Indonesian Treasure Poekoelan tjimindie tulen’s cun: tao training provides students with some of the world’s finest self-defense techniques BY CHRIS RECKLIESs today's martial arises continue a relentless search for more effective, practical eombarives, the arts of Indonesia are receiving close scrutiny. With centuries of Durch rule and invasion by the Japanese, the thou sands of Southeast Asian islands became a fertile breeding ground for no-nonsense methods that helped its population resist outside oppresion. It's no wonder that more and more martial arise look to the islands’ arts for proven fighting skills Rare and relatively unknown in the United States, Indonesian pockoelan Peter ee eee ee eer ee ea ee er ts uit (1-2). rem the kneo Bag a Lars ce) {jimindie tulen is famous for the self defense skills its exponents possess. They are known for reacting with lightning speed and stopping armed ard unarmed! assailants with fast, decisive, rapid-strike counters. ‘A mix of Chinese and Indonesian m: tial art, the method was brought to the United States in 1956. Its introduction is credited to mas gocroe agoeng, Willy ‘Wetzel, a Dutch Indonesian who report- clly was a guerilla fighter against invading Japanese soldiers during World War Il Popular legend characterizes pockoelan as the product of a martial collaboration between Chinese martial expert Oci King Boen and Indonesian master Mas Djuc-Bang Salimoen. Others believe that ‘Wetzel traveled the islands and thoroughly learned a number of fighting methods before creating poekoelan rjimindic tulen. Regardless ofthe tc origin, there slime debate over the method's effectiveness in the hands of a skilled practitioner. The core defensive sills atthe heart ‘of poekoclan are also the starting points for trainees in the art. This is the cun ta0 phase. According to mas goeroe Bar- bara Niggel, a long-time student of Werzel and direct hei of his art, cun t20 is actually a complete art that provides astrong foundation for advanced training in pockoelan [Nigel explains that cun (ao is taughe in ewo phases, each lasting approximately rine weeks. Students ate initially taughe to roll and fall, a vital skill to protect one- self from injury in training and combat. Rolls and falls ate drilled regularly so thar the actions become reflexive. Instruction is alo given in basic kicks, parres and punches, fundamentals upon which advanced skills are ater built, Students are aso introduced to meditation, ‘Along with these vital basics, students are instructed in the 108 cun tao holds. ‘These holds are prearranged responses to 1 wide variety of potential artacks that individuals ae likely to face in no-holds bbarred combat. Like vatious styles of karate and tae kwon do, cun tao contains responses to wrist grabs, hair grabs and chokes from the front. Unlike these styles, = Tira rear) attack with a fun: Gola) Wrapping her arm to trap the oa enn Cae Pees 2 takedown (5) Perey Carey Treasure | all counters are learned and a relatively high level of proficiency is required before advancing to other aspects of traning. The repertoire becomes much deeper as students learn defense for chokes from behind, club attacks, fll-nelsons and chokes on the floor in both face-up and face-down positions. Escapes for chokes from a seated postion are also covered ‘Other cun tao counters address head Jocks from the front and side, hand crushes andl arm cists. Rushing or lunging aracks are also considered as are three-on-one tacks where an assailant holds each arm ‘while a third strikes fram the front ‘Cun tao uniquely addreses a wide range ‘of possible armed assaults. Inthe case of an ‘overhead or a low knife stab, for example, students are taught two counters forsce- nario, The correct response is based on the attackers reaction to the initial defense. If the attacker continues forward, students 0 with the motion and use ic ro their advan- tage. Ifa the inital defers, the attacker withelraws the weapon, students are taught a different approach that allows them to use the asailant’s retreat ro end the encounter Also considered are more dificult knife situations. Slashing aracks atthe high, rid and low range are covered. There are several responses to the extremely danger- cous scenario of an attacker holding a knife atthe throat from the rea, as well as a kaif atthe low back or side from behind. ‘Cun ta0 aso covers a wide range of pos sible gun attacks. These responses are for- mulated for basic and close range and cover difficult-to-defend-against situations. Hand-gun counters exist for guns ar the side in right- and left-handed grips; guns from the frone held either high or low; guns held from a distance: and guns concealed in 4 pocket ata distance or close range, Cun tao also offers Four possible solutions to rifle ‘or shorgun hold-up scenarios. ‘Armed with the 108 holds, students in theory have an answer to most dangerous stacks they are likely to encounter. And according wo Nigel, cun tao aways empha sizes quickness over brute strength, whichDoom eee ad Pee ae Cea erry oes ere os ae Cones eer es eed eee er ea) ensures acces o elective sell-defense for stu dents of al sizes and strengths. To make er- tain thar students can transac theory into practical application without eying on size ‘or muscular force, they must tain for and passa speed rest of the 108 holds. Only fier passing the tes can students move from cun ‘20 10 advanced poekoelan training, ‘The speed test may be one ofthe primary reasons for the great self-defense skills pockoelan practitioners possess. The tests the succesfil execution ofall 108 holds with minimal erors in less than six minutes. The student being tested i attacked by mulkiple assailants exceuting the assaults covered by the cun tao holds. Attacks ae fllspeed, and another begins the instant one is succesflly extinguished. This rapid-fire process allows no time for thouight or hesitation “The speed test puts usin as ala stuaion as possible in order to rest our reactions Niggel explains. “The goal ito be sure that cour responses would be call action and nor cause freeze response. Multiple arackers coming from all directions in no particular order not only test our action responses, but also our focus, breath contol and eye sped.” Nigel adds chat the cun tao training, with its realistic approach to self-defense, provides a foundation for the fighting that students encounter in advanced poekoelan training, which includes langkas (forms), stances and the system's four animal forms. Cun tao benefits don't end with acess ro effective self-defense councers. Most sr dents will probably never face a dangerous ack or find themselves ina situation where employing the physical acti of cun two is necessary In all marial ars, what may be mos importants what you ean apply to your everyday lie, According vo Niggel, students can expect to develop a een inner strength. They can aso develop the connect berween mind, body and spitt while experiencing a sense of personal empowerment. The principles of persis tence and resilience may alo be philosophi- cally accesible through cun t0 taining. “Above all” Niggel relate, “cun t30 teaches fluid movements and the princi- ples of bamboo: Ina strong wind bam- bboo—a symbol of our art—will sway and snap back fiercely.” ‘Chris Rc more hon 30 ear ofraning nd reserch in ian combative ineudingpoceeen i mind, bing pag and ech Prashant, poskoelan timindie tulen is beginning ‘to taker hold in the West. Here is: a ist of resources fr readers wanting team ‘more about this remarkable Indonesian ator find instruction in their area. ‘The Tulen Foundation P.0. Box 880 North Eastham, MA 02651 ‘wiew.tulenfoundation org ‘Studio Naga Indonesian Martial Arts ‘5850 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94608 (10) 652-NAGA (6242) iw stutionaga. com, studionaga@yahao.com Heart of the Dragon £8802 Southern Bhd. Boardman, OH 44512 ($30) 757-0115, ‘ulen Center New York Gity 248 W. 14th St, No. 2 Now York, NY 10011 (212) 645-6661 ‘One With Heart -Tulen Center 4231 SE: Hawhome Bhd. Portiand, OR 97215 (603) 231-1998 (603) 234-3188 (Fn) vw onewithneart.com Golden Dragon Martial Arts 4720 Siate Highway Si Eastham, MA 02642 (608) 255-6370 ew wim com