Escrima (Filipino Martial Arts)

Most people think the FMA are stick fighting arts only. This is a common misconception because the rattan sticks are one of the primary tools used in training. They do use the sticks for combat, but that is not all there is to the arts. The FMA are equally based in weapon skills and empty hand skills (such as kicking, punching, trapping, and grappling). The FMA cover all the fighting ranges, defending against armed and unarmed attacks with whatever is available. What is available maybe the rattan sticks or it could be other types of weapons or just the fighter's empty hand skills. The FMA teach the interrelationship between empty hand skills and weapons. Therefore the FMA should be considered a complete martial arts system that develops many different types of skills for combat, not just simply a stick fighting art. Below are some of the basic principles of the FMA:

* Only the skills that are proven effective and can be easily taught are used.

* Keep the overall strategy simple.

* Each FMA practitioner keeps a small core of basic techniques suited to him.

* Many theories for weapon and empty hand are interchangeable.

* Always keep the flow going.

* Use angles to minimize the opponents attack.

* Use center line off the angles to attack.

Link to: FMA terms:

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