From: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: eskrima-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #235 Reply-To: eskrima@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest Thurs, 3 June 1999 Vol 06 : Num 235 In this issue: eskrima: Quality Balisong eskrima: Kukris eskrima: Question re: unusual wood eskrima: Tragedy indeedly-doodly doo eskrima: back to FMA Re: eskrima: Question re: unusual wood eskrima: Kukri eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #234 eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #234 eskrima: . .......................................................................... Eskrima-Digest, serving the Internet since June 1994. ~1100 members strong! Copyright 1994-99: Ray Terry, Inayan System of Eskrima, Martial Arts Resource Replying to this message will NOT unsubscribe you. To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe eskrima-digest" (no quotes) in the body of an e-mail (top line, left justified) addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To send e-mail to this list use eskrima@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com See the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) FAQ and online search the last two years worth of digest issues at http://www.MartialArtsResource.com Mabuhay ang eskrima! Ray Terry, PO Box 110841, Campbell, CA 95011 FMA@MartialArtsResource.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Sam Beckett Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 16:02:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: eskrima: Quality Balisong Greetings! I am on a quest to locate a supplier of 'quality' balisong knives. All I've been able to locate are cheap 'arkansas knife mafia' rip offs. These are marginal even as trainers. Benchmade creates exellent custom work yet these are out of the price range of most students ($450-$600!!!) PLEASE HELP!!!! _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ From: Michael Koblic Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 16:58:56 -0700 Subject: eskrima: Kukris >Has anyone here experimented with using khukuris (singularly or in pairs) >within the FMA framework? If so, what were your impressions? I'm >considering purchasing some khukuris, since filipino weapons are rather hard >to come by, but the profile/forward balance of the blade concerns me. > I like kukris (easier to spell this way!) and own four. I have done a few drills with them and tried some cutting. The answer to the question is IMHO - - it depends on the kukri! In general I find them easier to cut with than stab, but that may be simply that I just do not know what I am doing. The forward balance is a distinct advantage for penetrating cuts and I believe the same can be said about the retroverted angle of the blade. I like the Cold Steel 12" best: it is not too heavy and therefore quite quick. The handle fits me well and I have less concern about retention. The edge profile is excellent for deep cutting. The edge holdig ability is outstanding. I used it to dismember a fallen tree with many springy branches and found it better for that task than a small hatchet. The only drawback is that the thickness of the blade is only 1/8" and tends to bind in thicker wood. My next in preference is the 10" Cold Steel version although the blade shape is not really a kukri. I like my 20" Sirupati from Himalayan Imports to look at, it has a very classy appearance. My concerns are a)the handle which even for my hands is quite thin and would worry me with regards to retention, b) the extra weight makes it slightly slower to wield and c) the edge geometry - it is considerably thicker, over 1/4" I think, which makes it great to chop wood but I am not sure it would be as effective against flesh... I am trying to set up some cutting tests with the kukris and a few other edged implements I possess, as soon as I can get hold of some condemned criminals :-) Finally, the less said about the Atlanta Cutlery kukri the better... I hope that before I die I shall have an opportunity to train with Dr. Gyi who I understand is the recognized expert on kukri usage. Hope this helps a bit, Mike Koblic, Quesnel BC ------------------------------ From: Ken Date: Thu, 03 Jun 1999 17:29:12 -0700 Subject: eskrima: Question re: unusual wood Hello all, My parents recently came back from southeast asia, and brought me two delightful 3' walking sticks, originally from Burma. They're make in the style of the British Malayan explorer cane, and they divide into two parts with a screw-joint in the middle (making two excellent little 18" bastons, might I add). Anyway, the question is about the wood itself, which they didn't and I couldn't identify. Now, the stuff >looks< like rattan, a bit. That is, it has a fibrous construction, and it's fairly light weight and incredibly strong with a little touch of flexibility. However, it's distinctly heavier than rattan, though not by that much. The wood itself is fairly dark, though I assume it's been stained. The appearance of the wood is that it's semi-segmented, like rattan, but it has uneven, attractive patches of alternating lighter and darker shades. If anyone can identify this wood from my meager description, I'd appreciate it -- it would make for some excellent tools for FMA'ers. Oh yes, I also had a second question. Now, forgive me, because this isn't FMA related, directly. However, it does involve stick fighting, and there are several extremely knowledgeable people here, so I'll give it a shot -- does anyone know of any books or even teachers of Canne (french cane-fighting) in North America? Thanks in advance for the help. Ken ------------------------------ From: kirk_righter@peoplesoft.com Date: Fri, 04 Jun 1999 00:05:33 GMT Subject: eskrima: Tragedy indeedly-doodly doo << Well that's funny, I'm always reading references to guns and gun laws on > this forum. Are you saying that this topic is restricted from now on? <> Always? Pardon me for using the word so loosely, but I think you know what I mean. I've been on this forum for quite a while, and I remember from the beginning reading occasional, but continous references, especially from you, Mr. Terry, to pro-gun comments. They're always worded in such a way (" as a martial artist I obviously appreciate firearms") that assumes that the members of this forum agree with you. Just letting you know