Overview of the Atienza Kali training methodology
Atienza Kali is primarily a blade system with all the strategies and techniques practiced as if using blades of all sizes.
The development of Atienza Kali was based on encounters with common weapons used in the street mainly blades and firearms.
“All the violence we see here involves multiple opponents who are armed. I haven’t seen a one on one empty hand fight
since I was ten years old. I would often hear people say that being armed all the time is irrational.
In this place not being armed is irrational.”
-Carl Atienza-
Jamaica , Queens NY
1989
Since the Atienza family had to live in these conditions they trained to fight against all the possible scenarios.
Their problem was groups of armed attackers. Their solution was with the use of the blade.
Different blades types are used in Atienza Kali and are categorized in combative components.
The Atienza Kali Combative Components are:
-Single Long Blade - the standard Atienza Kali Single sword has a 20" blade. We also use a smaller bolo type blade that has
a 15" blade. Basically a bladed weapon that has enough length to be used in deflection techniques.
-Combat knife - These are the knives that the Atienza family favors the most. The blade can be anywhere from 9" to 13".
Basically a bladed weapon that length allows for efficient chopping and cutting power but not enough length to use in
deflection techniques. Knife dueling techniques are done with this blade.
-Hand assistor knives- These are the smaller legal size knives that on may use in everyday carry. They are 4" -5" and smaller
and used primarily as a thrusting weapon. They are called hand assistors because the techniques translate directly to
Atienza Kali empty hand techniques. Basically a bladed assistance for empty hand techniques.
-Projectiles- use of projectiles is a major part of Atienza Kali. To be able to begin to defeat an opponent at range is an
advantageous skill to the Atienza Kali practitioner. Especially in blade on blade encounters.
-Special weapons- improvised street weapons that are made or found as a replacement to the EDC.
-rock in sock
-25” pipe
-trapo
-punyo sticks
Chief Instructor Specialties- weapons that the Atienza brothers favor the most. Their skills with these weapons help to
develop fighter types of their students.
Guro Allain- thin long blade
Guro Carl- two long blades
Guro Darryl- 36” long blade
Atienza Kali Empty Hands- way we use our empty hands to control a bladed attacker. Learned in conjunction with the
hand assistor component.
Some of the Atienza Kali Basics
Thin X- preferred slash and chop pattern of Atienza Kali practitioners, although the wide X is often used depending on
the blade exchange.
The Cross- Horizontal and vertical blade attack patterns.
Circular slashes and thrusts- Attack patterns that run in a circular motion
Hourglass- The footwork pattern used in Atienza Kali to develop all possible footwork patterns used in the blade exchange.
Hourglass and the blade- exercise used to coordinate blade movements with footwork patterns for combat.
“power and mobility “ is a big principle used by Atienza Kali practitioners to explain that while on the move in combat the
blade still has to move efficiently. This is especially true for mass attack scenarios.
ADP’s- (Attack Defense Patterns)- coming from the basic blade attack patterns, these are more advanced blade patterns used
in the strategies of Atienza Kali.
Long Slash- the big slashing motions used in Atienza Kali as finishing strikes.
Short slash- the non telegraphed slash used in Atienza Kali in all their initial attacks.
The slash used in the force anchor strategy so the opponent reacts with their conditioned fighter type.
Force Anchor strategy
Anchor points- the start point of all possible attacks that an opponent can give with the blade.
An example of this is on an angle1 slash the anchor point will be where the opponents’ weapon and weapon hand will be
before the slash comes down. Usually by the right side of the opponents head. Atienza Kali practitioners condition themselves
to observe these anchor points so they can set up their counter accordingly.
The Atienza Kali Force Anchor Strategy is a strategy
where the Atienza Kali Practitioner sends off intended incapacitating attacks (force anchor initiation) to the opponent with the
knowledge that if the opponent counters, the opponent will set an anchor point, and eventually an attack,
that the AK Practitioner can take advantage of.
