About the Multistyle Eskrima Syllabus taught at the Malvern Eskrima Group

The Multistyle Eskrima syllabus at the group distilled from a variety of styles, 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.

Within the Multistyle syllabus we train single and double stick. 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.

Single stick training includes working from angles of attack. Most Filipino systems use angles of attack within their systems. At Malvern Eskrima we use common angles and encourage the student to practice the angles both left and right handed at the basic level when using a single weapon. This is a well rounded way to practice Martial Arts in the modern day. Some Filipino systems however train the student to use the weapon exclusively in the right hand.

We also train knife and of course empty hands. Senior students have the opportunity to train more with stick and knife combinations as well as sword and dagger (Espada Y Daga). Beyond the core syllabus is the opportunity to train more complex drills, explore more systems (including of course the Dacayana System Dacayana UK & DACAYANA SYSTEM)
and use a wider variety of weapons.

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.

Malvern Eskrima Group students can be assured that the grades acheived at the group compare very well with the even the very best Martial Arts schools. The grades are fully endorsed by the Sacred Spring Group who have some of the highest ranking Instructors in the UK and Worldwide.