Sources on Espada y daga

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Hey guys, I didn’t know where else to turn to. Here’s my dilemma, a friends birthday is coming up, and he has been into Filipino martial arts for a few years now and is looking for an actual source on Filipino sword and dagger techniques. Not just stick and knife. Are there any actual sources out there that actually deal with both sword and dagger at once, or is it by instruction only?

Thanks again
 
Re. DVD instruction:

Given that many FMA's treat the stick as a surrogate for a sword, I would look at those arts wherein the likelihood is quite strong that what passes for a stick is acually a sword. Pekiti Tirsia Kali has a great espada y daga sub-system - but there is not a lot of instructional media available. San Miguel Eskrima likewise. There used to be some Kalis Illustrisimo video available, both from Rey Galang's Madrigama (sp?) company and more recently from Bakbakan. Dan Anderson also has an espada y daga book and DVD available -and see also Bram Frank's DVD on Modern Arnis bolo. You might look towards Lightning Scientific Arnis as they also have as strong espada y daga sub-section.

Generally though, it's better to look for instruction rather than try to learn from a DVD; since you're in Illinois I'd look towards Chicago since there's probably a Pekiti Tirsia presence there.

My friend Wes Tasker and I put out a Pekiti Tirsia Kali/San Miguel Eskrima DVD a couple years ago that was devoted exclusively to comparing and contrasting the espada y daga techniques of both styles. We found that the differences were due mostly to the shape and length of their respective bladed weapons:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9Cz8N1sarg

Following is a clip from a free, promotional video that I give out to new students and use in lieu of brochures, etc. to advertise my group class. It provides an overview of the San Miguel Eskrima system, with an emphasis upon different espada y daga drills and techniques:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmmuoZAWyNE

Best,

Steve Lamade
 
Hello. I can say that the 2 DVD set Steve Lamade mentions is excellent, and worth buying. I know, because I own a set.

There are other Espada y Daga instructional vids out there. One is a new one put out by
Pete Kautz of Modernknives.com and alliamcemartialarts.com. Check out the sites for more details, it's new so I haven't seen it. Also Modern Knives issue #1 has some espada y daga as well, Cinco Teros (5 strikes). Good for a basic intro.

Kelly Worden has some on his "Water & Steel" video available from Paladin Press.

There is also a DVD put out by Dan Anderson (danandersonkarate.com).

Another one is from Unique Publications, actually 2: One by Edgar Sulite, and one on Kali
Ilustrisimo Espada y Daga with Master Rey Galang. This one I have as well, it's not a bad video, it's done well, but I would buy it used if possible.

That should get you started, and then some. Good luck
 
I would agree that the tape Steve and Wes did is excellent, although it may be hard for a beginner to follow. There's some great stuff there, though, and I highly recommend it. If your friend has a few years experience he may really enjoy it. It's a must have for any serious FMA player.

Although I haven't seen the whole thing, the new dvd by Tom Sipin looks very promising (although it is stick and knife, not strictly EyD) There's a pretty long preview for it on Youtube. Just search by his name.

Any of the Sulite or the Ilustrisimo stuff mentioned above is also excellent, and like most things from the Ilustrisimo camp are more blade oriented, than stick.
 
j8mes said:
Although I haven't seen the whole thing, the new dvd by Tom Sipin looks very promising (although it is stick and knife, not strictly EyD) There's a pretty long preview for it on Youtube. Just search by his name.
Click to expand...

Looks pretty good to me, as well. Anything you can do with a stick can be adapted for the blade as long as you make adjustments with respect to targeting, distancing, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pStccsSJxvM&NR=1

Following is a clip of Panto Flores practicing a Balla Balla Redondo drill:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4AoMdVM4So

Best,

Steve
 
slamade said:
Looks pretty good to me, as well. Anything you can do with a stick can be adapted for the blade as long as you make adjustments with respect to targeting, distancing, etc.
Click to expand...

And most importantly, EDGE awareness. You can't do some of the locks in Doce Pares Eskrima with a sword.

James
 
j8mes said:
And most importantly, EDGE awareness. You can't do some of the locks in Doce Pares Eskrima with a sword.

James
Click to expand...

That's very true. I think that some of these locks presume a specific kind of sword, i.e., one that is not sharpened towards the part closest to the hilt. For example, the military rapier-sword and its precursors were often not sharpened close to the hilt so that the practitioner could hold that part and use it for specific two-handed techniques.

http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/pictures/schmidt_rubin/ricasso18.jpg

As this was the kind of Western sword most likely to be seen in the Visayas during the 16th and 17th centuries it is logical that techniques would have been developed as counters. But I agree that many of these locks will not work against very sharp blades with a full edge up to the hilt.

It's interesting to note that Momoy often liked to place his index finger along the flat of the daga blade and use it as a "pointer" for his daga thrusts. The finger would not stay there for long, and would also not infrequently be placed over the hilt of the daga along the "ricasso."

Best,

Steve
 
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