Fighter types- this is the way the Atienza Kali practitioner categorizes skill counters to his force anchor initiation (FAI).
Example of a typical Atienza Kali long blade exchange- FAI to the opponents hand-------the opponent counters
with by pulling his hand away (fighter type:2 count counterer)----while the opponent pulls his hand away he is
also setting up an anchor point for and angle one strike----the force anchor initiator then counters with a point
down deflection (fighter type:deflector) that sets up a counter strike to the opponents jugulars.
The example used shows how the force anchor initiator set up his entry (in this case a kill) by using his FAI, reacting
to the counterof his FAI by “ observing his opponents anchor point and successfully reacting to it. The two fighter
types used in the following example were:
2 count counter- there are two types of 2 count counterers. One that pulls his hand back when his hand is attacked
and counters to a target after the attack passes. The other is 2 count counterer that pulls his body back completely
from the attack and counters back by stepping back in. The anchor point is set depending on where the hand is
positioned before his counter.
Deflector- this is where the counter to an attack is done with a deflection and a counter strike.
The anchor point is set by the opponents’ deflection.
The above example shows how one fighter type defeated another fighter type depending on who force anchor
the FAI to set up the fighter type.
Currently Atienza Kali categorizes 13 different fighter types.
Range
Forced telegraphing- since AK practitioners us short slashes in all initial attacks, forced telegraphing is done by making the
opponent take a step so attacks are telegraphed.
One step out of hand engagement- the range where we want AK practitioners to be when not in the blade exchange.
Where the opponent needs to take a step to attack hands.
One step out of centerline engagement- position where the hands can be attacked without a step but where the
centerline can be guarded.
These concepts of range are very important because it dictates to the Atienza Kali practitioner where he is
vulnerable and when he can attack his opponent successfully.
Evolutions- are an interactive two man blade exercise that puts fighter type against fighter type in all different counter
combinations. This teaches the AK practitioner to use all fighter types to counter all fighter types.
e.g.- single sword evolution 1 covers three fighter types
one count- fighter does all his counters in one count relative to the opponents attack.
This fighter type typically intercepts or follows attacks to the hands or the body simultaneously with the opponents attack.
2count counterer- this fighter type evades the attack by pulling his hands back (if attack is to his hands) or pulls his body back
(if his centerline is attacked), with use of no blocking or deflections, and counter attacks back.
Deflector- just as it sounds. The fighter type that deflects (without the use of the checking hand) then counter attacks.
The first single sword evolution takes these fighter types and teaches the student how to counter each fighter type by using
the other. Teaching the student that one fighter type is not better than the next, but it depends on the practitioner to
successfully execute the fighter type.
Evolution isolations-
Since evolution are made of counter and counter attack depending on the fighter type we can isolate every counter and counter
attack with a feed.
RCE isolations- using the isolations from the evolution in a REAL COMBAT EXERCISE. The feed done in these isolation are
done with real violent energy.
Mass Attack Isolations- feeds are done by multiple feeders and a with mass attack strategies. An exercise done so the student
can get used to the energy of multiple opponents and to enhance angular evasive footwork.
Atienza Kali Mass Attack Scenarios
The students’ first introduction to mass attack is in the Mass Attack Isolations from the evolutions.
From there the mass attack exercises become scenario based.
Components of Atienza Kali Mass Attack scenarios
The Center- the person(s) who fight off the mass attackers.
Mass attackers- the group that attacks the center
There are three levels in mass attack that are based on the mass attackers’ angle of attacks.
Level 1- all mass attackers attack with one angle of attack
Level 2- mass attackers use two angles of attack
Level 3- mass attackers use any angle of attack they want
Levels are done so the center understands that the mass attackers can control the center by attacking with certain angles of attack
especially if the center uses the wrong fighter type. As the center goes through the training he learns to use the fighter type needed
depending on the direction he needs to go in.
Different energy levels are also used-
Light- mass attackers feed light and slow to develop the center
Medium- mass attackers feed with a more energy
Hard- mass attackers feed as hard as they can
Mass Attack Strategies- This is the strategies the center will use depending o how the mass is formed as a group..
