DACAYANA ESKRIMA IN THE UK
MASTER JUN DACAYANA
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DACAYANA ESKRIMA SYSTEM
TECHNIQUES
Link to the 12 Basic Strikes:
The 12 basic strikes are the building blocks of the system.
They should be practised with the 12 principles of the system in mind.
For example: when practising the 12 basic strikes, it is good practise to relax, smile and walk like a cat.
All the time using good body mechanics to achieve speed and power.
This drill is part of our Sumbagay (Empty Hand system) and develops speed, timing, flow and other key attributes.
This clip shows Master Jun performing a free form Espada Y daga (Sayaw) set. Enjoy!
The System:
The Dacayana system is Unique and Beautiful. The emphasis is on flow, beauty, precision, timing, good body mechanics, control, footwork and form.
We have worked together to provide a modular structured syllabus of 10 modules for our students to study. The system is initially studied to practitioner (Black belt) level here in the UK for using the following five Dacayana Modules:
Single stick (Solo Olisi)
Doble olisi (double stick)
Balla Balla (Unique Dacayana Training methods)
Sword & Dagger/Stick and Knife (Olisi Kutselyo)
Empty hand system (Sumbagay)
The next five Modules are mostly reserved for more advanced students wishing to develop above the threshold of 'Black Belt' but throughout our training we never forge the importance of the Basic strikes as the building blocks of the system! Two of the advanced modules are totally unique to Eskrima either in the UK or in Cebu.
The Dacayana system is Unique and Beautiful. The emphasis is on flow, beauty, precision, timing, good body mechanics, control, footwork and form.
The system at first concentrates on the simplicity of the strikes and the footwork. The footwork can be tricky to grasp as it is untypical within FMA. The flow is achieved by a series of connected or consecutive strikes that is hard wired into the practitioner and can be used to both attack and counters. The favoured length of the sticks is between 32"-34" several inches longer than normally used to practise here in the UK. Jun believes that this length of stick teaches the student better mechanics, improves fluidity and also focuses the mind more on visualising use of the blade (particularly the Pinute) when practising. Of course the student can also use the conventional 26"-28" inch stick if she or he wishes (and indeed will find the transition seamless) but training with the longer weapon gives additional benefits.
Another part of the system is the approach to training and the emphasis on the student understanding the key principles we work from. This is particularly beneficial to the more senior Martial Artist that may be have trained to a high level in another system and wishes to learn the Dacayana system. The understanding of the key principles facilitates this.
Jun is also keen to preserve the history and culture of originating city of Cebu within the system and where possible Cebuano/visayan terminology is used to describe the key strikes, techniques and fundamentals of the system.
The system also (of course) uses flow drills, the core of which is the Balla Balla form unique to our system Balla Balla (or Tolod-Tapi-Bunlot) meaning pushing (Tolod) and pulling (Bunlot). In single stick form the drill can be used both in long and close range and the free movement form in long range is one of the hardest parts of the system to master.
The Stance in the Dacayana System is kept as simple as possible. For the Practitioner syllabus of the Dacayana system we will simply use the first Andam 'Fighting Stance' or 'Ready Position' which is an upright ready stance starting with weight distribution of 80/20 favouring the rear leg. Don't forget this distribution can be easily transferred as it is only a snapshot in time and the lightness of footwork of the Dacayana system (move like a cat on the balls of your feet) encourages this.
The basic strikes of the Stick consist of downward strikes, horizontal strikes, and upward strikes, all these strikes are performed from both offensive stances and defensive stances. In the Dacayana system we also use a thrusting strike and all of these strikes can be found in the 12 basic angles. The effectiveness of all these strikes as with the unarmed arts depends on the correct choice of strike and grip in relation to target, the use of the stick in a circular motion to gain power and speed and the use of body position to add extra weight on impact.. As we are encouraged to think of the stick as a blade in our execution of these strikes we always focus on the precision and orientation of the blade when practising
Blocking to Countering in the Dacayana system depends on the understanding of five main types of Dacayana disarming/countering techniques, from direct hitting to Block and hold techniques in order to attack by drawing. In the system we also use seven main disarming techniques for use against different angles of attack.
Marcie Harding (updated June 2009)
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