Video Review: Mastering Arnis Escrima Kali Series w/ A.J. Advincula

S

Smoke

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Oct 14, 1998
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This 3 tape series is by Panther Productions and is taught by AJ Advincula, a Pangisinan Cinco Tero instructor and Isshin-Ryu stylist.

Tape 1 Single Stick starts with a 25 minute introduction on the history of the FMA and a short description of each weapon of the Filipino weapon tree. Proper grip, warm ups, blocks, strikes, evading, plenty of hitting drills follow.

A short section on locks and takedowns is followed by disarms (only 1 is taught) and using padded targets and heavy bags. Light to full contact sparring in kendo gear is next and followed by falling and how to pick your stick if you drop it in combat.

The Self Defense Section covers using the stick from a prone position, stick vs knife, stick vs kicks and punches. Afterward a single stick form is taught and applications shown.

This is currently the longest tape on single stick fighting (2 hrs.) Plenty of slow motion replays and different camera angle views. I liked the self defense section and falling and disarm sections. This tape is good for people just starting out or sport fencers who want to try something new. I think it's also better for bladed weapons than sticks.

This was the first tape I ever bought on FMA and I shortly started taking Escrima after and it was interesting.

In other words, I learned from a tape and tried to use the moves I thought I knew and looked cool. And it didn't come out like the video because a video can't give you the experience of power coming at you. It's only after a bit of learning that I could see how the system works.
 
Tape 2 Double Stick Fighting (90 min.) starts with a shorter intro and a replay on the proper way to hit.

The tape starts with stick positions and goes into strikes best broken down into three sections; the lst section, Scissors Section, Fan Section.

After 40 mins of learning the patterns, we come to using the X Position to defend against stick strikes. Imagine a boxer's guard with the sticks positioned as an X as a guard. I believe this is just meant to show that you should put the stick in front of you.

Fifteen minutes later is the Solo Workout section, where Advincula gives a short workout routine. Next is hitting practice with two sticks on a dummy followed by full contact double stick sparring. We see Advincula lose a stick and keep fighting.
The Forms section is next complete with slow motion replay and applications.

Tape 3 Single Sword/Sword & Dagger/Double Sword starts with a seven minute intro leading into target areas, common mistakes (watch those ear lobes!).

The Single sword section covers cuts, chops, blocks, a free fighting drill, 2 skill drills leading into the Close Quarter section when you have grabbed your opponent's weapon hand and he does the same. Escape concepts and positioning are covered. This section ends with half speed sword sparring.

The Espada Y Daga vs Espada Y Daga section is next, covering basic positions and techniques and counters. Double Swords follows next, including a demo and positions.

A free fighting sequence of Double stick techniques vs Double Sword techniques is followed by a Double Sword form section shown in actual speed and slow mo and ending with applications.

I liked the Close Quarter and Single Sword section. Advincula shows spinning cuts and wristlocks not shown in the other tapes. The common mistakes section was helpful too. I didn't like the Double Sticks tape much.

For fighting applications, Single Stick is the way to go. For decent bladework go to the Single Sword tape. Technically though, there is a technique I disagree with involving a double backhand technique. This technique w/ the stick would be caught in the armpit or at least slow the delivery of the second hit. With a blade you would cut your armpit, not good.

In general, the partner drills are easily doable compared to other tapes but it can get boring. The terms are given English names and there is NO empty hand section or sensitivity drills. This is for people who like to hit with the weapon and keep the empty hand techniques simple.

 
Thanks JRF, believe it or not, I'm actually going to slow down on collecting tapes. In fact, I've sold most of them. I also think it's great that in these forums, people can respond if they have the particular tape.

Re: Advincula. Tape 3 is all blades EXCEPT knives. An excellent article in Black Belt in 1989 was done on Advincula. His system is a 'country/farmer' system, long blades used as tools were weapons, short chopping knives as utility. Knives like balisong are city folk tools, also understand however, that it was common to see people with bolos around their waist. The article states that long hand styles can be adapted to short knives but not vice versa.

Advincula's and Dan Inosanto's collection of weapons can be debated by themselves but that of course is another issue.
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Advincula's style is not really conceptual ala JKD. His version of defang the snake is to attack your opponent and when his strike comes, sever his arm. This is what I feel makes Advincula stand out. He makes no bones about wanting heavy blades over light knives.

Knifewise, I think he likes daggers and believe it or not, FMA people don't all like balisongs and single sticks. Advincula and many others like heavy cleaving weapons, heavy sticks, and nothing, NOTHING less than a dagger. Yet even with this simple notion of combat there is definitely an influence of European fencing technique in his system.
All words aside, I hope I've conveyed the mentality of this system.
 
a lot of people want to laugh at advincula's style because it is simple. but dont laugh to much because it is practical. many of the style that are out looked like that before the 60s and 70s. before they got fancy. his weapon style is similar to my own, maybe i am being biasd. anyway, most of the weapon style started this way until teachers felt the need to "improve" their style with more better looking techniques.
 
I agree with Smoke. Master Advincula's tapes are good learning aids. I have tapes #1 and #3. My mouth dropped open when tape #3 got to the free sparring section. Master Advincula pretty much destroyed the other guy. The man can move!



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K. Williams
kel620@aol.com
Modern Arnis Student
 
These were the 1st in depth FMA stickfighting tapes I ever watched after Vunaks basic tape. I like them a lot, and learned a lot from them. This post makes me want to dig them out and look at them again. I'm also partial to heavy sticks and weapons.

In my double-stick training, I use axe-handles, two very heavy rubber-coated metal nightsticks, two cocobola sticks, and two heavy rattan sticks. They vary enough in weight that I switch depending on mood. Training with very heavy sticks makes you really fly with lighter sticks. Only problem is that my hands tend to sweat a lot, more than once my slippry rattan stick has flown across the yard!

Where is Advincula now? He is conspicously absent from the FMA scene. I think he is as good as many that have more fame.
 
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