BJMA – AEK Instructors Course – Level 1
There are presently Instructor Course Programs as well as the Student Level Curriculum in operation, which have book, DVD and seminar support, with regular classes throughout the Region.
For participants currently holding Black Belt Instructor levels in any recognised Martial Art.
The course requires the completion of two one-day training sessions. There is usually a two month period between the first and second days of the course – courses can be arranged over one weekend for individuals or interstate and overseas Instructors availability.
Each day consists of six hours of detailed Instruction, plus included in the course are: Weapons Kit, Teaching Curriculum and a Level 1 DVD to back up the hands on instruction. Also included for future training is the BJMA 1-5 Weaponry DVD and Curriculum, which provides simple format instruction suitable for Seminar presentation of the principles of BJMA Eskrima.
Successful applicants receive their Level 1 Certification and the approved BJMA – AEK uniform as required at the end of the Course. (Uniform consists of Arnis Red T-Shirt, Black Pants & Level 1 Black Belt with white stripe).
Upon receipt of two passport photos, completed/signed BJMA Instructor Agreement and instructor registration fee, the BJMA Head Office will send the AEK Club Instructor their OFFICIAL BJMA – AEK Instructor ID card and instructor pack.
BJMA – AEK Club Instructors receive an appropriate discount for AEK equipment imported from the Philippines by Clubshop International; including all training equipment, Uniforms, Certification, Weaponry, Doce Pares Videos and Books.
Qualified Level 1 Instructors also have access to the Doce Pares Multi – Styles Curriculum of Grandmaster Diony Cañete for advancing their Filipino Martial Arts skills via regular weekend AEK Training Days.
ALL ENQUIRIES: Marc Toussaint (03) 8418 1822
TRAINING SKILLS
THE BJMA ESKRIMA CURRICULUM INCORPORATES:
Single and Double Stick
Staff
Palm Stick and Dagger training
Competition Stick Fighting Tournament applications
Close Quarter trapping
Sensitivity and Contact Reflex training
Joint Locking, Groundwork and Controlling applications
12 AREAS OF FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING
In total, Filipino Martial Arts are usually considered to have 12 areas of training:
Single Stick or Long Blade
Double Stick or Blade
Single Dagger
Double Dagger
Stick & Dagger or Sword & Dagger
Palm Stick or Double Ended Dagger
Empty Hand (Punching – Kicking – Grappling)
Spear or Staff (Long 2 Handed Weapons)
Flexible Weapons (Whip – Belt)
Throwing or Missile Weapons
Projectile Weapons (Bows – Blowguns)
Spiritual & Healing Arts
Generally, few styles if any will teach all 12 areas, with most teaching around three to nine areas within their curriculums.
Contrary to the majority of other martial arts, training in the Filipino Martial Arts begins predominantly with the weapons and empty hand techniques following after. This is simply because they are Warrior Arts(arts intended for the battlefield), thus there was no intention of going in empty handed against armed enemies – it was necessary to be armed and proficient in the handling of weapons. Plus, the fact of carrying daggers or machetes was part of the traditional Filipino way of living their daily lives.
In times of war, there was no time for philosophy, it was necessary to fight and survive – the Filipino warriors could never philosophise too much for the simple reason being that they were almost constantly at war – either domestic or foreign, or both simultaneously.
Thus, in the Filipino Martial Arts, when speaking about physical confrontation, one is equating that to several armed, skilled adversaries. Therefore, the need must also be to be armed and skilled in the use of weaponry, with the consideration being that during combat we may lose our weapon or not have it, then we go to empty hands.
Filipino styles normally classify attacks not by their weapon, or their delivery style, but by the direction of the energy. A punch to the abdomen is treated much the same way as a straight dagger thrust to that region would be. Practitioners learn how to deal with the energy of the attack, and then apply that knowledge to the slight variations that come with different lengths and types of weapons.
With this in mind, the modern eskrimador must be adaptive to the environment and tools at hand at any given time, under any given circumstances. Creating weapons from the immediate environment enables one to turn a chair, a glass, a rolled newspaper, an umbrella, a video case, a handful of dirt or a few coins into weapons or self-defence tools.
A distinctive feature of all Filipino Martial Arts is their use of geometry. In strikes, defences and movement, line and angles are very important. In addition, the independent use of the hands, or hands and feet, to do two different things at the same time are the high-level skills of a trained practitioner of Filipino Martial Arts.
