Assisting GT Gaje was an experience to say the least. He never tells
you what you are going to be doing before he does it-- he just does it.
He may give a flow drill you have never seen before and expect you to
jump right in, in front of 40 people-your peers. I think the idea is
that your enemy won't tell you what he is going to do before he does it.
You have flow and problem solve on the spot.
During one of these times, I look over and see Crafty, Top Dog, and
Top's son (Matt) walk in to the seminar. Eric gives me a wink of 'I
know what you are going through.' It felt good to have the whole family
there.
Where does he get all his energy? Starbucks can only account for some
of it. GT Gaje does not neglect physical conditioning. At home, he
trains eight hours a day. At the seminar, we spent much of the time
with power swings. Many people, instructors, came up to me after the
seminar and said these were their first blisters from swinging a stick
after years in Kali. The motions have to become part of you, says Gaje,
and repetition is the only way.
From technical point, we were taught the tri- V formula. Which consists
of open top and close top striking. These tactics translate to Sibat,
blade, stick and empty hand. Pekiti Tirsia is hard to write about from
a technical stand point. We can talk about its geometry and
methodology. However, it has to be felt-- and if you are lucky you will
feel it from the man who is its Grandmaster. He has a way of inspiring
you, programming your movements and making you move. From a still
image, it can look like any other art. However, PT is about movement
and mechanics, about generating power from your baby toe to your hips,
to your shoulder, to your wrist to the end of your stick - "Pang!"
I say experience it for yourself,
Pappy Dog
