[HungWeiLo]

Just saw this article on ROK. I've been interested in Muay Thai for a while but havent decided to start studying a martial art yet. http://www.returnofkings.com/46195/why-m...ct-for-men

My question is about Escrima, from the Philippines. I've read about it, and though many martial arts can be described as bing the best for any situation, or the most deadly, etc. I haven't heard much about Escrima being compared to the other more common arts like Muau Thai, BJJ, Jeet Kun Do, etc. Any one with actual experience, personal or anecdotal, that could weigh in on this decision/debate would be helpful since in OC, CA there's an Escrima school in Irvine that actually makes it an option.

[Sonsowey]

Why not go and try it out?

[HungWeiLo]

I likely will, it's more of a search for information from those that have done it before or who know about it since information on Escrima (from first hand sources) is scarcer than other arts.

[Vroom]

I've done a little training (ie less than 6 months) in Kombatan which also uses the Arnis sticks and I think it'd be well worth following. Every tom dick and harry does boxing or BJJ, but wouldn't have a fucking clue how to handle 2 sticks or defend against them.

If you ever found yourself in an out of control situation, it wouldn't be too hard to find a stick or 2 (broken pool cue, broom handle, fence post etc) and run right over top of them.

[scorpion]

(10-30-2014 08:19 PM)Vroom Wrote:  

I've done a little training (ie less than 6 months) in Kombatan which also uses the Arnis sticks and I think it'd be well worth following. Every tom dick and harry does boxing or BJJ, but wouldn't have a fucking clue how to handle 2 sticks or defend against them.

If you ever found yourself in an out of control situation, it wouldn't be too hard to find a stick or 2 (broken pool cue, broom handle, fence post etc) and run right over top of them.

You just pulled this completely out of your ass. I recommend you stop watching Dragon Ball Z with your kids. Between this and your weighting clothing idea, you seem to be losing the ability to differentiate between reality and fantasy.

Real life is not a movie or a cartoon. "Out of control situations" as you call them happen very, very quickly. Most of them will be over or nearly so by the time you look around for some kind of stick to fight with. ("Hold on," you say to your attacker. "I've got to find something to fight with before we start the violence. Wait right there and don't move."). You are not Jackie Chan. You are not going to incapacitate 5 guys using a mop handle.

If you want to actually know how to fight in real life, there are really only two things to focus on: 1) How to move your feet and throw your hands, and 2) How to avoid going to the ground. You learn the first with boxing/muay thai/kickboxing, and the second with wrestling/Judo and somewhat with BJJ.

That's really it. Anyone who says that 99% of real life fighting needs to be more complicated than that is talking out of his ass and/or trying to sell you something.

OP, I recommend you join a good boxing or MMA gym.

[vinman]

I've trained in Escrima with a friend that's phenomenal for a few years off and on. I love it. Empty hands or weapons. Works great in confined spaces and up close. A lot of action movies are using Escrima or Silat lately. Do it.

[Vroom]

(10-30-2014 08:44 PM)scorpion Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 08:19 PM)Vroom Wrote:  

I've done a little training (ie less than 6 months) in Kombatan which also uses the Arnis sticks and I think it'd be well worth following. Every tom dick and harry does boxing or BJJ, but wouldn't have a fucking clue how to handle 2 sticks or defend against them.

If you ever found yourself in an out of control situation, it wouldn't be too hard to find a stick or 2 (broken pool cue, broom handle, fence post etc) and run right over top of them.

You just pulled this completely out of your ass. I recommend you stop watching Dragon Ball Z with your kids. Between this and your weighting clothing idea, you seem to be losing the ability to differentiate between reality and fantasy.

Real life is not a movie or a cartoon. "Out of control situations" as you call them happen very, very quickly. Most of them will be over or nearly so by the time you look around for some kind of stick to fight with. ("Hold on," you say to your attacker. "I've got to find something to fight with before we start the violence. Wait right there and don't move."). You are not Jackie Chan. You are not going to incapacitate 5 guys using a mop handle.

