Panantukan: Going From Hubud to Hitting
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Standard Panantukan·Coach Kurt
This video of classroom content (hence the suboptimal audio) features MKG Detroit Head Coach Kurt Cornwell showing stude…
Standard Panantukan
Genusスタンダードパナンツカン(Sutandādo Panantukan)
TransliterationTranslation: standard panantukan
Overview
Standard Panantukan encompasses the core techniques of Filipino boxing: the gunting (scissoring destruction to the opponent's attacking limb), the hubud-lubud (tie-and-untie sensitivity drill), the low hammer fist, the shoulder bump, the forearm strike, and combinations flowing between these tools using the numbered angle system. [1] Standard panantukan training follows the Filipino martial arts methodology of drilling: partner-based flow drills build reflexes, then practitioners learn to break the pattern and insert live techniques. [1],[2] The system's emphasis on limb destructions — striking the bicep, forearm, or hand of the attacking limb to cause pain and dysfunction — is its most distinctive contribution to striking arts. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Standard panantukan techniques have been transmitted through Filipino martial arts lineages for generations, with modern systematisation credited to practitioners like Dan Inosanto, Rick Young, and other internationally recognised Filipino martial arts instructors. [1] The art continues to evolve through cross-training with MMA, JKD, and self-defence systems. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Panantukan (Filipino boxing / dirty boxing) applies the angles and biomechanics of FMA weapon striking to empty-hand combat, including limb destruction (gunting), elbows, headbutts, and takedowns. [1] Its effectiveness in MMA and self-defence contexts comes from its emphasis on trapping, limb attacks, and seamless transitions between striking and clinch ranges. [2]
Lineage
Competition Record
Standard panantukan techniques are demonstrated at FMA events and seminars worldwide. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Striking, blocking, or thrusting with a long rigid weapon — the staff's length creates leverage and reach advantage
Joints Involved — Both hands (sliding and rotating grip positions), wrists (snap for strikes), hips (rotation for power)
Force Vector — The rear hand pushes while the lead hand acts as fulcrum — staff rotation generates speed at the striking tip
Weapon Mechanic — The staff can be used from either end and at any range — versatility from long-range strikes to short-range blocks
Position & Entry
From ready stance (weapon in hand) — Establish proper grip and distance, execute the technique with correct body mechanics and weapon alignment
From defensive position — Use the weapon to block, parry, or deflect the incoming attack, then counter
From engagement — Close to the appropriate range for the weapon and execute the attacking technique
Variants
Standard technique — primary execution from the most common grip and stance
Competition variation — adapted for sport-specific rules and scoring
Traditional variation — classical execution as taught in the traditional art
Combination variation — chained with preceding or following techniques in a flow
Videos
HAMMER FIST of Legend: Utilizing Weaponry Mechanics for Empty-Hand Strikes
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Standard Panantukan·Coach Kurt
In Filipino Martial Art, the weapon “informs” the hand. This means the FMA Practitioner learns to use the weapon right a…
Knife Disarms Part 1 | Sean Elders
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Standard Panantukan·PINNACLE COMBAT ARTS
This is a comprehensive lesson on the technical method of a standard grip Knife disarm. We will explore the various type…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
Standard Panantukan represents a foundational empty-hand combat methodology within Filipino martial arts that emphasizes transitional control and striking mechanics derived from weapon systems. Coach Kurt demonstrates the technique's core mechanics through a systematic progression: practitioners establish control via hubud (circular hand exchanges), then integrate directional shifts and body positioning to move offline from incoming attacks. The method employs cross-body wrenching motions where the near-side arm circles to control an opponent's limb while the defender pivots the torso, creating leverage that transitions from defensive capture into offensive striking combinations. Kurt emphasizes the "lung hinge"—a hip rotation initiated by foot pivoting—as the mechanical engine generating power in strikes including hammer fists, elbows, and hand strikes delivered from multiple angles (vertical, diagonal, ascending, descending). The technique incorporates weapon-derived mechanics: forehand and backhand motions that translate stick-work principles (such as "lob tick" slashing and snapping retractions) into empty-hand applications. Panantukan chains multiple strikes along consistent lines of attack, alternating between forehand and backhand deliveries while maintaining defensive coverage. Sean Elders from Pinnacle Combat Arts contextualizes standard grip disarm principles as extensions of panantukan's control methodology, highlighting how eye strikes and hand strikes create openings for limb manipulation and weapon removal. All instructors agree on the integration of body mechanics, sequential striking, and adaptive responses to opponent resistance.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Coach Kurt — Panantukan: Going From Hubud to Hitting: Detailed instruction on transitional mechanics from hubud exchanges into striking sequences, emphasizing lung hinge body rotation, cross-body wrenching, offset positioning, elbow and hand strike combinations, and adaptive responses to grab attempts. Demonstrated multiple strike angles and follow-up options from control positions.
- Coach Kurt — HAMMER FIST of Legend: Utilizing Weaponry Mechanics for Empty-Hand Strikes: Systematic breakdown of weapon-to-empty-hand translation, specifically hammer fist mechanics incorporating forehand/backhand motions, diagonal and vertical strike angles, hip counter-rotation via foot pivoting, and combination sequencing (cob-cob, pi-pi patterns) derived from double-stick methodology.