Mass attack in sequence- center uses small lateral steps to stop mass attackers in a forward rushing line
(as if coming through a doorway). Long enough to body shield.
Fighting the wall- the center uses lateral movement for a short period of time until he can body shield.
Body Shielding- a way the center moves around the attacker by using the last person he engaged as a shield to the rest of the attacker.
Mass Attack Scenarios- this is how Atienza Kali practitioners categorize the different ways that the mass with attack.
Forward rush- the mass attackers attack in one forward rush
Sacrificing the one- one of the mass attackers rushes the center and holds on to him so he can’t use and strategic maneuvers.
Closing circle- the mass attempts to close around the center
Clearing hell- all the mass attackers are skilled Atienza Kali practitioners and FAI the center.
The focus in Atienza Kali always comes back to the mass attack scenario. Even the dueling principles of Atienza Kali
relate back to mass attack. This calls for very mobile footwork and detail use of bladed techniques.
The Atienza Kali curriculum in order to reach the rank of Assistant Instructor level 2:
Atienza Kali long blade
-Basic thin x slash, chop patterns
-hourglass footwork variations
-hourglass and the blade variations
-Atienza Kali long blade evolutions 1, 2
-Evolution RCE isolations
-Evolution mass attack exercise isolations
-Atienza Kali Force Anchor strategy
-Atienza Kali Blade Simulator Exchanges
Atienza Kali hand assistor
-Atienza Kali hand assistor evolution 1,2
-Evolution RCE isolations
-Odd, even zombie exercises
-cross hand parry tapping exercises
-Evolution mass attack exercise isolations
Projectiles
-projectiles as entries in exchanges
-how to prevent telegraphing your throw
Mass Attack
-student goes through basic mass attack exercise isolations
-mass attack scenarios with scenario 1,2 and 3
-mass attack exercises and scenarios with projectile strategies
Basic Combat Analysis Sessions (CAS) for single sword
This is the curriculum that would take the Atienza Kali student to the rank of Assistant Instructor level 2.
Public class, Training group, private students (not in Atienza kali Instructor program)- This is the curriculum allotted for
the public including Official Atienza Kali training groups. The material doesn’t go passed this curriculum unless the student
is part of the Atienza Kali Instructor Program.
The final rank achieved at the end of this curriculum is Assistant Instructor Level 2 (INACTIVE).
The status INACTIVE meaning that the student is not an instructor, not completed the requirements of the AKIP and
is not allowed to officially teach.
Private students- students have an option of taking the curriculum privately without being accepted to the AKIP.
Mainly for students that don’t want to be an instructor but want the advantages of one on one instruction.
Once again, the curriculum stops at the Assistant Instructor level 2.
Atienza Kali Ranking System
Disciple level 1
-Basic thin x slash, chop patterns
-hourglass footwork variations
-hourglass and the blade variations
Single sword evolution 1
Feeder1, feeder2 sequences
Evolution RCE isolations
Mass Attack Isolations
Disciple level 2
Hand Assistor evolution 1
Feeder1, feeder2 sequences
-Evolution RCE isolations
-Odd, even zombie exercises
Mass Attack Isolations
Intro to projectiles
Disciple level 3
Single sword evolution 2
Feeder1, feeder2 sequences
Force anchor strategy
Assistant Instructor level 1
Hand assistor evolution 2
Feeder1, feeder2 sequences
Cross parry tapping
Evolution RCE isolations
Mass Attack Isolations
Assistant Instructor level 2
-mass attack scenarios with scenario 1,2 and 3
-mass attack exercises and scenarios with projectile strategies
Basic Combat Analysis Sessions (CAS) for single sword
end of public class\training group curriculum
Assistant Instructor level 3
Assistant Instructor level 4
Instructor 1
Instructor 2
Instructor 3
Instructor 4
Full Instructor
Chief Instructor
The curriculum for the AKIP will be on the members’ forum.