SUNTUKAN is not a sport, but rather a form of weaponized boxing for street-oriented fighting and self-defense. A blend of martial arts which mainly consists of upper and lower body movements using punches, open hand striking, elbows, headbutts, shoulder strikes limb destructions. All of this is used in conjunction with kicking aspects of Filipino Fighting which includes low-line kicks, tripping and knee strikes to the legs, hips, shins, and groin. Some of the unique moves would include elbow blocking sets, bolo hand strikes, and evasive countermeasures.

Motto: of SUNTUKAN is Elbows, Knees, and Attitude. We learn the rules of combat like professionals so we can break them like an artist.

SUNTUKAN is not a technique but instead a combative science. It is about fully being aware in the moment. Attempting to access and make use of memorized skills will certainly fail in the context of CUENTADA because your opponent will be changing the circumstances constantly, and you will be doing the same in return. In a sense, you will both be playing keep-away. Neither of you will do anything that will provide any opportunity or advantage to the opponent unless you are baiting him so you can then counter him and finish it. As opposed to every other drill in the art, and practice of CUENTADA, the main objective is to survive and the one who survives does so by being better at it. Hence, it is a pure test of attitude and combative skill.

SUNTUKAN is designed to allow for an unarmed practitioner to engage in both armed and unarmed situations and can easily integrate the use of weapons like knives, palm sticks, and other impact weapons. These weapons can render SUNTUKAN’S techniques fatal without fundamentally changing how the techniques are executed. The uniqueness of weapons tends to be small, concealed, and unobtrusive. Therefore, the practice of the art of SUNTUKAN attempts to minimize contact with the opponent because it is not always known if the opponent is armed, with either knives or any other weapon which are often used in fights, and street attacks. It is important to point out that deflections and parries are always preferred over “block” and prolonged grappling.

SUNTUKAN is a key component of Arnis, Eskrima and Kali and is believed to have evolved from the latter. It is theorized to have evolved from the Filipino weapons fighting because in warfare, unarmed fighting is usually a method of last resort and used when the combatants are too close in proximity (like trapping and grappling range) or have lost their weapon.

CUENTADA is the core and apex of the SUNTUKAN Martial Arts. Which uses the five options of combative actions. Which are Offend, Defense, Evade, Counter – Offend and Interception. All five options are done using the Interception Timeline. Turning the situation around by aggressively putting the opponent on the defensive made disarming him significantly easier and more practicable. ALWAYS BE ATTACKING is a hallmark of CUENTADA. That is why they call it fighting. You need to effectively solve whatever problem he creates before he can take the initiative and attack, putting you on the defensive.

SUNTUKAN CUENTADA It’s quite simple. Hit but don’t get hit. Taking the lines and immediately seize control of the opponent’s weapon(s) but do not let him touch your hand or your weapon unless it’s to your advantage to do so which, surprisingly, it often can be, particularly if the opponent doesn’t know what he’s doing, and very few do.

SUNTUKAN CUENTADA is simple and progressive and with intense study you find out every move or action is related and assists you in developing your reflexes and sensitivity of the hands and energy are developed through what was called the feeding process.

SUNTUKAN CUENTADA can be applied to so many forms of martial arts, styles, and systems regardless of origin.

The Kilos Paru Paro Filipino System is the foundational art for the SUNTUKAN CUENTADA, Edged Weapon Dynamics and the Beyond the Blade Concepts initiatives which are all under the auspices of the SMJ Martial Arts Federation.

Tuhon Salvador Moralez Jr.