Rankings & Training Paths

The ranking system

• Cun Tao – Beginners
• 1st Degree White Belt
• 2nd Degree White Belt (1st stripe)
• 3rd Degree White Belt (2nd stripe)
• Third Phase Interview
• White Sash
• Gold Sash
• Blue Sash
• Green Sash
• Brown Sash
• Black Belt – 1st through 5th Degree

What Training Looks Like at Each Level

Cun Tao (self-defense) is your first phase of training. Beginning students wear white which shows purity and humility. In Cun Tao, you learn self-defense skills, basic animal movement, kids, punches, parries, and forms. You will also learn rolling, falling and a series of over 100 quick releases or “holds” which can be used to defend against both empty-handed attacks and weapon attacks including guns, knives, and clubs. Once the holds are mastered, promotion is made to Third Phase training.

In Third Phase fighting, practitioners learn joeroes (combinations of strikes) from all four animals, along with the internal development of the spirit of each one. More advanced students train the spirit of the Naga – the Indonesian Dragon. Third Phase students learn Lunkas to train the high to low movements as well as basic footwork of the animals. Sets combine animal joeroes and fighting techniques and style. Kumbongs combine the magical components of each individual’s fighting style. At every level, students create their own Kumbongs, developing movement that suits their style of fighting and reflects their love and devotion to the art.

FAQ 

About our Art

The Art of Poekoelan Tjimindie Tulen

Poekoelan is an Indonesian word which means “a series of blows with returning hands and feet.” Tjimindie means “beautiful flowing waters.” Tulen means “original”. Together, this describes the movements of this complete martial art, which flows gracefully and is effective in both combat and healing. The art is symbolized by the flexible, supple, yielding bamboo and an individualistic beautiful rose that has thorns to protect itself. These symbols are set upon a black background which signifies the mysteries of our art.

The System’s movements

…are of a nature akin to water and bamboo, fluid and circular, spiraling and continuous, graceful and whip-like. Movements are derived from four animals: the tiger, the crane, the monkey, and the snake. The use of these animals provides a set of dynamic dualities: soft/hard, fast/slow, small/large, fierce/playful, circular/angular and high/low. All of this is combined with a meditative dance-like form called the “crawl”, a movement that is completely unique to each practitioner.

Martial techniques for self-defense are joined with breath and energy for a union of the body and mind. The purpose is to waken and connect with the body, seek clarity of self and learn to strengthen, protect and secure the human spirit core by developing calm, compassion and a high level of internal energy. The advanced levels of training in the art inspire the student to develop not only physical skills but mental and spiritual skills as well. The three advanced phases of the system are White Dragon, Silver Dragon, and Gold Dragon.

Students begin by bowing with empty hands and open minds to our teachers. The cleansing spirit of the art pours through them, and with each step, it washes and purifies them. The training drum rhythms guide the students to their own movement. To fully understand the essence of training, students are encouraged to “accept, breathe, flow, and not be concerned with outcomes.” Compassion-based Poekoelan offers a calm and fluidly beautiful art of self-protection and cultivation of the inner spirit.

The Four animals

In the Third Phase fighting, practitioners learn joeroes (combinations of strikes) from all four animals, along with internal development of the spirit of each one. Each student learns to combine elements of all four animals to create the Naga ( Naga Means Dragon in Indonesian).

Crane

From the crane (blekok) we get aerial and multiple kicking techniques, knee parries, and wingtip strikes. From the crane, we also learn to appreciate stillness, a quiet mind, and a breath of fresh air. We learn balance, tranquility, and calm from this elegant animal.

Tiger

From the Tiger (matjanan), we learn that anything you can do in the air you can do on the ground. We get rolling, low kicks, rakes, elbow, and knee strikes. Most self-defense situations end up on the ground making this practice so important.

Body weapons

A Poekoelan practitioner learns powerful protective and defensive moves. The student learns to hit – and hit hard. Most areas of the body can be used to strike an assailant if need be. We call these “Body Weapons”.

the Meaning of the Patch

“My Body is My Weapon” explains that we don’t need to walk through life with a weapon in hand because we carry the ability to protect ourselves without. The red outline of the hand illustrates the “empty open hands” concept of our art: to use what we have learned from a a place of strength and reconciliation using physical defense only as a last resort. The words Judo, Kenpo, Chuan Fa (Kung Fu), and Karate demonstrate the integration of the arts which have influenced Poekoelan. The dragon, or “Naga” in Indonesian, is symbolic of the way the animal movement comes together in our art. This patch was a collaboration between Willy Wetzel, who brought the art to the US from Indonesia, and his wife, Gerry Wetzel in the 1950s.