Pangulong Guro Khan: Serrada Eskrima: BLOCK LIST

WORLD OF SERRADA: Filipino Martial Arts:

SERRADA ESKRIMA Counter (Block) List, July 2007.
by Guro Khan -

Contents:

A BLOCK is a singular movement to hold a incoming strike. A COUNTER is a movement which has a Block in it as well as a return strike to the opponent. In Serrada Eskrima, a Counter comprises of a stopping, or passing of incoming attack, plus a strike to the limb of the opponent. Once you have mastered this for a year, you go on to strike any other part of the body during or just after that movement.

Pangulong Guro Khan teaches the Authentic Block moves as taught by the Grandmaster Angel Cabales
during the late 1980s and the 1990s to him. Please note that in each of the following blocking system, as performed,
any practitioner will have just slightly different way of doing it. So whenever someone shows you you can see that.
BUT if he doesnt differ too much from the Basic Principle of the Cabales-Serrada Eskrima then it is okay, otherwisehe is creating a singular block from his own preference at that point. If you study the Basics correctly first, you can combine them and make around 4000 additional moves from them. So study the Basic Blocking system correctly first. In a actual confrontation, youcan use all that knowledge and attributes gained to create umpteen movements, but in the review for the first hour you must preserve the Basic Counter system as it is in the Original.

FIRST THINGS TO LEARN: Stick Grip

First thing to Learn in Eskrima/Kali/Arnis is the smashing of two sticks coming at four angles against each other.
this is important so that the two practitioners know how to grip the stick in control, so that the stick from either practitioner's hand doesnt fly away at the moment of impact between the two sticks. This drill which I call "smash-smash" is first common-sense drill to practice before you go to the advanced concepts and the actual study of the basic Blocking System, which should be done in slow and control everytime you review them before each class and which should be performed from Slow to High Speed at Lock & Block drill and onwards only. And not during practice of the Basics themselves. This to preserve the actual movements of the basic Blocking System of the Serrada structure.

STRIKE ANGLE No. 1:

Description of Region: Strike No. 1 is the strike coming to your left shoulder. It can come anywhere in the region between the top of your skull and to just below the left deltoid.

These are the CORE blocks of the Serrada sytem. If you master them, you can create many moves by multiplying move of one block with move of another as strategy requires on the spot. Each block below has FIVE STOP positions, and from each stop position you can do 12 strikes, or two types of Figure-8's (forwards or backwards), or abaniko's to the skull, or x type cross attacks to the forearm. Thus counter below has 5 multiplied by 12 = 60 blocks, plus 2 + 2 (types of abaniko's) + 2 x's (forwards or backwards) = 66 blocks. So each counter below can produce at least 66 blocks in further movement. Many people skip some positions as they learn these BASICs and they don't understand the further development theory of Serrada.

In these blocking positions, if you are on the Inside of his right arm your right foot must be inside his right foot and your knee parallel to his center-line.

1. The Front Cross Block:
The Front Cross block is a rising block coming upwards to meet the oncoming strike (a vertical Strike no. 1) to your forehead. You use your Left Hand ("C-cup Hand") is used as "clip" to support and ingeniously control the opponent's right arm structure (his stick in his right hand). It is demonstrated by the following photo.

2. Cross Block & Pull-Down to Strike no. 3 position:
In this block, you use your Left Hand in another fashion so you can simultaneously control and pull down the opponent's right arm towards your left a little bit, and then finish the counter.The Left Hand is utilized to control the opponent's right arm and to lock his elbow for a few seconds so you can finish your counter to his right arm

3. Outside Block:
The Outside Block is done first using your Left Hand to parry incoming weapon and also stepping at the same time with your Left Foot to the outside of opponent's right foot. The Outside Block is the beginning of a lot of outside technicals, and is really the beginning of the Indonesian concepts (Silat) as well. Next you step in with your Right Foot outside of opponent's right foot, (and many other positions) and you have lots of more technicals that will appear. The Left Hand is used to check near the opponent's elbow (from outside now) so that his arm locks for a few seconds so you can finish your counter to his right arm.