- Pinnacle Combat Arts — Knife Disarms Part 1 | Sean Elders: Contextualized disarm applications within standard grip scenarios, demonstrating how eye strikes and hand strikes create defensive openings, hand/forearm positioning for limb control, peeling versus ejection mechanics, and bicep targeting to diminish opponent offensive capability.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Arnis/Escrima/Kali stick and blade techniques; designed for close-range lethality
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
WEKAF — Legal in padded stick competition {srcHEMA — Legal in applicable weapon categories {src
Training Notes
✓Standard panantukan technique integrates the jab-cross foundation with Filipino-specific additions: gunting, elbows, and trapping sequences (Inosanto, The Filipino Martial Arts, 1980)
✓The basic combination: jab to draw the counter, gunting to destroy the counter-punch, then follow with elbows and hammer fists at close range
✓Entry technique: use a lead-hand probing jab to measure distance, then crash inside with a gunting to the bicep or forearm of the opponent's jab
✓The standard panantukan combination flows: punch → trap → elbow → hammer fist → sweep — a complete sequence from entry to finish
✓Footwork uses the triangle: step off the line of attack at 45 degrees to create the angle for the gunting and follow-up strikes
✓The non-punching hand is always active — checking, trapping, or clearing the opponent's guard to create openings
✓Standard panantukan drills combine offence and defence in every movement — every block is a strike, every strike sets up the next
Common Mistakes
!Throwing punches without setting up traps — every punch should either score or create a trapping opportunity
!Not closing distance after the gunting — the gunting creates an opening that must be exploited immediately with follow-up strikes
!Dropping the checking hand after trapping — maintain control of the trapped arm while striking with the other hand
!Using too much power on the gunting — the destruction needs accuracy on the nerve point, not maximum force
!Not integrating sweeps — panantukan includes leg sweeps as follow-ups; ignoring them leaves techniques on the table
!Standing square to the opponent — maintain the proper angle created by triangle footwork
!Practising combinations in isolation — panantukan combinations should flow continuously, not be performed as isolated sets
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Ready Position — assume the guard stance appropriate for the weapon
2Distance Control — manage spacing relative to the opponent
3Execute Technique — perform the offensive or defensive action with correct form
4Return to Guard — recover to a defensive ready position
Sources & References
Primary Source
Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat (Patrick McCarthy, 2008)
1BookThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)
Alias sources — [1] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994) [2] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994) [3] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994)
2BookThe Book of Five Rings (Musashi, 1645)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wiley, M., Filipino Martial Arts (Charles E. Tuttle, 1994) [2] Inosanto, D., The Filipino Martial Arts (Know Now Publishing, 1980)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)
Alias sources — [1] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994) [2] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994) [3] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994)
5CitationThe Book of Five Rings (Musashi, 1645)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Wiley, M., Filipino Martial Arts (Charles E. Tuttle, 1994) [2] Inosanto, D., The Filipino Martial Arts (Know Now Publishing, 1980)
Community
Athletics
Requires
grip strength, wrist control, weapon-specific conditioning
Favours
strong forearms and wrists, good hand-eye coordination
Key muscles
forearms, wrists, shoulders, core
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I can't land a strike during Panantukan drills?
Coach Kurt teaches that if you miss your shot, you should go to position and keep your guard out while holding the pad, maintaining control until the next opportunity presents itself.
How do I generate more power in Panantukan strikes?
Coach Kurt emphasizes using counter rotation of the hip facilitated by pivoting on the ball of the foot, which generates more distance and snap to your strikes while maintaining proper body angulation.
What are my options after peeling an opponent's guard in Panantukan?
Once you peel the guard, you can follow up with a strike, knee strike, or kick depending on your opponent's positioning and what techniques are available in the moment.
How does the Standard Panantukan work?
Standard Panantukan encompasses the core techniques of Filipino boxing: the gunting (scissoring destruction to the opponent's attacking limb), the hubud-lubud (tie-and-untie sensitivity drill), the low hammer fist, the shoulder bump, the forearm strike, and combinations flowing between these tools using the numbered angle system. Standard panantukan training follows the Filipino martial arts methodology of drilling: partner-based flow drills build reflexes, then practitioners learn to break the pattern and insert live techniques.
Where does the Standard Panantukan come from?
Standard panantukan techniques have been transmitted through Filipino martial arts lineages for generations, with modern systematisation credited to practitioners like Dan Inosanto, Rick Young, and other internationally recognised Filipino martial arts instructors. The art continues to evolve through cross-training with MMA, JKD, and self-defence systems.
Is the Standard Panantukan legal in competition?
WEKAF: legal — Legal in padded stick competition; HEMA: legal — Legal in applicable weapon categories
How dangerous is the Standard Panantukan?
Danger rating 8/10. Very High — Arnis/Escrima/Kali stick and blade techniques; designed for close-range lethality
How do I set up the Standard Panantukan?
The standard setup chain: Ready Position → Distance Control → Execute Technique → Return to Guard.
How do I defend against the Standard Panantukan?
Standard counters include: Guard Position — return to a defensive ready stance / Distance Management — control the measure to avoid being in range / Counter-Attack — strike during the opponent's recovery or between movements.
What are the variants of the Standard Panantukan?
Common variants: Standard technique (primary execution from the most common grip and stance); Competition variation (adapted for sport-specific rules and scoring); Traditional variation (classical execution as taught in the traditional art); Combination variation (chained with preceding or following techniques in a flow).
How effective is the Standard Panantukan in competition?
Standard panantukan techniques are demonstrated at FMA events and seminars worldwide.
What are common mistakes when doing the Standard Panantukan?
Top errors to watch for: Throwing punches without setting up traps — every punch should either score or create a trapping opportunity / Not closing distance after the gunting — the gunting creates an opening that must be exploited immediately with follo… / Dropping the checking hand after trapping — maintain control of the trapped arm while striking with the other hand / Using too much power on the gunting — the destruction needs accuracy on the nerve point, not maximum force.
What are other names for the Standard Panantukan?
The Standard Panantukan is also known as Sutandādo Panantukan, Basic Panantukan Combination, Suntukan Drill, Filipino Boxing Combination.