The unarmed arts of the Maori are termed Mamau or Rongomamau, with the arts themselves said to have descended straight from the gods. As fierce warriors, the Maori warred with neighboring tribes before European arrival quite regularly and although they had no shortage of weaponry, these fierce warriors preferred close quarters hand to hand combat. With the world of violence and the world of spirituality existing among the people simultaneously, the warriors were masters of both worlds and began training at a very young age. Strength, resiliency, stamina, and mental fortitude beget the warrior.
Hello and thank you for allowing to be Interviewed for Martial Journal Magazine. I am a historical researcher, martial artist and apprentice in Native American Warrior Arts under Master Danny Hoskins, so the thought of there being a traditional Maori Martial Art really inspires me to learn more. That being said, maybe you can help me to understand a few things. My first question is stereotypical of most of my interviews. I first would love to hear about you, your past and what led you to the martial arts you practice today. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
Kia ora,
My name is Timoti Pahi and I’m the last Umutakarangi (Warrior Healer Priest) of the art Rongomamau.
I am Maori, the native people of Aotearoa (Land of the long white cloud) New Zealand. I was born into a tribe of traditional Maori healers, Ngati Rereahu. Maori are the first nation people of Aotearoa, New Zealand and were colonized by Europeans (Pakeha) from England.
Can you tell us about who taught you this very important and effective art? What is the process for a Maori indigenous martial arts student to become a teacher or master? What did traditional training entail?
My teacher was Papa Hohepa De la mere, who was the Amorangi (High Priest) of Te Whare Ahuru Rongomamau, which is the Traditional Priesthood of Rongomamau.
Rongomamau is traditional Maori grappling art based on the Maori Gods (Atua). In our Purakau (Traditional Stories), the Gods started a war with each other (Paerangi) which threatened to destroy the world. They were fighting each other with their deadly weapons.
Rongo (God of Peace) went to his elder brother Uru-te-ngangana (God of the stars and light) and was given 70 Urupare (Disarming techniques) in order to take away the weapons of the Atua. After disarming each Atua, Rongo commanded each Atua to give him 70 nuaka (techniques) each. The God of Wind and Storms (Tawhirimatea) gave all the throws that lifted the opponent off the ground, the God of the Ocean (Tangaroa) gave all the rolling throws, sweeps.
This continued until all 70 Atua had given 70 moves each. Rongo took all these moves and created the Art Rongomamau-o-te-orangaiti-o-te-Whare Ahuru, the healing grappling of the congregated energy of the Gods.
This knowledge was protected and taught within Te Whare Ahuru Rongomamau.
In 1907, the New Zealand Government established the Tohunga Suppression Act which made it illegal to practice arts like this. This had the effect of arts like Rongomamau going underground, being only taught within the family.
My teacher was taught this knowledge by his great grandfather and the role of Amorangi (High Priest) of Rongomamau was passed onto him.
I was an established Traditional Maori Healer when I met Papa Hohepa, he came to me for healing. After that, we became friends and he accepted me as his only student in Rongomamau. I received the formal traditional training, rituals, and ceremonies and after many tests, I was invested into the priesthood as Umutakarangi (Warrior healer Priest) of Rongomamau.
What does the Maori grappling art look like compared to traditional Western wrestling such as catch-as-catch-can etc?
From my perspective,the movements are obviously Maori, an example would be the haka stance (Parahako) is one of our stances in Rongomamau. Because Rongomamau is based on the movements of different parts of nature, then each movement looks like those parts of nature. E.g. the movements of Te Akaaka Matua (God of Vines) look like vines wrapping around a tree. Because the human body moves in specific ways, then it’s natural that some grappling moves will have the same results but the pathway to get there may be different.
Did the Maori warriors practice weapons work? If so, what kind of weapons?
As I mentioned, Rongomamau originated from disarming the Atua (Gods), so Rongomamau practitioners learn how to disarm all traditional Maori weapons.
Maori have a vast range of long weapons and short weapons, and were well known as extremely dangerous warriors.
Like Lua, I have heard that dance has an important connection to Maori martial arts and fitness. Is this true? Did the Maori have war dances and war games like the Filipino and Native Americans did?
Maori indeed had war dances. One famous one is the haka, this is performed by the All Blacks (New Zealand Rugby Team) before any match.
Rongomamau have specific haka that teach different aspects of the art such as balance, dexterity, correct posture and endurance.
Is there a spiritual side or any special ceremonies related to (Rongomamau)?
Absolutely. Rongomamau was a way to connect with the Atua (Gods) and to raise our spiritual energy. It was a form of body prayer.
Takutaku (Traditional Chants) are an integral part of Rongomamau as they were passed down verbally for centuries and hold a lot of knowledge.
What are some facts about the traditional haka outside of the narrow insight most of us non-Maori have?
The Maori Martial Arts are extremely rare, were once hidden from the public for over one hundred years. The indigenous arts outlawed entirely in New Zealand.
Do you believe it is important for descendants today, even if they have never been exposed to their ancestral culture, to learn the martial arts of their ancestors?
Indigenous Warrior Cultures survived due to their cultural fighting arts, it’s important that these arts are not lost.
I was given the responsibility to take Rongomamau out of the shadows and into the light, and I do this in acknowledgement and aroha (love) for my teacher Papa Hohepa and his whanau (family)
Do you believe Martial Arts are an important part of expressing one’s culture beyond the scope of kicking, wrestling and punching?
Rongomamau is the art of reciprocity. If someone gives you love, then you give love back. If someone gives you bad intentions, then you return that to them and leave nothing for yourself. Our art teaches neutrality and to stay in the now, whether it’s in combat, at work or in your life.
