The eskrima teacher delivers a strike to the right flank, then to the other side, followed by another one overhead. Then the striking continues with greater severity and speed. The teacher pauses. The student stops with his two nasal apertures flaring for more air. Both are simply proud of what they’re doing.
That is a familiar eskrima session, where one delivers a strike to be responded with the training partner an artistic combination of counterstrikes.
But as one attempts to counter the strike, is the mere possibility considered that a possible reaction or follow-through is coming from an unexpected angle? Is the opponent an amputee that his “live-hand” is not working? Is he immobile like a lamp post? Is the opponent’s reaction predictable and so “regularly regular” like a hypnotic pendulum?
Why does the training partner (or in some instances, the teacher), delivers a strike and "freeze"? Is he a snowman or something? Remember in the street, it is likely one would encounter a real, alive, cold-blooded thug, whose clear intention is to harm. Not Frosty the snowman. They surely will not hit you from an angle and freeze. No way. When they feel that you respond in a certain way; they will give a follow-up before you can finish yours.
Yes, as one blocks or parries a strike, one should always expect a reaction, a broken rhythm, a meddling “live hand” and a superior counterstrike. This is why in Balintawak eskrima, we cannot see the teacher just “feed” the student with strikes without reacting to the student’s counterattacks. Always remember that you supposed to face a living sentient being, your trainer or your training partner, not a inanimate dummy incapable of counter reacting.
Now we understand as to why many of these eskrima demonstrations are so impressive yet appear “one-sided” simply because they are bringing with them "wooden dummies," or "big Pinocchios," that seemingly can walk alone and even grimace faces when hit, but do not fight back.
In spite of all these, eskrima still a very effective martial art. Maybe this approach works most of the time. But just imagine if the same approach is being adopted in kendo or in Western Classical Fencing.
Well, a good showmanship is a good showmanship. But to those who are really into martial arts there are more that arnis or eskrima needs to prove.
There are many YouTube entries on eskrima or arnis, just see what I am talking here.
No matter how fast the counterstrike maybe, it is really different when one also expects a follow-through from the same opponent while doing a counterstrike. We cannot fool ourselves into believing that an opponent will just stand there and wait for our counterstrike without even moving away or displacing himself somewhere (among the many possibilities).
This is very important, especially for those who are into medio and corto fighting, since in the closer range engagement one must be aware of many things as compared to when in largo range engagements.
One more related thing . . .
If one is used to the concept of intercepting, then one is always programmed to wait so as to allow a strike to “fly” first to be intercepted. But when one is programmed to anticipate . . . it is another story. In fact training would be radically different; there is no more “waiting and reacting” there is only “awareness of a target and striking” idea inside the head.
That is a familiar eskrima session, where one delivers a strike to be responded with the training partner an artistic combination of counterstrikes.
But as one attempts to counter the strike, is the mere possibility considered that a possible reaction or follow-through is coming from an unexpected angle? Is the opponent an amputee that his “live-hand” is not working? Is he immobile like a lamp post? Is the opponent’s reaction predictable and so “regularly regular” like a hypnotic pendulum?
Why does the training partner (or in some instances, the teacher), delivers a strike and "freeze"? Is he a snowman or something? Remember in the street, it is likely one would encounter a real, alive, cold-blooded thug, whose clear intention is to harm. Not Frosty the snowman. They surely will not hit you from an angle and freeze. No way. When they feel that you respond in a certain way; they will give a follow-up before you can finish yours.
Yes, as one blocks or parries a strike, one should always expect a reaction, a broken rhythm, a meddling “live hand” and a superior counterstrike. This is why in Balintawak eskrima, we cannot see the teacher just “feed” the student with strikes without reacting to the student’s counterattacks. Always remember that you supposed to face a living sentient being, your trainer or your training partner, not a inanimate dummy incapable of counter reacting.
Now we understand as to why many of these eskrima demonstrations are so impressive yet appear “one-sided” simply because they are bringing with them "wooden dummies," or "big Pinocchios," that seemingly can walk alone and even grimace faces when hit, but do not fight back.
In spite of all these, eskrima still a very effective martial art. Maybe this approach works most of the time. But just imagine if the same approach is being adopted in kendo or in Western Classical Fencing.
Well, a good showmanship is a good showmanship. But to those who are really into martial arts there are more that arnis or eskrima needs to prove.
There are many YouTube entries on eskrima or arnis, just see what I am talking here.
No matter how fast the counterstrike maybe, it is really different when one also expects a follow-through from the same opponent while doing a counterstrike. We cannot fool ourselves into believing that an opponent will just stand there and wait for our counterstrike without even moving away or displacing himself somewhere (among the many possibilities).
This is very important, especially for those who are into medio and corto fighting, since in the closer range engagement one must be aware of many things as compared to when in largo range engagements.
One more related thing . . .
If one is used to the concept of intercepting, then one is always programmed to wait so as to allow a strike to “fly” first to be intercepted. But when one is programmed to anticipate . . . it is another story. In fact training would be radically different; there is no more “waiting and reacting” there is only “awareness of a target and striking” idea inside the head.
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4 comments:
In your last statement, what system or style can you name that focuses on anticipation rather than interception?
What type of training would you recommend then. I agree with your comment on static teacher / student training, I don't buy that either.
I suppose De Campo is more on anticipation rather than interception , that what makes it extremely fast. But I can be wrong on this sense I am not a practitioner of this style. There must be other eskrima styles like this too. But so far, in my limited exposure I can say it is De Campo, especially when performed by Eric Olavides, its current chief instructor. Eric is simply beyond compare. How's that?
suppose De Campo is more on anticipation rather than interception , that what makes it extremely fast. But I can be wrong on this since I am not a practitioner of this awesome style. There must be other eskrima styles like this too. But so far, in my limited exposure,
I can say it is De Campo, especially when performed by Eric Olavides, its current chief instructor.
Eric is simply beyond compare. How's that?
hello,
i want to commend your blog for it's honesty and courage in depicting the opinion of the Pinoy with regard to the FMA. Please continue doing this blog. i am the webmaster for modernarnis.com and i think the information you put into this blog is absolutely correct vis-a-vis what is going on in the FMA worldwide. respectfully, i have created a link to your blog on our own blog at blog.modernarnis.com.
i would like to comment on the last statement with respect to anticipation of strikes. the late Grandmaster Remy Presas Sr. taught a series of movements called Tapi-Tapi. Some people may call it corridas or even others call it 'counter for counter'. In any case, the most important aspect of these drills is the ANTICIPATION of the strike.
To anticipate the strike is very simple: watch what your opponent is doing and if you think that he will hit in that direction, chances are good that it will happen (most of the time) and you simply go to that spot and block it.
He presented these concepts during his seminars and some of them have been recorded on DVD (which is available at our site). Clearly, he was thinking about the notion of anticipating the blows rather than responding to them. GM Presas Sr. was naturally quick with his technique, however it was bolstered by his ability to 'see' the strike before it comes in. This subtle thing escapes many FMA practitioners many of whom are unfortunately Modern Arnis guys I see on youTube.
Salamat po!
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