Kuntao ~ Silat ~ Kali Hawaii
Real Self defense ...... Know the Difference !
Pukulan Pentjak Silat Mustika Kweetang Tjimande
In 1990, Dr. Bahati Mershant introduced the Hawaiian Islands to Jim Ingram and his style of Silat called, Pukulan Pentjak Silat Mustika Kweetang Tjimande. This has been changed to Amerindo at Mr. Ingram's school in Washington. Mustika Kweetang, as we have called it, combines several styles of the Silat family arts along with a little Kuntao. I have remained a student of Dr. Mershant for the past 18 years, and now am Instructor within his Tanaga Tiga Kuntao Silat System.
Mande Muda
Through the years Dr. Mershant has brought in and visited many other teachers, one of which was Herman Suwanda. Herman would make frequent visits to Hawaii and have massive workshops.
I happened to be one of the lucky few that went to all of these I could , along with a whole lot of private training. (That's me, the good looking young guy, seated in the bottom left corner).
Though Herman taught several different styles, and methods, by far the most exotic, interesting and effective is the Harimau (tiger) style which is a treacherous form of ground fighting.
Herman Suwanda & his wife Shannon were killed in a car accident in Germany, doing what they loved, spreading the art of Mande Muda throughout the world. (Herman met Shannon here on the Big Island, training Silat with Dr. Mershant and myself) Bahati still travels to Indonesia and visits Herman & Shannon's gravesights while visiting Ibu Mimi ( Herman's mother) and Bambang, Herman's brother, who is continuing the training Herman and he were both a part of.
Kuntao 
As I progressed though many years of Silat I still had questions . Who better to answer them, then Uncle Willem DeThouars. The time I have been lucky enough to log in with Uncle has sharpened my skill level and my awareness of the frailties of the human body. Harnessing your own power & unleashing it with accuracy, and intent is what puts the "art" in martial art.
Uncles teachings, revolve around & are steeped in concepts that are open ended, leaving them for open interpretation by the individual. This "concept" can take a single technique and make it into ............ infinite !
Kuntao puts the finishing touches where Silat has gaps, like plaster filling holes in a wall, the combination is the key most martial artists continuously look for, but never find. Freedom of movement and interpretation is what Uncle Willem gave to me in the martial art world, and that is the "key".
Mahalo Uncle !
(Uncle having a cup of coffee in my backyard)
As I progressed though many years of Silat I still had questions . Who better to answer them, then Uncle Willem DeThouars. The time I have been lucky enough to log in with Uncle has sharpened my skill level and my awareness of the frailties of the human body. Harnessing your own power & unleashing it with accuracy, and intent is what puts the "art" in martial art.
Uncles teachings, revolve around & are steeped in concepts that are open ended, leaving them for open interpretation by the individual. This "concept" can take a single technique and make it into ............ infinite !
Kuntao puts the finishing touches where Silat has gaps, like plaster filling holes in a wall, the combination is the key most martial artists continuously look for, but never find. Freedom of movement and interpretation is what Uncle Willem gave to me in the martial art world, and that is the "key".
Mahalo Uncle !
(Uncle having a cup of coffee in my backyard)
