The 12 Original Yaw-Yan Bolo Punches
Yaw-Yan has 12 Bolo Punches which were patterned after the movements of the Bolo and Arnis Sticks. With or without the weapon, the striking movements and orientation of the hand never changes whether you hold a bolo/stick or with an empty hand. Here are the 12 Original Yaw-Yan Bolo Punches:
1) Downward – executed like hitting downward with a butt end of a bolo, like hammering with the closed fist.
2) Outside – executed like swinging a bolo from inside of the body to outside, point of contact can be anywhere from forearm ridge to base of closed fist (butt-end side). This variance of Outside Elbow Strike, The Outside Bolo Punch can also be executed as a Turning Outside Bolo Punch, a favorite technique of Yaw-Yan fighters. The added momentum and movement of the hips on Turning Outside Bolo Punch* gives extra knockout power along with its’ unexpected turning move.
* Note: Yaw-Yan’s Turning Outside Bolo Punch has been widely known as one of Yaw-Yan’s signature moves since the early 70s. Oftentimes simply referred to as “Turning”, it eventually became very popular among American servicemen in the Philippines and named it “Spinning Back Fist”. “Turning” is now called in Yaw-Yan Fervilleon as “Roskas”.
3) Inside – executed like swinging a bolo from the outside with a slashing motion towards the inside part, point of contact can be anywhere from forearm ridge to base of closed fist (the butt-end side).
4) Bottom’s up – executed by swinging/slashing upward from inside of the body, point of contact is the butt-end side.
5) Backfist Snap – executed by snapping and retracting your fist. Point of contact is the backside of the closed fist.
6) Inside rolling knuckles – executed with the knuckles rolling inside with a push.
7) Uppercut – executed the same way as the western boxing uppercut.
8) Straight Punch – executed the same way as the western boxing straight punch. A Straight Punch in Yaw-Yan can be thrown as a jab or lead straight punch and as a rear straight punch. In Yaw-Yan, a rear straight punch is not referred to as Crossed-Punch (see punch # 10) but rather a rear straight punch.
9) Upward Punch – executed by punching vertically upward.
10) Crossed Punch – Yaw-Yan Punch #10 referred to as the Crossed Punch or the Horizontal punch in Yaw-Yan, is known as the Hook Punch in Western Boxing. This term confuses a lot of westerners as a Crossed Punch in western boxing is a straight punch thrown with the rear hand; but in Yaw-Yan a Crossed Punch is a Hook Punch.
11) Overhead – executed by tucking your head with your one arm and hitting overhead with another fist. There were 4 variations.
12) Downward Rolling knuckles – executed with the knuckles rolling down with the push.
Some sample of possible Yaw-Yan Bolo Punch combinations:
1) Automatic punches #1 step right – right punch #2 followed by punch #1
2) Left punch #2 followed by right punch #3 (step right as you punch) pivot and turn deliver two-turning punch left and right.
3) Left punches #8 and #10 (same hand) followed by right punch #7.
4) Left punches #10 and #5 (same hand) followed by right punches #10 & #5.
5) Left downward punches #10 & #4 (same hand) followed by right turning punch with stepping.
6) Jabbing (use mestiso punch-semi #8 & #10).
7) Automatic punches #10 left and right.
8) Simultaneous punches #2 & #8.
9) Simultaneous punches #2 & #10.
10) Simultaneous punches # 4 & # 7.
11) Automatic punches #8 left and right, followed by left punch #7.
Practice these punches as a combination. One example is: from left fighting position (left foot forward), left punch #2 delivered on the partner’s right lead hand, side step and followed by right punch #3 on opponent’s face.