Weapons

The Filipino Martial Arts(FMA) are famous for their practice of weapons within the system and some of the most famous of these are the stick, double Stick, Knife, Sword, Whip and Staff.

The martial traditions of other cultures often teach unarmed skills first, and then teach the students to regard a weapon as an extension of the empty hand. In FMA, weapons are used from the earliest stages. This has the following advantages:

1. It is found to be an efficient way of increasing concentration and coordination, and of reducing reaction time.
2. It creates an awareness of using anything as a weapon wherever possible.
3. A knowledge of how weapons can be used is the key to being able to defend against them. The transference of movement principles from weapon to empty hand, or one weapon to another, becomes apparent from an early stage, increasing understanding and flexibility of response.

Among the enormous variety of teachers and systems in the Philippines, there have been many successful fighters and influential teachers. Sometimes these individuals and their systems concentrate on a particular area of training, reflecting their particular interest and skill. There are systems which concentrate on the use of five angles of attack, on thrusting rather than slashing, or on figure-8 movements; those with an emphasis on single stick and empty hand; those who regard the foundation of their skills as stick-and-knife (in combination, i.e. the stick held in one hand, the knife in the other). Many systems do however cover a wide mixture of weaponry and types of skill, both with and without weapons. The Warriors system is among these. Warriors Eskrima is a synthesis of various styles and systems studied by Grand Master Abner G Pasa of Cebu City in the Philippines. GM Pasa is a gifted individual, with the spirit of a warrior and the unusually analytical intelligence of a philosopher. He had serious combative experience (as a police officer in Cebu, and in response to challengers). His system integrates intelligence, cunning and awareness with technical depth and range. The students learn weapons, striking and kicking, joint locks, chokes and strangles, trapping and unbalancing, etc. – a full range of martial skills. Instruction generally takes the course of learning single stick first; then knife defences, and the basics of empty hand skills; then combination weapons (double stick, stick and knife, and sword and knife).

Knife Defense is a key element of the training we undertake at the school

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