Kuntao is a form of Chinese martial art which practiced in South East Asia. This form of martial art have usually been influenced by Indonesian martial arts of Pencak Silat.History
The original Chinese Kuntao styles came from China. The styles still exist in China and Taiwan, but Kuntao styles have been spread for centuries by the Chinese merchants and other traveling Chinese people. Forms of Kuntao are practiced in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia (particularly Borneo), and the Southern Philippines as well as in some other countries. Some Kuntao styles were not changed, but many were changed because of some reasons. Many styles were changed because the styles had to be adapted to new environments, fighting in different terrains, fighting local styles, and defending or fighting with local weapons.
Etymology
The word Kuntao in Hokkien dialect means "way of the fist". It similar to Mandarin term of Chuan Fa which means "fist technique".
Styles and Forms
Most Indonesian Kuntao styles began to integrate techniques from Pencak Silat styles and often called Kuntao Silat. Some even changed their name to Silat. Kuntao Silat also practiced by several ethnic groups in Southern Philippines. It is said that it is the combination of indigenous Pencak Silat and Chinese Kuntao which arrived in that places by Chinese merchants.
Some styles and forms of that we can found today, for example are:
- Kuntao Silat de Thouars, a combination of several Kuntao and Pencak Silat styles which created by Willem de Thouars
- Malabar Kuntao Silat, created by Willem de Thouars' student, Steve Gartin
- American Kuntao Silat, a friendlier and less brutal version of the original Malabar Kuntao Silat which created by Steve Gartin
- Talio American Kuntao, created by Roberto Torres based on several Kuntao, Pencak Silat, and Arnis styles
- Liu Seng Kuntao, a hybrid Kuntao Silat system which created by Willem Reeders
See also Pencak Silat
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