Warrior Tipon-Tipon Spring 2025

Name: Warrior Tipon-Tipon Spring 2025
Start: 2025-03-15T12:00:00-07:00
Location: Blackbird Training Group

Schedule

Sat, 15 Mar, 2025 at 12:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

Blackbird Training Group | Richland, WA

Q: What is the Warrior Tipon-Tipon?
The term “Tipon-Tipon” is from the Illongo dialect for “Gathering” and represents the hosting schools connection to the Filipino culture of weapon based martial arts. However, this is intended as a meeting of like minded weapon based martial artists who are meeting in a venue designed to improve their skills through simulated combat and is designed to be open to participants of a variety of martial arts such as Kobudo, Krabi-Krabong, Kali, Arnis, Escrima, Kenjutsu, historical European martial arts, etc.
Taking our cue from the Dog Brothers (and indeed using some of their phrases) this is how things will be done; this is not a tournament, there are no drawings for pairs, no record of a win or loss, no progression to find a champion, no referees, no judges, no trophies, no prize money. Each fight is purely for the experience, the challenge against the skill of the opponent and the mental challenge of dealing with the fear of the fight.
These are NOT challenge matches there is no room in this venue for ego based school/system/style competition. All fighters are expected to keep an attitude of friendship and respect with the other fighters, fighters who cannot do this will be required to leave the event.
Q: What is the goal of the Warrior Tipon-Tipon?
The goal is that individuals who participate get to challenge their physical skills and to overcome the mental obstacles that come with this type of contest. The organizers intend this and future events to be an introduction to full contact weapon fighting.
Q: Do you actually fight with sticks?
Yes, the most common stick is rattan which provides a more safe fighting experience. Rattan sticks are the standard. The size of the rattan used is agreed upon between participants. Generally the minimum is ¾ inch for a light rattan stick up to 1 ¼ inch for a heavy stick. Additional sticks of various sizes will be on hand for participants who do not have any.
Rattan staffs are generally restricted to 1 inch for safety of the participants, but again, that is up to the participants to make that decision for themselves.
Training blades:
Simulated knife fights are an option in this venue. Plastic, aluminum, or steel training knives are acceptable upon agreement of the participants. We will require a decent rounded tip on the blade, sharp points have a tendency to damage the mats and impaling someone falls under the category of "breaking people," we are trying to avoid that.
Other training weapons
Steel training swords, padded sticks, shinai, bokken, tonfa, polymer tomahawks, nunchaku, bucklers, etc are all permitted upon agreement of the participants of a particular match.
Q: What can fighters do in these matches besides using weapons?
In most matches punches, kicks, elbows, knees, and grappling are permitted in addition to weapon use. Participants of a particular match can agree to restrict a match to weapon only, standing only, or similar.
Q: What are the list of rules?
At the heart of this event is the idea that we are testing each other but not trying to break each other. So gouging someone’s eye is an attempt to break as would throwing a full power headshot at a guy who has lost his headgear. Folding a guy’s knee backwards with a sidekick or going for the “snap” rather than submission on an armbar all fall within this same category. Without exhaustively listing one hundred and ten rules in here about what is OK and not OK, the general caveat of “we want to be friends at the end of the day” applies.
Q: How are fights stopped?
A fight can be stopped at any time by a participant tapping out or verbally indicating surrender.
The Ringmaster can stop a fight if a participant isn’t intelligently defending himself.
In the case of simulated knife matches, the Ringmaster can call a match on the account of “death” of one or more of the participants.
Most matches are expected to be self-called by the participants to acknowledge good shots. We are not fighting for a trophy or prize, acknowledging a good shot makes us better.
The Ringmaster will call the fight to an end at the end of 2 minutes.
Q: What kind of protective equipment is used?
These are guidelines and only represent the minimum recommendation, if fighters think they need more then they are free to wear more.
Headgear: This is generally a light armor venue, in every sporting event the armor and equipment changes how fighting is conducted and we are trying to minimize those negative impacts. Heavy, highly protective helmets tends to allow fighters the confidence to lead with the head and to take a head hit to give a good hit or to crash and grapple, we want to maintain the habits needed in a real fight to protect the CPU. The standard headgear is a fencing mask, masks should be in good condition. There will be extra masks on hand for participants who do not have any.
Handgear: Recommended protective gear for the hands is something similar to lacrosse gloves. Though participants may choose to go lighter if they wish to do so. Extra lacrosse gloves will be on hand for participants who do not have any.
Groin protection: Just wear it, you may not think you want kids (or more kids) but we want you to continue to have the option.
Other gear:
Mouthguard: Dental work is expensive, mouthguards are cheap, highly recommended.
Additional protective gear is up to the comfort level of the participant, we would encourage fighters to go as light as possible given the weapon category. Heavier gear is wise when looking at the potential of damage from polymer or steel training swords or similar more dangerous weapons.
Q: How are matches arranged?
Matches are made by any two participants. It is up to the participants to find partners for fights. Matches can be between paired weapons, knife vs. knife, single stick vs single stick, etc. or mixed such as jo vs. double stick.
Q: How much does this cost?
$15 for participants.
Date: March 17, 2024
We will start at 12:00 and go until 3:00. After which the plan is to relocate to a local restaurant to get some food and compare bruises and swap stories.
Q: What if I have even more questions?
Please contact:
Lamont Glass 206-612-3044
or
Jim Epperly 509-528-1279