Available from ESPY Productions, alternate reviews at MAVR and Escrima Digest.
This series is taught by Rene Latosa, grandmaster of Latosa Escrima and Cedric Concon (tape #8), multiple full contact champion and Latosa Escrima instructor.
I do have the entire series and have been hesitant to review it as I've had the privelege of studying under both men and learning a lot. I have no desire to badmouth either.
Generally speaking each tape is 40 min with an intro by Rene Latosa on each particular subject.
Tape #5 Dos Manos covers the Dos Manos concept of two hand stickfighting. Usage comes in various forms, double stick (ala Dog Bros Double Caveman), Figure 8, long stick (think jo/tapado/bokken), or rarely, taking 2 sticks holding them together with two hands (just like holding a long flat stick).
This tape is chock full of drills designed to get you to hit with either lead foot and in any direction as well as work on other stickfighting skills (power, zoning, distance, footwork). Here's the breakdown
3 drills for hitting with either lead foot in any direction
3 drills Figure 8 into Dos Manos, balance, Zoning (meant for dexterity, balance in hitting
1 Circle drill and a Distance drill (working from long to short range)
1 drill for the staff (the bokken, staff, and double sticks are used interchangeably through the tape)
Tape #6 The Machete (40 min) focuses on bladework using the Zoning and Circle cut concepts. Not meant as a cultural weapon tape, the Machete is used as example of to teach the differences and similarities
between edged and impact tools and teaches
a very simple long blade system.
Next is a section on stabbing/thrusting that I haven't actually seen anywhere else
that is a thrust applied with a bit of torque at the end. It isn't a new technique but the context behind it isn't always taught.
A pressure drill is next, meant for both participants to maintain pressure or evade it. The drill can also be done with sticks or empty handed. It's actually pretty humbling.
Solo cutting and 2 free form drills are next using single or double machetes, again mobility and the ability to cut while moving are the key attributes.
(Incidentally, I nicknamed the solo drill the 'Square Dance Drill'as it allows an instructor to direct a large class while getting a workout himself and not having to be like a hawk watching students the entire class. In a nutshell, students practice blocking and striking while moving
only the instructor calls out one of 4 directions at random.)
Tape #7 Long Sticks (40 min) is one of my favorites of the series as it covers
the use of the 32" stick to the staff. The strength of this tape being that you learn
both the similarities and differences between a long and short stick without having to learn a new set of nonrelated ideas and moves.
The tape starts with the 32" or so length stick, I say or so to include a stick longer than a 28" and favors both 1 or 2 handed techniques.
Next is the staff section, possibly one of the most flexible and simplistic
staff systems out there. Only 3 hits/blocks and choice of grip is really up to you. BTW, the staff technique can also work with a short spear and goes well with the Circle hit concept.
Rene follows up with a short section on zoning (hitting only within intended range) with the 32" vs 28" stick
Next is the Disarm section (hands vs 32" stick), Rene's idea of disarming is a bit different
The idea being to hit, off balance the attacker instead of wrestling a stick away and trying to him them back with it.
Entering against a long weapon attack is a subtle concept taught and is further explained
as Rene uses the balisong and palm stick individually to deal with a staff attack.
This tape series benefits those who study in a conceptual manner, the blade and long stick
tapes will benefit those who love the stick but want to supplement their skills with other weapons. I also believe Dogbrothers fans and Ninjutsu practioners will also benefit as the concepts of continous power hitting and imbalancing the opponent are covered.
Tape 8 Full contact Stickfighting starts off with an intro by both Rene Latosa and Cedric Concon. This tape covers armored stickfighting drills and an overview of the
common rules of point and full contact stickfighting tournaments.
There are drills specifically covering tournament fighting and the solo drill which I call the "square dance drill" is back as well as a mirror drill that will test both your explosiveness and endurance as well as angling ability. Cedric also does a bit of point contact free sparring just to illustrate how people get hit in tournaments.
Zoning the hits, distance, angulation, power hitting are all still emphasized through this tape. Cedric also addresses fighting someone who likes to charge in and smash you in a bout.
This tape is best for beginners curious in full contact contests and is full of challenging drills that train attributes and skills for students. Remember folks, the pads do add weight, so you will sweat.
Briefly, I have seen Cedric in action, primarily because I trained under him
and sparred against him. Though tournaments are his passion, he's no stranger to empty hands and bladework. He even caught me when I tried to sucker punch him during
double stick sparring. With all the talk about full contact being unrealistic, there is valid reason for doing it. It can an intermediate method to the no armored fighting, part of your overrall training process. One thing a lot of folks don't underdstand is that in weapons fighting, you
can get hit without seeing the weapon in motion and the opponent doesn't have to have lightning hands to hit you. Also it's a form of pressure testing for your reflexes and conditioning.
