Escrima

Escrima (also known as Arnis and Kali) is a Filipino martial art with a focus on weapon-based combat. When the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines, these arts were already in practice, and on multiple occasions they found themselves fighting off the locals armed with their blades.

Today, the bladed weapons, such as Pinutis, are replaced in training with sticks. The art is steadily growing in popularity in many countries, though remains niche when compared to the more popular Asian arts, such as Karate and Tae Kwon Do. The main difference between Escrima and other Martial Arts is that the student is taught to train with weapons from the very start, rather than starting with empty-hand training.

This type of training builds manual dexterity in the practitioner and also builds quicker conditioned responses to various attacks. Although it is weapons-based, it also includes striking (kicking and punching), wrestling and grappling, as well as teaching practical defences against most weapons.

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