TIBIR: <br>FIGHTING ART OF THE COBRA & THE MONGOOSE

TEMPLE OF THE SEVEN SPHERES

MONGOOSE CIRCLES SERPENT TURNS

THERE IS NOW A TIBIR COMMUNITY ON MSN

KATU
the first posture, we stand like a mongoose

THE SPLIT
One bursts forward striking as the cobra

THE FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURE OF TIBIR:

I. THE WHITE PALM:
The word tibir implies the palm as well as a small knife. As implied by the name this is a palm based method of fighting and takes a gentler approach to self defence.

1A. The Four Strong Tibir (handshapes):
1) turtle hand is cupped with the palm facing the body, it is likened to the turtle's shell
2) carp hand is palm forward and digits spread and liked to the curve of a carp's tail when it turns in the water
3) cobra hand is palm forward with thumb and finger together. It is held at 45 degrees and is likened to a cobra's head and hood
4) swallow hand is palm up and when in motion is likened to the whirling twisting flight of the house swallow

1B. The Four Strong of Tibira (armshapes):
1) auroch, the arms are curved like bull horns
2) scorpion, one arm is arched like the scorpion's tail and the other is held close to the body like his claws
3) ram The fists are raised and the elbows bent, the elbows point forward and down so the arms are shapped like a pair of Ram's horns
4) falcon, the arms are bent at elbow and wrist. The elbows are folded to the body with the palms up, the impression is likened to the way a falcon folds his winds to dive.

1C. The Four Strong Ngir (leg postures):
1) mongoose, the knees-in posture replicated that manner in which 4 legged animals stand upright
2) anzu (roc), the front leg is extended with little weight on it while the rear leg remains bent. It gives the impression of a bird of prey walking
3) leopard, in Assyrian art, the leopard is usually shown stretched along the ground stalking. The leopard legs are the front horse of chinese martial arts (weight over front foot, rear leg out straight)
4) duck, the knees-out / feet-out posture is likened to the splayed feet of a duck as he walks

1D. The Four Strong Ngiri (stepping methods):
1) bear, the steps are made by shifting the hip and catching the weight on the foot. (done in mongoose ngir)
2) rooster The stepping leg reaches out and is placed before shifting the hips forward (thus tranfering the weight to the front foot, done in the Roc ngir)
3) horse, the hips travel forward as the foot steps, the rea leg trails (done in the leopard gnir)
4) gazelle The foot lifts up to the knee before stepping or kicking forward and is likened to the way a walking gizelle lifts its hooves (done with duck ngir)

II. THE RED FIST:
The red fist is a special method of striking, in which the fist is closed at the last second. One who developes this technique can develope devestatingly powerful blow in the distance of one hand length or less.

1A. The Four Strong Tibir (handshapes):
1) eagle, the turtle tibir is rolled over (palm down) and the fist snaps shut, it is liked to the way a eagle snatches a fish from the water
2) moth, the carp tibir rolls over palm up and snaps closed, it the rolls back and opens. The effect is a blur of open and close that is like the fluttering of a moths wings when seen at right in front of your face
3) lion, cobra tibir rolls over (palm up) and snaps shut, it is likened to the way a lion shakes his mane
4) heron, swallow tibir rolls over (palm down) and the middle row of knuckles snap into the target. it is done as the arm falls so it is likened to how a heron strikes down at a fish.

1B. The Four Strong Tibira (armshapes):
1) smiting (bull, this is gust like Auroch above but energy is spreading rather than condensing as in Aurroch
2) ibix this ibix has long sharp curved horns that are saber shaped. in this tibira the arm is arc like the ibex horns and the hand thrusts in the way an ibix gores
3) owl, the elbow in compression strik is done with a short whip of the hip. The arms fold to this position after full extension so it is likened to a owl folding his wings
4) swan, the arms arch like the neck of the swan.

1C. The Four Strong Ngir (leg postures):
1) elephant, still knee in but we turn to one side, in this posture the knees are close. The legs take on the shape of the fron legs of an elephant. Likewise the focus of this posture is downward weight on the front foot and is likened to an elephant leaning into a tree or boulder
2) crab, the sideways stepping psoture it like a crab's motion
3) lioness, this posture with the knees flexed and closed is reminiciant of the seated lioness depicted as a symbol of one of the goddesses
4) stag, the legs open wind with the shape of a jumping roe deer

1D. The Four Strong Ngiri (stepping methods):
1) watch dog, done with elephant gnir this step moves forward in short twisting steps and is likened to an assyrian mastiff sidling forward in a threatening manner.
2) allycat, the twisting shift and step are likened to the way a an ally cat stretches when rubbing against a doorpost or leg
3) cricket, the forward burst and shuffle up of this step is likened to the way a desert cricket hops
4) butterfly, this step is semetrical with knees opening outward and then closing again in the same manner as a butterfly opens its wing and then folds them

III. THE DANCE:
The dance is the form of pre-arranged stepping sequences in tibir. Tibir's form is small compared to many styles of martial arts.

