Filipino martial arts are now among the most popular in the world. Yet, as their popularity grew so did the need to open commercial clubs to teach larger groups of people, including children. As a result, these arts have in many cases gone the route of other martial systems—they have become commercialized, watered down, and their curriculum expanded in ways that keeps students in the clubs but detract from the art’s intended use.

Eskrima Street Defense is geared for the street. It offers readers dozens of practical techniques for dangerous street encounters in six specific categories: 1) Hand vs. Hand, 2) Hand vs. Knife, 3) Hand vs. Bolo, 4) Knife vs. Knife, 5) Bolo vs. Bolo, and 6) Improvised Weapons. These techniques are backed up with key principles for application, discussions of the most vulnerable striking points on the body, pointers for becoming aware of your surroundings in common public spaces where attacks occur, and rules for common sense self-defense.

When applying Eskrima for street defense—as opposed to physical training or sport competition—simplicity is the key to survival. This book, like street techniques themselves, is direct and to the point. It focuses on developing safety, awareness, and skills to survive on the street when you suddenly find yourself in a bad situation against armed and unarmed assailants and multiple attackers.

Fernando “Bong” Abenir is a Filipino martial arts instructor based in Manila, Philippines. In 2001 he began merging eskrima, silat, yaw-yan and kuntao systems through personal experience in live weapon sparring, personal street defense altercations, and trial-and-error to develop Abenir Kalis Filipino Fighting Art. He has written for Rapid Journal, is currently a regular contributor to the Manila Times, and appears on numerous TV sports and morning shows in the Philippines. Bong Abenir conducts seminars internationally and was invited to teach the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police.

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