Yaw-Yan,also calledSayaw ng Kamatayan(English:Dance of Death),[1]is aFilipino martial artdeveloped by Napoleon A. Fernandez and based on older Filipino martial arts.[2] Since its inception in the 1970s, it has dominated the kickboxing scene in the Philippines and has proven very effective against other stand-up fighting arts[citation needed].
| Also known as | Sayaw ng Kamatayan, Dance of Death, Filipino Martial Art |
|---|---|
| Focus | Hybrid |
| Country of origin |  Philippines |
| Creator | Napoleon A. Fernandez. Orlando Boy A. Fernandez Sr, |
| Famous practitioners | Alvin Aguilar,Eduard Folayang,George Estregan,Ruben Sumido,Robin Padilla |
| Parenthood | Boxing,Muay Thai,Panantukan,Jeet Kune Do,Japanese martial artsparticularlyJudo,Jujutsu,and two styles of karate:Shotokan Karate,andKyokushin Karate |
Yaw-Yan closely resemblesMuay Thai,but differs in the hip-torquing motion as well as the downward-cutting nature of its kicks,[3]and the emphasis on delivering attacks from long range (while Muay Thai focuses more onclinching).
Yaw-yan practitioners participate in various Filipino mixed-martial arts tournaments such as theUniversal Reality Combat Championship[4]and Fearless Fighting.[5][6]
History
editThe originator of Yaw-Yan is Napoleon A. Fernandez or "Master Nap",[7]a native ofQuezon province,who originally studiedJujutsu.[8]The wordYaw-Yanwas derived from the last two syllables ofSayaw ng Kamatayanmeaning "Dance of Death".[9]
Fernandez had a background in various martial arts such asJeet Kune Do,Karate,Eskrima,Aikido,andJudo.He is said to have modified all the martial art forms that he studied and fused them to create a martial art form that is deadly to opponents and "advantageous to the build of Filipinos".[10]Yaw Yan was introduced to the public in 1972. It includes elements of striking, takedowns, grappling, stick and knife fighting, and additional kickboxing material.[11]
It reflected the growing popularity ofKickboxingduring the 1970s to 1980s,[12]and from the 1990s to theMixed martial artsin the Philippines as well as worldwide.[13]
Training
editWithboxingbeing the base of the martial art, Yaw-Yan practitioners normally cross train boxing withMuay Thai.Being a modern martial art, local gyms often offer classes and training programs for the martial art. The forearm strikes, elbows, punches, dominating palms, and hand movements are empty-hand translations of the bladed weapons.[14] There are 12 "bolo punches"which were patterned from traditional Filipino martial art ofeskrima.[15][16][17]The body conditioning is similar to Muay Thai and boxing, and it is common to see a Yaw-Yan practitioner shadowboxing with weights and warming up by using heavy bags for striking.
References
edit- ^"Yaw Yan, The Philippine Dance of Death".Inside Kung Fu magazine.Vol. 9, no. 11. November 1982.
- ^Crudelli, Chris (2008).The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Skills from Around the World.Penguin. p. 187.ISBN9780756651855.Retrieved3 September2019.
- ^Crudelli, Chris (2008).The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Skills from Around the World.Penguin. p. 187.ISBN9780756651855.Retrieved3 September2019.
- ^Mallari, Perry Gil S. (2007-07-15)."The thrill of the UR CC X".The Manila Times.Archived fromthe originalon 2008-01-11.Retrieved2008-01-30.
- ^"Amurao bags Fearless Fighting featherweight crown".The Manila Times.2007-03-18. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-01-11.Retrieved2008-01-30.
- ^"Wushu bets dominate Fearless Fighting".Manila Bulletin.2006-04-16. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-09-11.Retrieved2008-01-30.
- ^"Yaw-Yan 'Texas' opens new gym in Tondo, Manila".Sun.Star Cebu. 2007-07-08. Archived fromthe originalon February 26, 2008.Retrieved2008-01-29.
- ^Yaw Yan, 2011January 17, 2009, accessed March 20, 2011
- ^"Yaw Yan Ardigma Filipino Martial Arts • Martial Arts Nerd".Martial Arts Nerd.26 January 2018. Archived fromthe originalon September 3, 2019.Retrieved3 September2019.
- ^Maglinte, Lemuel P."Legendary Yaw-Yan founder GM Nap Fernandez passes away | The Freeman".philstar.com.PhilStar.Retrieved3 September2019.
- ^"Yaw-Yan | Hybrid FMA".Archivedfrom the original on August 26, 2018.Retrieved3 September2019.
- ^Anderson, Corey (1 August 2019).Kumusta, Philippines.Cherry Lake.ISBN978-1-5341-4948-9.Retrieved1 June2022.
- ^Wiley, Mark V. (20 December 2011).Filipino Martial Culture.Tuttle Publishing.ISBN978-1-4629-0347-4.Retrieved1 June2022.
- ^"About Yaw-Yan – Yaw-Yan ArDigma Sacramento".Retrieved3 September2019.
- ^Journals, Martial Arts (2018).Yaw Yan Training Journal: For Training Session Notes.Amazon Digital Services LLC - Kdp Print Us.ISBN9781731238719.Retrieved3 September2019.
- ^Crudelli, Chris (29 September 2008).The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Skills from Around the World.Penguin. p. 187.ISBN9780756651855.Retrieved3 September2019.
- ^Daan, Eskabo (October 24, 2013)."Yaw-Yan: The Dance of Death".BakitWhy.Retrieved3 September2019.