Escrima
Eskrima
Escrima (Eskrima, from Spanish esgrima, "fencing") is a Filipino weapon-based martial art closely related to Arnis and Kali. Visayan in origin, it emphasizes practical baston (stick) and blade combat — with a strong emphasis on corto mano (close-range) fighting.
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Escrima teaches devastating close-quarters weapon fighting and develops fast reflexes. Its focus on espada y daga (sword and dagger) and solo baston (single stick) provides a unique combat skill set.
At a Glance
Who It's For
What You'll Learn
Single stick — solo baston — combat
Espada y daga (sword and dagger) technique
Close-range — corto mano — fighting and largo mano (long-range) transitions
Stick sparring — patayan (full contact) — with protective gear
Cinco teros (five strikes) and defensa (defensive counters)
Your First Class
Wear athletic clothing. Rattan sticks provided. Expect basic striking angles, partner drills, and possibly light stick sparring with protective gear. Classes run 60 minutes.
Watch & Learn
Legends of Escrima
Remy Presas
Remy Presas synthesized traditional Filipino stick and blade arts into Modern Arnis, making the complex system accessible to international practitioners. He brought Filipino martial arts to the global stage and influenced a generation of FMA instructors from the Philippines to the United States.
Dan Inosanto
Dan Inosanto is a martial arts instructor, actor, and the foremost authority on Jeet Kune Do after Bruce Lee. He is one of only three people certified by Bruce Lee to teach JKD and has dedicated his life to preserving and advancing Filipino martial arts, Silat, and Southeast Asian combat systems.
Ciriaco "Cacoy" Canete
Antonio "Tatang" Ilustrisimo
Related Styles
FMA (Filipino Martial Arts)
Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) — Sining ng Pakikipaglaban ng Pilipinas — is an umbrella term for the weapon-based fighting systems of the Philippines, including Arnis, Kali, and Escrima. Training begins with weapons — baston (sticks) and blades — espada (swords) — and translates to empty hands — mano mano (hand-to-hand).
Arnis
Arnis — also called Arnis de Mano ("harness of the hand") or Modern Arnis — is the pambansang laro (national martial art) of the Philippines, designated as such by law. It focuses on baston (stick) and blade fighting with systematic disarming — disarma — techniques and empty-hand — mano mano — applications.
Kali
Kali is a Filipino martial art emphasizing edged — patalim (blades) — and impact weapons — baston (sticks) — with sophisticated doble baston (double-stick) and daga (knife) techniques. Different lineages (Pekiti-Tirsia, Inosanto-Lacoste, etc.) have distinct methods but share core principles.
Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do ("Way of the Intercepting Fist") was developed by Bruce Lee as a personal combat philosophy. It rejects rigid styles in favor of directness, simplicity, and adaptability, drawing from boxing, fencing, and Wing Chun.
Popular With
Weaponologist
Give me any weapon.
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