Why/How fighting?

A Malaysian fighting kite is highly manouverable. It has no tail and can be moved sideways or up and down at will. The string used for flying it, has been specially treated. It is an elaborate process using a secret concoction of glue and powdered glass on a line (No: 40 or 60 Anchor).

The attacking kite is flown from a location upwind of the target. As the kite swoops down out of the sky, its line intercepts the target's line. At the instant of contact (or slightly before that) the attacker's line is allowed to move at speed forward across the target line, acting like a saw, thus cutting his line. The victim's kite floats away free and is picked up by any one waiting some distance down wind (finders/keepers!).

Participants consists of two groups. Those with kites and those without. I remember the exciting time we had as children waiting down wind and running after the kites. The older children flying the kites are equally excited about winning! The winner is the kite left flying after an "encounter" with an opponent in the sky.

adding the rice paper

Stick the frame to a piece of rice paper using sticky tape and glue. Remove all extra material with a box cutter and ruler.

List of materials required

1. bamboo (2 sections, tembiang)
2. ball of thread (No: 8 or 10 Anchor, 100M)
3. Swiss army knife or any sharp pen knife.
4. scissors or box cutter
5. rice paper or thin plastic bag.
6. Scotch tape
7. glue
8. marker pen
9. ruler
10. plastic fishing reel

preparing the bamboo

Dry the bamboo for a week in the sun and split it into thin strips using a chopper or parang. Select a straight piece and whittle it into a circular shape as shown in the photo.

Prepare the vertical piece. It must be strong enough to withstand strong winds. Tie the two pieces together to form a cross. Complete the frame as shown with strains to support the paper(aerodynamically balanced and forming an aerofoil shape).

Adding the plastic to frame

Stretch a piece of plastic (or rice paper) on a table using sticky tape. Place the bamboo frame on it and secure it using Scotch tape along the vertical rib and all the corners. Tape all round the edge (4 sides) and also at intersections of the threads. Cut off excess materials using a box cutter. Be careful and use a cutting pad under the plastic to protect your dining table!

The teraju

The secret of making a kite that flies, lies in the teraju, the loop tied from the bottom of the kite to the crossing point of the bamboo and the final placement of the knot. Of course it is assumed that the kite is light, aerodynamic and also well balanced!

Making a fighting kite

The stages in making a Malaysian fighting kite:
1. raw bamboo whole unsplit stalk (2 sections)
2. split into pieces
3. 2 pieces required. Whittle one piece into shape (part of a circle) and the other into the vertical backbone (strong but not too heavy)
4. tie the frame, (refer photo)
5. stick on the rice paper (or thin plastic) with sticky tape or glue
6. add teraju loop (most critical part)
7. control (kerotok and side manuvour)
8. trouble shooting
9. glassed lines (fighting technics)

You will also need the following items:
Swiss army knives (or any sharp pen knives will do), marker pen, measuring tape, scissors, cellophane tapes, rice paper or large plastic bags, box cutter, cutting mat, teraju lines, fishing hand reel, No:8 line or stronger (crochete) sand paper.

I will need to divide the lessons into 2 parts: theory and practical to cover the reasons why a kite flies, aerodynamics, balance, weight, optimum line size for fighting kites, reels etc