Eskrima (Escrima) is a Filipino martial arts that focuses on the use of sticks, bladed and impact/blunt weapons, improvised weapons, and hand-to-hand (empty hand) techniques. Eskrima is also known as Kali and Arnis. This Philippine martial arts style uses weapons such as a Yantok (fighting stick), Baraw (knife), Bolo (machete), Bankaw (staff), etc. Eskrima is best known for its stick fighting and knife skills.
Balintawak-Escrima
12 Strikes – Control – form training
12 Strikes – Full Power – form training
Shadow Fighting – form training
Footwork and empty hand padwork – Eight box method
12 Defence & Counter – Full control – Pairs work
12 Defence & Counter – Full power – Pairs work
Lifting & clearing – Pairs work
Empty Hand Manipulation – Disarms – pairs work
Escrima Kids
Level 1
1. Introduction to Stick and Movement Concepts
2. 12 Strikes – Control form
3 Blocking – Striking from the 12 point form (pairs work)
Level 2
1. Full Power form
2. Blocking – Striking from the form (pairs work)
3. Kuzushi footwork
4 Eight box method (Footwork and pad work)
Level 3
1. Shadow Fighting Form part one
2. Blocking – Striking from the form (pairs work)
3 Footwork and pad work drills
4 Eight Elbow form
Level 4
1 Shadow Fighting Form part one – part two
2 Tegumi (hand drills)
3 Blocking – Striking from the form (pairs work)
4 Free style
Level 5
1 Shadow Fighting Form part one – part two – part three
2 Blocking – Striking from the form (pairs work)
3 Disarms
4 Free style
A number of training pairs work drills can be included in class training sessions from each level
History of Eskrima
According to the International Kali Arnis Eskrima Federation, “Over the centuries and with the influence of the various tribes and cultures in the Philippines, the martial arts developed to be highly effective. Certain tribes had limited stick fighting skills, such as only fighting at long range or short range, these were eventually combined which made the art a highly effective combat system. The three best known names are Kali, Eskrima, and Arnis. Kali is the oldest term and has its origin in Cebuano, a dialect of the middle island groups, “Ka” stands for camot “hand”, and “Li” for lehok “movement”. As a whole, Kali can be translated into “movement of the hand”. A practitioner of Kali would be a Kallista. The Spanish occupiers named the martial arts of the Filipinos “Eskrima”. That derives from the Spanish word ” Esgrima “describing a brief fight or fencing”.
