Thunder Meets Earth

Thunder Meets Earth is a two person fighting form, using the 28" rattan sticks common to Arnis. This is actually the last of five stick fighting forms in the Iron Crane Dojo. Our tutelage in the stick fighting arts commences with mastery of the basic strikes, and blocks. Phase II is mastery of the advanced strikes, and disarms. Phase III requires mastery of complex movement and development of flow. In Phase IV the student extends concepts of flow and adapts complexity of movement to using two sticks simultaneously. Phase V is combat. Each of the Phases culminates with a Kata (they are more usually referred to as "Anyo", acknowledging the Filipino influence). So...learning "Thunder Meets Earth" means you've completed Phase V of your training, and have the requisite skills for combat training.

The form integrates concepts from many styles of Arnis, but also gives acknowledges the Asian sword arts of Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, and Indonesia. Specifically, it includes the Single and Double Sinawali drills common to virtually all systems of Arnis, with the entire middle section inspired by the twin sword arts found in Korea, China, and Southeast Asia. Though the form appears almost improvised in its flow, it is in fact executed to a strict measure of counts and beats. Understanding the "Beat" and "Rhythm" of movement is the essence of weapons fighting, with the greatest masters learning to execute entirely between the beats, when there is nothing to impede their movement. (An instructional video is available on this form. )

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