I’ve been getting a lot of email questions regarding my post about Dumog (Filipino grappling).The majority of these inquiries come from people who are familiar with dumog or jujutsu (Japanese and Brazilian) and are wondering how and what we’re applying from Silat Kuntau Tekpi.I’ll share some thoughts here.
Dumog and jujutsu
Davidson distinguishes the Dumog he learned from the rules and aims of a jujutsu grappling match. He uses Cambod as a term from his own practice and draws a comparison with Japanese jujutsu, while stressing that he is writing from the perspective of the particular schools he has studied.
Jujutsu and Silat Kuntau Tekpi
Davidson credits his Silat Kuntau Tekpi teacher Omar Hakim with shaping his understanding of the Kedah tradition. He contrasts Tekpi with other Malaysian Silat schools such as Sendeng and Lian Padukan, which emphasize different approaches. His account describes a lesson with Hakim that made the differences clearer to him.
Dumog and Silat Kuntau Tekpi
The article closes by returning to the question that prompted it. Although Davidson saw connections between his Filipino and Malaysian training, he regarded the systems as distinct from competitive grappling and cautioned against treating them as interchangeable.