SERRADA TRAINING METHOD & ITS PHILOSOPHY:



The SERRADA system of village stick-fighting art, using a single stick 22 in. of length in the right arm, and is based on developing quick and spontaneous "countering" capability against a strike template of 12 incoming strikes delivered by a partner with a stick, or with empty-hand.

In method of Fighting, Serrada's main aim is to TRAP incoming strike in a smothering manner. To get in-close! Its target is the ARM or LEG of the opponent, and not the head or the body. Although, once you have controlled the opponent's arm or leg you can hit the head or the torso afterwards. This is specially important when you are fighting a expert of Stick or sword. You dont go in deep into his space and work on his weapon arm first. Usually, that weapon arm is the RIGHT arm, and so Serrada is a simple art and aims mainly to counter attack from right arm of the opponent.

In case, the opponent uses his LEFT hand also, a Serrada practitioner will cover against it or trap it momentarily, but his main aim will be to implement full counter agains the RIGHT arm of the attacker.

In case, the attacker is a LEFT Handed person, then the Serrada practitioner will stand outside of his Left hand and still it will look like a "right" hand to the Serrada person.

A deep attack to a person's head or body can be negated by the other person concentrating on the incoming arm, instead of him also attacking back to the first man's head.



In order to study this system, you must first learn 4 to 8 counters per strike angle. When you become proficient in their use in Lock & Block and the Flow drills, then the next thing to learn is multiplications of the basic counters with each other to create even more counters. This phase is known as Kali-Kali or branch-branch or multiplying.

When proficiency in Stick use is attained, you translate its principles to EMPTY-HAND applications as well.

Serrada stepwork is based on single Triangle on the floor. In most long-range systems from Indonesia and Philippines, when they go for Kali-Kali (against group attack) they step on a Pentagonal footwork on the floor, which is actually FIVE triangles on the floor joined at the top of each triangle. The aim is to go to the outside of the opponent's right arm to his side or back after countering him.

After having learned the movements of the counters, the next step is to start on the practice drills of Lock & Block, and the Flow Fighter Drills.

These two drills comprise mainly all the training of Serrada. From these two drills and their advanced formats, you gain the expertise to respond to an incoming attack in live manner. These are two-man drills. The feeder of the attack attacks in fixed format in the initial phase of the drills, then later he can bring in any type of attack. The student should be able to block and counter all attacks, but it depends upon the student's level of proficiency of understanding the art of Serrada, and his knowing of strategy against different types of incoming attacks that people can throw, as well.

Usually, human beings will throw some punch combination, and then also bring a leg (kick) in between. The punch combination can be stopped by counters against Strike no. 1, Strike no. 3, and Strike no. 10.

A Kick coming in is Strike no. 3 (roundhouse kick), or Strike no. 5 (front kick).

A roundhouse kick coming from opponent's left leg is Strike no. 2, or Strike no. 4.

Since Serrada is close-range CLASH and Counter, the Serrada stance plays a important part of doing the techniques. This stance in Serrada is LOW and strong, on a Triangle on the floor. (Foot meeting at top of triangle during switching of feet). Yet, you can adjust all the stepwork and technical positions according to your situation and balance.

Serrada Asia website will put VIDEOCLIPS of some of the Techniques soon here.

We are different from traditional Japanese or Korean arts in that we are for Self-Defense when the attack is coming in full-distance and not for tournament. Our aim is to counter against the opponent's arm or leg first then implement strikes to the head or to put him in a hold and take-down as the situation develops. Mostly it is recommended that you do not wrestle with a opponent as he could be stronger. So Serrada is mainly a STRIKE - based system. Also, our aim in doing the art is to preserve village cultural arts and their traditions.

