Available from ESPY TV productions. Alternate reviews at MAVR and Escrima Digest
This series is taught by Rene Latosa, grandmaster of Latosa Escrima and covers the
core ideas of his system.
Figure 8 Tape #1 (38 min) covers the figure 8 theory as a means of generating power
and a means of both offense and defense with the stick. After a brief demo of Sword/sword
and shield vs Double sticks/Kampilan, Rene does a voice over narration over a demo
of the 2 stick figure 8 shown from all angles. Generally speaking all tapes cover
applications of techniques at all ranges and both the inside and outside range.
Also, all concepts overlap on each tape (figure 8, zoning, translation into empty hands, direct motion, the So What Theory)
This tape covers the direct system, moving into the opponent with forward momentum
to imbalance your opponent with evasive movement and power hits. You also get
various stick vs stick, 2 sticks vs stick, hands vs stick, hands vs hand drills to develop explosiveness and evasive and forward movement. Bluntly, hitting hard and fast at every range regardless of stance is what's being developed.
Cadena De Mano/Chain of the Hand #2 (47 min) continues translating the stick movements into empty hand movements. In this tape ranges, forward motion are reviewed and focus, short power, and the abanico concept are introduced and broken down. Drills with the hands vs the stick and knife are on this tape. It should be noted this isn't a pure technique sequence tape, your shown the means of entry and it's up to the viewer to determine their own favorable follow ups. The abanico (fan) concept will probably surprise a lot of folks, this concept also relates to disarms. Abanico hits are shown as a way to generate power in punches/palm strikes in a med or short distance. Even a basic twirl is shown as a method to generate power.
The Box System Tape #3 (48 min) covers the Box System, a series of 5 blocks used in conjunction with the hitting and evasion/entry concepts of Latosa Escrima
It's also a means of developing enough power to stop a hit/strike a target without
hurting your partners. There are of course 2 man blocking drills to develop these skills.
This tape also introduces the So What Theory, which takes care of fakes or people
who like to really wind up before hitting. There's also the Short power idea where
you learn to hit from any position with either hand or weapon without cocking back,
offlining/angling theory, and the Disarm concept similar to the Abaniko concept in Tape 2.
Power, Speed, Timing, & Motion Tape #4 (49 min) covers the background and context
of the empty hand techniques of FMA. Power is broken down first, energy driven into
a target from there you are taught to deliver power without cocking all the way back. It need not be a
knockout shot but enough to penetrate. You get 3 focus mitt drills before getting into the Stabbing concept which links punching to the torquing moves seen in Tape 1 and Tape 6
it'll give new context to your punches/palm strikes. You'll also see a short section on keeping punches tight and why you should keep your guard tight. Kicks are covered last detailing generating power and usage
the concepts for hitting with kicks are the same for the hands though. So you won't be learning some new moves, Panantukan folks might like this one.
Filmed in a park, production quality is decent with minimal sound trouble, tapes 2-4 were filmed during a particularly sunny day so your background may be bright. If you're are stark beginner I would hold off on these tapes till you learn some techniques and angling footwork. I say this because these aren't pure new technique tapes, you are developing skills with the body and stick/hand.
You will see some unusual drills like blocking from kneeling or hitting cross legged, these aren't meant as techniques but isolation drills or gut checks to see if you are using body technique or muscling it.
If you understand concepts and have a real committed partner you can get a lot of these tapes
In fact, how each tape is presented among these four is similar to how I was taught while under Rene. I'm not perfect at it but if you work at these drills going from stick to empty hand won't be a big stretch. I think Dogbrothers fans will get a lot out of these tapes too, there are subtle differences on how to hit with the stick but the core is the same.
[This message has been edited by Smoke (edited 06-06-2000).]
This series is taught by Rene Latosa, grandmaster of Latosa Escrima and covers the
core ideas of his system.
Figure 8 Tape #1 (38 min) covers the figure 8 theory as a means of generating power
and a means of both offense and defense with the stick. After a brief demo of Sword/sword
and shield vs Double sticks/Kampilan, Rene does a voice over narration over a demo
of the 2 stick figure 8 shown from all angles. Generally speaking all tapes cover
applications of techniques at all ranges and both the inside and outside range.
Also, all concepts overlap on each tape (figure 8, zoning, translation into empty hands, direct motion, the So What Theory)
This tape covers the direct system, moving into the opponent with forward momentum
to imbalance your opponent with evasive movement and power hits. You also get
various stick vs stick, 2 sticks vs stick, hands vs stick, hands vs hand drills to develop explosiveness and evasive and forward movement. Bluntly, hitting hard and fast at every range regardless of stance is what's being developed.
Cadena De Mano/Chain of the Hand #2 (47 min) continues translating the stick movements into empty hand movements. In this tape ranges, forward motion are reviewed and focus, short power, and the abanico concept are introduced and broken down. Drills with the hands vs the stick and knife are on this tape. It should be noted this isn't a pure technique sequence tape, your shown the means of entry and it's up to the viewer to determine their own favorable follow ups. The abanico (fan) concept will probably surprise a lot of folks, this concept also relates to disarms. Abanico hits are shown as a way to generate power in punches/palm strikes in a med or short distance. Even a basic twirl is shown as a method to generate power.
The Box System Tape #3 (48 min) covers the Box System, a series of 5 blocks used in conjunction with the hitting and evasion/entry concepts of Latosa Escrima
It's also a means of developing enough power to stop a hit/strike a target without
hurting your partners. There are of course 2 man blocking drills to develop these skills.
This tape also introduces the So What Theory, which takes care of fakes or people
who like to really wind up before hitting. There's also the Short power idea where
you learn to hit from any position with either hand or weapon without cocking back,
offlining/angling theory, and the Disarm concept similar to the Abaniko concept in Tape 2.
Power, Speed, Timing, & Motion Tape #4 (49 min) covers the background and context
of the empty hand techniques of FMA. Power is broken down first, energy driven into
a target from there you are taught to deliver power without cocking all the way back. It need not be a
knockout shot but enough to penetrate. You get 3 focus mitt drills before getting into the Stabbing concept which links punching to the torquing moves seen in Tape 1 and Tape 6
it'll give new context to your punches/palm strikes. You'll also see a short section on keeping punches tight and why you should keep your guard tight. Kicks are covered last detailing generating power and usage
the concepts for hitting with kicks are the same for the hands though. So you won't be learning some new moves, Panantukan folks might like this one.
Filmed in a park, production quality is decent with minimal sound trouble, tapes 2-4 were filmed during a particularly sunny day so your background may be bright. If you're are stark beginner I would hold off on these tapes till you learn some techniques and angling footwork. I say this because these aren't pure new technique tapes, you are developing skills with the body and stick/hand.
You will see some unusual drills like blocking from kneeling or hitting cross legged, these aren't meant as techniques but isolation drills or gut checks to see if you are using body technique or muscling it.
If you understand concepts and have a real committed partner you can get a lot of these tapes
In fact, how each tape is presented among these four is similar to how I was taught while under Rene. I'm not perfect at it but if you work at these drills going from stick to empty hand won't be a big stretch. I think Dogbrothers fans will get a lot out of these tapes too, there are subtle differences on how to hit with the stick but the core is the same.
[This message has been edited by Smoke (edited 06-06-2000).]