If the objective is to learn the true art of Filipino Eskrima then everything should be done in a simple and direct manner in order to be truly combative and become very efficient in doing it. But the thing is, most people would rather study a system that has a lot of flowery and complicated movements. It’s embedded in […]
Eskrima Applied for the Street Read More »
When I was a young man I was in search of this miraculous art of Wing Chun. By chance I met Master Moy Yat and became a “special student” and trained under him for about a year. His art was excellent but there was “something missing” for me. I was looking at an article by
James Cama Remembers Wing Chun Sifu Henry Leung Read More »
The book Mastering Eskrima Disarms sets out the theory, principles, strategies, and methods of four modes of disarms applied in Filipino martial arts. It then offers several dozen masters and grandmasters demonstrating their disarming techniques most used in their styles. It is the most thorough book available on the topic. In this post, we are
Eskrima Disarms: Dangerous Assumptions Read More »
I am honored to say that Grandmaster Braulio Pedoy was not only the most influential person in my martial arts career, but also something of a second father to me. His story is a tale almost mythical and folkloric in its own right. Close to the turn of the century, at a time of social
The Adventures of Escrima Master Braulio Pedoy Read More »
*The following is an essay by Sifu Alexander Lim Co, excerpted from the book, Lameco Eskrima: The Legacy of Edgar Sulite. I first met Edgar Sulite in the early 1980s under very unique circumstances. I was invited by Yuli Romo, an Arnis grandmaster, to attend a tournament sponsored by Master Picate. Yuli told me that
Sifu Alex Co Remembers Guro Edgar Sulite Read More »
Behind any effective martial art are sets of working principles. That is, a fundamental truth, or law, from which applications of movements are based. Here, we’re presenting a look at the Abenir Kalis system and its set of principles for effective application. This is an excerpt from Bong Abenir’s new book, Eskrima Street Defense. The Abenir
The Principles of Abenir Kalis Read More »
The following is an excerpt from the beginning chapter of Chinese Gentle Art Complete: The Bible of Ngo Cho Kun, written by Yu Chiok Sam and translated by Alexander L. Co. This first-ever re-release of the book since 1917 is bi-lingual and contains photos not in the original to highlight the text. 二十世紀，一武裝和平時代也。文明愈進步，殺人之器，亦講求愈精。而柔術一門，逐若天演淘汰之列，不知槍湮彈雨，賁育原無所施，而短兵相接時則柔術尚矣。日俄一役，其彰明較著者也，且流水不腐,戶樞不蠹。研究衛生學者，大多以運動為增進身體之健康，夫運動法日術相接之佳良，又熟有過柔術者乎。吾國滿清未造，積弱相仍，摺紳士夫，縛雞無力。光復以 後,當軸者稍知文弱之不足競存也，於是學校兼課柔術之文，然則柔術雖一技之微，而小足以保身，大足以強種，使上行下效，化病夫為健兒，中國前途庶有生氣乎。
4 Strategies of Five Ancestor Fist Read More »
In his in-depth interview in Nigel Sutton’s new book, Wisdom of Taiji Masters, Sifu Koh Ah Tee talks about the history, practice and secrets of Cheng man Ching’s Taijiquan. The whole of Taiji can be reduced to one word, song (“alert relaxation”), says Koh. That is the essence, the root, everything. Relaxation is the most
The Uniqueness of Cheng Man Ching’s Taijiquan Read More »
It is important to realize that the opening to all of the forms in Fut Sao Wing Chun is a key to the methods and concepts of the entire system. The opening into the ma bo stance has hidden meanings. There are footwork patterns, kicks, knee checks, and knee strikes in the seemingly simple first
Forms of Fut Sao Wing Chun Read More »
Available for the first time since 1917, the rare book on Fukien Five Ancestor Boxing… “I congratulate Sifu Alex Co for translating this rare and important book whose historical significance cannot be overstated. All practitioners of Ngo Cho should have this at their side!” —Grandmaster Benito Tan, Philippine-Chinese Beng Kiam Athletic Association In The Bible of
Rare Insights into Fukien Five Ancestor Boxing Read More »
