I-Ninja, New Style
In the tradition of nin-jutsu, they say you must learn at least one extra martial art just to get some perspective. They also say you get to that only after you got all the basics of nin-jutsu. I'm no black belt, but since I have this nice opportunity, it's a good time as ever to start something new. Arnis, or the full name - Lightning Scientific Arnis.
A short, bald, stick-toting Filipino named John is running this show on Friday mornings and Monday evenings and I am back from my first session with those guys. My first impression that while the northern bank of the Yarkon is reserved for crazy barbarians with foam swords, the south bank is reserved to people whom practice at least some sort of sport and not just sheer violence. I think I could count more then 15 groups of various martial and spiritual arts in just two hours, had fun watching two elderly ladies preforming rather competently with Chinese short swords. With that shiny red tussle.
Back to the point.
Arnis, from my observation is a good complementary style to learn along with any softer, less hard-hitting martial art. What it lacks in holds and locks and smooth footwork, it covers up with well defined and highly effective striking system. The teacher kept using the term "Blanketing the foe" which is synonymous with raining down blows so fast and hard that his defense crumbles. The footwork is essentially triangular and thus very easy for me to learn as I've already covered it in nin-jutsu. Definitly a plus for me.
Oh, and the main thing about the art, it's wholly and completely armed - from the very first lesson you start by holding two short sticks which become the staple of fighting. While the motions can be translated to shorts swords or even a short-sword-knife combo, the basic is two short hardwood sticks. 28 inches per stick, not that big in any measure, about half of the standard Japaneses short staff or Jo. Most people have no idea just how deadly are those things in the hands of an expert...
I'm joining them, meaning I'll start putting to good use all those muscles I work on at the gym. Lost another pound, gained something that resembles basic muscle fitness. Time to really start working out. One month in, and I'm already seeing the signs of changes.
A short, bald, stick-toting Filipino named John is running this show on Friday mornings and Monday evenings and I am back from my first session with those guys. My first impression that while the northern bank of the Yarkon is reserved for crazy barbarians with foam swords, the south bank is reserved to people whom practice at least some sort of sport and not just sheer violence. I think I could count more then 15 groups of various martial and spiritual arts in just two hours, had fun watching two elderly ladies preforming rather competently with Chinese short swords. With that shiny red tussle.
Back to the point.
Arnis, from my observation is a good complementary style to learn along with any softer, less hard-hitting martial art. What it lacks in holds and locks and smooth footwork, it covers up with well defined and highly effective striking system. The teacher kept using the term "Blanketing the foe" which is synonymous with raining down blows so fast and hard that his defense crumbles. The footwork is essentially triangular and thus very easy for me to learn as I've already covered it in nin-jutsu. Definitly a plus for me.
Oh, and the main thing about the art, it's wholly and completely armed - from the very first lesson you start by holding two short sticks which become the staple of fighting. While the motions can be translated to shorts swords or even a short-sword-knife combo, the basic is two short hardwood sticks. 28 inches per stick, not that big in any measure, about half of the standard Japaneses short staff or Jo. Most people have no idea just how deadly are those things in the hands of an expert...
I'm joining them, meaning I'll start putting to good use all those muscles I work on at the gym. Lost another pound, gained something that resembles basic muscle fitness. Time to really start working out. One month in, and I'm already seeing the signs of changes.