There are two immediate giveaways that show when someone is skilled with a parang – the first is that they don’t look as if they are trying very hard and the second is that each cut they make with the parang is both considered and safe.
When I watch a novice using a parang I often find I’m holding my breath, hoping they aren’t going to cut themselves and wishing they’d slow down and learn to use it properly. But most of us, when handed a parang for the first time, believe that using it is intuitive (“you simply chop, right?”) and are so keen to begin slashing at the undergrowth that we forget all about safety.
Years and years ago, when I first used a parang, I was on a jungle survival course in Malaysia: before we set off on the trail the instructors told us we should cut through a fallen tree so that they could “watch our technique”. We were all desperately keen to have a go with the parangs they’d handed us just minutes before and the instructors sat back and let each of us hack away at this log until we were too tired to continue… it was a clever psychological move – firstly it got rid of our collective desire to slash at every sapling in sight (and denude the forest), secondly it made us quickly realise that using a parang is tiring (particularly if your technique is wrong).
Three days later, on the same course, and I was hot, hungry, tired and sweaty. I was cutting at some rattan when the parang slipped out of my hand: it whistled past my leg, missing it by about 6 inches. This gave me pause for thought: whatever discomfort I was feeling was as nothing to what I’d have felt had that parang hit my leg (it will cut to the bone).
…I’ve never let a parang slip though my hand since!
A couple of days ago I was clearing the jungle trail we use for the Rainforest Experience with my good friend Baha and shot some video of him using a parang. He makes using a parang look effortless, and it’s all down to technique – using a wrist action with the speed and weight of the parang doing the work for you. This is particularly important in the tropics where the heat and humidity quickly sap your strength and you want to conserve your energy as much possible.
Watching someone skilled using a parang is a good way to learn or improve your technique – look for how Baha positions himself before cutting, the safe follow-through, the wrist action and speed, and the way he does all this is an unhurried and considered way. Also note how he puts the parang back in its sheath as soon as he finishes using it – it’s good to get into the habit of doing this as if you slip and fall holding the parang a nasty accident could result, so put it away whenever possible.
In an earlier post I talked about using a knife in the jungle and their inherent disadvantages compared to a parang for jungle clearing – imagine doing the clearing you see in this video with, say, a Mora knife!
Traditionally Malays believe that parangs have a spirit that protects the owner, and Baha was telling me that, when he was a baby, his mother would put him in a hammock (made from a sarong) and place a parang on the floor beneath to guard him as he slept (I wonder what child services in the UK would make of this!).
I asked him if this was still the practice and he laughed..
“Hardly to see a parang in the house these days”, he said “people don’t want to go into the jungle anymore, they work in factories now and want to drive around in cars and their children play with playstations”
… a sign of the times.
Hi! i like your page and the videos, very interesting! The bit about the protective spirit of the parang reminded me of an old custom in sweden. (I´m from there) In the old days, to protect ones house from gnomes and trolls and vile spirits people would place a knife above the door, so that “the good steel” would protect them from evil. when helping my grandfather and grandmother renovating their house we found razors above the door and all windows. since the door was to be moved we had to remove them, but grandma insisted on putting them back. So we did! You never know, it might work! 🙂 //Erik Svelander
Hi Erik,
That’s a great story and I’d never heard of that custom before so many thanks for pointing it out (I’m sure there must be a concept there for some sort of slasher/horror movie!).
I would be certainly be tempted to cut away at the walls above doors if I owned an old Swedish house to see what they might contain!
Anyway, thanks again and, of course, Swedish blades are world famous for being good and true and I am a big of fan of Mora knives.
Cheers! Paul
Hi again!
Yes, you can find al sorts of peculiar things hidden away in old buildings, and sometimes the men who built it had written their names on the wall before putting up wallpaper, sometimes written the date they finished too.
I was surprised you used a Mora, didn´t know the where sold all over the world! I sort of collect knives, and as a result of that many of them are just to expensive or sensitive to risk using. The cheaper plastic handle mora knife is what gets used most! (silly to have loads that will never get used!)
Also, considering if i should get a parang, seems very useful for clearing paths in the forest, instead of using an axe and a saw or even secateur. (think its called secateur, not sure) Simply to much stuff to bring with you.
The simple plastic handle ones seem good value, and since i will probably make my own handle and sheath it would be a waste of money to buy a fancy one. Cant decide what size would be best, since i dont have any idea how a parang feels or how it works with the local tree species.
It´s tempting to go for a bigger one but that might be stupid, what would you say is best for a beginner? Thanks on beforehand!/Erik (partially using translator, not sure if all words are correct!)
Hi Erik, thanks for the post and interesting to wonder what else is hidden behind the walls of these old buildings!
Mora knives have a great reputation across the world but only became available in Malaysia a few years back. The guy who imports Mora knives here in Malaysia also sells parangs and can export them as well if you want to buy one (check out his store at http://www.outdoordynamics.com.my).
In terms of parang size, my advise is to avoid the large blades as they are often too heavy and thus more tiring to use. The parang requires a wrist action (rather than an arm swing) and a heavy parang will tire you out fast. A blade length of 10-12 inches is long enough to handle almost all tasks so I’d go for something that size. In some earlier videos (under the machete section) I talk about some of the different types and sizes of parangs and their pros and cons.
Hope that helps.
Cheers!
Paul
on the topic of swinging the parang, it’s like i’ve said with any tool that you swing. never put more power into the swing than you can control.
thanks for the footage! i’m no beginner with a brush cutter, but even i picked up a couple things here and there watching him.
Hi Oncoming Storm,
Many thanks or the comment and I completely agree with the need for control when using any sort of large cutting tool. I think a lot of people new to parangs tend to swing too hard with a very tight grip and rigid arm…this is ok for a short time but if you have to use the parang through the day you will soon end up with a very tired arm and an aching wrist.
Anyway thanks for all your comments – much appreciated.
Cheers!
Paul