If you want to actually know how to fight in real life, there are really only two things to focus on: 1) How to move your feet and throw your hands, and 2) How to avoid going to the ground. You learn the first with boxing/muay thai/kickboxing, and the second with wrestling/Judo and somewhat with BJJ.

That's really it. Anyone who says that 99% of real life fighting needs to be more complicated than that is talking out of his ass and/or trying to sell you something.

OP, I recommend you join a good boxing or MMA gym.

True Story that happened here was that a gang of punk kids were tearing up the place outside a guys house. The homeowner threatened them with a knife, and one of the gang came up and dared him to use it. He stabbed him through the heart, the kid died and the homeowner is now in prison.

Now imagine if he had some Arnis sticks and knew how to use them. He could have clubbed the cunt and any other street hero who wanted a piece, and everyone would be alive and free today. Now if the homeowner had have walked out there having done 'a bit of boxing, a bit of BJJ' and threatened them with that, he'd probably be the dead one.

I'd call this an out of control situation, yet he had ample time to arm himself. Just a shame the choice of weapon was inappropriate.

[TravelerKai]

I have Eskrima/Arnis/Silat training from years ago, that I learned it from a Filipino expert in it that moved here for college. I taught him Judo/BJJ and Japanese Ju Jitsu, and he taught me the system in return.

I highly recommend studying it. It's one of the best self defense systems. Easily in the top 5 for street and general self defense.

I will share some of the information about it from my upcoming datasheet on martial arts.

Eskrima/Arnis/Silat

Pros:
1)Very deadly, dangerous, and practical martial art.
2)The poster child art for street fighting itself.
3)Was once used to defeat invading US Marines, by local Filipinos in a past war.
4)So effective that it’s techniques have been heavily borrowed into CQC and Krav Maga for military training programs.
5)Teaches you how to carry knives discreetly, how to defend against another person with a knife.
6)Teaches you everyday awareness techniques and how clothing can help you win fights or lose fights.
7)Multiple opponent fighting for street situations.
8)Has a cousin style in Malaysian Silat that is popular in Indonesia and surrounding places.
9)Has gained lots of popularity recently due to Hollywood so that has helped it spread.
10)Contains non-lethal techniques as well.

Cons:
1)Can be a little hard to find a school/dojo in the West. Schools are everywhere in SEA.
2)You cannot legally, or should not, always carry knives or sticks into certain public places.
3)Potential legal issues if you have to use a weapon to defend yourself in certain countries and states.
4)You have to practice with rubber knives and sticks and cannot give 100% effort into everything (sparring wise).
5)Physical fitness must be gained outside, but some schools force students into fitness camps.

That's the gist or the basics. There are some very good instructors out there that know invisible hand techniques (heavy pressure point techniques), that can drop a person very fast, but not all instructors know these. A few like Sang H Kim knows Dim Mak and blends both together. Nasty.

[Enigma]

(10-30-2014 08:44 PM)scorpion Wrote:  

You just pulled this completely out of your ass. I recommend you stop watching Dragon Ball Z with your kids. Between this and your weighting clothing idea, you seem to be losing the ability to differentiate between reality and fantasy.

Real life is not a movie or a cartoon. "Out of control situations" as you call them happen very, very quickly. Most of them will be over or nearly so by the time you look around for some kind of stick to fight with. ("Hold on," you say to your attacker. "I've got to find something to fight with before we start the violence. Wait right there and don't move."). You are not Jackie Chan. You are not going to incapacitate 5 guys using a mop handle.

If you want to actually know how to fight in real life, there are really only two things to focus on: 1) How to move your feet and throw your hands, and 2) How to avoid going to the ground. You learn the first with boxing/muay thai/kickboxing, and the second with wrestling/Judo and somewhat with BJJ.

That's really it. Anyone who says that 99% of real life fighting needs to be more complicated than that is talking out of his ass and/or trying to sell you something.

