Filipino Martial Arts

The Philippines are known for their knife and stick-fighting culture and there are a number of martial arts styles that have developed around this kind of fighting. Paul has trained and is an instructor in several of these styles:

Rapid Arnis

As a style, Rapid Arnis relies on a combination of speed and power hitting, using effective and efficient techniques, hitting opponents with a multitude of strikes.

The system encompasses all aspects of martial arts including:

  • Single stick (baston)
  • Double baston
  • Stick and Dagger (daga)
  • Single daga
  • Double daga
  • Empty hand techniques
  • Weapons disarms
  • Ground fighting
  • Sport eskrima (WEKAF & Padded-stick)

Rapid Arnis is the only system of Filipino martial arts developed by non-Filipinos outside of the Philippines to be authenticated and accepted by the Masters in the Philippines. This honour has earned its developer, Tuhon Pat O'Malley, and Rapid Arnis International respect from many top groups around the world and in the Philippines.

Paul is the Chief Instructor for Rapid Arnis in Scotland and now America!

Doce Pares Original Multi-Style

There are a variety of different styles that have been included under the Doce Pares name, which has been around in the Philippines since 1932. However, Grand Master Diony Canete, the President of Doce Pares, developed a training cirriculum that gave equal treatment and prominence to all the original styles, incorporating them fully into one system.

The components styles of the "Multi-Style" are:

  • All three styles of Corto (Close Range);
    • Corto Linear (traditional linear striking/blade oriented striking);
    • Corto Kurbada (wrist-twisting or snap-wrist, curving strike);
    • Corto Orihinal (featuring low, deep bent knee and wide stance which highly characterized the original Doce Pares close range style)
  • Media Largo (Medium Range)
  • Larga Mano (Long Range)
  • Espada y Daga (Short & Long Stick or Stick Dagger)
  • Baraw (Knife Fighting Techniques)
  • Mano-Mano (Open Hand Fighting)

Bakbakan Kali Ilustrisimo

An off-shoot of the Kali Ilustrisimo system designed by Grandmaster Antonio 'Tatang' Ilustrisimo, the name Bakbakan Kali Ilustrisimo was coined to describe the system developed and structured by Bakbakan International based on Grandmaster Ilustrisimo’s concepts and strategy.

Rey Galang, one of the most recognized names in the eskrima and Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) circles, brings his expertise in the Central Luzon region method of double weapons fighting "Sinawali." Sinawali is a major stepping stone into Espada y Daga (Sword and Dagger), Sinawali trains the Bakbakan practitioner ambidexterity and fluidity of movement.

Bakbakan Kali Ilustrisimo is an expanded version of the much-revered system of Grandmaster Antonio 'Tatang' Ilustrisimo. Developed by Master Rey Galang, the system has produced many tournament champions around the globe. Training in Bakbakan Kali Ilustrisimo includes the use of:

  • doble baston - double stick
  • solo baston - single stick
  • pinuti - a narrow sword suitable for stabbing and slashing
  • tungkod - four-foot staff
  • tulisan knife fighting
  • hagibis grappling *

*Borrowed from the Bakbakan UK website