Pananjakman: The Filipino Art of Low-Line Destruction

Pananjakman is the low-line kicking component of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA). Focused on damaging the legs, knees, shins, groin, and feet, it is a practical and brutal approach to unbalancing, disabling, and dismantling an attacker from the ground up.

What Makes It Unique?

Unlike high flashy kicks, Pananjakman is all about speed, subtlety, and destruction. Kicks are fast, concealed, and launched during hand trapping or striking. This keeps the attacker overwhelmed and destabilized while setting up further attacks.

Core Features

• Low-Line Targeting: Groin shots, knee obliques, shin smashes, and ankle kicks are used to break structure and induce pain.
• Deceptive Delivery: Most kicks come from the lead leg and are hidden behind hand strikes, making them hard to detect.
• Destructive Intent: Every strike is designed to cripple or drop the opponent—not just score a point.
• Seamless Integration: Pananjakman flows with Panantukan (dirty boxing), Dumog (grappling), and weapon transitions for total combat efficiency.

Paul Vunak’s Application

In the Rapid Assault Tactics system, Pananjakman is often the very first shot fired—a quick, explosive kick to the groin or shin that breaks rhythm and sets up the rest of the onslaught. It’s not about fighting fair—it’s about surviving and dominating in real-world encounters.

Conclusion

Pananjakman is fast, ruthless, and functional. It gives you the ability to control the fight from the ground up, attacking the opponent’s foundation while you overwhelm them with strikes. As part of a complete self-defense system, Pananjakman is an essential skill you can’t afford to ignore.