OP, I recommend you join a good boxing or MMA gym.

You know Arnis isn't just stick and blade fighting, right?

[TravelerKai]

(10-30-2014 09:39 PM)Vroom Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 08:44 PM)scorpion Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 08:19 PM)Vroom Wrote:  

I've done a little training (ie less than 6 months) in Kombatan which also uses the Arnis sticks and I think it'd be well worth following. Every tom dick and harry does boxing or BJJ, but wouldn't have a fucking clue how to handle 2 sticks or defend against them.

If you ever found yourself in an out of control situation, it wouldn't be too hard to find a stick or 2 (broken pool cue, broom handle, fence post etc) and run right over top of them.

You just pulled this completely out of your ass. I recommend you stop watching Dragon Ball Z with your kids. Between this and your weighting clothing idea, you seem to be losing the ability to differentiate between reality and fantasy.

Real life is not a movie or a cartoon. "Out of control situations" as you call them happen very, very quickly. Most of them will be over or nearly so by the time you look around for some kind of stick to fight with. ("Hold on," you say to your attacker. "I've got to find something to fight with before we start the violence. Wait right there and don't move."). You are not Jackie Chan. You are not going to incapacitate 5 guys using a mop handle.

If you want to actually know how to fight in real life, there are really only two things to focus on: 1) How to move your feet and throw your hands, and 2) How to avoid going to the ground. You learn the first with boxing/muay thai/kickboxing, and the second with wrestling/Judo and somewhat with BJJ.

That's really it. Anyone who says that 99% of real life fighting needs to be more complicated than that is talking out of his ass and/or trying to sell you something.

OP, I recommend you join a good boxing or MMA gym.

True Story that happened here was that a gang of punk kids were tearing up the place outside a guys house. The homeowner threatened them with a knife, and one of the gang came up and dared him to use it. He stabbed him through the heart, the kid died and the homeowner is now in prison.

Now imagine if he had some Arnis sticks and knew how to use them. He could have clubbed the cunt and any other street hero who wanted a piece, and everyone would be alive and free today. Now if the homeowner had have walked out there having done 'a bit of boxing, a bit of BJJ' and threatened them with that, he'd probably be the dead one.

I'd call this an out of control situation, yet he had ample time to arm himself. Just a shame the choice of weapon was inappropriate.

Some practitioners carry collapsible sticks, hidden blades, finger/talon knives, inside their leather coats, belts, etc. They won't need a pool stick or junk like that. Most of them are good at the non-weapon applications as well. In the Philippines you can walk around like that and its not a big deal. Over here, eh... not exactly. The knives are something you can carry, but you better use it against the correct threat and not catch a case of excessive force and get arrested. There is a risk of that with all martial arts. From wrestling, to boxing, to Arnis/Eskrima/Silat. If you suplexed some asshole and broke his neck from the slam, that's just as bad as if you had used a knife on him.

Power, weapons, or techniques? "Legally Correct" use of anything is the only thing that matters if you want to avoid catching a case.

[TravelerKai]

(10-30-2014 10:22 PM)Enigma Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 08:44 PM)scorpion Wrote:  

You just pulled this completely out of your ass. I recommend you stop watching Dragon Ball Z with your kids. Between this and your weighting clothing idea, you seem to be losing the ability to differentiate between reality and fantasy.

Real life is not a movie or a cartoon. "Out of control situations" as you call them happen very, very quickly. Most of them will be over or nearly so by the time you look around for some kind of stick to fight with. ("Hold on," you say to your attacker. "I've got to find something to fight with before we start the violence. Wait right there and don't move."). You are not Jackie Chan. You are not going to incapacitate 5 guys using a mop handle.

If you want to actually know how to fight in real life, there are really only two things to focus on: 1) How to move your feet and throw your hands, and 2) How to avoid going to the ground. You learn the first with boxing/muay thai/kickboxing, and the second with wrestling/Judo and somewhat with BJJ.

