Eskrima Martial Arts

Eskrima or escrima originated in Filipino martial arts culture. The style involves fighting with swords, knives and sticks. Even though it’s a broad genre, FMA or Filipino martial arts generally refers to the style of eskrima fighting. Other nicknames include Arnis de Mano, which means harness of the hand and Kali, which basically just means sword fighting. Fighters who use eskrima also have many different names, such as:

• Escrimador
• ARnisador
• Kalista
• Manangali

There are various aspects of eskrima that make it a unique martial arts fighting style. The weapons truly define the way a Filipino martial artist engages with another fighter.

What is Eskrima Martial Arts

There are a few basic concepts that you must learn to understand eskrima. While the philosophy is simple, fighters still have to understand how to apply the techniques quickly. Mastery of eskrima can take years as some of the techniques are much more complex and involve dangerous weapons like the long-bladed knife. There are also a few different special practices that have developed in the Philippines.

Most FMA schools teach empty-handed and armed concepts at the same time so that fighters can learn how to defend themselves in any situation with the same skills and similar techniques. Others start with weapons and work on empty-handed styles later in training.

The footwork is the most important aspect of eskrima but systems vary in how they teach the footwork to students. Mostly the techniques are taught in a triangular pattern so that the feet always make up two points of the triangle. The figher steps with a single foot to the third point of the triangle. This makes it so the legs never cross, and the fighter is always in a stable position.

Many systems focus on what is necessary for each battle. The technique will try to espouse low positions and prepare for several combatants at once. This is different from American systems of eskrima that focus on a single opponent and train for an upright stance. For defense, eskrima fighters emphasize reacting to different angles of attack than defending against a single attack or strikes.

Traditional weapons used for eskrima include shields, arm-length sticks, nunchucks, knives and whips. Fighters may also use a single stick or a solo baston, or they may fight with a double stick called a double baston.

History of Eskrima

The art of eskrima was most notable in the Spanish invasion. In fact, Spanish invaders banned any Filipinos from carrying bolos. However, Filipinos continued to practice martial arts in secret using music to disguise their fights. Even though the United States lifted the ban on martial arts in the Philippines in 1898, it was still practiced in secret.

Many Americans saw the impact and skill of eskrima while fighting alongside Filipinos in World War II. Escrimadors fought with the Allied Powers against Japanese soldiers. They also introduced the martial arts form to American audiences. Bruce Lee was one of the first Asian Americans to train a student of escrimador and carried the art into the mainstream media with scenes from Enter the Dragon where he fought with just a stick.

FMA is one of the most widely practiced martial arts today, but mostly it is carried on by Filipino martial artists. You find various eskrima dojos in California, Hawaii and the Philippines.

Types of Escrima Weapons

While most martial arts teach empty-handed fighting first, eskrima actually focuses on learning how to fight with weapons before empty-handed techniques can be mastered completely. Muscle memory is an important part of learning this martial arts form.

Most weapons training for escrimadors starts with two weapons by either arming the fighter with a pair of sticks or a stick and a wooden knife. Both hands are always armed and never move in the same direction. One of the main concepts of eskrima is what’s called the “live hand.” The extra hand is used to trap, disarm or control the opponent’s weapon and aids in blocking opponent moves.

Filipino martial artists typically use daggers, bolos, long-bladed knives and sticks when practicing eskrima. The following is a list of different weapons and how they are used in eskrima.

Bolos

A bolo is actually a large cutting tool commonly used in Filipino farming. Bolos are able to clear vegetation easily because of its sharp, long blade. While similar to the maches, it was also used in the jungles of Indonesia and in sugar cane fields.

Sticks

One of the reasons eskrima is called stick fighting is because of its use of single and double bastons. The most basic stick weapon is called a yantok. These are made from rattan and inexpensive to make if done from a vine founded in Southeast Asia. Sticks are hard and yet lightweight, and while it will shred slightly, it won’t break while delivering blow after blow to opponents. This is why it’s useful against blades.

There are various types of shields, sticks and improvised weapons used in eskrima, such as:

• Bastons
• Olisi
• Yantok
• Dulo y dulo
• Bankaw, a six-foot pole
• Wooden daggers
• Panangga shield
• Wood planks
• Steel pipes
• Umbrellas
• Rolled magazines
• Tennis rackets
• Various other improvised weapons

Baraw

A Baraw is a term meaning dagger or knife in Cebuano. It originates from the island of Cebu. Other cultures refer to this knife as a Daga. The knife may also be called a solo Baraw or solo Daga.

There are various types of edged weapons that fall under the category of sword, Baraw or Daga. These include:

• Balisong
• Karambit
• Bolo
• Pinuti
• Itak or sundang
• Binakako
• Barong
• Dinahong palay
• Kampilan
• Kalis
• Sibat
• Icepicks

Other Weapons Used

Since eskrima focuses on using anything as a weapon. Many weapons are also improvised and range from a piece of fabric to screwdriver. Some of the most interesting flexible weapons used in eskrima include:

• Sarongs
• Handkerchiefs
• Nunchucks
• Whips or latigos
• Belts
• Shirts
• Towels

Technical Aspects of Eskrima

Range

Each range has its own style depending on the footwork and technique. Balintawak range style is for long, medium and short fighting techniques but mostly focuses on short range. Most traditional stances focus on a low stance with one knee placed near the ground. There are also the Villabrille and San Miguel styles, which has more complex footwork and uses cross-steps to handle multiple attackers.

Strikes

San Miguel: This is a forehand strike dealt with the right hand. It moves from the striker’s right breast toward th left hip.

Sinawali

This is a double-stick weaving technique that both Arnis and eskrima used. It was named after woven coconut or palm leaves.

Redonda

Aritists use a continuous circular downward strike with a double-stick twirling move.

Abanico

The wrist is flicked 180 degrees in a motion like a fan. This is one of the fastest strikes.

Pilantik

A stick is whipped around the wrist and over the head and alternates in 360 strikes rather than just the 180.

Hakbang

This refers mostly to footwork. Hakbang paiwas means pivoting footwork, but hakbang tatsulok refers to stepping in a triangle.

Puno

This strike is a hard blow dealt by the butt of a weapon and typically targets a sensitive nerve spot on the opponent.

Eskrima is one of the most ancient martial arts forms and continues to be practiced all over the world.

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