Secret of the Pyramids

In this cycle we have started with some foundation drills using double sticks, empty hands (hubud lubud) and boxing.  As we work to develop our skills we can see many ways to increase the difficulty of each drill and challenge ourselves to improve.  In a way, we are working with a pyramid model, where each drill:

1) establishes a foundation skill
2) builds on that skill to add variety, challenge new skills, and deepen understanding
3) integrate multiple skills to achieve mastery

As examples, in the double stick drill Cabca 1-8 for absolute beginners it may be all they can do to remember the stick pattern itself.  Over the period of a few weeks we drill each Cabca on its own and then add it into the sequence until everyone can remember all 1-8 and perform at least the upper body stick movement.  Of course, using the sticks or other impact weapons has some other principles we can learn.  Once we are competent with the sequence, there are a few options for drilling and achieving muscle memory including going up and down the sequence (cabca 1-8 then cabca 8-1), odds and evens (1,3,5,7,2,4,6,8), random patterns, starting from the left side instead of the right side and the like.

As a next stage in the skills pyramid, I encourage students to focus on the precision of their stickwork, and also to use the entire body with proper alignment of the head/neck/spine (HNS).  This means that motion must start at the feet, point through the knees and activate hip rotation before delivering spinal power via the shoulders and arms.  This is also a good time to check the focus of the gaze and make sure the peripheral vision is used rather than looking at/for the opponent's stick.  The overall movement also becomes more compact. This requires some additional practice.

Lastly, performing the cabca while moving forward and backward helps to create muscle memory, as well as an awareness of fighting distance (maai).  Once you can go forward and backward, it is good to practice moving in circles and even to follow the leader randomly, including changing height into deep kneeling stances.

For some drills, like Sinawali 6, adding V-footwork can present a good challenge for coordination and balance.  More advanced students will also practice one-hand principle, complementary principle, hi-lo principle and mirror principle, as well as using the framework to add additional hits.  Of course, the principles of the cabca can be applied using other weapons/weapon combinations and even empty hands.

Filipino martial arts contains many such frameworks or templates such as cabca, sinawali, hubud/lubud, sumbrada and more and using them effectively is the key to developing skills and improving your fluency and flow.  A pyramid approach starting with a strong foundation movement can work for almost any of them if you use your creativity.

Happy Training!