That's really it. Anyone who says that 99% of real life fighting needs to be more complicated than that is talking out of his ass and/or trying to sell you something.

OP, I recommend you join a good boxing or MMA gym.

You know Arnis isn't just stick and blade fighting, right?

Yep. It's a pretty much complete system with plenty of hand, fist, elbow, foot, and knee strikes in it's arsenal. Neck strikes, redirections when fighting multiple opponents, pressure point applications, eye gouging, fish-hooking, stomps, etc. etc. It's full of dirty fighting techniques. When you add the weapons, it just gets more dangerous.

If you see people in the Phillipines walking around with a leather jacket, don't fuck with them. Many of the knife fighters like to wear those to prevent getting their wrists , tendons, and major veins, cut within the first 3 seconds by another trained knife fighter. Many can cut you to ribbons and they cut in such ways that it leaves meat hanging and victims in a condition that they cannot run or move the limb that was cut.

Millitaries all over the world learn their knife cut orders/setups for a very good reason. It's second to no other system. Even Systema/Combat Sambo. It cuts fast and leaves blood shooting everywhere allowing the practicioner to move onto the next victim, very very quickly. Almost like a ninja out of some anime or something. Funny how Scorpion brought up Dragon Ball Z. These guys can cut your arms to a point where your arms cannot be raised anymore and then they slice the neck 2 times, then dash out. One wrong move in a knife fight with one of these guys and you better hope the hospital is right next to where you fall down. You would still probably bleed out and die. They train to cut the arteries correctly like Muay Thai guys practice kicking.


The Jason Borne movies depict the style pretty accurately. Don't think that shit is pretend or fake. It's legit.

The PI is a rough country. The people, while super friendly, live in a place with a dark side. Political Assassinations are commonplace. Hired hitmen are very very common there. The tools of the trade are okay to walk around with and easy enough to obtain. The techniques are old and battle tested against Western countries.

What more can you ask for?

[Vroom]

(10-30-2014 10:25 PM)TravelerKai Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 09:39 PM)Vroom Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 08:44 PM)scorpion Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 08:19 PM)Vroom Wrote:  

I've done a little training (ie less than 6 months) in Kombatan which also uses the Arnis sticks and I think it'd be well worth following. Every tom dick and harry does boxing or BJJ, but wouldn't have a fucking clue how to handle 2 sticks or defend against them.

If you ever found yourself in an out of control situation, it wouldn't be too hard to find a stick or 2 (broken pool cue, broom handle, fence post etc) and run right over top of them.

You just pulled this completely out of your ass. I recommend you stop watching Dragon Ball Z with your kids. Between this and your weighting clothing idea, you seem to be losing the ability to differentiate between reality and fantasy.

Real life is not a movie or a cartoon. "Out of control situations" as you call them happen very, very quickly. Most of them will be over or nearly so by the time you look around for some kind of stick to fight with. ("Hold on," you say to your attacker. "I've got to find something to fight with before we start the violence. Wait right there and don't move."). You are not Jackie Chan. You are not going to incapacitate 5 guys using a mop handle.

If you want to actually know how to fight in real life, there are really only two things to focus on: 1) How to move your feet and throw your hands, and 2) How to avoid going to the ground. You learn the first with boxing/muay thai/kickboxing, and the second with wrestling/Judo and somewhat with BJJ.

That's really it. Anyone who says that 99% of real life fighting needs to be more complicated than that is talking out of his ass and/or trying to sell you something.

OP, I recommend you join a good boxing or MMA gym.

True Story that happened here was that a gang of punk kids were tearing up the place outside a guys house. The homeowner threatened them with a knife, and one of the gang came up and dared him to use it. He stabbed him through the heart, the kid died and the homeowner is now in prison.

Now imagine if he had some Arnis sticks and knew how to use them. He could have clubbed the cunt and any other street hero who wanted a piece, and everyone would be alive and free today. Now if the homeowner had have walked out there having done 'a bit of boxing, a bit of BJJ' and threatened them with that, he'd probably be the dead one.

