FMA > Escrima Stick and Sword Techniques
Stick and Sword
Single stick/sword is one of my favorite things to train. Although you're highly unlikely to end up in a stick vs. stick or sword vs. sword fight on the street, the training is great fun, gives you the foundation to use almost any non-projectile weapon, is largely transferable to empty-hand, and will teach you lessons you can use in other areas of self defense. The stick and sword techniques and training methods in Hertao are a mix from a variety of styles, with unique training matrices based on our concept of zone theory. Below you'll find our general curriculum with links to pictures and videos.
Basic Stickwork
The basic stickwork consists of fundamental angles of attack and footwork. After the practitioner learns the basic 6 angles, we move on to doing them with triangular footwork and Pekiti Tirsia style sidestepping.
Hand Sparring
Once a practitioner learns the basic attacks and footwork we begin with hand sparring using hockey gloves and padded sticks. This teaches the "defang the snake" concept (striking the opponent's hand or limb for a disarm) early on and gradually introduces them to stick sparring.
The 4-Step Matrix
The 4-Step Matrix is based on the concept that in order to hit your opponent you have to enter and exit his weapon range. If you're at a distance where you can hit your opponent in the head, he can also generally hit you in the head. So the purpose of the first step is to strategically get you inside your opponent's weapon range without getting hit, and ideally causing your opponent to do something you can take advantage of. The second step is a follow-up that targets the opponent's weapon bearing limb, and the purpose is both to stop his weapon from hitting you and to disarm him or cause him to move his weapon away from the damage, which is away from you. The third step is a power shot, generally to the head or neck, aiming to take the opponent out. And the fourth step is a covered exit. For many years I taught a 3-Step Matrix, without the covered exit. However due to Maija's influence and emphasis on making a safe exit, the 3-Step has now become the 4-Step.
Each step in the matrix can be one or more of a variety of tactics and techniques. The first step or entry, for example, can be a strike to draw the opponent's weapon, so he's busy dealing with your attack and not striking you, and so you know where his weapon is in order to safely strike his limb on the next step. The strike can be a real strike directed at the weapon or hand, or a fake. The entry could also be an interception or destruction, where if the opponent has attacked first, the entry is a strike or cut to his incoming hand or limb. It can also be a pure block, blocking his attack. Or, it can be a covered movement toward him, getting close enough to make the next strike while protecting yourself on the way in. Yet another option would be to sneak in with your opponent unaware, not showing your weapon or intention at all.
Each step is a concept rather than a predetermined tactic or technique. The concept underlying the entry is that you're not just going straight in unaware of your opponent's weapon, but entering in such a way that you're covered against it. It's not necessary that each step is actually a technique. So if the opportunity is there and you can simply stab or nail your opponent dead in the face, that's fine (even possibly better), as long as you're taking account of his weapon. Similarly, if you've nailed your opponent and he falls on the floor with his weapon falling a few feet away, you've already got your covered exit. It may also be that a single step requires multiple techniques. For example, if you enter with your opponent backing up, or attempt the second step to no effect, you may have to use multiple strikes to accomplish the goal of a single step.
The 4-Step is primarily a training matrix that provides a drill to train and teach lots of different tactics and techniques in an effective way, without having to memorize 1000 different combinations. Instead, you've got a few basic techniques and tactics, and one easy-to-train method with tons of adaptable applications. The matrix consists of a variety of strikes, footwork patterns based on distance/range, entries, follow ups, and exits. Below you'll find several examples of these components.
Strikes, Slashes, & Thrusts
- 6 Basic Angles
- Straight, inward, and outward thrusts
- Vertical strikes and watiks
- Reverse angles and redondos
Strategic Entries
- Attacking strikes
- Attacking blocks
- Interception
- Fake to draw
- Covered advance
Footwork Patterns
- Reverse triangle
- Double reverse triangle
- Diamond and a half
- Pendulum to reverse triangle
- Lunge to reverse triangle
Covered Exits
- Single opponent follow throughs
- Multiple opponent spins
- 90 degree pivots
- Close range/limited space returns
Sombrada
Sombrada is a controversial but excellent training method, a pre-arranged counter for counter drill done with a partner. I teach this drill along with the "attacking blocks" variety of the 4-step entry.
The Random Flow and Sparring
Most of the above training methods are prearranged drills or practice patterns. They're great to build speed, power, perfect your physical techniques, and to learn important concepts. But in reality, you're not going to know what your opponent is going to do and how he's going to respond to your advances. Real fighting involves the unknown and a large dose of chaos. We use two methods to prepare for the reality of fighting: random flow and sparring.
Random Flow Training
Random flow training isn't sparring in the sense that you're not fighting each other. There's a level of cooperation, as the goal is to help each other to learn. You don't know what your partner is going to do and he or she doesn't know what you're going to do, but you're doing it at a pace you're both comfortable with, and there is a give and take. This training can include emphasis on particular aspects of fighting, where practitioners agree to work on various entries, combination counter attacks, etc. Here are a few goals that can be used in the random flow:
- Attack the attack
- Entry and single follow up
- Entry and multiple follow ups
- Avoiding the interception
Sparring
In sparring, you're fighting each other. You're not trying to directly help your partner to learn, but to win. Sparring is where the chaos comes in, and where you learn to deal with hard pressure coming from a completely uncooperative opponent.
