.
Back to top	I sling. Therefore I am. Tano' Hu I Islan Guahan. http://itanohu.blogspot.com IP Logged

_kava_

Senior Member

Offline

Sling making fanatic ;)

Posts: 343
Australia
Gender: male

Re: Polynesian Martial Arts
Reply #14 - Nov 6^th, 2012 at 10:46pm

Have a read of this article: http://www.bullshido.org/Te_Mau_Taiaha

"According to an ancient Maori proverb, Te Mau Taiaha should be taught “from the feet up”. Formal taiaha footwork patterns are based on a complex, dance-like step called karo (evasion), with many variations named for the characteristic movements of different animals. For example, the tuatara (lizard) pattern features slow, crouching, sinuous steps, in contrast with the light, active footwork of the tui (bird). "

Quote:

Being pragmatic warriors, they would have simply left off what no longer worked and moved on to what did.

You have obviously never read "To Face the Daring Maori'. Whilst the Maori did utilise European Technology, they maintained and used (ferociously and with deadly consequences) their traditional fighting arts, strategies and tactics.

The Maori of New Zealand are credited with being the creators of trench warfare. Google 'Maori Pa'.

Back to top

_Orta recens quam pura nites_

some people are like Slinkies
    not really good for anything
      but they still bring a smile to your face
      when you push them down a flight of stairs

www.youtube.com/user/NoturnoNativa

IP Logged