About the Eskrima Syllabus taught at the Malvern Eskrima Group

The Eskrima syllabus at the group is aimed at providing a balanced set of skills and attributes from which the student can build. We train from the start with weapons. The weapons training accelerates empty hand skills. In Eskrima, new students can progress quickly, mainly because of the training methods we adopt.

Eskrima has many "flow drills" which allow controlled free movement and develops reaction speed straight away. Flow drills also give the student "muscle memory" through repetition, which again allows the student to progress quickly. Although not exclusively the preserve of the Filipino Martial Art but rare in other Arts. Perhaps the best known sensitivity and flow drills from other Arts would be Wing Chun's Chi Sau and Tai Chi's Push Hands. In the Filipino Arts these drills are more numerous and these training methods seem to set the Filipino Arts apart from most other Arts. In the Dacayana system we have a unique set of our own Flow drills which are taught within one of the core modules from the system.

The Filipino Stick is normally made of rattan and between 26 - 30 inches long. Some styles including the Dacayana system do use longer sticks however up to 32-34" in length. Other materials are used for heavier weapons - Bahi and Kamagong are two hard heavier woods that are often used.

The Eskrima syllabus at the group follows the guidance of Master Jun Dacayana and is closely aligned with the Dacayana UK syllabus offering 10 modules to the students. The modules are taught in sequence as skills learned from one help the student to study the next and so on. The modules include Single stick, Double stick, Balla Balla, Stick and knife (sword and dagger) and empty hands. There are also five advanced modules within the Dacayana syllabus (including two that are unique to the Dacayana Family system of Eskrima) and training methods unseen outside of the Dacayana family.

About ranks and grading at Malvern Eskrima Group.

Unlike many Martial Arts clubs there is no pressure to take grades at the Malvern club. However most students decide to grade if only to measure their own improvement. Taking grades is also a pressure test and helps in all walks of life in learning to deal with difficult situations - it is a true test of character.