that I don't. Plinkingly Yours, Kirk Righter ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 17:41:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: eskrima: back to FMA > you, Mr. Terry, to pro-gun comments. They're always worded in such a way (" > as a martial artist I obviously appreciate firearms") that assumes that the > members of this forum agree with you. Just letting you know that I don't. HiHi... I think it is safe to assume that none of us agree on everything. And as I say, this is not the forum to discuss pro-gun or anti-gun topics, at length. People are allowed their say and you must admit that you have been allowed to express yours. Now, back to FMA??? Yes. Maybe feints... :) Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 17:43:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: eskrima: Question re: unusual wood > My parents recently came back from southeast asia, and brought me two > delightful 3' walking sticks, originally from Burma. They're make in the > style of the British Malayan explorer cane, and they divide into two parts > with a screw-joint in the middle (making two excellent little 18" bastons, > might I add). Anyway, the question is about the wood itself, which they > didn't and I couldn't identify. Now, the stuff >looks< like rattan, a bit. > That is, it has a fibrous construction, and it's fairly light weight and > incredibly strong with a little touch of flexibility. However, it's > distinctly heavier than rattan, though not by that much. The wood itself > is fairly dark, though I assume it's been stained. The appearance of the > wood is that it's semi-segmented, like rattan, but it has uneven, > attractive patches of alternating lighter and darker shades. If anyone can > identify this wood from my meager description, I'd appreciate it -- it > would make for some excellent tools for FMA'ers. Is it Lahti (sp?). Sounds like it might be. I think it is a type of rattan??? Heavier and thicker and a bit darker than typical rattan canes. Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: Kalki Date: Thu, 03 Jun 1999 19:52:47 -0500 Subject: eskrima: Kukri > Has anyone here experimented with using khukuris (singularly or in pairs) > within the FMA framework? This is an interesting one ... I've read in the past that kukri handling requires specific training and technique due to the very different balance of the weapon, i.e., in comparison with most large knives and short swords. I suspect that the configuration of the blade might make the FMA crossover a little tricky? Doesn't it require a different manipulation for control in striking than say, sticks or straight short swords? I recall reading how if one were to manipulate the blade like "any other" blade it might find its way into the closest foot :-) Be well, Mik ------------------------------ From: MdlAgdLftr@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 21:35:10 EDT Subject: eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #234 >>has anyone here experimented with using kukuris (singularly or in pairs) within the FMA framework?<< Years ago, I & I Sports offered a unique knife called the "Bushmaster", which was very similar in design to the Nepalese Kukuri; the curve of the blade wasn't quite as drastic as the traditional Gurkha weapon, but very close. I bought one way back when, and I love it. Great for Karensa, long enough to use with espada y daga methods, (within the framework of a style like Serrada), and having a decent balance. >>BTW, does anyone else think it's odd...that filipino blades are so hard to come by?<< I'm in Indiana, and I have never had a problem finding Filipino weapons...there are suppliers out there (Kris Cutlery is an excellent source), and we regularly run across good stuff at gun & knife shows. Invest some time in research to know what to look for (there are authentic older blades, and then there are "tourist" blades), and scour the flea markets, antique shops, and such. I once found a beautiful balisong in an antique shop my wife wanted to visit; it was sitting in a curio cabinet among a lot of misc. stuff. Check out WWII memento shops, watch for ads in the newspapers for auctions and/or sales of war souvenirs, or search the Internet. The stuff is relatively easy to find (even more so than Japanese weapons I've found). And, keep your ears open. I once got into a discussion with a veteran who had been stationed in the Philippines. When I told him I studied FMA's, he said he had a knife from the PI that he had brought back, and had been using in his shop to strip wire. He dug around in his toolbox for a few minutes, then produced a very, very nice balisong. I tried to talk him into selling it, but he refused, saying he'd had it a long time. I then told him what he had, and advised him to stop using it as a workshop tool. The last time I talked to him, he had cleaned it up, and stored it away. Sometimes you just stumble across stuff.... Kim ------------------------------ From: MdlAgdLftr@aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 21:42:27 EDT Subject: eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #234 >>aren't there some "Dos Manos" (two hand) systems...?<< I saw a demonstration of Dos Manos style in Chicago years ago at an Inayan seminar. Michael Amistoso learned this style from a gentleman in Hawaii, and gave a most impressive showing. From what I remember, he used mostly wing blocks, and delivered slicing-type blows with great rapidity and power. Michael would rain blows over the entire body after the intial wing block, the blows seeming to follow an elliptical pattern. The stick was approximately Serrada length (24 inches or thereabouts), although I could see it being very effective with a slightly longer stick. Very fluid, very strong style from what I can recall. Kim ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 19:35:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: eskrima: . ------------------------------ End of Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #235 **************************************** To unsubscribe from this digest, eskrima-digest, send the command: unsubscribe eskrima-digest -or- unsubscribe eskrima-digest your.old@address in the BODY of email (top line, left justified) addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com. 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