The Empty Hands of the
Filipino Martial Arts
To most people and martial artists, the Filipino
Martial Arts purely concentrate on the use of Sticks, Knives and Edged weapons.
To those who have some knowledge of the arts they know that it contains a large
section of empty hand fighting skills.
These empty hand skills are derived from the
movements with the weapons and are taught within the framework of weapons
techniques. For instance, the footwork and arm positioning used in a snake
disarm would also be used in delivering an uppercut or hook punch to the ribs.
Footwork
Footwork is one of the key things, which bind all
the various fighting areas together. This is basically around a boxing format
with the notable addition of the triangular footwork patterns. As any eskrimador
will tell you the footwork is the primary means of evasion to an attack.
Male and Female footwork is based around two
triangles placed on the floor in the shape of an X. If you stand in the center
point, the triangle growing away from you is the female triangle and the
triangle going behind you is the male triangle. If you keep one foot in the
center and step out into a boxing stance to one of the points or backwards
keeping your lead foot in the center you will gain the basic footwork.(Fig 1)
Female
Triangle
Male
Triangle
fig 1.
If you add a large square around the X pattern
you can then practice your step and slide around the X then go through the X and
make your own patterns up.(fig 2)
The shapes can either be made up from sticks
placed on the floor or you can use tape to mark the pattern out with on the
floor. I prefer the latter method because you can use different colored tapes
for the triangles and the square which makes it easier for you to pick them out
if you only want to practice one particular form of footwork.
Another important piece of footwork is that of
the arrow. If you imagine a straight line attack towards you, such as a right
cross, is the shaft of an arrow you can step down either side of arrowhead to
avoid the attack.(fig 3)
Direction of Attack
fig 3.
Application of Female Triangle
Kali Gunting Concepts
Distructions (guntings) to the arms:
1. Inside Gunting
2. Outside Gunting
3. Horizontal Gunting
4. Vertical Gunting
5. Fist to elbow gunting
The Inside gunting is delivered with either
a backfist of hammerfist to the bicep area, or any strike with the hand to the
inside of the arm as it is thrown at you.
The Outside gunting is delivered with the
outer forearm bone or elbow, and using the same techniques as the inside gunting.
The Horizontal gunting is delivered at the
arm as it is thrown at you, you use a scissors type of movement and strike the
hand with the door knuckers, hammerfist, first two knuckles.
The Vertical gunting is delivered with an
upward motion to the tricep with the first two knuckles of the fist.
The fist to elbow gunting is delivered by
you guiding the punch into the bent elbow of your arm, it can be vertically or
horizontally delivered
The follow ups for the gunting are many but
I will list a few;
1. Eye jabs with the left or right hand
2. Backfist
3. Elbows
4. Knees
5. Low line kicking
6. Sweeping
7. Throwing
