THE 64 ATTACKS OF THE PEKITI-TIRSIA SYSTEM
The 64 Attacks is a set that combines the first three years of basic training and timing drills Tuhon Gaje was teaching in the 1970s into one group of techniques and principles. This was done mainly to give us a form that we could be tested on and compete in the forms completion at our next tournament.
Here is the form, as I learned it in the 70s. I used to test students on both the form and the application drills, but these days I only require testing in the timing drills and applications (as these are the most important parts).
However, I leave it up to the other PTI instructors to include the forms in their testing, if they wish.
Here is the numbering in the 64 Attacks form as I learned it in the 1970s.
#1 TO 12: First set of Abcedario.
#13 TO 22: Four Wall “Apat na Paligid” basic entry technique against strikes in a simple timing drill.
#23 to 25 Umbrella “Payong” fluid entry techniques.
#26 TO 31 Tapping against thrusts “Pangising” (a drill of 3 attacks, 3 counters, and 3 recounters but #26 to #31 in the condensed 64 Attacks) Taught with “Chekete” (direct) and “Echekete” (indirect) counter to weapon-arm pinning drills, counters and recounters. The whole platform is often called the Dakup y Punyo drill.
#32 TO 36: Five Attacks “Limang Sugod” diagonal attacks, entries, and counter-to- counter drills.
#37 TO 43: Break in-Break out “Pasok Lo’ob – Pasok Labas” linear attack, entry, and counter-to-counter drills. Taught with “Segang Labo”, a close-quarter engagement-disengagement drill that acts as a platform for close-quarter disarms, traps and takedowns.
#44 TO 50: Seven Attacks “Pitong Sugod” Entry, off balancing, takedown or repelling techniques.
#51 TO 64: Clock System “Orassan." Entries and baits with double force. Introduction to flat-of-the-blade strikes (called in Visayan “Witik” -lit. to flip or whip, but used here “to cheat”; called “Abaniko” in several other dialects).
Solo Baston Multiple Attacks. I was taught this set as a warm up for the Abcedario. If the Abcedario is the alphabet, then you can think of the Multiple Attacks as the vowel sounds.
Details on the 64 Attacks:
#1 TO 12: First set of Abcedario.
Grand Tuhon Gaje told us that he spent one full year as a child learning the Solo Baston Abcedario, learning one set of 12 attacks at a time, building up until he had all 144 techniques in the 12 sets. Let's say he started in January with the first set: 12 strikes learned and practiced over a month's time is not too much for most children to learn. In February, he would warm up with the first set and then begin learning the second set, which was a mirror image of the first set. (This is the general pattern for most of the Abcedarios, as the odd numbered sets are the "lead" sets, with the next even numbered set as its mirror image). This 12 techniques at a time learning schedule is a much less intimidating way to learn these large sets for a child than learning all 144 techniques from day one.
#13 TO 22: Four Wall “Apat na Paligid” basic entry technique against strikes in a simple timing drill.
I learned this drill in two phases: 1. During the basics; as an emergency blocking procedure. 2. During the advanced classes as an entry. It was common for Tuhon Gaje to have us revisit a basic drill and have us practice it using the theories and principles we had learned during advanced training. In this case, we relearned the 4 Wall as a quick entry timing drill. My practice these days is to teach both methods of the drill as early as possible, since most of my students are adults with prior martial arts training.
#23 to 25 Umbrella “Payong” fluid entry techniques.
#26 TO 31 Tapping against thrusts “Pangising” (also known as Dakup y Punyo) A drill of 3 attacks, 3 counters, and 3 recounters but #26 to #31 in the condensed 64 Attacks. Taught with “Chekete” (direct) and “Echekete” (indirect) counter to weapon-arm pinning drills, counters and recounters.
#32 TO 36: Five Attacks “Limang Sugod” Diagonal attacks, entries, and counter-to- counter drills.
#37 TO 43: Break in-Break out “Pasok Lo’ob – Pasok Labas” Linear attack, entry, and counter-to-counter drills. Taught with “Segang Labo”, a close-quarter engagement-disengagement drill that acts as a platform for close-quarter disarms, traps and takedowns.
Break in-Break out drill of Pekiti-Tirsia. Core elements of the drill, with footwork and positioning details.
#44 TO 50: Seven Attacks “Pitong Sugod” Entry, off balancing, takedown or repelling techniques. This set has the only long range, lunging thrust in our solo baston material.
#51 TO 64: Clock System “Orassan." Entries and baits with double force. Introduction to flat-of-the-blade strikes (called in Visayan “Witik” -lit. to flip or whip, but used here “to cheat”; called “Abaniko” in several other dialects).
The majority of the 64 Attacks focus on two man timing drills. The basic symmetrical version of each drill is used as a warm up, to learn the gross motions and instill muscle memory. This is analogous to putting training wheels on a child's bicycle: used only as long as needed and no longer than that. The asymmetrical versions are where you really learn the application of timing and distance control through useful footwork.These drills are a important bridge between learning the basic techniques of a system and full sparing.
The video below begins with an overview of the timing drills and ends with a diagram that explains how we put this all together.
Florete (lit: flower petal) is a short form in Pekiti-Tirsia using two hits per beat; a back of the blade deflection of your opponent's sword cut, then delivering a cut of your own.
We learned this set just after 64 Attacks, but I usually test this at the same time as the 64.
Since this is the first dedicated sword set I learned, I consider it a bridge set between the basics and advanced material.
Train Hard, But Train Smart!
Tuhon Bill McGrath
PS: The timing drills of 64 Attacks will be an important part of the PTI Spring Camp; March 22-23-24, 2024, in New Iberia, La.
For info on this and other PTI camps, seminars and classes, visit:
https://pekiti.com/pages/upcoming-seminars