FMA > Escrima Stick and Sword Techniques
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Stick and Sword
Single stick/sword is one of my favorite things to train. Although you're highly unlikely to end up in a stick vs. stick or sword vs. sword fight on the street, the training is great fun, gives you the foundation to use almost any non-projectile weapon, is largely transferable to empty-hand, and will teach you lessons you can use in other areas of self defense. The stick and sword techniques and training methods in Hertao are a mix from a variety of styles, with unique training matrices based on our concept of zone theory. Below you'll find our general curriculum with links to pictures and videos.
Basic Stickwork
The basic stickwork consists of fundamental angles of attack and footwork. After the practitioner learns the basic 6 angles, we move on to doing them with triangular footwork and Pekiti Tirsia style sidestepping.
Hand Sparring
Once a practitioner learns the basic attacks and footwork we begin with hand sparring using hockey gloves and padded sticks. This teaches the "defang the snake" concept (striking the opponent's hand or limb for a disarm) early on and gradually introduces them to stick sparring.
The 4-Step Matrix
The 4-Step Matrix is based on the concept that in order to hit your opponent you have to enter and exit his weapon range. If you're at a distance where you can hit your opponent in the head, he can also generally hit you in the head. So the purpose of the first step is to strategically get you inside your opponent's weapon range without getting hit, and ideally causing your opponent to do something you can take advantage of. The second step is a follow-up that targets the opponent's weapon bearing limb, and the purpose is both to stop his weapon from hitting you and to disarm him or cause him to move his weapon away from the damage, which is away from you. The third step is a power shot, generally to the head or neck, aiming to take the opponent out. And the fourth step is a covered exit. For many years I taught a 3-Step Matrix, without the covered exit. However due to Maija's influence and emphasis on making a safe exit, the 3-Step has now become the 4-Step.
Each step in the matrix can be one or more of a variety of tactics and techniques. The first step or entry, for example, can be a strike to draw the opponent's weapon, so he's busy dealing with your attack and not striking you, and so you know where his weapon is in order to safely strike his limb on the next step. The strike can be a real strike directed at the weapon or hand, or a fake. The entry could also be an interception or destruction, where if the opponent has attacked first, the entry is a strike or cut to his incoming hand or limb. It can also be a pure block, blocking his attack. Or, it can be a covered movement toward him, getting close enough to make the next strike while protecting yourself on the way in. Yet another option would be to sneak in with your opponent unaware, not showing your weapon or intention at all.
Each step is a concept rather than a predetermined tactic or technique. The concept underlying the entry is that you're not just going straight in unaware of your opponent's weapon, but entering in such a way that you're covered against it. It's not necessary that each step is actually a technique. So if the opportunity is there and you can simply stab or nail your opponent dead in the face, that's fine (even possibly better), as long as you're taking account of his weapon. Similarly, if you've nailed your opponent and he falls on the floor with his weapon falling a few feet away, you've already got your covered exit. It may also be that a single step requires multiple techniques. For example, if you enter with your opponent backing up, or attempt the second step to no effect, you may have to use multiple strikes to accomplish the goal of a single step.
The 4-Step is primarily a training matrix that provides a drill to train and teach lots of different tactics and techniques in an effective way, without having to memorize 1000 different combinations. Instead, you've got a few basic techniques and tactics, and one easy-to-train method with tons of adaptable applications. The matrix consists of a variety of strikes, footwork patterns based on distance/range, entries, follow ups, and exits. Below you'll find several examples of these components.
Strikes, Slashes, & Thrusts
Strategic Entries
Footwork Patterns
Covered Exits
Sombrada
Sombrada is a controversial but excellent training method, a pre-arranged counter for counter drill done with a partner. I teach this drill along with the "attacking blocks" variety of the 4-step entry.
The Random Flow and Sparring
Most of the above training methods are prearranged drills or practice patterns. They're great to build speed, power, perfect your physical techniques, and to learn important concepts. But in reality, you're not going to know what your opponent is going to do and how he's going to respond to your advances. Real fighting involves the unknown and a large dose of chaos. We use two methods to prepare for the reality of fighting: random flow and sparring.
Random Flow Training
Random flow training isn't sparring in the sense that you're not fighting each other. There's a level of cooperation, as the goal is to help each other to learn. You don't know what your partner is going to do and he or she doesn't know what you're going to do, but you're doing it at a pace you're both comfortable with, and there is a give and take. This training can include emphasis on particular aspects of fighting, where practitioners agree to work on various entries, combination counter attacks, etc. Here are a few goals that can be used in the random flow:
Sparring
In sparring, you're fighting each other. You're not trying to directly help your partner to learn, but to win. Sparring is where the chaos comes in, and where you learn to deal with hard pressure coming from a completely uncooperative opponent.
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