by Bill Gutib (1971)
Since many of my Filipino and fellow Hawaiian cockers have written to me numerous letters inquiry about my personal conditioning methods. I will now take the liberty of answering these letters through G&S. Please let it be understood that I myself condition all of my cocks the way I want them and prefer them to fight.
My conditioning programs cover a lot of different types and forms of daily exercises. These various forms of exercises are mainly to develop speed, stamina and endurance. Let me first emphasize speed.
In my opinion, speed is the most important factor in conditioning slasher cocks for the pit. Speed really plays a major role in routine daily exercises. How to apply speed? Well, the only way I know of is through selective swinging methods. By swinging methods, I mean place an individual cock on a swing built four feet off the ground and make the swing three feet wide. When you first place the cock on the swing, he like any other fowl will immediately grasp hold of the swing with a rather nervous and somewhat awkward manner.
Once he is fully perched on the swing, do not start the exercise as of yet, because this nervous and scared cock will start flapping his wings, trying to fly downwards toward the ground. Take him off the swing, and gently rub him, and pat him, until he begins to be calm again.
Place him on the swing and take him off again about a dozen or so times for the first few days until he begins to get used to the idea. On or about the third day take the cock out of his coop and place on the swing. By this time he should know what to do and what is to be expected of him. The first day of actual swinging exercises you should start the swinging method rather slowly for the first fifteen minutes. Do not allow him to drink any water and let him rest for ten minutes. Now place him back on the swing gradually increasing the speed for another fifteen minutes. When this is done, give him another ten minute rest period. In this manner of control swinging method, a cock will tend to become very nervous and start flapping his wings and bending both of his legs with a tremendous force.
This is good because now he not only knows how to balance on the swing, but at the same time he is learning to properly flap both of his wings evenly. Thus giving him a sense of balance, timing and wind power. I have used this method successfully for my eleven day keep. In the swinging exercises this method of conditioning covers the similar American way of flirting and running a cock, the only difference is that I'm not flirting or running my cocks.
Since slasher fighting rarely goes to the drag and most fights are won in about 30 to 40 seconds, I'm a firm believer in the essence of speed. I may be wrong, but I stand to be corrected, I increase the daily swinging exercises to five additional minutes from the first day up to the tenth day of my eleven day keep.
Many of you young and old time cockers alike will say that this guy is whacky and is ready for the nut house. Stamina requires a lot of work, putting my best slasher cocks into their proper conditions. In attaining stamina, I have tried nearly all of the different conditioning methods that I know of. But the only one that really appeals to me is the quick dodging and side stepping technique as taught to me by Mr. Ted Zane, who is one of my best friends and cock fighting partner, Ted is really a superb conditioner of slasher cocks. I put each of my pit cocks through a fast, and torrid pace while sparring them each with four to five short pittings. If at any time they sulk, or appear to do so, I pick them up and bill them close together. Since stamina is an essential part in the conditioning of game fowl, most of our slasher fighting cocks are in great and excellent condition when they are brought to the pit to be fought. Stamina is diffinitely a must for the slasher cock. For without stamina the slasher cock tends to lose his fighting power, zest, and vigor in a hard fought, tough and crueling match.
Endurance, like stamina has to be taught to each individual cock through vigorous daily exercises. Both of these phases can not and will not be bred into a slasher cock. Any cocker with good wholesome common sense know this, but I just thought I'd say it anyway. The quick side stepping and dodging techniques I use are in the following manner. I place each cock through an obstacle course which varies in height and width. At the other end of this particular obstacle course my oldest son Derek holds another cock that is visible enough to be seen through the course. By Derek holding the cock in his hands, and as if tempting the one that is inside of the course this begins the dodging and side stepping exercise method, which I might add, is my own invention. This particular method not only teaches each cock how to dodge, weave, and side step correctly; but it also helps to build up proper body endurance into each and every cock that Derek and I have conditioned over a period of years. I do not claim to be a master conditioner, as there is a lot more that I'm very willing to learn that I know can be found through the wonderful writings of G&S by the most foremost cockers of our present day and age.
A lot of you will say Gee what an odd ball that fellow Bill Gutib is. Well I never meant to insult anyone with my random thoughts and humorous writings. What ever the case may be I have written this article, as I now practice my daily conditioning methods for my benefit alone. I like to add a little humor in my writings, but I try to keep them from hurting anyone else. So if my methods of conditioning seems of a humorous nature to most of you, just be patient, because I am just a little ole pineapple who has got a lot to learn. Being of Hawaiian, Filipino and Portuguese decent, I have tried to write this article to the best of my ability. I do not fight my fowl in the American gaffs. I know nothing of their standard flirting, running and tail spin methods. Though I may seem backwards in my conditioning methods, I have yet to find a better one that can surpass mine. We cockers are pretty hard headed at times, which makes us cock fighters, but we are not too stupid nor are we ignorant to learn from some bright cockers who offers each and everyone of us their kindest advice, and general overall know how. Hoping that I am still accepted by the cocking fraternity as a fellow cocker.
Mahalo and Aloha Nui Loa
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