Kuntao (
) is a Hokkien term referring to martial arts practiced by the Chinese community of Southeast Asia — arts which have been influenced to one degree or another by silat. The words kuntao, chuan fa, and kenpo are often translated as "fist way" or "way of the fist". Unfortunately, the word "way" adds a Zen implication that does not really help convey the meaning of the word kuntao or its usage to Westerners.
The literal translation of "kun tao," is "a game played with the hands" and "rule" or "law." Taken together, one can say that it means, "rules of a game played with the hands," but that is still confusing. To define kuntao we really need to look at how the word is used.
Kuntao is used to describe combatants so perhaps a "game played with the hands by combatants" could essentially mean "boxing rules" or "boxing principles." While that definition is closer to the intended meaning of the word, it still does not clearly describe how the term is used. That is because of our Western experience with boxing.
In the West, we use the term "boxing" to describe what happens in a boxing ring where the combatants wear padded gloves and strike with clenched fists. But those who know Asian martial arts understand that they are not so limited. To them, kuntao refers to fighting with no such restrictions.
The best definition of kuntao, and one that works well from both Eastern and Western perspectives, is "fighting principles" — that is the principles of fighting, adopted physical rules of motion or methods trained for effective application in combat. No limitations by fist, rules, or the vaguer "way" — again, just "fighting principles."
The following picture is from a film of the Balinese Perguruan Kun Thau Pusat school in Denpasar, Indonesia (taken in the 1970's by the late Thea Verschuur). Although the scripted character for the Chinese tao (the second character) in the school banner is tougher to recognize than its formally printed character above, they are, indeed, the same. Further, the picture shows that the highlighted Chinese characters are recognized and even translated in Southeast Asia as koontow (what we know as kuntao).
