Vol 5 No 9 - 2016 Newspaper Propagating the Filipino Martial Arts and the Culture of the Philippines Kali Stickboxing Learn One, Learn Them All By Richard Lamoureaux Commonality of Motion and Skill Article Transferability in the 6 Rules of Mechanical Advantage Filipino Martial Arts By Philipp Article About ... Past Events Health & Safety Building Blocks of FMA Tid-Bits By Leslie Buck in entry level classes, one could easily con- clude that the Filipino martial arts are indeed The Filipino martial arts are often re- just about stick fighting. This is far from true. ferred to and thought of as stick fighting, but Sticks are excellent training tools that they involve so much more than that. Really, provide a versatile training experience. The the Filipino martial arts are systems of fight- sticks serve as learning tools that can simul- ing that involve a variety of weapons and taneously represent many other weapons empty hands tactics and techniques. Sticks and unarmed techniques. That is why they are just used as the primary training tools, are so ubiquitous in the Filipino martial arts. and not necessarily as the primary weapons. If you examine why they are seen so fre- Because a large portion of training in quently in training, you will understand their the Filipino martial arts involves the use of value and the reason for their prominence rattan sticks, those who have not had the in training activities and demonstrations. chance to learn about the Filipino martial Using sticks in training allows you to arts usually see the sticks and conclude that develop skills that apply to impact weapons, the Filipino martial arts are just methods of edged weapons, and empty hands skills too. www.fmapulse.com stick fighting. With only a cursory examina- Using a stick allows you to train close, medi- tion, that does appear to be the case. Almost um, and long ranges all in one drill. Holding every public demonstration of the Filipino the stick with the butt of the stick protrud- martial arts will provide a nearly incessant ing by a few inches allows you to use it for clacking of sticks. Practitioners will most like- drills and techniques that are relevant to a MyFMA.net ly be seen striking with one or two sticks in a knife held in an icepick grip. Using the for- Visit the FMA Informative Group variety of patterns and drills. Because of this ward tip and long portion of the stick de- on Facebook prevalence of sticks in demonstrations and velops skills relative to a knife in a forward Click Here 2 FMA Informative Vol5 No9 2016 Vol5 No9 2016 FMA Informative 3 grip. All these skills can be A circular motion may in one be developed. This allows to to extend your skills when you Kali Stickboxing with Guro Ted Lucaylucay and Richard Lamoureaux trained at the same time. application be a strike, in an- you to become more versatile understand how to translate By: Richard Lamoureaux Photos: Wes Bennett The stick is the primary other, it may be an evasion. with the application of those movements from one weapon training tool, but it is really the In some circumstances, skills. After moving through a to another. This allows you to You will be equipped to compete in a modern-day fensive weapon in conjunction with both elbows and knees. principles and methods be- the motion is the same, but progression of multiple weap- outgrow your teacher and con- contest of courage and skill that will, win or lose, bring you Forty percent of the hind the training that make it the emphasis is different. A ons, you will find that even tinue to develop even when as close to those brutal matches of old as you can get. Full- knockouts in real stick- so useful. Two principles that backhanded thrust may be the lessons learned with the you no longer have instruction. contact, no-holds-barred competition that utilizes weap- fights where credited to are paramount in the training simply used as an attack with smaller weapons will lead to The way the movements ons without benefit of protective armor. Matches that re- the use of the rear hand. methods behind the Filipino the tip, or the same motion better refinement when re- are translated into different sulted in permanent injury and disability, not just to one Various tools come into martial arts are commonality may be used to deflect an in- turning to the large weapons. techniques and reveal different combatant but often both. A brutal test of skill and cour- play at various ranges. At of motion and transferability coming attack with the back of The benefit of trans- applications is actually very in- age that for on participant ended all to frequently in death. long range are kicks and of skill. the blade. This type of change ferable skills is largely due to teresting, and it will keep you Kali stickfighting was banned in this original form by strikes with the end of the Commonality of Motion in emphasis can be seen in the commonality of motion engaged in your training. After U.S. forces occupying the Philippines during World War II. Kali stick. At middle range are The Filipino martial simple movements as well as principle. This is because the 26 years of learning the Filipi- stickboxing, a modified version of those matches fought by hits with the center of the arts are structured on what in entire combinations. skills needed for each weap- no martial arts, the novelty still the escrimadors and kalista of old, continues today, perhaps stick, punches from either is known as the commonal- Transferability of Skill on are more relevant due to has not worn off for me per- not as lethal, but just as demanding and exciting. Originally, hands or elbow and knee ity of motion principle. With Another important their similarity. The motions sonally. I keep discovering new matches allowed participants the use of sticks called “bahi” or this principle, the motions characteristic of the Filipino used with each weapon are connections and layers within “kamagoon”. These sticks made from ironwood, a wood heavi- techniques. Close range al- used in many different tech- martial arts is the transfer- similar. The positioning used the arts. This keeps me intellec- er and harder than rattan training sticks used both then and lows for puno strikes, head niques are the same or very ability of skill. This transfer- when applying the various tually stimulated, which then today, were fashioned by the kalista into the shape of a sword. butts, throws, takedowns, similar. The motions are based ability means that the skills related techniques are simi- pushes me to work harder at In contrast to the baston used in today’s stickboxing, and ground fighting pro- on the same mechanics and developed by training with lar. The actual methods and advancing my physical skills. these early versions had in effect two striking surfaces, the cedures where submis- therefore have a commonal- one weapon are also available concepts behind the tech- Whether I am training with a flat, broad face and the narrow knife-like edge, either of which sion holds can be utilized. ity. The significance is that a when using another weapon. niques used are also similar. stick, a knife or empty hands, was capable of inflicting severe injury upon one’s opponent. The on-guard posi- small set of movements can This includes the physical skills The transferability is not I am really training them all. Unlike those of old, today’s practitioners, in addition to their tion of the kali stickboxer be used in many techniques. of speed, timing, power, accu- limited to the physical skills. If you are interested in skills and courage, rely on lightweight armor for protection. resembles the posture of This commonality in- racy, precision, coordination, The methods and concepts learning more the Filipino mar- What survives basically intact, however, from the art’s original the Western boxer. cludes techniques that are ap- stamina, etc. as well as the behind the techniques and tial arts, consider joining the form, are its rules and procedures, its techniques and methods. Unlike the old form where plied with a variety of weapon actual techniques and tactics tactics can also be transferred. Tactical Arts Academy Filipino Credit for the modern design of kali stickboxing belongs fighting continued un- types and unarmed tactics. used. Rather than learning A student can learn a tech- Martial Arts Program. Training to guro Ted LucayLucay, son of the late Lucky LucayLucay, who til one combatant is ei- The same mechanics used to new methods to maneuver nique with one weapon then includes learning to use a va- has furthered his father’s kali and boxing method through the ther disabled or dead, swing a stick are used to slash and apply each weapon, one through examination and riety of weapons and empty implementation of new training procedures of his own. Unlike in current competition with a knife. And those me- can draw on the methods de- analysis of the technique, dis- hands. We can help you learn other escrima systems, in kali boxing the stick work although an fights consist of rounds timed at either two or three min- chanics are also used to de- veloped with another weapon. cover how to apply the same to protect yourself and enjoy important component, is but one element of the overall meth- utes depending on the class and skill level of the fighters. liver an empty handed hack. The training progres- technique with another weap- making yourself better.