I'd call this an out of control situation, yet he had ample time to arm himself. Just a shame the choice of weapon was inappropriate.

Some practitioners carry collapsible sticks, hidden blades, finger/talon knives, inside their leather coats, belts, etc. They won't need a pool stick or junk like that. Most of them are good at the non-weapon applications as well. In the Philippines you can walk around like that and its not a big deal. Over here, eh... not exactly. The knives are something you can carry, but you better use it against the correct threat and not catch a case of excessive force and get arrested. There is a risk of that with all martial arts. From wrestling, to boxing, to Arnis/Eskrima/Silat. If you suplexed some asshole and broke his neck from the slam, that's just as bad as if you had used a knife on him.

Power, weapons, or techniques? "Legally Correct" use of anything is the only thing that matters if you want to avoid catching a case.

yeah I was just trying to relate it to surroundings where players might find themselves. I don't find myself in places and situations where I am in serious danger of being gang bashed, but people who frequent night spots might.

Proficient use of a weapon tips the odds in your favour, but only if you're prepared to use it. If it were my home under seige, it's not my sword I'd take to them with as I'm probably not prepared to use it without holding back signficantly, but I'd be happy to use my arnis sticks without inhibition.

It's much harder to use a blade without risking killing them, than it is to use a lightweight but solid stick. Give em a crack on the head or the collarbone, lever a few joints if need be - these wounds will incapacitate but are unlikely to leave you facing any serious legal action.

[TravelerKai]

(10-30-2014 10:48 PM)Vroom Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 10:25 PM)TravelerKai Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 09:39 PM)Vroom Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 08:44 PM)scorpion Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 08:19 PM)Vroom Wrote:  

I've done a little training (ie less than 6 months) in Kombatan which also uses the Arnis sticks and I think it'd be well worth following. Every tom dick and harry does boxing or BJJ, but wouldn't have a fucking clue how to handle 2 sticks or defend against them.

If you ever found yourself in an out of control situation, it wouldn't be too hard to find a stick or 2 (broken pool cue, broom handle, fence post etc) and run right over top of them.

You just pulled this completely out of your ass. I recommend you stop watching Dragon Ball Z with your kids. Between this and your weighting clothing idea, you seem to be losing the ability to differentiate between reality and fantasy.

Real life is not a movie or a cartoon. "Out of control situations" as you call them happen very, very quickly. Most of them will be over or nearly so by the time you look around for some kind of stick to fight with. ("Hold on," you say to your attacker. "I've got to find something to fight with before we start the violence. Wait right there and don't move."). You are not Jackie Chan. You are not going to incapacitate 5 guys using a mop handle.

If you want to actually know how to fight in real life, there are really only two things to focus on: 1) How to move your feet and throw your hands, and 2) How to avoid going to the ground. You learn the first with boxing/muay thai/kickboxing, and the second with wrestling/Judo and somewhat with BJJ.

That's really it. Anyone who says that 99% of real life fighting needs to be more complicated than that is talking out of his ass and/or trying to sell you something.

OP, I recommend you join a good boxing or MMA gym.

True Story that happened here was that a gang of punk kids were tearing up the place outside a guys house. The homeowner threatened them with a knife, and one of the gang came up and dared him to use it. He stabbed him through the heart, the kid died and the homeowner is now in prison.

Now imagine if he had some Arnis sticks and knew how to use them. He could have clubbed the cunt and any other street hero who wanted a piece, and everyone would be alive and free today. Now if the homeowner had have walked out there having done 'a bit of boxing, a bit of BJJ' and threatened them with that, he'd probably be the dead one.

I'd call this an out of control situation, yet he had ample time to arm himself. Just a shame the choice of weapon was inappropriate.

