Modern Arnis vs Kicks

[DukeReg]

The inevitable question:
How does Modern Arnis defend against kicks, in particular low ones to the knees or ankles? I presume there is some batting of the attacking leg with sticks, but any specific techniques or information would be nice.
For example, what would you Modern Arnis practitioners prefer/be forced to do if someone with nice big heavy boots was slamming them into your legs repeatedly and with a lot of force? How would your tatics change depending on whether you had a stick or not?

[Jeff Burger]

First thing that comes to my mind for defense in a Fillipino art is "gunting" (destructive blocking).
Either with the stick or with your body (preferably the stick IMO).

One good shot stick to bone should hender any future thoughts of kicking during the match.

Gunting with your body....
Against a round kick try to get the tip of your knee into his instep or shin.

Against cross stomp (Sepa)...pull your foot up and back (like your kicking yourself in the butt). This takes your shin out of there leaving the tip of your knee cap pointed at his shin.

Stomps to feet ... If you can make him miss his foot should be easy for you to stomp.

Then there is always getting out of the way.

There are plenty more.

Jeff

[Sochin]

Evade the kick with footwork, and slam the feathers off him with your stick.

[G Hendrix]

The inevitable question:
How does Modern Arnis defend against kicks, in particular low ones to the knees or ankles? I presume there is some batting of the attacking leg with sticks, but any specific techniques or information would be nice.
For example, what would you Modern Arnis practitioners prefer/be forced to do if someone with nice big heavy boots was slamming them into your legs repeatedly and with a lot of force? How would your tatics change depending on whether you had a stick or not?

I am not a FMA guy. But how about staying outside of the kicking range as a solution? Just a thought.

[DukeReg]

Jeff:
I'm confused... I thought the knee would be damaged by impact with the shin... ?

Ted:
Is this the X footwork that I keep hearing about?

Gabriel:
I was presuming that the attacker would be moving into range to kick them, and that the FMA practitioner wouldn't want to constantly be pushed back by the opponent.
I think I read somewhere that Arnis prefers to avoid and damage the attacking tools of the opponent, before moving into closer range to finish. Please correct me if I'm wrong!

[G Hendrix]

If you close in, then WAM BAM! lol That's how I would do it. Can't tell you what the FMA guys prefer to do. That is outside my area of expertise.

[Sochin]

x is good, triangle is good, y is good, straight blast is good, pendulum is good...

anything that gets the job done safely is good. Practicality over style, I say!!

[DragonMind]

The inevitable question:
How does Modern Arnis defend against kicks, in particular low ones to the knees or ankles? I presume there is some batting of the attacking leg with sticks, but any specific techniques or information would be nice.
For example, what would you Modern Arnis practitioners prefer/be forced to do if someone with nice big heavy boots was slamming them into your legs repeatedly and with a lot of force? How would your tatics change depending on whether you had a stick or not?

First off, Modern Arnis is not just a stick art. Common misconception. It has a full complement of hand strikes, kicks, and grappling components as well as single stick, double stick, stick and blade, sword and dagger, and bolo (single and double).

Second part, assuming you wanted a stick scenario, hit him in the head. Your arm plus stick is longer than his leg. Not to mention faster. As he closes, smack him on the way in. Using abaniko (longo or corto), I can generally get about 3-5 good licks in in the time it takes a kicker to close the distance and throw the kick. It's amazing how much steam goes out of a kick when you're worried about that bloody stick hitting you. Repeat until he quits trying to kick you (or goes unconscious, whichever comes first).

Empty handed, same tactics and techniques as pretty much any other art. A few nasty surprises (e.g. sikarans) when you get in close.

[DukeReg]

Okay. I was just wondering whether the X footwork was the one that Mod Arnis uses/prefers from a more style-loyal than practical standpoint. Does it focus more on X than other footwork?

