Solo Baston – Single Stick
Larga Mano (Long Range)
One of the first ranges to be taught is Larga Mano which translates to long range, the primary targets for long range are the lead hand and leg and is important to become proficient at striking these targets, but equally important to know how to defend these targets which is accomplished by learning hand and leg defence drills.
- Hand defence drills
- Leg defences
- Amara
- Disarms – Strike the weapon or hand
Medio Mano (Medium Range)
In medium range the torso and the head become viable targets and are equally important to not only deliver these strikes but make it second nature to defend these attacks effectively, there are further drills taught that are efficient in actual combat to defend these targets.
- Torso defences
- Head defences
- Amara
- Disarms – grab trap or strip
Flow Drills
Flow drills are also taught and are an important part of the Filipino Martial Arts, they are designed to develop attributes such as coordination, sensitivity, reflexes and essentially also develop the use of the live hand. Once the drills are learnt and developed independently they can be blended to flow smoothly from one to another. The following flow drills are taught in a specific progression so as the count gets greater as you learn.
- Higot Hubud
- Punio Sombrada
- Payong Sombrada
- Sinko Sinko
- Pakgang
- Palakaw
Themed Sparring
The next stage of the progression is to spar the previous drills learnt, the key to doing this intelligently is to theme the sparring and to role play for example lead hand only, then leg and hand this ensures the student builds their skills progressively.
Advanced Solo Baston
Areas covered in earlier stages of development were various defence scenarios against a fighter that brings the fight to you, at more advanced levels you will need to be aware of defensive techniques against a fighter who makes you lead – then attempts to counter. In Warriors Eskrima such defensive techniques are called “recovery” techniques for example your opponent avoids your lead and counters which makes you need to recover with a defence.
- Roof Block
- Diagonal Parry
- Tip Up deflection
- Reverse roof block
- Palm up parry
- Boca de Lobo
Advanced flow drills
In more advanced stages of your development you will learn to perform standard flow drills left verses right and with the added skill to pass the stick from left to right whilst maintaining flow, these can be trained in the drills below.
- Hubud
- Punio Sombrada
- Payong Sombrada
- Pakgang
Left versus right trapping
When the leads are mismatched it becomes possible to execute some unique traps which can be done when your opponent grabs your stick, punches, or grabs your wrist.
Left versus right sparring
The key point to remember when sparring in long/medium range is not to let your opponent zone as the zoned position will gain the favourable angles for landing strikes.
Palakaw
Once a student has developed repertoire and good form they can move on to a form of controlled free style sparring called palakaw the highest level of stick sparring which is in close range usually taught on a one to one basis which requires a high level of sensitivity, reflexes and timing a greater subtlety of deceptiveness set-ups, feints and indirect attacks with a high awareness of line familiarisation and seam openings.
