Eskrima is the indigenous fighting art of the Philippines. Kali (in the west), and Arnis are also terms used for these traditional martial arts. Best known for it’s legendary stick fighting methods, as well as knives and various other improvised weapons. It also teaches a whole spectrum of hand-to-hand combat and weapon disarming techniques, as well as grappling and striking.

 

Students start their instruction by learning to fight with weapons and only advance to empty-hand training once the stick and knife techniques have been sufficiently mastered. This is justified by the principle that bare-handed moves are acquired naturally through the same exercises as the weapon techniques. Making muscle memory an important aspect of the teaching. It is also based on the obvious fact that an armed person who is trained has the advantage over a trained unarmed person and serves to condition students to fight against armed attackers.

Most systems of Eskrima apply a single set of techniques for the stick, knife, and empty hands. A concept sometimes referred to as motion grouping. Since the weapon is seen as simply an extension of the body, the same angles and footwork are used either with or without a weapon.

Many systems begin training with two weapons, either a pair of sticks or a stick and a wooden knife. These styles emphasize keeping both hands full and never moving them in the same direction. This trains practitioners to become ambidextrous. For example, one stick may strike the head while the other hits the arm. Such training develops the ability to use both limbs independently. A skill which is valuable even when working with one weapon.

Why Eskrima??

  • Practical self-defence (inc. weapon disarming)
  • Increased fitness & flexibility
  • Body conditioning
  • Increased manual dexterity and co-ordination, derived from performing exercises with two weapons and weapons of different sizes
  • Complements and enhances any martial art Learnt independently, or grafted seamlessly into any form of martial art you do already

The art of Eskrima has almost been lost many times over the years…

This is your opportunity to discover this amazing art that is taking the martial arts community by storm.