Filipino arts place great emphasis on footwork, mobility and body positioning. The same concepts (of angles of attack, deflections, traps, passes, etc.) are applied to similar situations at different ranges, making the understanding of ranges and how to bridge them very important. The Filipinos make extensive use of geometric shapes, superimposing them on a combat situation, and movement patterns, to teach practitioners to use their position and their movements to their best advantage.
The paradox of eskrima training is that the practitioner trains with weapons, to develop an expertise in the understanding of self-defence against weapon attacks – one cannot simply seek “self-defence”, self-defence thought of as some vague collection of techniques which can enable you by luck to survive an encounter. To defend oneself against a dagger attack, the practitioner will initially learn how to handle a dagger, then how to protect their vital areas, to defend against the various angles of attack, to anticipate the reactions of the adversary, and so on. The realisation soon becomes that although a punch will simply hurt, attacks with sticks, machetes, daggers, syringes or improvised weapons can be lethal – there can be no half measures in the application of your defence.
“THE FOUNDATIONS & AFFILIATION”
“Filipino Weaponry Self Defence – More Than Sticks & Daggers”
The foundations for the BJMA Eskrima System of Filipino Martial Arts were originally set back in November 1996, in Melbourne, Victoria. This came through the initial contact and expertise of the 5th Degree Doce Pares representative at the time.
April 2000 saw the direct affiliation of the BJMA Eskrima Group by Peter Shannon under the guidance of SGM Dionisio A. Canete of Doce Pares Inc, Cebu, Philippines.
Training Trips from that period to the present to the Philippines have seen the family ties strengthen, with BJMA Eskrima representation at World Championship level and active support at the 70th, 75th & 80th Anniversary Celebrations for Doce Pares International in Cebu, Philippines.
” 2016 Celebrated 20 Years for BJMA Eskrima since Foundation in November, 1996 “
The BJMA Eskrima Group throughout the Australasian Region is teaching the current Doce Pares Multi-styles International Curriculum of Eskrima Kali Arnis as per SGM Diony Canete’s instruction, including the formalised 12 Doce Pares Traditional Forms personally presented to Chief Instructor Master Peter Shannon at the Doce Pares 70th Anniversary in DVD format.
This direct contact established the BJMA Group as one of the most up to date Doce Pares affiliates in the World.
Dedicated Instructors throughout this time have progressed to Doce Pares Internationally recognised and certified rankings from Grade 1 Black Belt to Grade 7 Black Belt with Master Instructor Certification.
BJMA Eskrima received it’s Affiliated Certification with the Doce Pares Group, under SGM Dionisio A Cañete of Cebu City, Philippines-presented in August 2000. The system is designed to be integrated by all Instructors and Students from any Martial Arts background, without compromising any of their previous training or affiliations.
Ongoing goals and achievements have seen the establishment of accredited Instructors in various States of Australia and New Zealand, Seminars by various Filipino Masters, regular Training Trips to the Doce Pares Headquarters and WEKAF-style Stick Fighting Tournaments in Cebu, Philippines.
For more information, tap into the Doce Pares Australia website – www.doceparesaust.com
DOCE PARES
Established in 1932 in Cebu City in the Philippines, Doce Pares brought together some of Cebu City’s top Eskrimadors to train, fight and promote their art under one banner.
It is recognised as the single largest International promoter of authentic Filipino Martial Arts.
Doce Pares translates as 12 pairs, and represents the original 12 founding members, and also signifies the 12 angles of attack and corresponding defences to those attacks.
Doce Pares is widely known for it’s classic low stances and the original 12 Doce Pares forms. Forms training is considered an important element of the system, as it improves balance, strength, speed and co-ordination between the hands, body and footwork. Many, if not all masters, grandmasters and students have contributed to the art’s growth and popularity throughout the world. In recent times, the profile of Doce Pares has been significantly raised by SGM Dionisio A. Cañete through his ongoing development of his Doce Pares Multi-Styles Curriculum and drafting of the rules for the WEKAF full contact stick fighting tournaments.
Since 1975, SGM D. A. Cañete has been conducting seminars and workshops all over the world, inspiring such martial arts luminaries as Dan Inosanto, Richard Bustillo and Bobby Breen.