[This message has been edited by Smoke (edited 05-30-2000).]
This series is taught by Rene Latosa, grandmaster of Latosa Escrima and Cedric Concon (tape #8), multiple full contact champion and Latosa Escrima instructor.
I do have the entire series and have been hesitant to review it as I've had the privelege of studying under both men and learning a lot. I have no desire to badmouth either.
Generally speaking each tape is 40 min with an intro by Rene Latosa on each particular subject.
Tape #5 Dos Manos covers the Dos Manos concept of two hand stickfighting. Usage comes in various forms, double stick (ala Dog Bros Double Caveman), Figure 8, long stick (think jo/tapado/bokken), or rarely, taking 2 sticks holding them together with two hands (just like holding a long flat stick).
This tape is chock full of drills designed to get you to hit with either lead foot and in any direction as well as work on other stickfighting skills (power, zoning, distance, footwork). Here's the breakdown
3 drills for hitting with either lead foot in any direction
3 drills Figure 8 into Dos Manos, balance, Zoning (meant for dexterity, balance in hitting
1 Circle drill and a Distance drill (working from long to short range)
1 drill for the staff (the bokken, staff, and double sticks are used interchangeably through the tape)
Tape #6 The Machete (40 min) focuses on bladework using the Zoning and Circle cut concepts. Not meant as a cultural weapon tape, the Machete is used as example of to teach the differences and similarities
between edged and impact tools and teaches
a very simple long blade system.
Next is a section on stabbing/thrusting that I haven't actually seen anywhere else
that is a thrust applied with a bit of torque at the end. It isn't a new technique but the context behind it isn't always taught.
A pressure drill is next, meant for both participants to maintain pressure or evade it. The drill can also be done with sticks or empty handed. It's actually pretty humbling.
Solo cutting and 2 free form drills are next using single or double machetes, again mobility and the ability to cut while moving are the key attributes.
(Incidentally, I nicknamed the solo drill the 'Square Dance Drill'as it allows an instructor to direct a large class while getting a workout himself and not having to be like a hawk watching students the entire class. In a nutshell, students practice blocking and striking while moving
only the instructor calls out one of 4 directions at random.)
Tape #7 Long Sticks (40 min) is one of my favorites of the series as it covers
the use of the 32" stick to the staff. The strength of this tape being that you learn
both the similarities and differences between a long and short stick without having to learn a new set of nonrelated ideas and moves.
The tape starts with the 32" or so length stick, I say or so to include a stick longer than a 28" and favors both 1 or 2 handed techniques.
Next is the staff section, possibly one of the most flexible and simplistic
staff systems out there. Only 3 hits/blocks and choice of grip is really up to you. BTW, the staff technique can also work with a short spear and goes well with the Circle hit concept.
Rene follows up with a short section on zoning (hitting only within intended range) with the 32" vs 28" stick
Next is the Disarm section (hands vs 32" stick), Rene's idea of disarming is a bit different
The idea being to hit, off balance the attacker instead of wrestling a stick away and trying to him them back with it.
Entering against a long weapon attack is a subtle concept taught and is further explained
as Rene uses the balisong and palm stick individually to deal with a staff attack.
This tape series benefits those who study in a conceptual manner, the blade and long stick
tapes will benefit those who love the stick but want to supplement their skills with other weapons. I also believe Dogbrothers fans and Ninjutsu practioners will also benefit as the concepts of continous power hitting and imbalancing the opponent are covered.
Tape 8 Full contact Stickfighting starts off with an intro by both Rene Latosa and Cedric Concon. This tape covers armored stickfighting drills and an overview of the
common rules of point and full contact stickfighting tournaments.
There are drills specifically covering tournament fighting and the solo drill which I call the "square dance drill" is back as well as a mirror drill that will test both your explosiveness and endurance as well as angling ability. Cedric also does a bit of point contact free sparring just to illustrate how people get hit in tournaments.
Zoning the hits, distance, angulation, power hitting are all still emphasized through this tape. Cedric also addresses fighting someone who likes to charge in and smash you in a bout.
This tape is best for beginners curious in full contact contests and is full of challenging drills that train attributes and skills for students. Remember folks, the pads do add weight, so you will sweat.
Briefly, I have seen Cedric in action, primarily because I trained under him
and sparred against him. Though tournaments are his passion, he's no stranger to empty hands and bladework. He even caught me when I tried to sucker punch him during
double stick sparring. With all the talk about full contact being unrealistic, there is valid reason for doing it. It can an intermediate method to the no armored fighting, part of your overrall training process. One thing a lot of folks don't underdstand is that in weapons fighting, you
can get hit without seeing the weapon in motion and the opponent doesn't have to have lightning hands to hit you. Also it's a form of pressure testing for your reflexes and conditioning.
[This message has been edited by Smoke (edited 05-30-2000).]