The Filipino Martial Arts

The Filipino Martial Arts The Filipino Marital Arts take many years of dedicated practice to fully develop and master. These masters (known respectively as Eskrimadors, Kalistas, Mangangalis, or Arnisadors) were highly respected members of their communities. It is the fundamentals, well trained and understood, that get you successfully through a fight.

Experts in the arts might sometimes preform complex techniques but only those that had survived the test of practicality. This lack of contrivance allowed many to learn the art quickly.

Eskrima employs a wide variety of weapons in training and combat.

Hardwood sticks approximately are perhaps the most iconic weapon of the arts. Measuring approximately two and a half feet long these were formidable tools. Master Vilibrao was known to choose these short staves over any other tool when engaging in death matches. Whether facing sword, daggers, spear or any combination thereof, Vilibrao would choose his baston (sticks) and won every time. This is a outstanding story and should be considered a witness to his superiority as a fighter rather than the superiority of the tool.

The weapon techniques are very important but without a solid stance are all but useless. Footwork and stance training is a primary of Eskrima. A good stance will allow for powerful strikes and effective defensive movements. There are a number of stances worked in the training, some are stronger for offense or for defense and some are transitional positions for switching mode or changing rhythm. To excel in the Filipino Martial Arts it is necessary to develop a deep understanding of the various stances, footwork and how to combine them to reach an advantageous position in a fight.

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