Kailukuan School of indigenous science

The Kailukuan School of Indigenous Science was founded with the objective of preserving and propagating the combat and healing traditions from Northern Luzon, particularly of the Kailukuan (Ilocano) region. This includes their sciences, spiritual practices, and hands on application in order to raise the skills and consciousness for generations to come.

Kailukuan Combat & Healing Arts is a physical school location and retail shop in Walnut CA. We hold daily classes in the Kailukuan style of combat and healing, as well as specialty immersive workshops with experts and guest teachers from around the world.

4 levels to mastery

Kailukuan: Combat and Healing Arts of Northern Luzon (KCHA) was conceptualized in 2020, followed by the physical school that was established in 2021 in Walnut, California. The school offers a full curriculum consisting of 11 levels of instruction, namely:  

  • Rugi a Tukad (Beginner Levels 1-3) 

  • Tengnga a Tukad (Intermediate Levels 4-6) 

  • Sakbay a Tukad (Advanced Levels 7-9) 

  • Didyo/Panagsanay Manursuro (Practitioner/Teacher Training) 

  • Sangkabagi (Mastery Level) 


The curriculum is based on varying levels following, which lead to the mastery of the entire system as a whole: 

1) Didya Mudgara Warrior Club Calisthenics, 

2) Didya ‘Kabarwanan, and 

3) Ablon Manual Medicine

Didya Mudgara Warrior Club Calisthenics 

Didya Mudgara is the art of swinging wooden clubs for calisthenic purposes, in order to uplift the physical wellbeing of each practitioner who learn the interrelation between the combat and healing arts. A pair of Indian clubs are used as the tools that are held in Dumadangadang (warrior) postures and swung in a similar manner when handling weapons in the art of Didya ‘Kabarwanan (escrima of Northern Luzon). These clubs are also used in physical rehabilitation to help patients increase flexibility and range of motion, develop eye-hand coordination, and to encourage the balancing of the left and right hemispheres of the brain.  

 

Didya ‘Kabarwanan 

The combat art of Didya ’Kabarwanan is based on various escrima weapon styles from the Kailukuan region of Northern Luzon. Emphasis is placed on unique body mechanics for power development, thus giving practitioners the capability to manipulate long and heavy wooden sticks, bolos, and balila (sword clubs). The movements learned also act as a foundational structure for Ablon manual medicine and Didya Mudgara. 

 

Ablon Manual Medicine 

Ablon (known as Hilot by other ethnolinguistic groups) is a traditional Iluko hands-on form of healing used by folk healers and expert practitioners of the combat arts. It includes the evaluation, treatment, and care for clients dealing with issues on physical, mental, and spiritual planes. It is based on natural laws governing the human body by using spiritual, physiological, psychological, and mechanical methods. Ablon is a healing methodology that is holistic, taking into account distinguishable human qualities or characteristics that have an influence on each other. In a clinical setting, Ablon is applicable in physical rehabilitation or for general maintenance.