The arts of Karate, Bando, Taekwondo, etc. they all have their importance. In fact, we suggest you research all arts that you have access to near your home or in your city. The stance of SERRADA is similar as the basic stance of KARATE. There are seasons of Learning, and sometimes we can go study a long-range art, then later we study a short-range art. We mix the two and play in fluency when we become master. It takes time, and peaceful understanding. Most people are hot in temperament, they block their own path. Nobody can teach you, you teach yourself. Other people can only guide you. But if you have a clouded heart, you block your path yourself. Each day do as much as you can, and temper it with mercy and benevolence. One day you will see the whole picture.

The art of Serrada has following training components:

1. Technnical Training in its curriculum of 70 counters against 12 strike angles, practice of Lock & Block and Flow Fighter drills.

2. Tough Training for Physical Conditioning: Running, push-ups, impact training, breaking, basic kicking and punching. If you dont train TOUGH, you dont understand the subject. You can thus become honest and confident thru tough training methods, and only after becoming tough you are a trust-able person. It is human requirement.

3. Skillfull multiplication of its basic counters with each other to produce even more counters, and apply them fluently in distancing (Long Range to short-range).

4. Sinwali: Rotational Double Sticks, and Long Distance circular stick (Arko/Abaniko method>.

5. Prayer in the Class: any dua, or recitation to bring about a sober and mature atmosphere.

6. Teaching without Prejudice: teaching people from different backgrounds, religions, and culture, so that everyone goes on the path of martial arts. In this case, the martial art we present is Serrada. Each person in this world is on a spiritual stage. Some are higher, some are on their way. Learn to meet people who are on different stages of spiritual advancement. A master of Serrada can talk to people of any religious or ethnic or national background and he brings atmosphere of respect and confidence about life to everyone. Later, people can remember him and achieve more in life. If you take everything strictly in fashion, you will destroy any upcoming possibility of communication through careless mistakes of your behaviour. Many people have not met you, so they are in a behaviour-pattern learned from association with people they met before. So dont judge them right away. Let them meet you, and then one day you bring confidence to them about life and they go in the path or correctness. When you show them prayer, they become clean. Martial Arts is then the tool to socialisation, and as a hobby practice to make people get away from bad things.

7. Writing and propagating the art through discussion, demo, and presenting our skill, intelligence, and toughness. That doesnt mean we put other schools down. Because each martial art has something special. Some are more technical, yet others are more simple. Each teacher is saying something. Be quiet and you will understand.

8. Abolishment of Ranks: we have basic Certification in Serrada after about 1 year and 6 months, or 2 years, but we dont have any belt system officially. We are not a political organisation, or a commercial business in regular sense of the word. We are mostly a Cultural Arts School that specializes in study of Stick-methods from Philippines, Indonesia, and south Asia. Our uniform is simple dress. At most we have a t-shirt with a Logo of our school. A instructor in the art is known as a Ustadh, or Guro.

9. It is not our policy to go to other schools and watch them practice. Because each teacher has an art and will teach what he knows. Do not disturb his school or put it down, because martial arts is a big vibration and all the different systems represent it. He has his curriculum and aim in his teaching. Then, he needs his students to build his academy, so be respectful of him. We do not steal students from other schools. But, sometimes instructors from other schools can come to study from us, if they are respectful of our school, and have a ability to learn. There is no obligation, or political policy from our academy, as life is a journey and we meet in seasons.

Another thing that differentiates our school is that we start our class with Prayer everytime, and end the class with Prayer to God, as with permission from God you get guidance in any effort and then the mind is taken away from the desires of this world, and the spiritual heart becomes clear. If your heart is attracted to temporary things of this world, and the heart is cloudy with jealousy, anger, hatred, competition, and schemes to win against fellow man, then you will not be able to correctly see the art.

Because only when the heart is pure, can then you be allowed into the realm of Knowledge. Otherwise, you will believe in schemes of this world, but all schemes fall apart, and only Blessing from God is the only thing that remains, whether you have it or not.

MORE ON SERRADA TRAINING and ITS PHILOSOPHY later...