WEAPONS OF BLACK EAGLE ESKRIMA

Empty hands

The Empty hands style of Black Eagle eskrima is called Pangamot. It employs strikes using the fists, feet, knees and elbows. Pangamot also employs a complex locking system, which includes finger, wrist, elbow and shoulder locks, elbow wrenches and even knee locks. Pangamot also utilises limb destruction, the process of incapacitating an attacker by smashing, striking or blocking various points on the attacking limbs to destroy their fighting capacity. Leg Reaps, throws, sweeps and jamming are all included in Black Eagle Pangamot.

Short sticks

Training in short sticks is usually done in pairs, that is, the practitioner holds on in each hand, at about the middle of the stick. The sticks are sometimes referred to as pocket sticks, or by their tagalog name, Dalo-Dalo. Traditionally, the weapons were made of steel, included a ring to place the finger(s) to counter disarms, and at either end were serrated and pointed, and sometimes bladed edges for thrusting or slashing. The sticks are employed in hooking and thrusting motions to disarm, or lock armed or unarmed opponents.

Single stick

The Single stick is the staple of most Eskrima styles, and is used for a variety of purposes. It is used for thrusting, slashing, blocking, hooking, disarming, locking, choking, takedowns, and grappling. It can be used in a variety of ways, such as de Avanico (fanning), de Llave (the key) or a combination of both. It also trains manual dexterity and attributes needed for learning flexible weapons, long weapons or short sticks.

Double stick

The Double sticks can be used in the same manner as single stick and can develop all the attributes that a single stick trains. The Double sticks, especially in sparring, develop footwork, body movement and also train important empty hand applications for sparring and in-fighting. Double stick motions are interchangeable with stick and dagger, stick and also empty hand exercises.

Long stick

The Long stick or staff, has its base in the style of Eskrima de Llave (the key/the lock). The amara (stick twirling) motions of the staff develop valuable combat attributes that can be used for sparring. The staff is used for striking, thrusting, and locking. Likewise, the empty hand equivalents of the long stick train the movements required for kick defences and knee locks and takedowns. Students are taught to use the long stick in a variety of grips, and also practice empty hand defenses against the long pole from short and long range.

Single dagger

The single dagger has many uses, typically thrusting, slashing and hooking. It can be used offensively or defensively in a variety of ways against different weapons. It can be used as a supplementary weapon to the stick or sword to rake or disarm the opponents weapon, or as a close quarter thrusting weapon.The dagger can be held in an ice pick grip (point down) or standard grip (point up) in either the front or rear hands.

Double dagger

Double dagger can be employed in a variety of ways offensively, either by thrusting with the front dagger and raking with the rear dagger or by adapting amara (stick twirling) to suit the daggers. It has some parallels with stick and dagger and the multiple combination of grips and stances provides the user with a plethora of options in a combat situation. Empty hand defence against an assailant armed with double daggers is indeed difficult, if not impossible.

Stick and dagger

Based on the traditional combination of Espada y Daga (Sword and dagger), stick and dagger utilises the complimentary attributes of the dagger with the long range benefits of the stick. Various disarms, transitions to close quarters or medium range drills can be trained with the use of these two weapons.

Chain (flexible weapons)

The Chain is taught to more advanced students and is used in much the same way as a stick, however, elements from eskrima de Llave are particularly useful in manipulating the chain (and other flexible weapons) to initiate locks, tie-ups and chokes with the chain. Students train with a variety of flexible weapons of differing material, elasticity and strength.

Ball and chain/Cadena

The Cadena, or ball and chain, is another traditional weapon taught only to the most senior students. Utilising elements from Eskrima de Llave and flexible weapons.

Sword

The Sword, not such a common weapon anymore, is still taught to senior students. The drills to train the sword focus more on sliding to the opponents hand, and controlling the opponents weapon. It is typically a cut and thrust weapon and provides students with some valuable insight into stick drills and the subtle technique behind several movements.