Some practitioners carry collapsible sticks, hidden blades, finger/talon knives, inside their leather coats, belts, etc. They won't need a pool stick or junk like that. Most of them are good at the non-weapon applications as well. In the Philippines you can walk around like that and its not a big deal. Over here, eh... not exactly. The knives are something you can carry, but you better use it against the correct threat and not catch a case of excessive force and get arrested. There is a risk of that with all martial arts. From wrestling, to boxing, to Arnis/Eskrima/Silat. If you suplexed some asshole and broke his neck from the slam, that's just as bad as if you had used a knife on him.

Power, weapons, or techniques? "Legally Correct" use of anything is the only thing that matters if you want to avoid catching a case.

yeah I was just trying to relate it to surroundings where players might find themselves. I don't find myself in places and situations where I am in serious danger of being gang bashed, but people who frequent night spots might.

Proficient use of a weapon tips the odds in your favour, but only if you're prepared to use it. If it were my home under seige, it's not my sword I'd take to them with as I'm probably not prepared to use it without holding back signficantly, but I'd be happy to use my arnis sticks without inhibition.

It's much harder to use a blade without risking killing them, than it is to use a lightweight but solid stick. Give em a crack on the head or the collarbone, lever a few joints if need be - these wounds will incapacitate but are unlikely to leave you facing any serious legal action.

Yeah every country has it's own shitty rules or laws that you have to tiptoe through, even for self defense. In the US, using a knife or sticks instead of a gun, might be worse especially if you just wound them, because they could sue you afterwards or leave speculation open for a over-zealous prosecutor. Better to shoot an intruder in the head and tell them you feared for your life and your family's life. It's a little fucked up, but what can you do? If you left them alive the system will game you.

[Saweeep]

This is again one of those "does this traditional martial art that has evolved for thousands of years really work" questions.

The answer, is, as always…if it's taught correctly, of course it does.

[Pantheon Dweller]

Escrima is a great martial art but :
- Stick and knife fighting can only be used when your life is in danger.
- When you remove sticks and knives because your life isn't at risk, there are better hand to hand alternatives.
But then again, fighting when you life isn't in danger may not be the smartest choice.

[Carlos100]

Obviously, most martial arts styles are developed within the context of the cultures where they originate. You need to take this into account as to which situations you're most likely to find yourself needing to use self-defense. I take it that personal combat in the Philippines was often close, sudden, and dirty, which is why they developed techniques to use short weapons at short notice. Law enforcement in the area likely didn't often search people for concealed weapons and the legal system wasn't too heavy on you if you used a weapon to defend yourself. Is this the kind of situation you see yourself being in in the future?

[TravelerKai]

(10-31-2014 07:16 AM)Pantheon Dweller Wrote:  

Escrima is a great martial art but :
- Stick and knife fighting can only be used when your life is in danger.
- When you remove sticks and knives because your life isn't at risk, there are better hand to hand alternatives.
But then again, fighting when you life isn't in danger may not be the smartest choice.

What makes you say that Eskrima does not have hand to hand techniques? Filipino martial arts has 3 components taught at the vast majority of schools. Knives, Sticks, Empty Hands. Eskrima/Arnis/Silat. (FMA = Filipino Martial Arts) Almost no FMA school in the US teaches only one of these components.

As for better hand to hand alternatives, that list would be a very, very short one. Only the more complete systems would apply and even then that is still highly debatable. Russian Systema might be the only one with weapons training that might be slightly better than FMA, and it actually contains FMA in some of it's core. Krav Maga is not complete enough to be better than FMA.

The same military, Special Forces, Secret Service guys usually cross train FMA, CQC, Systema, and Krav Maga these days. They box and spar for cardio and fitness enhancement. Alot of CQC stuff was pulled from FMA and Japanese Ju Jitsu to begin with.

OP be very careful of some of the advice given to you on this thread, especially of those that never trained in it. Get more information and do your own research as well. Go visit the schools in your area and see for yourself. No style is for everyone. Everyone has their own personal animal-like style. I for example, know (at an high to expert level) about 8 different martial arts. I probably would use 4 of them in a self defense or street situation. Not because the others are not effective, but only because those styles are just my heavy preference based on my personality and body type and gives me the best proficiency.