3A. The Dance (steps in sequence):

Positive & Negative (one posture each):
a. Katu (fallen) (an earth posture with the hands lowered)
b. Tebu (rise wind opening) (a wind posture straight up)

The Four Elements (one posture each):
Note: Integration level is integration of upper half of body & lower half of body:
c. Earth (first earth posture, 'stand like mongoose')
d. Water (first water posture 'serpent looks about')
e. Fire (first fire posture 'mongoose stretches along the ground')
f. Wind (first wind posture, 'serpent turns')

The Planets (one posture each):
Note: Each posture is a physical representation of a planetary figure;
while the level of integration is knees, hips, shoulders.
g. Saturn (adad)the unmaker posture (first earth stand like mongoose)
h. Jupiter (enlil) the smiting posture ( mongoose turns right with perfect foot')
i. Mars (nergal) flood and storm posture (first water, serpent looks about')
j. Terra (enki)
k. Moon (nanna)
l. Venus (ishtar)
m. Mercury (nebo)
n. Sun (shammash)

The following are elemental counter-changes: four sets of stepping patterns, each composed of 4 steps, each composed of 2 posture changes. Integration is knees, hips, shoulders, and elbows.

Note: Interpret the list as follows:
earth / fire = earth of fire, and is thus an earth lower body and fire upper body

1.EARTH SERIES:
1) earth / earth
2) water / earth
3) fire / earth
4) wind / earth

2. WATER SERIES:
1) earth / water
2) water / water
3) fire / water
4) wind / water

3. FIRE SERIES:
1) earth / fire
2) water / fire
3) fire / fire
4) wind / fire

4. THE WIND SERIES:
1) earth / wind
2) water / wind
3) fire / wind

The rest is to come soon!

IV. THE GAME

TERMINOLOGY:
ANIMALS OF TIBIR:

DUB: To move in a circular fashion. It is also the word for tablet. All the stances, steps, techniques and sequences in Tibir come from a sequence of binary figures that are said to be the figures on the Tablet of Fate. The Tablet was the sign of true kingship.

DIDI: young a new or basic student
DIDIRIB: Young but acomplished intermediate student
ESHEMEN: (to play) This is the Game to practice practical application.
GI: To besiege, or literally "To circle and descend into."
GILI: A male practitioner (dancer), it means reed bundle or torch.
GUD: (dance) The form
GUR: the turning and circling of a cobra.
GURU: to seperate, to divide, to strike, or hook the neck.

GURAGA: A tibir practice group is called a Guraga. In Sumerian the noun gur means a circle, hoop or gathering; it comes from the root UR, to surround. As a verb it means to bow down, to submit, to curb, to die. Aga is, "the crown of legitimate kingship." Thus, Guraga means: "Circle of the Crown," but it also means "To die for the crown." Furthermore, the entire attitude of the Tibir practitioner is held in a further meaning of Guraga. Gur can mean to measure and too turn; and Aga can mean to place and to do. Thus Guraga is to measure and place, to turn and do. When the Tibir practitioner meets the opponent, they first measure and place; meaning that they gain a sense of the distance from the opponent and how the opponent is moving (measure). They then step to the appropriate place (place), then they turn and do; meaning they twist into the opponent (turn) and emit, strike or push to uproot (do). In addition, Gur means to be endowed with; and Aga also means diadem. The diadem is the great jewel of the heavens: the star Polaris sits at its center, while seven stars range around Polaris; and between them are a series of stars that resemble a serpent biting his tail (called: Ouroborus by the Gnostic). Gur also means 'encircling snake.' The constellation of the diadem is the symbol of Nammu or Babalani the mother of all life; the seven stars are the jewels of her cosmic children (our Sun, Moon, and planets); and the serpent is the body of her fallen foe Katuallu.

The diadem is the sign of the all mother's promises to protect and guide our race. The diadem was granted to those who studied the esoteric and mystical teachings of the Datu. Thus Guraga also is said to mean endowed with the diadem and serpent encircled diadem.

IB: center, angle, nook
IBSI: The center or Tebu line.
KATU, Assyrian for: that which falls, negative energy, outer, lower, darker
KIENEDI: the practice place (lit. place to play/dance)
KU-DA-X: to turn around, into (x), and too transform into (x)
KU-NI-X: to enter (X), and to let enter (x)
KU-SHI-X: to enter the presence of (x)
MAAZ: a female practitioner (dancer); and it also means joyful or exuberant (see GILI)

NGIRI: The steps and stances of Tibir are called NGIRI or NGIR, and it has the following context in Sumerian: Foot, feet, step, trot, path, way, a refuge, and to seek refuge, big knife (sword), thorn or scorpion sting, lightening flash, to pillage or capture, to take away or drive back.