4. The Inside Sweep Block:
The Inside Sweep Block is present in many Filipino Eskrima/Kali systems, but in Serrada it is a little bit more refined. The stick is held so that the opponent's weapon doesnt "splash" off it, and if it does, the opponent is still in your control. The Left Hand is utilized to control the opponent's right arm and to lock his elbow for a few seconds so you can finish your counter to his right arm.

5. The Inside Sweep & Switch-to-the-Outside Blcok:
In this block, in case the opponent tries to grab your right arm using his left hand, you immediately switch going under his right arm that is momentarily in your control.

6. The Jari Block: using Strike no. 3:
In this block, you step outside with your Left Foot, and simultaneously strike the opponent on his waist using your Strike no. 3. Afterwards, you use double-finger Jari to lock his forearm and bring your own arm outside of his right arm, then finish your counter to his right arm.

7. The Jari Block: using Strike no. 5:
Same as item 6 above, but now you use Strike no. 5 to his waist.

8. The Jari Block: Cut to Opponent's Inside Wrist: You angle your weapon so it cuts inside of his right arm wrist, you step outside as in item 6 above.

9. The Outside Block: using Strike no. 7:
Same as item 3, but now you bring your stick outside of his right arm and strike to his right forehead or eye or clavicle using Strike no. 7 (you point your stick).

10. The Outside Block: using Strike no. 6:
Same as item 3, but now you bring your stick inside of his right arm and strike to his right pectoral or ribcage or clavicle using Strike no. 6 (you point your stick).

For the above 10 blocks, each block having 66 variations further, you have actually learned 660 blocks if you know the above basics against Strike no. 1.

11. Long Range to Serrada Range: The Elastico Block:
This is a Longer Range block that is usually applied while a little bit farther off before meeting in Serrada Eskrima range. You bring you stick upwards from the floor striking the opponent's right arm from underneath.

12. Long Range to Serrada Range: The Elastico Block with Figure-8 strikes:
Same as item 11, but as you bring your arm outside of his right arm you strike to the top of his right arm using forward figure-8's.

13. Mid-range: The Outside Fade Block:
You bring your stick arm immediately to the Outside of his incoming right arm, and hook his stick from outside with your stick and strike to his arm or skull. You step back a little bit at 8 o'clock simultaneously so you dont get hit.

14. Mid-Range: The Inside Hook Block:
You step outwards with right foot to 2 'o clock, and then bring the tip of your stick to hook his incoming stick from inside then you restrain his further movement by using your Left Hand, and strike to his arm or skull from there onwards.

15. The Upwards Tap Block (Repiticion):

This is to interfere with opponent's own figure-8 (or revolving/ arko type attacks). You put tip of your stick on the floor and rise upwards in straight line in order to connect with opponent's wrist or arm from underneath. Do this in Repiticion format.

STRIKE ANGLE No. 2:

Description of Region: Strike No. 2 is the strike coming to your right shoulder. It can be a strike coming into the region defined as being between the top of your head to just below the right deltoid.

1. Side Block (or Vertical Block):

The Vertical Block (or sometimes known as the Punch Block against Strike no. 2 OR the Side-Block) is a block made when you lift your stick up with top pointing towards the sky and then meet the incoming strike to your right shoulder region
in order to stop it.

2. Wing Block (or Shoulder Block):

This block is made by lifting your stick up as if you are lifting a dumb-bell. You use your Left C-Hand to guide the incoming stick so it lands on the slope of your stick and then use the two powers generated to create your own elastic power to slam your stick onto the opponent's forearm.

3 . Cross Block & Pull-Down to Strike no. 3 position:
In this block, (it is also in the Strike no. 1 repertoire) you use your Left Hand in another fashion so you can simultaneously control and pull down the opponent's right arm towards your left a little bit, and then finish the counter.The Left Hand is utilized to control the opponent's right arm and to lock his elbow for a few seconds so you can finish your counter to his right arm.

4. The Jari Block: using Strike no. 3:
In this block, (it is also in the Strike no. 1 repertoire) you step outside with your Left Foot, and simultaneously strike the opponent on his waist using your Strike no. 3. Afterwards, you use double-finger Jari to lock his forearm and bring your own arm outside of his right arm, then finish your counter to his right arm.

