Makoa combatives

Makoa Combatives is a rare and little known martial arts system developed by Guro Abu Hamza and the vehicle used in learning the Cantley family system, Makoa Kali. Makoa Kali, being a blade based system, is very dangerous. Guro Abu Hamza thought it necessary to develop skill sets that would cover more non-lethal areas of self protection and, essentially, Makoa Combatives was born.

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History and Structure

Makoa Kali is a blade based system, taken from the actual combative experience of the founder in the military and many Indonesian and Filipino systems. The Filipino and Indonesian systems which Makoa Kali derives from are full of rich history and hundreds of years old. Being based on the knife, the beginning of Makoa Kali training usually involves learning Filipino Stick skill sets, which use much of the same angles. Training progresses into two man single and double knife drills and actual sparring with training knives. Training is very reality based and is centered on this 'feeder/receiver' training principle. All lethal entries, isolation techniques and disarms can be trained or 'found' within the two man sets. Eventually one translates these skill sets into empty hand, which makes up the Makoa Silak portion of the Combatives. The system can be broken down like this:

Makoa Core Combatives

Makoa-Jitsu

Makoa Kali

Makoa Silak

Makoa Warrior Skills

each element can be catergorized as a combative and is as separate as much as it is a part of the whole.

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Ranking

Formal ranking in Makoa Kali is simple. There are three belts: blue, tan and black, with 4 degrees or 'slashes' each, indicating a sub-rank within that belt. Initial training involves learning the Core Combatives, which is basically ground fighting, and based solely on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and structured just like the Army's Combatives program. The student may even, if he chooses, only be certified in these basic fighting skills and not be ranked. Many instructors become certified to teach the Core Combatives only, so as to enhance the system they teach with superior ground skills.

Blue belt is awarded only after mastering these Core Combatives. along with the accompanying basic stick skill sets and forms (three basic forms for blue belt). The degrees or 'slashes' are awarded as the required basic skill sets are added to the students knowledge base.

Tan belt is the beginning of true knife training. By this time a student has been deemed suitable to teach knife to, having gained the trust of the organization. The Makoa Combatives Group takes this very seriously as teaching knife skills carries with it tremendous responsibility. Tan belt is awarded once the basic knife skills are learned. Then degrees are gradually earned over the years. Tan belt training tends to be slow due to the precision required to master knife skills.

Black belt is awarded once a student has mastered all of the basic to advanced knife skill sets. Emphasis now lies on fine tuning actual fighting skills and beginning the road to teaching. Once a black belt has earned his 4th degree, he may begin training to teach. There are several different teaching ranks starting with the lowest-Junior Associate Instructor. The teaching hierarchy is complicated and is topped with Abu Hamza himself, whose official title is Al- Ustaazh. This is an arabic term meaning 'Teacher' which points to Makoa Kali's Muslim roots.

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Basics

Makoa Kali is not a complete fighting system in of itself, hence the need for Makoa Combatives. Makoa Combatives allows the student to learn all ranges of combat, from ground work to stand up weapons, even combat firearm skills. So, a student begins with developing his Core skills with ground fighting, working up to the actual blade skill sets required for Makoa Kali, then integrates all of the combatives together. The Core Combatives are easy to learn and give the student a practical system of self protection very early on in their martial training. Makoa Kali itself is a very practical system which focuses on violence of action, intention, and readiness to face death and life with a similar enthusiasm and a strong desire for victory. The specialization of the system is the close quarter usage of the knife, with further emphasis placed on handling multiple attackers. Engaging multiple attackers is addressed from the onset of stick training and carried on through to knife training. If one were to watch a Makoa Kali knife class, one would get the impression that multiple attackers are not only emphasized, but, it is all that is trained to combat.

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Schools and Training

One would be hard pressed to find a Makoa Kali school in their area. Two were located on the east coast,and the Portland, Oregon location which is the headquarters, is open to private students on the west coast. The founders enjoy a very non-commercial attitude in their teaching, and take sharing the knowledge of the blade very serious. The founders are still not comfortable with including a website to the Makoa knowledge base due to the huge volume of accessibility.In the past seminars were made available to Law Enforcement related to gun retention and protecting against edged weapons and the like but, typically one must be an existing associate of the group or be recommended by a member of Makoa Combatives Group to train.

Makoa Kali's homepage can be found here:

Additional info may be found here :

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