Escrima Sticks
Eskrima or Escrima sticks are distinguished Filipino martial arts sticks, used exclusively for sword or stick fighting. Arnis de Meno and Kali are some other names associated with Escrima. Arnis is used popularly in the Philippines, while Kali is well recognized in the U.S. and Europe. However, the term ‘Kali’ has slowly gained recognition in the Philippines as well, where it is commonly referred to as a sword.
Escrima Sticks are known for their simplicity. Here, simplicity refers to the systemisation, and not the effectiveness. It requires great skills to master the art of eskrima. Often used by the villagers, these sticks act as a source for protection from other villages, as well as from foreign attackers. Especially designed for successful combating, Escrima Sticks offer dynamic, swift and hard-hitting abilities in the combat.
There are different styles of making Escrima Sticks. Either traditional skinned or skinless rattan sticks are used for developing these sticks. Other methods include the use of extreme dense & heavy cocobolo wood and derivative materials. The extreme heavy Escrima Sticks provide excellent training and combating abilities, while the skinless rattan sticks provide competent assistance in combat training. On the other hand, the skinned rattan sticks offer excellent stick on stick practice.
This Escrima form of martial arts allows fighting with weapons or with empty hands interchangeably. However, a student is first taught to master the Escrima sticks and then proceed on to free hand combating. The practitioner of Eskirma is known as an eskrimador, or kalista, or mangangali, while an Arnis practitioner is known as an arnisador.
In the modern world, Eskrima systems have been modified to a certain extent, in order to make them more marketable to the global audience. The modern training techniques are inclined towards de-emphasizing low stands and watchful footwork, with greater prominence to the learning skills rather than killing techniques using the Escrima sticks.
Furthermore, there are serious attempts being made to promote Eskrima as a sport, with negotiations going around, including them in tournament competitions. Certainly, there are bound to be specific regulations concerning the safety of the sportsman. Therefore, this safety measure has introduced the use of padded sticks in Escrima sticks sport.
To summarize, the Escrima sticks are not as prominent as other few martial arts weapons like swords or knives. Yet, there are constant efforts being made to bring Eskrima into the spotlight.
By Sherdog.com Staff
Regulated mixed martial arts has experienced its first casualty. Sam asquez, who was stopped by Vince Libar