5 . The Jari Block: using Strike no. 5:
(it is also in the Strike no. 1 repertoire) Same as item 4 above, but now you use Strike no. 5 to his waist.

6. The Jari Block: Inside Wrist-strike:

In this counter move, you step forward with Left foot, and bring your short stick or knife to inside of his right forearm
so you can strike or cut on the inside as he is attempting no. 2 strike. You use Jari afterwards and move your weapon hand to the outside of his right forearm.

STRIKE ANGLE No. 3:

1. Basic Cross Block against Strike no. 3.
2. Advanced Cross Block (combined with Empty Hand Pass).
3. Abaniko Block.
4. Empty Hand Pass Block.
5. Empty Hand Pass Double-Double.
6. Advanced Cross Block, Pass, Step in with Left Foot, and Strike to Face.
7. Advanced Cross Block, hit stick to Floor, do Elastico to no. 2 position
strike Forearm.
8. Advanced Cross Block, hit stick to Floor, strike Knee of front Leg.
9. Witik Block.
10. Punch Block against strike no. 3, with holding your stick flat horizontally.
11. Wing Block against strike no. 3.

STRIKE ANGLE No. 4:

1. Punch Block against Strike no. 4.
2. Cross Block against Strike no. 4.
3. Empty Hand Pass.
4. Empty Hand Pass and Abaniko simultaneously.

STRIKE ANGLE No. 5

1. Abaniko Block against Strike no. 5.
2. Empty Hand Pass.
3. Empty Hand Pass Double-Double.
4. Punch Block holding stick horizontally.
5. Sticky-stick Block.
6. Vertical Side Block against Strike no. 5.
7. Basic Cross Block.
8. Double Double continuous strike no. 2 to forearm
against springy no. 5 attack.

STRIKE ANGLE No. 6:

1. Inside Sweep against Strike no. 6.
2. Cross Block.
3. Payung Block.
4. Inside to Outside Switch, using Left hand upwards clip.
5. Against inward force of no. 6, create Roof like Wing Block,
and go to outside.

STRIKE ANGLE No. 7:

1. Parry with Left Hand, "Hand Stick Hand", using Vertical Block.
2. Parry with Left Hand, "Hand Stick Hand", using Wing Block.
3. Parry with Left Hand, Inside Hand Cut.
4. Parry with Left Hand, do Strike no. 3, and Jari.
5. Parry with Left Hand, do Strike no. 5, and Jari.

STRIKE ANGLE No. 8:

1. Punch Block against Strike no. 8.
2. Cross Block.
3. Empty Hand Pass.
4. Vertical Block and Pass against Strike no. 8.

STRIKE ANGLE No. 9:

1. Step back, Lift Right Leg, Abaniko Block.
2. Hook incoming Stick with your Stick, step back, Lift Right Leg.
3. Cross Block, Release, strike knee.
4. Cross Block, Lift, Release, strike rib.
5. Low Stance, then Punch Block agasint Strike no. 9.

STRIKE ANGLE No. 10:

1. All blocks like Strike no. 6, except cover against daga (Left Hand) first.

STRIKE ANGLE No. 11:

1. Step back, Lift Leg, Abaniko Block.
2. Step back, Lift Leg, Hook incoming Stick with your Stick.
3. Empty Hand Pass.
4. Empty Hand Pass Double-Double.
5. Low Stance, then Advanced Cross Block.

STRIKE ANGLE No. 12:

1. Parry with your Left Hand his incoming Right hand Weapon,
and simultaneously Put your stick outside of his Left Hand,
finish with Jari movement.
2. Parry with your Left Hand his incoming Right hand Weapon,
and simultaneously put your stick INSIDE of his Left Hand,
finish with Jari movement.
3. Hand-Stick-Hand like in block against Strike no. 7.
4. Parry with your Left Hand, do Strike no. 3 to his waist,
finish with Jari movement.
5. Parry with your Left Hand, do Strike no. 5 to his waist,
finish with Jari movement.
6. Parry with your Left Hand, Put your Stick outside of his Left Hand,
bend the top of your stick to meake and omega movement, to trap
both of his arms in a wrap.
7. Payung Block on both incoming weapons.

contact: Guro Pangulong : [email protected]