From: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: eskrima-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #368 Reply-To: eskrima@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest Fri, 3 Sept 1999 Vol 06 : Num 368 In this issue: eskrima: Re: wavy blades eskrima: 6 weeks to train eskrima: Re: racial dynamics eskrima: Re:Tuhon Bill's questions eskrima: Re: Ladies, toilets and cats... eskrima: "cultural" norms eskrima: toilet technique eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #367 eskrima: natahey, y'all eskrima: Re: racial dynamics eskrima: Backwards ========================================================================== Eskrima-Digest, serving the Internet since June 1994. ~1100 members strong! Copyright 1994-99: Ray Terry, Inayan Eskrima, and Martial Arts Resource Replying to this message will NOT unsubscribe you. To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe eskrima-digest" (no quotes) in the body (top line, left justified) of a plain text e-mail 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 four 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: "Peter A. Kautz" Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 11:06:31 -0400 Subject: eskrima: Re: wavy blades >I own a few wavy, Kris-style blades. Would anyone kindly explain why a rounded >but sharpened tip and a wavy blade is an advantage? I haven't noticed these >characteristics in Roman, Celtic and European daggers and blades, so I'm >wondering about the value. Well, they DO exist in some surviving European swords as well. The Renaissance Flamberge (a true 2-handed sword) also had a wavy blade design like the kris. This was believed to do more damage in a cut, because it would cause more "blde edge" to slide through the opponent. It is like the difference between a straight road and a curvy road - the curvy road would technically be longer to reach the same place as the straight road. This is all in theory, anyhow. In a brief time the theory of it's "added effectiveness" was dismissed, and the Flamberge was left behind in the European arts. For the kris its self, I have heard a number of interesting "folktales" about why the blade is wavy, but could not give you "the real reason"...perhaps an ED member closer to the source can. Pete Kautz ------------------------------ From: "Marc Halleck" Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 10:01:58 -0500 Subject: eskrima: 6 weeks to train If given 6 weeks to train someone i would choose the Kukri. Talk about a combat weapon. the kukri is design for combat, not that complicated to use, and very hard to counter. Not to much is written on the use of the Kukri, and the only Master i know is Dr. Gyi. ------------------------------ From: Ted Truscott Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 09:15:51 -0800 Subject: eskrima: Re: racial dynamics Are cultural characteristics perhaps being mistaken for racial characteristics? I have no trouble with 'races' but some cultures make me wary - one believes that I'm satanic because I was born in North America and that they will ensure a place in heaven by killing me...that's a cultural point of view, not a racial imperative. Races don't have 'fighting' styles, cultures do. A berserk Norseman and an effette British dandy may be both the same race and both as dangerous to cross as the other but they won't fight the same - that's culture. Being able to quickly analyse which cultural fighting tradition your expected opponent is trained in is much more useful that identifying his race. ------------------------------ From: "Branwen Thomas" Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 13:57:42 -0230 Subject: eskrima: Re:Tuhon Bill's questions >1. If you could only train on one weapon, which among single stick,double stick, sword >and dagger or knife would you choose? Single stick (am I allowed to train both leads?) >2. If you where training a beginning adult student who wanted to learn your whole art, which weapon category would you train him in first,second, third, etc.? Single stick, then single knife, then double stick etc. >3. Would you train the student in question 2 "A to Z" in one weapon before moving on to the next (Tuhon Gaje said this was done with him as a child), or would you train your student with all the "A's" across the board then all the "B's" etc? Single weapon - if i train in single stick, then it translates to knife much simpler - the movements are already there. >4. If you had just 6 weeks to train someone for combat (say a solider issued a fighting/utility knife and a machete to clear brush) how would you train him? He will be in a zone where the indigenous population often carries edged tools for farm work and has a history of edged weapon fighting arts. P.S. When in town on R&R he is not allowed to carry a firearm. Stick, but make it clear that knife/sword can be used in similar manner - clarify the differences and the dangers. oh it's all very complicated, and I've given simplistic answers....sigh.;) Jocelyne Roaring Girl * Purveyor Of Fine Books * Beater Of Bodhrans * Smiter Of The Wicked * * Owned By Angus, Most Elegant And Pleasing Of Cats * ------------------------------ From: "Branwen Thomas" Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 14:03:33 -0230 Subject: eskrima: Re: Ladies, toilets and cats... We don't have the stand-up option (i know, i've tried :) However, since we often - in bars & whatnot - go to the bathroom in pairs (we could tell you guys why, but then we'd have to kill you ;), we have a "look-out", so to speak. I generally lay my purse/whatever on the toilet tank ; or, you can keep it in your hand, and whack anybody who tries to infringe on your personal privacy. Given the usual size and contents of my purse, this will hurt. Generally speaking however, I think women's toilets are a bit safer than men's, at least from other women. Mind you, I _do_ live in Newfoundland. Jocelyne P.S. Dear Dr. Crafty, i have 4 cats and the toilet just isn't big enough. One at a time doesn't work because the other three see what's happening and scram. What shall I do? Roaring Girl * Purveyor Of Fine Books * Beater Of Bodhrans * Smiter Of The Wicked * * Owned By Angus, Most Elegant And Pleasing Of Cats * ------------------------------ From: "Branwen Thomas" Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 14:00:40 -0230 Subject: eskrima: "cultural" norms I agree with both sides (ooh fence-sitter!) No really. Haru has a point - you can't assume that a person will behave a certain way simply because of perceived "race" - what if you're wrong? If the person has been raised in a manner not traditionally associated with that person's ethnicity/culture/, or if your assumptions about that culture are wrong (too much TV), then you get punched. Also, how do you decide when the person is epidermal pigment-challenged (ie caucasian; ) - will a north-american "white" person behave differently from a northern european "white" person? etc etc. We must train ourselves to not assume more than is absolutely necessary _if anything_, and likewise