Escrima - The Filipino Martial Art

By George Royal

Escrima is a popular Filipino martial art dating back to the1500s, during the colonization of the Philippine Islands by theSpanish. Escrima is a very simplified but practical form ofcombat technique originally designed as a self-defense tool.Escrima is also known by many other names such as Eskrima,Arnis, Arnis de Mano, Kali and FMA (Filipino Martial Art).Because of its effectiveness, Escrima is also taught extensivelyin many Special Forces including the Navy Seals and Army SpecialForces.

Brief History:

Many believe that Escrima or Filipino Martial Art originatedfrom Chinese influenced Indonesian fighting tactics such as KunTao, Chuan Fa and Tai Chi double stick forms. Others believe theEscrima art form to be wholly developed by the Filipino people.However, the most plausible explanation seems to be rooted inthe history of the Spanish colonization.

When the Spanish occupied the Philippine Islands, a form of artsimilar to Escrima had already existed but was onlyrecreational. However, this art began to develop into a moremartial discipline when the Spanish prohibited indigenousFilipino weapons such as the Bolo (machete), daggers andfighting sticks in the 1700s. It remained a clandestine artuntil the Americans took over



in 1898. From then on, theFilipino Martial Art started to gain recognition and popularity.

In the West, Escrima was introduced and popularized by Filipinoimmigrants after the Second World War, particularly in theAmerican states of Hawaii and California.

Weapons and Footwork in Escrima:

Unlike other forms of martial arts, the primary tool to learnthe basic concepts of Escrima is focus on weaponry, which isfollowed by empty-hand techniques. The Rattan stick is the mostcommon weapon used in Escrima training, which includes hand andhead protection when sparring. Other weapons include burned andhardened stick made of hardwood, such as Molave or Kamagong(ebony). Modern versions may be made out of aluminum, othermetals, or high-impact plastics. The Nunchaku (also known asKung Fu sticks or Double sticks) weapon was popularized by actorBruce Lee, an avid practitioner of Escrima.

Each range - the distance between opponents - in Escrima has itsown characteristics and footwork techniques. Good footworkenables efficient control of these ranges. The footwork isdemonstrated in terms of triangles with two feet occupying twocorners of the triangle and the step to the third corner. Theshape and size of the triangle is dependant on the particularsituation.

Escrima Facts:

1. Escrima is mixture of hard (like Karate) and soft (like TaiChi Ch'uan) styles. 2. Escrima is taught on idealstreet-fighting settings without the need for uniforms. 3.Restraining techniques are not focused on but rather onoffensive, combat styles. 4. There are no official rankings inEscrima except for titles to recognize seniority of instructors.5. Most of the power in Escrima is derived from body movementand economy of motion, rather than strength. 6. Escrima is acomplete martial art, focusing on weaponry and empty-handtechniques. 7. Escrima provides effective training in sparringagainst multiple opponents.

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