[TravelerKai]

FMA and Indonesian Silat (Penkat Silat) is very underrated as a martial art. It used to be a big open secret. When most people think of Asian Martial Arts, most think of the East Asian styles like Japanese, Chinese, and Korean ones. Strike for strike these South East Asian styles are probably better for street self defense for today's modern realities. Before Jason Borne Movies and Liam Neeson's movie Taken, no one really knew about Silat in the mainstream. Shit I did not know about it until I got to college and that International Student from the Philippines I met, told me about it and it's history. I spent 2 years learning it from him, 2 times a week for 4 semesters.
Each lesson made me think, holy shit, what kind of country did this come from? I was surprised at the effectiveness because like some of the people in this thread think, I was skeptical and thought it was just stick fighting mostly all because of some history books I read regarding the US and the Philippines. I was very wrong back then.

When those movies came out, everyone was surprised by the fighting scenes and thought it was some new kind of karate, Krav Maga, or something else. When I told them what it was, they were like "Huh?" "What's that?"

[Pantheon Dweller]

(10-31-2014 08:48 AM)TravelerKai Wrote:  

(10-31-2014 07:16 AM)Pantheon Dweller Wrote:  

Escrima is a great martial art but :
- Stick and knife fighting can only be used when your life is in danger.
- When you remove sticks and knives because your life isn't at risk, there are better hand to hand alternatives.
But then again, fighting when you life isn't in danger may not be the smartest choice.

What makes you say that Eskrima does not have hand to hand techniques? Filipino martial arts has 3 components taught at the vast majority of schools. Knives, Sticks, Empty Hands. Eskrima/Arnis/Silat. (FMA = Filipino Martial Arts) Almost no FMA school in the US teaches only one of these components.

As for better hand to hand alternatives, that list would be a very, very short one. Only the more complete systems would apply and even then that is still highly debatable. Russian Systema might be the only one with weapons training that might be slightly better than FMA, and it actually contains FMA in some of it's core. Krav Maga is not complete enough to be better than FMA.

The same military, Special Forces, Secret Service guys usually cross train FMA, CQC, Systema, and Krav Maga these days. They box and spar for cardio and fitness enhancement. Alot of CQC stuff was pulled from FMA and Japanese Ju Jitsu to begin with.

OP be very careful of some of the advice given to you on this thread, especially of those that never trained in it. Get more information and do your own research as well. Go visit the schools in your area and see for yourself. No style is for everyone. Everyone has their own personal animal-like style. I for example, know (at an high to expert level) about 8 different martial arts. I probably would use 4 of them in a self defense or street situation. Not because the others are not effective, but only because those styles are just my heavy preference based on my personality and body type and gives me the best proficiency.

Never said eskrima didn't have hand to hand techniques, or even that FMA hand to hand wasn't good, I said there are better alternatives. When you are training weapons you're not training hand to hand (even if some moves are similar). And in an unarmed situation, my bet will be on the guy who trains, and most importantly spars, unarmed all the time (assuming both systems are good). Just as I'll bet on the FMA guy when weapons are involved.

I don't get what's offending you, you train weapons more so you get better with them, while those who train hand to hand more also get better at it. Don't worry, I'm not saying FMA aren't a good choice

[Aliblahba]

No one on the forum has as much experience as I on this subject. Escrima is legit, and I live by the principle. There's no rulebook of fighting, and the only rule is to win and hug your mother another day.

[Beyond Borders]

I've had my eye on escrima for a long time and would check it out if in the Philippines. The knifefighting stuff may not be something you can use in many practical situations, but knowing how to use and defend yourself against a blade, how to recognize if someone else knows how to actually use one, and how to disarm an opponent, could be some damn good knowledge to have. A blade is something you can pretty easily carry in the states too, and while you obviously don't want to yank it out in a drunken bar fight, there are plenty of worst case scenarios where you might be damn glad you had it.