It was due to SGM Diony Cañete in August 2000 that the BJMA Eskrima Group achieved official affiliation certification and recognition by the world family of Doce Pares.This ongoing collaboration promises a great future for the BJMA Eskrima Group and its participants at all levels.
“2016 Celebrated 20 years of BJMA Eskrima since it’s Foundation in November, 1996.”
For more information on Doce Pares Australia, tap into the website – www.doceparesaust.com
HISTORY
Arnis, Eskrima and Kali are the most commonly known terms used to describe traditional Filipino Martial Arts.
They are arts based on flowing, economy of motion and adaptability, passed on by people who used it in defence of their lands, and in recent times, applying them in the sporting arena on a worldwide scale.
The arts have their roots deep in the culture and history of the Filipino people, with the exact date of their origins remaining unclear to this day.
The Filipino Martial Arts date back for thousands of years, and were originally combative in nature, but were later preserved through dance, religious theatre and mock battles, (known as Moro Moro), with the desire to develop the individual practitioner’s warrior spirit, and for the maintenance of their physical health.
Traces of historical evidence have revealed that these arts of self defence – involving the use of a single stick, two sticks, a long and a short stick, a dagger, or some other blunt instruments no doubt existed long before the arrival of the first Spanish colonisers in the Philippine islands.
The first known Filipino hero, Lapulapu, was believed to be one of the foremost masters of his time in Filipino Martial Arts, who had vigorously trained and prepared his men for fights against his enemies long before his historic battle with Ferdinand Magellan on April 27, 1521, at Mactan Island.
It was in this battle that Lapulapu and his warriors met the modern weapons and body armour of the finest Spanish steel with wooden instruments, spears and bolos, and when the epic battle reached it’s conclusion, the Spanish conquistadors were found to be no match for the aggressive Filipino warrior spirit.
Magellan lost his life in that battle, and according to the surviving Spanish soldiers, his body was never retrieved as it was ripped apart and scattered across the battlefield. It was in the battle of Mactan where the native martial arts were put to a real test against the modem weapons of the Spanish invaders. When Miguel Lopez de Legaspi landed in the Philippines and established the first settlement in 1565, he and his men noted that the Filipinos were in a class of their own in the arts of stick fighting and blade or sword fighting.
He had his first glimpse of the natives exceptional skill and ability during his landing in Leyte in 1564 when he was entertained with a demonstration by the warriors of Chieftain Malitik. Similar observations were made when visiting Limasawa, Camiguin, Cebu and other places. Filipino Martial Arts were then the favourite sport of the royalties and every-time a demonstration or competition was held, people came in droves to watch.
The popularity spanned well up to the Spanish times, however, when the Spaniards gained substantial control of the country they discouraged practice of the arts. Fearful of the Filipinos skills, they imposed a total ban on their practice, stating the unusual long hours spent in practice and training led to a neglect of their daily work. Hence, the Filipinos put aside their training devices and abandoned their practice.
It was not until the 19th century that the Filipino Arts began to surface again into popularity among the natives. This was the time of the introduction of the ‘Moro Moro’ plays and dances which became popular among the Filipinos, and gave them the opportunity to circumvent the rule which prohibited the display and carrying of bladed weapons. These plays resulted in the people mastering the arts with the use of pieces of hardwood, or with the use of fire hardened rattan or cane.
Due to the Spanish influence the Filipino Martial Arts came to be known as “Arnis de Mano” – derived from a Spanish word “arnes”, meaning trappings or defensive armour.
It also acquired namesakes such as “estokada”, “estoque”, “fraile”, or simply “arnis”.
The word “eskrima” is derived from the Spanish word “esgrima”, which means “a game between two combatants with the use of blunt instruments”.
The name of the stick which could be either rattan or a piece of hardwood used in “eskrima” is called either – “olisi”, “baston” or “garote”.
The word “eskrima” became popular in the early years of the American regime, when the first Filipino Martial Arts club, organised in Cebu City, in 1920, the Labangon Fencing Club used the term in their practice of the arts. This group was dissolved in later years due to serious political conflicts among it’s members.In 1932, the Doce Pares Association, was formed with a nucleus of well known grandmasters based in Cebu, with this organisation’s popularity and name becoming synonymous with the practice of Filipino Martial Arts, and being credited and accepted as adapting the arts into a form of competitive sport.
In fact, the present tournament rules adopted by the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) have been substantially lifted from the old rules of the Doce Pares Association.
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