Fighting Styles

Martial Arts ~ Escrima

Impact Weapons

• Baston
• Bankaw
• Staves
• Panangga: shield
• Improvised weapons

Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake” ~Napoleon Bonaparte

Fluidity, Rhythm, & Timing Are Key

Eskrima (also known as Arnis and in the West sometimes as Kali) is the umbrella term for the traditional martial arts of the Philippines, which emphasize weapon-based fighting with sticks, knives and other bladed weapons, and various improvised weapons. It also includes hand-to-hand combat and weapon disarming techniques.

Nothing beats learning how to defend yourself with a book, a can of soda, or even your own jacket! The three key elements to Eskrima are fluidity, rhythm, and timing. There are few sharp, sudden movements, only smooth flowing transitions from each movement to the next. The flowing skills are the most important and most difficult to learn & apply.

The most basic and common weapon in eskrima is the yantok. They are typically constructed from rattan, an inexpensive stem from a type of Southeast Asian vine. Hard and durable yet lightweight, it shreds only under the worst abuse and will not splinter like wood, making it a safer training tool.

Martial Arts ~ Hapkido

Various Technics

• Joint manipulation techniques
• Kicking
• Hand strikes
• Weapons
• Wristlocks

The measure of a man is not in how he gets knocked to the mat, it is in how he gets up.” ~Unknown

Hapkido Is Excellent For Break Falls

Hapkido is known for its emphasis on pressure points and is a discipline of coordination, a way of strengthening the mind and body, of fusing the individuals physical and mental powers so that he or she will emerge as a more fully integrated human being.

The word in fact means; Method or Way (DO) for the coordination Harmony (HAP) of mental Energy or spirit (KI). One should always try to avoid violence, but if someone grabs you, attempts to strike you, or physically assaults you in any way, it has escalated beyond words, and you are left with the only option which is to defend.

The Korean Art of Self Defense, Hapkido is considered a “soft” style of Martial Art, as opposed to “hard” styles that practice the use of force against force, making the outcome a simple matter of size and strength. The Hapkido practitioner diverts or suppresses an attacker’s flow of energy peacefully, this diversion allows him to use the attackers power against himself leading to the attackers defeat. Through the use of pressure on certain skeletal joints and pressure points, very little strength is needed to overcome an opponent.

Hap Ki Do not only redirects the attack, but turns it back against the attacker and follows through with offensive techniques which may control his violence or render him incapable of further antagonistic actions. The Hapkido practitioner is in complete control of the confrontation defusing the aggression without the need for uncontrolled damage as seen in many “hard” styles.

Hap Ki Do provides complete physical conditioning which improves balance, posture, flexibility, timing, quickness, muscle tone, joint strength and most importantly, confidence through physical and mental discipline.

The immediate aim of Hapkido is of course the welfare of the one practicing it. Not only will skills in self-defense be attained, but more importantly will be the focus on an individuals character development. A well rounded personality can be realized only if the spirit is right. Courtesy, Respect, Modesty, Loyalty, Generosity, and Dedication are not only the source, but also the rewards of Hapkido.

Martial Arts ~ Kung Fu / Wushu

Traditional Chinese Forms

• Practicing sequence of fist
• Practicing fists and feet
• Practicing weapons;
• Fighting sets

A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.” ~Confucius

Skill gained from Hard Work

In general, Kung Fu is a label used to describe any Martial Art that comes from China. It is the generic name for literally hundreds of individual Chinese fighting arts, both “internal” and “external,” ancient and of relatively recent invention.

The words “Kung Fu” can be literally translated as “skill from effort”. It can be used to describe anything that requires a person to invest both time and effort into training to become skillful. In these terms, a chef, artist, musician or computer programmer can all be said to have good “kung fu”.

Fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as “families”, “sects” or “schools” of martial arts. Examples of such traits include physical exercises involving animal mimicry, or training methods inspired by Chinese philosophies, religions and legends. Styles which focus on qi manipulation are labeled as internal, while others concentrate on improving muscle and cardiovascular fitness and are labeled external.

Martial Arts ~ Tae Kwon Do

Traditional Forms

• Stances (Sogi)
• Hand attacks
• Kicks (Chagi)
• Blocks (Makgi)

The right way of using all parts of the body to stop fights and help to build a better and more peaceful world.” ~Unknown

Taekwondo is known for its emphasis on kicking

Taekwondo is one of the most systematic and scientific Korean traditional martial arts, that teaches more than physical fighting skills. It is a discipline that shows ways of enhancing our spirit and life through training our body and mind. Today, it has become a global sport that has gained an international reputation, and stands among the official games in the Olympics.

Taekwondo can be characterized by unity: the unity of body, mind, and life, and the unity of the pose & confrontation, and cracking down. With Taekwondo, you make your mind peaceful and synchronize your mind with your movements, and extend this harmony to your life and society. This is how in Taekwondo the principle of physical movements, the principle of mind training, and the principle of life become one and the same.