If some tweaker(s) or third world gangster(s) ever came at me with a weapon, I sure as shit would rather know escrima than not.

[Paul B]

I've seen a few BJJ vs Eskrima fights and the BJJ guy always comes out on top.

[Enigma]

(11-02-2014 03:13 AM)Pantheon Dweller Wrote:  

Never said eskrima didn't have hand to hand techniques, or even that FMA hand to hand wasn't good, I said there are better alternatives. When you are training weapons you're not training hand to hand (even if some moves are similar). And in an unarmed situation, my bet will be on the guy who trains, and most importantly spars, unarmed all the time (assuming both systems are good). Just as I'll bet on the FMA guy when weapons are involved.

I don't get what's offending you, you train weapons more so you get better with them, while those who train hand to hand more also get better at it. Don't worry, I'm not saying FMA aren't a good choice

But you're not naming the alternatives.

You're not supporting your own point or giving anyone the chance to disagree with you.

Just based on my assumptions of what you may be talking about, how often does a boxer train in locks, throws, or ground work? Does he use his elbows, knees, or legs?

You're saying that he trains more in hand to hand, which is definitely true to an extent, but does he practice countering a punch with an elbow to the face and a knee to the stomach?

On the other hand, an element of FMA is boxing, so an Eskrimador has trained to box and defend against boxing. Obviously not as thoroughly, but it's something he's familiar with.

[Enigma]

(11-02-2014 04:14 AM)Paul B Wrote:  

I've seen a few BJJ vs Eskrima fights and the BJJ guy always comes out on top.

Was this a street fight or a competition?

[TravelerKai]

(11-02-2014 03:13 AM)Pantheon Dweller Wrote:  

(10-31-2014 08:48 AM)TravelerKai Wrote:  

(10-31-2014 07:16 AM)Pantheon Dweller Wrote:  

Escrima is a great martial art but :
- Stick and knife fighting can only be used when your life is in danger.
- When you remove sticks and knives because your life isn't at risk, there are better hand to hand alternatives.
But then again, fighting when you life isn't in danger may not be the smartest choice.

What makes you say that Eskrima does not have hand to hand techniques? Filipino martial arts has 3 components taught at the vast majority of schools. Knives, Sticks, Empty Hands. Eskrima/Arnis/Silat. (FMA = Filipino Martial Arts) Almost no FMA school in the US teaches only one of these components.

As for better hand to hand alternatives, that list would be a very, very short one. Only the more complete systems would apply and even then that is still highly debatable. Russian Systema might be the only one with weapons training that might be slightly better than FMA, and it actually contains FMA in some of it's core. Krav Maga is not complete enough to be better than FMA.

The same military, Special Forces, Secret Service guys usually cross train FMA, CQC, Systema, and Krav Maga these days. They box and spar for cardio and fitness enhancement. Alot of CQC stuff was pulled from FMA and Japanese Ju Jitsu to begin with.

OP be very careful of some of the advice given to you on this thread, especially of those that never trained in it. Get more information and do your own research as well. Go visit the schools in your area and see for yourself. No style is for everyone. Everyone has their own personal animal-like style. I for example, know (at an high to expert level) about 8 different martial arts. I probably would use 4 of them in a self defense or street situation. Not because the others are not effective, but only because those styles are just my heavy preference based on my personality and body type and gives me the best proficiency.

Never said eskrima didn't have hand to hand techniques, or even that FMA hand to hand wasn't good, I said there are better alternatives. When you are training weapons you're not training hand to hand (even if some moves are similar). And in an unarmed situation, my bet will be on the guy who trains, and most importantly spars, unarmed all the time (assuming both systems are good). Just as I'll bet on the FMA guy when weapons are involved.

I don't get what's offending you, you train weapons more so you get better with them, while those who train hand to hand more also get better at it. Don't worry, I'm not saying FMA aren't a good choice

Like others have said, name a better alternative if you think FMA is not that good, otherwise it just sounds like you are talking about of your ass. Be more detailed than this.