ESCRIMA

Escrima, also spelled Eskrima and closely related to the terms Arnis and Kali, is a Filipino martial art with a focus on weapons, angles, footwork, and practical self-defense. Training is often done with one stick or two sticks, but the principles can also help develop an understanding of other tools, empty-hand techniques, distance, timing, and movement.

Unlike many other martial arts, Escrima often begins with weapons from the very start. The stick is used as a pedagogical tool to make lines of attack, angles, rhythm, and positioning easier to understand. Through stick training, students develop coordination, body mechanics, reaction ability, and an understanding of how distance and timing change when a weapon is involved.

At Sanchin Budokai, we practice Samahang Tatlong Laban Escrima, our own club adaptation of fundamental Filipino stickfighting. The training is based primarily on Modern Stick Combatives by Guro Jeff Brown and Dynamic Fighting Arts Kali by Guro David Seiwert, adapted to Sanchin Budokai's other training systems and to Swedish association-based martial arts practice.

Samahang Tatlong Laban Escrima is intended to complement Sanchin Budokai Kenpo Karate and Sanchin Budokai Jiu-Jitsu. While Kenpo Karate provides the foundation in strikes, kicks, combinations, and movement, and Jiu-Jitsu provides the foundation in grips, throws, locks, and control, Escrima training provides a clear foundation in weapon awareness, angles, live hand, footwork, and the transition between long range and close range.

Much of the Escrima training is integrated into the regular Kenpo training, especially through work with angles, footwork, coordination, and defense against armed attacks. In addition, dedicated Escrima seminars are arranged from time to time for students who wish to study stick training and the system's specific techniques in greater depth.