As I've oft mentioned, I harbor a keen interest in the martial arts (despite severe health issues). Mostly Japanese, but other styles interest me as well. Lately I've been looking at Philipino Escrima (aka Kali or Arnis), and in particular Escrima sticks and knife-fighting. Anyone here have a backround?

You mention Filipino martial arts. I started training in Doce Pares, a form of Escrima. I see in your tag line that you are in the Bay Area. Depending on what part of the Bay Area you're in, Tony Ramos Kajukenbo teaches a Doce Pares class in Fairfield if that is not too far.

AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

I started thinking about this after meeting one of my neighbors a few days ago. Turns out she's an Escrima teacher, and has trained with Dan Inosanto.

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
As I've oft mentioned, I harbor a keen interest in the martial arts (despite severe health issues). Mostly Japanese, but other styles interest me as well. Lately I've been looking at Philipino Escrima (aka Kali or Arnis), and in particular Escrima sticks and knife-fighting. Anyone here have a backround?

Can you carry those stocks and knives anywhere?
Have you considered the innocent looking walking cane? Link to info

Like all things, it depends on the teacher and the training. Most of the Kali training groups I have seen have been part of Inosanto's lineage which means they also train in JKD and Silat. I do the 2-3 hour group training twice a week and then 1 hour private. In the private lesson been spending a lot of time on my folding karambit (which is what I usually carry every day on my weak side). I like it, very good street self defense. So yes, I can recommend it and would start training with your neighbor as soon as possible.

There was a story a few years ago when the knock out game started about an older Filipino man getting jumped by three thugs doing the knock out game. The Filipino guy was knocked to the ground but he was trained in escrima and got out his box cutter from work. Final score: 1 dead thug (femoral artery cut), 1 cut up wounded thug (achilles tendon cut among other cuts), and 1 thug ran away screaming like a little girl.

That's good input, jsbcody, thank you. Indeed, my neighbor does also teach JKD and Silat. Question, since kali is such a broad art, are you able to focus on specific parts, say if someone was primarily interested in stick arts for the time being?

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Did someone whack you with an escrima stick, sm?

I trained in San Miguel Eskrima DocePares Orihinal with Masters Ramon Rubia and Eva Canete Rubia in Buena Park, and competed in World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation until 2010.

There's an outfit called Upakan Bara Bara in Fremont, headed by Master Gabe Rafael.

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
I started thinking about this after meeting one of my neighbors a few days ago. Turns out she's an Escrima teacher, and has trained with Dan Inosanto.

I trained under Inosanto. He is a stand up dude.

It's sorta funny. Dan had a small part in Steven Seagal's Out For Justice. He gets in a fight with Seagal and breaks a pool stick. A double stick fight ensues. It looks really cool until you realize they are just doing Heaven Six.

I've been watching and rewatching that scene from Out for Justice since meeting my neighbor. It's funny, the very first time I saw that scene, I said to myself, "Holy carp, that looks like Dan Inosanto. You know I love you, Steven, but going double-sticks against that guy?"

Did you know a Brenda K. when you trained with Mr. Inosanto, Jljones?

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Did someone whack you with an escrima stick, sm?

Si. I escrima, like jooo axe me to... Ai Mamí...

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
I've been watching and rewatching that scene from Out for Justice since meeting my neighbor. It's funny, the very first time I saw that scene, I said to myself, "Holy carp, that looks like Dan Inosanto. You know I love you, Steven, but going double-sticks against that guy?"

Did you know a Brenda K. when you trained with Mr. Inosanto, Jljones?

No, it doesn't ring a bell. The local host here was Jeff Westfall. Dan and Paula would fly in and do seminars.

I have a background in Escrima. I have studied with Remi Presas (deceased). I haven't done it in a few year, still have my sticks. I would like to get back into it as it is low impact and a great workout. I noticed some posted they have studied with Dan Insanto, another great stickman. When I studied with Remi, he did it in coordination with Wally Jay (also deceased) and George Dillman-a guy that used pressure points to knock you out. The three worked together and you could cross train using the threes techniques.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: rtquig,

Of the various martial arts I've formally studied (Shotokan and TKD, mostly) this wasn't one - but I did manage to spend a couple of days a week for about three years working out / sparring with / learning from a friend who had spent many years studying Pincak Silat, Kali, and some Muay Thai, some with Inosanto. We spent most of the time on close quarters strikes and grappling techniques, and defense against them, focusing entirely on techniques and scenarios for actual fighting, and the value of the workouts themselves. Knees, elbows, sticks/etc, wrist locks, with someone at bad-breath distance, all that.

I've retained plenty of the gist and these days my "style" (such as it is) is an ala carte menu of all of them that has been second nature for a long time, but I can't help much beyond a basic endorsement... like most styles, I think various bits are very useful and worthy of learning, and I definitely felt it/they had something valuable to add to my foundation.

Small world, but true. I studied Small Circle Jujitsu under Wally. There was another guy, Rick something, that did pressure points. I did a couple of seminars under him as well.

I've trained with Jack McVicker...I recommend it.

I do. Feel free to email me.

quote:

Originally posted by rtquig:
I have a background in Escrima. I have studied with Remi Presas (deceased). I haven't done it in a few year, still have my sticks. I would like to get back into it as it is low impact and a great workout. I noticed some posted they have studied with Dan Insanto, another great stickman. When I studied with Remi, he did it in coordination with Wally Jay (also deceased) and George Dillman-a guy that used pressure points to knock you out. The three worked together and you could cross train using the threes techniques.

I've seen vids of Presas' seminars. He was so good it was mesmerizing. I should get me a copy of Modern Arnis. (Edit: I just did!)

I remember George Dillman as well. Lots of videos showing him knocking out people with just a touch- but always students or people attending his seminars? The one time a skeptical tv reporter tried it, nothing happened. Dillman had all kinds of explanations, though.

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
That's good input, jsbcody, thank you. Indeed, my neighbor does also teach JKD and Silat. Question, since kali is such a broad art, are you able to focus on specific parts, say if someone was primarily interested in stick arts for the time being?

Yep. There are people that only attend 1 or 2 blocks/hours out of the 3 blocks/hours of instruction (where I attend 1 hour Silat, 1 hour Escrima, 1 hour of JKD, different days of the week different order of classes). The Kali/Escrima class usually does stick/knife work but occasionally does empty hand to emphasis the differences between stick/knife and empty hand: de-fanging the snake (limb destruction), transitions to joint locks, control techniques, and take downs.