Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu is an eclectic martial art developed by Richard Petronelli in 1999, based on his study of a number of martial systems. The art was further developed by Petronelli's student Marc Bochner, who developed a structured curriculum for the art as well as an instructor certification program.
Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu
Kuntao was originally a Southeast Asian fighting art, with roots in Indonesia and the Philippines. The original version of Kuntao is characterized by close-distance grappling tactics that target vulnerable areas of the body such as the eyes or the joints. The term Jiu-Jitsu derives from a Japanese term for arts that emphasize moving with an opponent's attacking force in order to take control of it and defeat him. When Petronelli created Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu, he based his art on a number of different arts he had studied previously, including Kuntao, Judo, several different types of Kung Fu, and Florendo Visitacion's art of Vee Arnis Jitsu. Certified instructors in Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu teach techniques with origins in all of these disciplines.
Curriculum
The curriculum of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu is based on self-defense against attacks, rather than on competition or exhibition. The adult curriculum includes training in verbal deescalation of conflicts, avoiding potentially violent situations, effective use of footwork and strikes, defense against common attacks, self-defense on the ground, pain-compliance attacks to the small joints, and throwing the opponent. Students are also taught how to safely fall, how to defend against armed attacks and how to defend against more than one attacker at a time. Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu uses a colored belt system beginning with white belt to represent a beginner. Students that achieve a black belt rank are eligible for instructor training.
Instructor Certification
The belt system in Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu indicates proficiency in the curriculum rather than instructor certification, which is a separate process. Students with at least a first degree black belt can begin taking the instructor certification course if they intend to teach the art. Instructor certification requires more than 100 training hours in Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu under the guidance of a qualified instructor. Certified instructors can teach the art without another certified instructor being present. Black belts without instructor certification may only function as assistant instructors. Black belts in Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu are also expected to be good examples of the values of the art, including integrity, determination and respect.
Black Belts From Other Arts
Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu recognizes black belts earned in other martial arts. A new student of Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu who already has a black belt in another art is allowed to wear the black belt in the adult intermediate class, although he must stand to the left of the Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu black belts when lining up by seniority. In the adult beginner class, he must wear the white belt to indicate that he is still a beginner in Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu. A black belt in another art does not grant certification to instruct Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu.
Member Comments