Guro Daniel Lonero Kali & Silat Seminar – September 2018

Robin French with Guro Daniel Lonero - September 2018

September marks two big events of my year to look forward to:

My birthday, and
Guro Daniel Lonero’s annual visit to the UK.

This years’ seminar, at Laurence Sandum’s martial arts academy in Witham, focussed mainly on Kali, but also spent some time on some aspects of Silat.

After starting off the session with the Inosanto numbering system, Guro Daniel spent some time to work through the four main Archangel ‘running’ drills. I have worked these quite a few times before, but the way that Guro Daniel broke them down, and explained them breathed some fresh understanding into them for me.

Next, the focus switched to stick and knife. First some variations on the basic five count drill, then onto some tie up variations. We also got the chance to spend some time working through the dikit drill, and how to move in and out of range with it.

As has become somewhat of a tradition, Guro Daniel was asked to spend some time on the Balintawak mother drill. Even though I still find this drill mind bending, every time I revisit it under Guro Daniel’s supervision, it makes just a little more sense.

During the Silat section, Guro Daniel first mobilised us with some floor movements, before working on some of the puter kepala series, as well as a lock flow instigated from the takedown.

I enjoy every opportunity I get to train with Guro Daniel. Not only do I have a great time training the physical aspect, I also relish the little gems of philosophy that he drops in; whether it be a view on culture, or a way to make me a better teacher.

Thank you to Guro Lonero, and his assistant Frank, for yet again visiting us in the UK.

Thanks also to Guro Laurence Sandum; without his efforts, the seminar would not be able to take place.

And to my long term training partner, David Farmer, thanks for a great training session.