MANDIRIGMA (WARRIOR) RANK
FULL CONTACT WITH RATTAN

We have a distinction for those practitioners who wish to test themselves under the most extreme conditions of all-out fighting, with rattan, using minimal protective equipment. This is very dangerous, and is certainly only for a very select group of hardcore practitioners. As with all of our training, you the individual must assume all risk if deciding to take this route. Nobody is required to go to this extreme, but those who do will attain the special MANDIRIGMA (WARRIOR) distinction.  This will be added on to your rank to show that you have experienced the fury of all-out, limited protection, full power stick fighting.

The practitioner will have to first progress through Antas 1-8 before being allowed to participate in this type of fighting. Once the person has gone through all the levels, he or she can choose to try the extreme method. Those who do will have a new perspective on the realities of real stick fighting!

In order to achieve the Mandirigma status, the practitioner must complete six, two-minute rounds of full power fighting. Three rounds must be long and middle range fighting (use the clinch if you must, but break out. No ground fighting.), and three rounds of all ranges fighting. I do this to be sure that one person doesn’t just shoot in and end up in a grappling match for the entire round. We want to see stick fighting.

I require several rounds, because it is easy to talk yourself into doing one round, but you must have courage and determination to go back and enter this realm repeatedly, even though you may be scared. But the ability to take action in spite of fear is the defining quality of the warrior!

Limited protection means wearing a good stick fighting helmet, hand protection, elbow protection, knee protection, and groin protection. There is no need to risk a full power shot to your knee or elbow, so please wear good equipment there. (In one instance a knee cap was split in two in this type of fighting.) The stick must be of rattan, and of the same dimensions as your partner’s. The diameter should be about 1inch (2.5 centimeters). No skinny sticks allowed.

Again, this is not required at all. But, it is because of all of the full contact, limited protection fighting that I did that allowed me to develop a great understanding for what works and what doesn’t, as well as developing the confidence to stand in and do battle against a very skillful opponent.