Stick Sparring for the Fun of It!

This month I am starting with a clip of a great teacher that I personally admire, Senior Grandmaster and living legend Cacoy Cañete. For those of you new to Filipino Martial Arts, GM Cacoy is the oldest and most senior of all living Doce Pares Eskrima Masters and Grandmasters. Like many long time practitioners he has refined and distilled his personal method into a style that he calls Eskrido.

Wikipedia has this to say about his Eskrima method, “Eskrido, a version of Doce Pares, is a Filipino martial art that is a combination of Doce Pares, Aikido, and Judo, with lesser influences from other Japanese systems. It features standard eskrima stick techniques mixed with Jujutsu-style locks and throws that utilize the stick. The stickwork shows a strong sword influence, and indeed the sword, knife, and other Filipino weapons are also taught. It was founded by Ciriaco “Cacoy” Cañete, who continues to teach it in the Philippines and in seminars across the world. The martial art was established in 1951. Cañete is considered as the highest ranking practitioner in both Doce Pares Eskrima and Eskrido”.

One of the things that stood out most to me in this video was the sheer amount of laughter and fun both he and his student were having while sparring and training together. Too often one finds that egos and tempers become flared during these kinds of exchanges, and it can become more a game of who is better than whom rather than an opportunity for shared growth and learning. It is the rare teacher that can instruct and demonstrate such a combative practice and at the same time thoroughly enjoy themselves, and have the students enjoy their training as well. In my personal opinion the hallmark of a true master of an art is one who can not only show and transmit his own knowledge but likewise can guide the student though this process in a way that makes learning challenging, informative, and fun.

Laughter not only makes learning and retention easier but it also minimizes the pain that is experienced during these exchanges and speeds up the healing process from bruises which is inherent to training. Many times this crucial part of training is overlooked by both teachers and students alike. The video posted below is not only a great example of light-hearted yet serious training, but more importantly a healthy teacher/student relationship. To this day Manong Cacoy is still teaching/demonstrating his art and sharing his contagious laughter…

Many individuals enter some type of martial arts or self-defense training for the benefits of self protection, getting into shape, boosting self-confidence, discipline and so forth. For many years it can be very serious as the student is striving to learn and memorize various techniques and practicing under challenging conditions each week in class. One thing I would like to encourage everyone in their training especially at the beginning stages is to enjoy yourself, train diligently and with a serious nature; however don’t forget to laugh and have fun with your classmates and instructors. Look for this kind of environment when seeking an instructor. Take your time when looking for a teacher, have a look at the students and their interaction with not only each other and the instructor, but just as important is how well you fit in.

If you can find this at the onset of your training, you may find that the martial arts can open doors and broaden your experiences in ways you may not have considered before.

Professor Brandon Jordan