FMA ranges?

[Verzejd]

I currently train in Pekiti Tirsia Kali & absolutely love it. I'm only a beginner. It is a close quarters style. I have a friend who also is starting to look at Pekiti but due to his current FMA style, favors a "safer" largo range. My question is (like all of us): with so much time in a day, what range do you or should spend more time on? From what I understand in Pekiti Tirsia, we study the most dangerous range first, then others later. I agree with this rationale. What do you think? As in the old grappling debate, I feel a complete fighter should be skilled at all ranges (stand-up/striking, trapping, & grappling). But with a time restraint put on most of us due to time....????

 

[Dave Fulton]

The arnis that I study is based upon the Pekiti-tirsia Arnis that GT Gaje taught in NY in the 70's - 80's (the era when people like Tuhon McGrath, Tom Bisio, Eric "Top Dog" Knaus, Dave Wink and Greg Alland were students).

My understanding is the GT Gaje teaches corto first because it is the most difficult to master and the most dangerous to fight in because at corto you have to deal with all possible weapons (i.e. live hand, elbows, knees, kicks, punyos, grappling, etc.), they all come out in corto range.

However, in my opinion, all of the ranges have their strengths and weaknesses, and all can be both beautiful and potent depending on the skill of the player. It is awe inspiring to watch a skillful corto player use their footwork to close on their opponent as they attack agressively, but it is equally inspiring to watch a skillful largo player use their footwork to evade and maintain the range as they counter attack.

The answer to your question (I think) lies mostly in your answer to these questions:

1.) Why do you study (i.e. are you strictly interested in combat or do you study because you love the art and enjoy the training)? NOTE: I am not saying that a particular range is better or worse for combat, etc. I am trying to get Verzejd to identify his motives for training and evaluate the ranges/styles based upon those motives.

2.) Which range do you enjoy the most and feel most comfortable in?

Best regards,

Dave Fulton

 

[Stickgrappler]

i like to train the corto range first also because there are much more tools you can use in that range.

however, if you are good at largo, you can stay outside and pick apart your opponent.

 

[shmoopiebear]

... most people prefer balanced skill in all three ranges. LAMECO seems to favour this philosophy as a virtue. Some FMA'ers prefer to work at specialty techniques at the extreme ranges and use medio to be transitional to either of the two. I believe Balintawak to be like this. Some specialize at one of the extreme ranges and the others are generalizaed. Examples are Cabales or Lynn Thompson Cold Steel Warrior's Edge style. It also depends on the weapon's attributes which may include the type of fighter. Some people prefer strong side forward. Some prefer to train the weak side as a backup. I think if you train enough styles or get exposure to them, you will find a punch is more than a punch. Eventually, it will come back full circle and a punch will be just a punch.

 

[Goosebumps]

Close quarters is important because this is where you finish your enemy. The fight will at least end up in close quarters. Also your enemy will have to come to close quarters to finish you so its important to know how to counter his attacks. Knowing largo is good too especially when fighting with longer blades or if your enemy has long reach but you have to go to close quarters if you want to end the fight. One reason why Pekiti Tirsia is so effective and has proven to be so as a fighting art is because it is close quarters fighting.