Here's a hyperthetical situation. Someone is starting up on you in a bar. You know that a weapon could be the difference between walking away and being stretchered away. The only weapon at hand is a beer bottle. You take it. It is nowhere near as long as your normal stick. The person grabs at your arms with his big ol' brown bear arms and tries the age old trick of smashing your knee out with his foot. Would you tend to try to injure his legs, or evade to the side and free the bottle, or just evade and attack him with your hands/feet?
Of course this is not enough detailed information to say exactly what you would do, but I am trying to ignite a discussion of how the whole kicking thing ties into the tactics and principles of Mod Arnis.

[DragonMind]

Modern Arnis uses a variety of footwork all based around a couple core concepts: efficiency and safety. We use cross stepping, V-stepping, straight line entry, etc... pretty much what you'd expect from any other style.

As to your scenario, I can tell you that different arnisadors will approach it from different angles depending on how they train and what techniques they're most comfortable with. My approach would be a V-step to get offline (and remove my leg from his attack) and smash his temple in with that bottle. Having watched my instructor (Dan Anderson), my guess is he would likely have beaten the opponent to the punch and closed with him going straight in with a Balintawak style strike to the face. Datu Knuttel, being the mean nasty guy he is , I'd guess would go straight up the opponent's nose with that bottle! Try kicking while snorting a beer bottle Some of the other folks I've met would go for traps, locks, throws...they are all part of Modern Arnis.

Bottom line, Modern Arnis has the techniques you need whether against sticks, punches, kicks, trapping or grappling. It is the individual who is going to determine which one to use. Two things GM Presas always emphasized is the Flow (not specific techniques) and countering before the opponent can complete his attack.

[TogaAssassin]

a combat scenario Personally I wouldn't go for the bottle, at a close range (if he grabs me we're in media at least) I would not want to rely on something like that (personally). First I would want to get the hell out of the way of that kick (although with economic motion) I would most likely shift the target leg to the rear point of my tega while delivering a strike to his temple (angle of attack #1 from Lameco, side of course dependant on the leg he is striking at). Hopefully his leg is still in the air at this point which would give me enough time to take a body shot and hopefull get a kick onto his leg that is bearing all of his weight. if someone grabs you by the arms chances are they're square to you which put no only thier knees but their center line as a whole in a very vulnerable place.

[Rich Parsons]

Okay. I was just wondering whether the X footwork was the one that Mod Arnis uses/prefers from a more style-loyal than practical standpoint. Does it focus more on X than other footwork?

Here's a hyperthetical situation. Someone is starting up on you in a bar. You know that a weapon could be the difference between walking away and being stretchered away. The only weapon at hand is a beer bottle. You take it. It is nowhere near as long as your normal stick. The person grabs at your arms with his big ol' brown bear arms and tries the age old trick of smashing your knee out with his foot. Would you tend to try to injure his legs, or evade to the side and free the bottle, or just evade and attack him with your hands/feet?
Of course this is not enough detailed information to say exactly what you would do, but I am trying to ignite a discussion of how the whole kicking thing ties into the tactics and principles of Mod Arnis.

With the Assumption that offering to by the guy a drink does not work, and for some reason I did not catch the clues and leave before it became a problem.

The bottle if already in my hand would probably remain there, although I would be very reluctant to use it, unless he had a weapon. Otherwise even if he is the aggressor, the one with the weapon would be charged.

I have no problems if the person grabs and tries to pull you in. I would go with it, and not fight his motions. This would allow for me to move in and attack or check his leg, as well as go for control of the head and body. There are release from grabs that we train as well and that would be used on the way in.

[DragonMind]

Master Parsons, welcome to BudoSeek. It is great to have someone of your skill and knowledge here.

[Rich Parsons]

Master Parsons, welcome to BudoSeek. It is great to have someone of your skill and knowledge here.

Thank you Barry.

Sorry for not checking in more often.

[Brian R. VanCise]

Hey Rich,

Glad you stopped by! Rich is one of the best FMA practitioners in Michigan and trains with Jim Powers and all of the Flint Modern Arnis practitioners.

[Rich Parsons]

Hey Rich,

Glad you stopped by! Rich is one of the best FMA practitioners in Michigan and trains with Jim Powers and all of the Flint Modern Arnis practitioners.

Thanks Brian. I am not sure what to say, other than Thanks (* Again *)