Escrima and the Internet
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It is interesting to meet practitioners from different styles of escrima and learn their naming and numbering structure.We all seem to have common elements in our FMA style, although different guros may teach concepts from different perspectives. Whether you refer to your art in general terms like Arnis, Escrima, Kali, or something specific such as Serrada or Doce Pares, we are learning that, many times, we have more similarities than differences.We are all Filipino Martial Arts practitioners.
Back when I first started the Defensor Method in the mid 80’s at the University of Chicago, martial arts groups were less open to collaboration, and as such, we sometimes got caught up mixing western logic and eastern linguistics.We could really get off track years ago by talking about the differences in arnis and say, escrima. When I asked my instructor the difference between arnis, escrima etc. my instructor always said that there was not much difference in the names men gave to FMA, some of the words came from cultures that colonized the Philippines.When I first started in the Filipino Martial Arts, there were people that I would meet that were adamant as to how to describe their martial arts.
We are now deeply rooted in a digital age, and it is great to have the input of martial artists all over the world to get their input and perspectives different aspects of martial arts.MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter are allowing martial arts practitioners to network and are helping to bring our perspectives closer that we have so much in common.Online video sources can show that we are not too different at all.With the popularity of MMA, Jeet Kune Do, and many concepts based approaches to martial arts, it is quite common that practitioners train in arts that have strength in specific ranges.
We are also seeing greater access to international trade, which means that escrima practitioners have greater access to exotic kali sticks such as ironwood sticks and bahi sticks. Without access to popular FMA web sites and Google, you really couldn't find a place to buy cool hardwood kali sticks back in the 80's. Now, we only need to do an Internet search to find the best sources for Filipino Martial Arts Supplies.
Since the use of technology now assists martial artists to spread and share their martial styles globally, it may be the fastest current method of spreading martial knowledge in our global society!