Eskrima, also known as Kali or Arnis, is a fighting style indigenous to the Philippines. It involves everything from punches, kicks, take-down, joint locks to techniques utilizing weapons such sticks, swords, and knives. The video below introduces some of the basic concepts of Eskrima and demonstrates a few of the basic techniques.
Video Transcription
Eskrima is a martial art native to the Phillipines. It’s endured a long and violent history yet only in the last few decades has it caught on as a worldwide sport. The basis of Eskrima is stick work, which uses a system of checks and counter-attacks, such as this defensive strike called, Pangilog.
Pangilog – In this move, the Eskrimador blocks his opponents thrust, and then thrusts his own stick up and over his opponents. With the elbow locked, the opponents forearm becomes a lever, and his elbow a fulcrum. Any force applied to his wrist is more than doubled by the mechanical advantage of leverage. By jerking hard on the arm, you can easily hyperextend the elbow.
Labai – Defensive moves are equally important to Eskrima fights. This counter attack called the Labai is no exception. To properly execute this move, an Eskrimador checks his man, then locks his opponents left elbow over his right arm. Using his own momentum and the thrust of his legs to slam his opponent into the ground. Labair works on a concept called “the Couple.” Basically, it’s 2 levers linked at a single fulcrum, the elbow lock. It doubles the foot pound of torque you can generate when compared to a single arm lock. There’s more than enough force to put an opponent to the mat, or dislocate his elbow.
Disarm – An additional deadly weapon and stick fighting is the Disarm. This move begins when an Eskrimador grabs his opponents attacking arm. He then strikes him hard across the mid-section before disarming him with a wrist strike, finishing him with a good blow to the head. By using the twisting motion of the torso to drive the strike, the business end of a hardwood fighting stick can quickly accelerate to more than 25 miles per hour.
Baliog Pomali – Oftentimes in fights, an Eskrimador loses the use of his stick or knife and needs an empty handed technique powerful enough to take down his opponent. With this simple yet deadly move called Baliog Pomali, the Eskrimador wraps his own forearm between the attackers neck and upper arm. He then uses the weight of his body and gravity to force his opponent to the ground. By bringing your weight down fast, this move can easily leave your opponent paralyzed or dead.
Palamut – One of Eskrima’s most dangerous moves, whether it’s practiced with a knife, stick, or hand-to-hand is Palamut. As the attacker moves in with his weapon hand, the Eskrimador blocks the attack then side-steps to the left and takes control of his opponents arm at the elbow. He then throws 2 quick strikes to the arm and head. It’s enough to stun, but probably not enough to cause severe injury. But, replace the hand with a weapon like a stick or knife, as you would in combat, and this could become a kill shot.
Pangilog, Labai, Baliog Pomali, and Palamut. These moves only scratch the surface of the martial arts that dates back centuries. But, with these moves mastered, a fighter is well on his way to become an Eskrimador, a bonified human weapon.
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