Those of us who are descended from Warrior Cultures must acknowledge that our Ancestors survived because of their warrior arts. They should be respected and remembered as they are part of our cultural legacy.
If you had something to say to all students of Martial Arts, regardless of which art, any wisdom or advice to give, what would it be?
Remember the cultures in which the martial arts you practice were created. It will help understand the historical and cultural context in which your art has descended from.
Thank you for sharing your time, knowledge and insight with Martial Journal. Much respect – Bethany.
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This is an interesting interview. Thanks for posting!
I have a couple concerns.
First, Mr Pahi says:
“In 1907, the New Zealand Government established the Tohunga Suppression Act which made it illegal to practice arts like this. This had the effect of arts like Rongomamau going underground, being only taught within the family.”
I looked up this law. According to Wikipedia, which cites the text of the law, it says:
“The second clause stated that ‘Every person who gathers Maoris around him by practising on their superstition or credulity, or who misleads or attempts to mislead any Maori by professing or pretending to possess supernatural powers in the treatment or cure of any disease, or in the foretelling of future events, or otherwise’ was liable for prosecution.”
Some Māori politicians supported the law and didn’t think it went far enough.
I see how this could interfere with the transmission of martial arts, if the so-called healing aspect was tied so closely to the martial aspect.
The law was repealed in 1962, which is important for the next point.
Second, Mr Pahi says:
“The Maori Martial Arts are extremely rare, were once hidden from the public for over one hundred years. The indigenous arts outlawed entirely in New Zealand.”
This does not make any sense.
For example, you can visit https://www.twttoa.com/ to learn about the “TE WHARE TŪ TAUA O AOTEAROA” or “THE INTER-NATIONAL SCHOOL OF MĀORI WEAPONRY.” This is a group set up in 1983 with the help of Māori politican and academic Sir Peter Sharples (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pita_Sharples).
You can visit https://teara.govt.nz/en/mau-rakau-maori-use-of-weaponry which is a New Zealand-operated encyclopedia to learn about “Mau rākau – Māori use of weaponry.”
Again, Wikipedia isn’t the best reference, but its entry for Mau rākau includes the following:
“Mau rākau is a general term referring to the skilled use of weapons. It is said that the use of weapons was taught in the Whare-tū-taua (House or school of war). The term Mau taiaha is used to refer to the use of the taiaha and does not necessarily include other weapons.
Regular schools are held on Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua to teach the use of the taiaha. Mita Mohi established the Mokoia taiaha wānanga, which had trained more than 11,000 people over more than 30 years, as of 2007,[1] and had reached more than 20,000 people by the time of his death in 2016.”
I’d like to know what Mr Pahi thinks of this.
I’m not Maori, but some basic research reveals a few issues with his depiction of the martial arts situation in New Zealand. It appears to be healthier than what he claims, which is a good thing.
It is ignorant responses like this why sacred Maori arts and knowledge has been kept hidden for many years and not shared with the western world.Using Dr Google or Wikipedia is a prime example of this lack of understanding where Indigenous world view has survived colonization and limited western thinking.
I am a Graduate of Te Whare Tua Taua o Aotearoa School of Maori weaponry which like Te Whare Ahuru is one of many ancient schools that re-surfaced and reclaimed their right to practice traditional fighting and healing art practices. Te Whare Ahuru is a specialized un-armed school of fighting art which is separate to weapons (if you read article). Your research is flawed when it comes to traditional Maori knowledge as 90% of indegenous knowledge is still preserved today is thorough the language, stories, genealogy and blood.
Please don’t quote the Tohunga Suppression act from an ignorant perspective as in our grandparents and parents time this was a devestating time where over the 60 years Maori were beaten, abused and imprisoned for practicing Maori culture and in my generation we still see that after effect on our health, mental health and social disconnection. Your comments are not helpful but confirms your thinking is typical to someone who has limited capability and capacity of an Indigenous healing and fighting arts worldview. The renaissance of traditional Maori fighting and Healing arts should be celebrated and supported by allowing the indigenous narrative and voice.
Kia ora,
I was referring to unarmed martial arts.
Timoti
I would definitely not use Wikipedia as a frame of reference, in this case it is better to listen to the ones who have been taught the art directly, who have first hand knowledge regarding history, culture, language and aspects of the art like Master Pahi has. The art itself is unarmed and the terminology has been passed down from reliable sources and not the internet even if such sites claim to be reliable and of the country of origin. The internet can be more often than not inaccurate. Respectfully, Bethany. 🙂
It seems to me that Mr Pahi is only referring to the unarmed Maori Martial arts.
Mr Pahi is an expert in weapons like the Taiaha as well, and he himself belongs to Te Whare Tu Taua o Aotearoa which you refer to.
Having worked on an an entire expedition with Mr. Pahi, will attest that the unarmed arts are not something that are easily seen even in New Zealand. Rongomomau is an entirely different class of MA, with a very unique expression.
Cheers
Mr Pahi is only referring to the unarmed Maori Martial arts.Mr Pahi himself is an expert in weapons like the Taiaha himself, and he himself belongs to Te Whare Tu Taua o Aotearoa which you refer to.
Having experienced the arts upclose and personal will attest they sre very different systems, and what Mr. Pahi teaches is avery rare
Kia ora uso ,
I just found out about what this is and I’m very interested . Any in chch sorry brother ?
Nga mihi uso
I appreciate how this blog respects and celebrates the cultural heritage embedded in indigenous healing practices. It’s a vital part of our global medical heritage.