Kuntao
Kuntao (untaw) is a Hokkien (a Fujian dialect) term for martial arts created by the Chinese community of Southeast Asia, particularly the Malay Archipelago. Written as 拳道, its literal meaning is "way of the fist", the word kuntao more accurately translates as fighting art, but its pronunciation is unique as it reflects the mixture of Chinese dialects found in immigrant Chinese communities that maintained the art. "Quan Tao" in northern Mandarin or "Kun Do" in southern Cantonese, Kuntao is an art that attempts to bring together the styles of the North and South under one school. Although it is most commonly practiced in Indonesia among the Chinese Indonesian communities, styles of kuntao are also practiced in Singapore, Malaysia (especially Borneo) and the Philippines where Chinese martial arts were brought by merchants, labourers and other settlers from south China. The styles had to be adapted to different terrain, competing against local styles and fighting with local weapons. Many if not most styles of kuntao have incorporated techniques from silat and some forms even changed their name from "kuntao" to "silat". Styles that combine both kuntao and silat together are sometimes called kuntao silat.
Kuntao was once practiced in secrecy and passed down through families. It was kept hidden not only from non-Chinese but also from people of differing clans. Although a few non-Chinese in Southeast Asia are known to have historically learned kuntao, this only became widespread in the latter half of the 20th century. Old styles of kuntao are today considered by some to be "true" Chinese martial arts because they predate the Shaolin Temple's destruction.
With the advent of Mixed Martial Arts in the United States, the art has begun to approach mainstream dissemination. Even so, few traditional kuntao schools exist in the States today and it is little known in the West.
Styles
Both northern and southern Chinese martial arts are represented in kuntao, but the majority of systems originate from the same southern states as the Southeast Asian Chinese communities who practice them. Fujian, Shandong, Kongfu and Guangdong styles dominate. Some systems were directly imported from China and underwent little or no changes, such as Pakua (baguazhang or eight-trigram palm) and Peh-ho (baihequan or white crane fist). Among the most common of these are Saolim (Shaolinquan), Ngochokun (wuzuquan or Five Ancestors fist), and Thaikek (taiji). Other styles may be a conglomeration of several different schools resulting from the supposition that they had to adapt to the Southeast Asian weapons and environment. The sanchian form is a common fundamental to all major styles of kuntao.
Kuntao angin or silat angin (meaning "wind kuntao/silat") was founded in 1977 by Yap Mat from Kedah, Malaysia by combining seni gayong with the knee and elbow strikes of tomoi (Muay Thai), the hand techniques of Wing Chun and the energy drills of yiquan. It is known for its deceiving circular attacks and nerve point manipulations.
Kuntao Silat deThouars was created by Willem deThouars by combining several Indonesian styles of pencak silat and kuntao.
Malabar Kuntao Silat was created by Steve Gartin, a student of Willem de Thouars. It is basically Kuntao Silat de Thouars formulated into a more structured learning approach. The final transmission of this form, including both the external and internal skills, is sometimes called American kuntao silat.
Liu Seong Kuntao was created by Willem Reeders based on his studies in Indonesia.