to be prepared for any response, whether our opponent is our next-door neighbour or someone from another planet... Crafty and Animal are also right. There ARE "racial/cultural dynamics" . If you have knowledge of different cultures, and *general* cultural responses to certain situations, this _can be_ of great value in assessing your opponents possible behaviour. It does not mean you must assume that an asian person is a master of some martial art, or that a black person will whip our a gun and shoot you, or that a Canadian will politely apologize for getting in your way and pick up litter as they retreat ;) However, if you know for example that people raised in certain latin cultures may be more aggressive/macho in certain contexts ( I speak from personal experience), this can help you decide how to deal with that context. So. blend both ideas, and hopefully you don't get punched. (As you may have noticed, I'm attempting to phrase things as non-offensively as possible - however, from my crass use of generalizations, you can see that I am only somewhat politically correct.) Roaring Girl * Purveyor Of Fine Books * Beater Of Bodhrans * Smiter Of The Wicked * * Owned By Angus, Most Elegant And Pleasing Of Cats * ------------------------------ From: lee yow ching Date: Sat, 4 Sep 1999 00:46:33 +0800 (MYT) Subject: eskrima: toilet technique Travis wrote: > Well you can go the filipino way :) (and alot of others asians do) and that >is to squat and if the toilet happens to be the sit down type well put your >feet on the seat and squat. Hey! That's the Malaysian way! Or maybe it's the same way throughout Asia :) regards and respect, Mel Penang, Malaysia. ------------------------------ From: Jack525@aol.com Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 13:24:48 EDT Subject: eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #367 Pat, A very good post. It has lead to imaginative discussion on the subject as well as thought about other life situations that place the individual in a tactically weak position. A few I can think of off the top of my head are:sleeping,especially in a strange room(hotel,hostel, barracks,tent,friend's house or even your sweetie's bedroom) ; in a vehicle:your own car,someone else,s as a passssenger, bicycle, motorcycle,bus,train,airplane; walking,hiking or running on a busy city street,country lane,wooded path,back country at night or dayight; sitting in barber's chair,in a booth;playing a sport or watching a game. What areas can you control and what areas can't you? In areas you cannot such as the office,work site,church,post office,resaurants,bars,schools,etc.;How do maximize your ability to avoid conflict or deal with it if you must? What weapons would you prefer to have for any or all of the posible scenarios you might have to confront. Will legality be a minor or overriding facxtor in your decisions? Lots of questions every minute of every day. ------------------------------ From: tenrec Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 18:53:22 +0100 Subject: eskrima: natahey, y'all Natahey everyone! Been offline for too long...anyway, what gives? Has this changed from the ED to the TD (toilet digest)? :( Steven Drape wrote: >We train single stick first, then add a knife, then change the stick >for >a sword, and then finally take away the sword so only knife is left. We >don't train double sticks at all. What style is this (just curious)? btw: are you the same guy who wrote an article on Escrima in Black Belt Magazine? On that Q of what to teach first, etc.: I know a school that specialized in Karate/Judo, but used Arnis to help beginners improve their reflexes (eye/hand reactions)... A question to all: I tried out a list called FMA@onelist.com...I'd like to know who owns it... Anybody know? Also: Please email me the address of Mr. Jundis also...I'd like to stay in touch with him also... thanks tenrec tenrec@avcorner.com ------------------------------ From: LeighanS@aol.com Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 14:01:46 EDT Subject: eskrima: Re: racial dynamics from: leighans@aol.com i guess the most useful racial dynamic in a fight would resemble that which is found in the new york city marathon ------------------------------ From: "Marc Denny" Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 10:58:29 -0700 Subject: eskrima: Backwards A Howl etc: Haru wrote: > And as Crafty said: "Attention PC idiots about to get in a snit. Racial > dynamics can and do exist. > > *No offense to Crafty or AnimalMac, I just have a contention to your > theories and I'm stating my opinion--AND IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PC. , , , > Crafty stated that "racial dynamics can and do exist" and I think he would > be correct (as long as you and your opponent believe in and adhere to racial > classifications and dynamics). > > Both AnimalMac and Crafty are pointing out a very important issue that all > of us, as fighters, must deal with if we're going to be successful. But I > think that if we go around looking at our opponents as members of certain > "races" and then expect them to behave in a particular way because of that > perceived race, then all we're doing is stereotyping and prejudging. This > isn't about being PC! I don't care about politics, and when it comes down to > you and your opponent, you shouldn't care either--not about politics and not > about "race"! I think Haru has missed my point completely. By racial dynamics I do not mean racial characteristics. If I had meant racial characteristics I would have said racial characteristics. By racial dynamics I meant racial dynamics, which refers to the interplay between groups and the effect of group dynamics on the behaviors of individuals. The point I was making was that there are situations in which one will be judged by a different standard because of one's membership in a particular group. The situation I related was one where if I defended myself against getting jumped by several human beings, whose hostility to me was probably in great part based upon racial animus as well as gender, that probably there would be repercussions because of my race and gender-- specifically that I would not be seen by black males as someone defending himself, but as a white male striking black females-- and that this presented a very difficult question and one quite different than if I had been black too. Lighten up. Woof, Crafty ------------------------------ End of Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #368 **************************************** To unsubscribe from this digest, eskrima-digest, send the command: unsubscribe eskrima-digest -or- unsubscribe eskrima-digest your.old@address in the BODY of an email (top line, left justified) addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com. Old digest issues are available via ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com in directory pub/eskrima/digests. All digest files have the suffix '.txt' Copyright 1994-99: Ray Terry, Inayan Eskrima, and Martial Arts Resource Standard disclaimers apply.