User blog comment:Samurai234/Mayan Soldier vs. Igorot Warrior/@comment-112.201.88.184-20120112064513

Filipino warriors never take their eyes off from their opponents. That's the reason why they do not wear armor or are just lightly armored. They prefer speed and mobility.

The three prongs on top of the shield allow them to still see their opponents even though a blow is struck. They were like staying behind a fence. The Moro also have narrow shields (karasak/kalasag). It was like staying behind a mobile tree for protection. The Agong is a small round shield its just like you are blocking the blows with your hands. The Taming is a large round shield but it was not Filipino, it is a hardwood copy of the Arabian steel shield.

Here's my version of a fight between a Mayan and Igorot warrior. Its the last round already with both warriors having used their long range weapons and down to man to man close combat.

The Igorot strategy is to make his opponent loose eye contact during battle. He strikes high with his battle axe and the Mayan blocks it with his shield, at the same time the Mayan warrior blocks his vision. While his opponent is momentarily "blind", the Igorot lunges forward and quickly places his knee between the two lower prongs of his shield. He dips his shield down and entangles the Mayan's legs in the top three prongs of his shield. With his knee as the lever, he moves the shield sideways to take down his opponent. With his legs entangled and the sheer force of the Igorot charge, the Mayan warrior falls down.on his back. Before he can react, the Igorot pins his head by placing his neck in between the two lower prongs of his shield. Now all the Igorot have to do is lay his battle axe flat on his shield and strike it down towards the Mayan's neck. It is already perfectly aligned and the head is chopped off. He then rotates his axe and uses the spike end to impale the severed head then lifts his trophy up with his battle axe. Game over.

BTW, the .45 caliber gun was made to counter the Bolomen of the north and the Moros of the south. The Igorots were considered more warlike than the rest of them.