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Last updated on January 14, 2019

Stick Fighting Training – Benefits of Learning Eskrima

While there are many martial arts out there, only a number of them use almost everything to create a formidable self-defence system – stick, sword, dagger, empty hands, secondary weapons, etc. One of these arts is the Filipino Stick Fighting of Arnis.

This section explores the benefits of learning Filipino stick fighting martial arts. Learning this unique martial art will equip you with practical and effective self-defence techniques while keeping you physically and mentally fit at the same time.

Best Workout to Improve Eskrima Sparring Skills
Get yourself ready for sparring day with this awesome workout. See Workout Here!

So keep reading…

Benefits of Learning Filipino Stick Fighting

There are numerous benefits of learning Filipino Stick Fighting and Eskrima, and they contain the following:

  • You are taught useful self-defense.
  • Your legs, arms and upper body will become toned.
  • You will boost your aerobic and fitness capacity.
  • Body parts, for instance, your hands, elbows, and forearms will be conditioned, making them way more resistant to injury and pain.
  • You will become a lot more flexible.
  • You will take advantage of increased manual coordination and dexterity, which came from executing exercises with two weapons of various sizes. You’ll probably become partly ambidextrous.
  • You’ll be able to utilize any weapon, even ones you haven’t made use of before.
  • It enhances and complements any martial art. It may be learned separately from other martial art or grafted flawlessly into any exercise you perform already.
  • Countless techniques don’t require power or strength since the majority of the power came from an economy of motion and body movement.
  • Because there’s no call for strength, anybody can study Eskrima. Twelve-year-old kids can learn Eskrima and retired women as well.
  • It’s a complete martial arts system, training you in punching, striking, kicking, wrestling, all types of weaponry, and ground fighting.
  • It can be studied and practiced anywhere: in a park or a gym.
  • It’s fun. Since it necessitates a training partner while practicing, it’s an excellent means to meet other people.
Filipino Stick Fighting
Filipino Stick Fighting Featured in the Mission Impossible movie.

Stick Fighting Will Turn You into a Complete Fighter

Eskrima is an inclusive martial art that will turn you into a complete fighter. It doesn’t focus solely on unarmed self-defense styles, such as Judo, Tae Kwon Do, or Muay Thai, nor does it on weaponry. Students learn to swap weaponry varying on its accessibility so they can spar just as good with or without a weapon.

Stick Fighting Range Training Helps You Become a More Dynamic Fighter

It covers every range of combat. For instance, Wing Chun focuses on the close range styles, while Tae Kwon Do does focus on kicking styles. Eskrima teaches the student to spar at close range (elbows & knees); medium range (hands and feet); and long range (with feet). It also uses wrestling wrenches, sweeps, techniques, throws, takedowns, as well as pressure-point strikes.

Empty Hand Techniques to Complement With the Weapon

It also uses wrestling wrenches, sweeps, techniques, throws, takedowns, as well as pressure-point strikes.

Stick fighting Training with Partners Help Accelerate Progress

Because of its combat effectiveness, practicing routine or solo exercises is not needed, as these don’t teach the student in whatever relevant. All exercises and drills are partnered to make the most of the learning benefit to the students.

benefits of Filipino Stick Fighting
Filipino stick fighter doing “Anyo” or Forms stick fighting training

Firstly, Eskrima students learn to make use of arnis weaponry. Nearly all martial arts instruct weaponry only to most senior practitioners when they’ve reached a high degree of proficiency in the art. On the other hand, weaponry learned in this manner is never linked to empty-hand applications and a student is taught particular techniques, rather than teaching incorporated principles.

The Benefit of Learning Weaponry

In learning weaponry, the benefits are, first, that for empty-hand applications, it enhances the coordination tenfold. After all, weapons are just extensions of the limbs.

Sparring Develops Your Reflexes and  StickFighting Ability

Sparring is taught to students from the beginning. Time is not wasted on learning complex stances or footwork. The students are taught to fight at grappling range, long range, short range, and with a multiplicity of weapons. Eskrima is most likely among the only martial art where sparring against numerous opponents is effectively trained.

Eskrima doesn’t over-emphasize a part of the system. Fighting by way of empty hands is directly acquired following weapons training. Moreover, students can spar with weapons of various sizes, shapes, and weight with no hindrance.

Hard Techniques Increases Your Power

Eskrima is an assortment of soft and hard techniques. Many Chinese techniques like Tai Chi Ch'uan are soft while techniques like Karate are hard. This combination of soft and hard Eskrima techniques creates a martial art which may be flawlessly incorporated into any other martial art with no problems.

Many of the boxers find it difficult to utilize their styles in Aikido, while a Karate practitioner will find it difficult to merge his style with Chi no.

Eskrima
Eskrima practitioners paying attention to the training session.

Eskrima is frequently taught in the open, with shoes, given that this is a perfect street fighting environment. A special uniform isn’t needed. This art is relatively inexpensive to practice. All you need to start in Eskrima is a lead pipe or a broom handle.

The Values System Helps Develop Your Discipline and Self-Control

Many Eskrima techniques are fatal and lethal. Not many preventive techniques are taught because the art is stuck in deadly combat. Martial virtue and spirituality is attained separately by the practitioners and not achieved as part of the course.

Check out this video doing a corridas drill with a fellow assistant instructor to get a good perspective on Filipino Stick Fighting:

Final Words

With the right attitude and training, Filipino stick fighting can not only enhance your combat skills but also provide you with other benefits such as developing your reflexes and building your confidence. It is a complete martial art that will help build you into a complete individual.

Learn More:

  • Double Stick Training to Develop Both Hands
  • Escrima Footwork and Stances – Tips to Improve Footwork
  • 3 Essential Arnis Kali Eskrima Tips to Striking Fast and Hard

Written by Louis Lim · Categorized: Martial Arts Mindset · Tagged: benefits

Instructor

Louis Lim

Louis Lim is a Filipino Stick Fighting instructor in the Philippines. You can read more about his journey here.

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I am a Filipino Martial Arts instructor from the Philippines. I specialize in the deadly art of Balintawak Esrkima.

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