Giron Escrima Vol 1-6: DVD Set – Tony Somera

This video illustrates the Cadena de Mano style in the Giron Arnis Escrima system of Filipino Martial Arts. The term Cadena de Mano literally means “chain of the hands.” This is a close-quarter fighting style consisting of a progression from parry to grab, twist, and lock. Your opponent may be armed or unarmed, but you have no weapon. You will always maintain contact with your opponent’s hands until you have him in a compromising position. If your opponent continues to be aggressive, you will employ finger locks, joint locks, arm bars, and/or chokes. Grandmaster Leo M. Giron used this style as a back-up fighting system during WW II in the jungles of the Philippines. 60 minutes

This video illustrates Estilo Macabebe style in the Giron Arnis Escrima system of Filipino Martial Arts. Macabebe is the name of a town in the province of Pampanga. Many men in the area have chosen a trade of peddling clothing materials to families in the remote barrios. These men from Macabebe introduced an art of self-defense using two long sticks; this style is characterized by the interweaving motions of the sticks and is also known as sinawali, the weaving style. In Giron Arnis Escrima, Estilo Macabebe, the weapon of application would be two bolo knives. The Macabebe natives were known as fierce fighting warriors who were employed by others for protection. The Macabebe warriors also have a bare hand and disarming system that is used in Giron Escrima. 74 minutes

In the art of Giron Arnis Escrima, estilo de abanico refers to a bolo knife defense that—with the flick of the wrist—wards off strikes or thrusts coming from the front. This is one of the fastest motions used to deflect an attack, allowing the defender time to reposition himself in a more favorable location or posture. Counterstriking is included, with the emphasis on the tip of your weapon to get the maximum amount of power in short and powerful striking ranges. In many instances, shifting the weight of your body laterally from side to side, during the movement, is necessary to effect the abanico style.

Estilo de sonkete is a thrusting and poking style using such rigid weapons as a bolo, panabas, or baston (stick). In this style, the escrimador thrusts his weapon into an opening in the opponent’s guard. This is accomplished in several ways. First, you can parry the opponent’s weapon with your left hand and thrust your weapon into the created opening. Second, you can block the oncoming weapon and slide your own weapon along your opponent’s until the point of yours makes contact with your opponent’s body. Either way, to make this style effective, the escrimador must use sidestepping to first evade the oncoming strike.

The term larga mano literally means “long hand” and implies the ability to extend one’s reach. Reaching your opponent without jeopardizing safety is foremost because one can disable his enemy with less chance of getting hurt or killed. To employ this style, a practitioner must know how to systematically use a longer weapon. A person cannot just swing his longer weapon like a flail; it is an art and therefore must abide with the larga mano science. Counter-striking is included, with emphasis on the tip of your weapon to get the maximum amount of power in short and powerful striking ranges. The practice of stretching far is the daily exercise of a larga mano practitioner. Grand Master Leo M. Giron applied these larga mano concepts successfully during World War II and is known worldwide as the father of larga mano in the United States.