There aren�t many left who still preserve indigenous Peruvian martial culture however some of its combative manifestations can be seen in the diverse combative festivities of the Andean people such as the �Luchas de Tocto� in Chumbivilcas, the �Chiariaje� in Cuzco, the �Lucheo� in Ayacucho, or the �Tinkuy� in Bolivia.
When aspects of martial culture are propagated by an individual this constitutes a martial system or art.
Juan Ramon Rodriguez Flores of Lima Peru studied various aspects of Peruvian martial culture and spirituality under Eugenio Panta, Teodoro Ramirez and Huamani Challco during the 1960�s and 70�s. The sum of this training along with his own research and training is Rumi Maki as we know it today.
Rumi Maki as taught by Juan Ramon consists of 5 levels of training. Each of these levels can be considered an individual art.
Level 1- Llama
The first level is an indigenous form of pugilism, it contains techniques of striking with the fists, open handed, elbows, claws and head butts.
Level 2- Alpaca
The second level makes use of the legs to attack as well as block, parry and neutralize an adversaries attack.
Level 3- Vicu�a
The third level consists of grappling and is divided into techniques of strength, techniques with strength and techniques without strength.
Level 4- Kuntur
The fourth level evolved due to the environment of the Andean region. It makes use of attacks from different levels of height, therefore the name Kuntur or Condor.
Level 5- Inti
The fifth level consists of the use of weapons, the study of Inca philosophy and spirituality as well as higher techniques of the previous four levels.
Conditioning
Conditioning is an important component of Rumi Maki. To survive in the Andean environment required a strong body which is still reflected in Rumi Maki. Physical conditioning was an innate part of daily life so a good portion of the martial conditioning was mental. This mental conditioning in Rumi Maki seeks to develop the practitioner�s tolerance of pain, control of fear and instinct. Certain ceremonies are still carried out to this day in Peru that contain aspects relevant to conditioning in Rumi Maki.
Weapons
A number of armaments are used in Rumi Maki such as the:
Sling (Huaraca)
Boleadora (Riui)
Spear (Chuqui)
Bow (Picta) and Arrow (Huacchi)
Spear thrower (Maquihuan Huachina Chuqui)
Mace (Huactana)
Axe (Champi)
Truncheon (Makana)
Philosophy
Various aspects of Peruvian spirituality are also contained in Rumi Maki. A majority of the spiritual training is begun in the fifth level (Inti). Peruvian cosmology, spiritual purification, rituals, ceremonies, festivals and history all play a role in the overall philosophy and spirituality of Rumi Maki. The philosophy espoused in Rumi Maki by Juan Ramon is based on elements of indigenous philosophy and spirituality, Catholicism and Septrionismo.
