The Striking Door Technique Explained

The striking door technique or in Hiligaynon (an Ilongo dialect) is called Hanot-puerta. Hanot means strike and puerta means door. This unique system of striking was developed by Grand Master Gregorio “Awas” Soldevilla, a resident of Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines. He is now 81 years old. GM Awas has taught arnis for many years. He has students from all walks of life: priests, doctors, military men, lawyers and many ordinary people who want to know his unique style of Eskrima. He has also experienced teaching Arnis in Guam. In fact all his children practice Arnis even his son who is now a Roman Catholic priest serving in the province of Antique in Western Visayas, Philippines.

When he taught us his style, I was really amazed by the simplicity and effectiveness of the striking door technique. He really mastered his style! We in CASASAI are really blessed to know him and letting us to learn his skills and for giving us the authority to continue sharing his knowledge and skills in Arnis.

The striking door technique is a technique patterned from the movement of the door. So the practitioner should imagine the cane as the door. GM Awas is an experienced fighter. He has tested his skills in real fight and he never shunned challenges. One time GM Awas was attacked by sixteen people when he tried to settle the two groups who were fighting during their Barangay fiesta. In Hiligaynon (native dialect of Iloilo), “Awas” means missing the target. He has earned that nickname maybe because he is hard to hit. He just simply used his Arnis skills to rout his opponents. Most of his attackers during that incident landed in the hospital. GM Awas has a very strong grip too. At the age of 81 though he is not in good physical condition anymore he can make u kneel down or make you lie flat on the floor if he applies his empty hand locking techniques.

His refined striking techniques are composed of only three strikes. The Sera or closing the door strike, the trangka, or locking the door strike and the bwelta or bouncing the door strike. These three strikes can be applied as blocking or striking techniques. It can be used against any angle of strikes. The initial position of the baston or cane is in the abierta or open door position. The sera is an inward strike usually done horizontally but it can also be delivered diagonally downward or upward. The trangka is delivered from a close door position in a downward circular vertical motion aimed to the centerline of the opponent. The bwelta is delivered from an open door position. The motion is like a bouncing door. It begins and ends as an open door. The strike is actually a reverse diagonal circular strike and can be aimed to any part of the body of the opponent.

In the first picture above is Grand Master Gregorio “Awas” Soldevilla (right) with the Author Master Guru Mel O. Balberde. In the second picture, Grand Master Gregorio received a plaque of recognition as one of the Grand Masters of Eskrima in Panay during the CASASAI launching program held in SM City, Iloilo.

One Response to “The Striking Door Technique Explained”

|

1. marga says:

   August 19, 2008 at 6:13 am

   I hope you include here the striking effect of Arnis. Thanks

   Reply

|