The key to Ngiri is said thus:
Ngiri Ngiri! Put the feet upon the path!
Ngir Ngiri! Take refuge in your steps!
Ngiri Ngir! The sword (leg) is like a lightning flash!
Ngir Ngir! Capture and pillage (their steps), drive them back!

SHENSHEN: block to block (literally, shield to shield)
SHESHBANDA: little brother
SHESHGAL: older brother
SHUDU: to entangle the opponents hands with ones own
SHUSIG: to wave the hands
SHUB: to throw
SHUSHUR: to seize with the hand (seizing)
SIG: a strike or blow, to beat with the hands rhythmically.
TABBA: partner
TAKALAL: to open (literally, to open & too reach
TEBU: Assyrian for: that which rises, light, upper, inner, center, middle.

TIBIR: The martial system, as well as the hand shapes and upper body postures, are called TIBIR or TIBIRA. The word Tibir has the meaning of: Palm, blow, carving knife, to strip or skin something away, to wipe away.

Tibir, tibir! Strike with the palm!
Tibira, tibir! Wipe away (the energy of) the blow!
Tibir, tibira! (as) a carving knife strip away!
Tibira, tibira! Strip away that which wipes away!
The White Palm is the palm, and the Red fist is the small knife.

TUMU (plural tumtumu): cardinal points: North, South,East,West, NE, NW, SE, SW

ULKU: the receiver, the individual being attacked
USAN: whip
USH: venom, spell, spit, spell, charm : the intent behind a technique.
ZAG: boundry, barrier, demarcation of the circumference within which is found refuge (ngir)
ZAGSI: the outside or Katu line.

CONTEMPORARY TERMINOLOGY:

TIMING: The tempo and rhythm, with which you or the opponent move.

Example 1: a stop hit is timed to intercept the opponent's motion and makes impact just prior to the complete release of the opponents energy. I.E.: The opponent steps in while throwing a right hook; the ulku steps in at the same time, blocks the hook, and simultaniously throws a straight right jab into the opponent's face. The hook is slower than the step / jab, so the opponent is hit first.

Example 2: a counter-hit strikes the opponent just after he has exhausted his energy. I.E: the opponent throws a hook kick at high level; the ulku blocks the kick and throws his counter kick to the low level (supporting leg) before the opponent's foot can return to the ground.

ANGLE / VECTORING: The placement of the body in relationship to the opponent, as well as the vector along which the attack or parry moves.

INTERVAL: The distance from the opponent I.E. toe to toe (grappleing/headbutting, knee and elbow strikes) is a short interval. Hand to hand (punching and parrying range) is a middle interval. Step to step (kicking and lunges) is long interval.

RANGE: The reach or distance that a person punches, kicks, steps ect. I.E. grappling, head butts, thigh and shoulder pushes, knee and elbow strikes; as well as standing kicks and sweeps that strike below the knee, are all short range weapons. Punches and parries are middle range weapons. Kicks from the solar-plexus down to just above the opponents knee level, as well as lunge punches and stepping or jumping kicks, are all long range weapons

ACCURACY: aim small, miss small; aim big, miss big.

CONCERNING PRACTICE: It is said that when one emits (strikes) they must be absolutely pure, the strike must not be soiled by improper timing, angle, interval, range, accuracy, foot work, balance, or speed.

Thus is the tragic beauty of purity: Purity is a state free from all flaws save one,purity is soiled by anything it touches that is not one with it. Any deviation from its path of purity of pattern, will result in abberations within the pattern that may be too novel or subtle to overcome.

We must not start with purity, neither should we seek perfection. We must not begin within the impure and the imperfect and try to guide it to perfection.
In a misguided attempt to find perfection and purity, we try to practice perfection; but how can we practice perfection when we are imperfect at the outset of our training? Perfection is a state that is free from boundries. It is not guided or manuevered. It moves appropriately when it moves, and it sits still when it must. Purity and perfection manifest when we have oneness of motion.

Oneness of motion is a state in which we are grounded and centered (earth), relaxed and balanced (Water), resolute (confident) and empowered (fire), and sensitive and aware (wind). It is a state where all action begins as one, moves as one, and continues as one.

Practice allows us to perfect teechniques and principles that are designed to sully the purity of the opponents blow, or to put boundries in place in order to mar his perfection.

With this short-coming to face, all that we can do is to follow a practical approach:

1) Practice a methodology
2) From practice we gain an experience
3) We adjust the methodology to suit the experience and enhance it
4) We practice the experience and set aside the methodolgy.

In this manner we gain the experience of true Tibir bit by bit.