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Itak at Baraw is clearly the higher level of the Pilipino Warrior Arts (sword and knife). The sooner that we recognize this fact the sooner that we will develop to our fullest potential concerning all things combative. When negotiating two bladed weapons simultaneously while maneuvering short and long weapon options will we be given a distinct advantage over our opponent at either end of the combative equation.
The art of Itak at Baraw always places you at an advantage, for as long as both short and long weapon capability work in unison to achieve one immediate goal; survival. When dealing with short and long bladed weapons we negotiate in the hybrid ranges more so than specific ranges. With this weapon combination I am not solely left to the definition of lets say close or medium ranges in and of themselves as it were but rather both ranges simultaneously because I possess both weapons there by securing both ranges at once. Therefore my focus shifts to the hybrid range of corto-medio which encompasses both close and medium range and the transition from one to the other leaving me well prepared to deal with any threat potential recognized in either of those two ranges and the transition in-between.
Certainly if you want to become effective with a knife you can not prepare yourself more completely than by sculpting and honing your skills in the arena of Itak at Baraw. Only by understanding the strength and weakness of Itak at baraw will you clearly be made aware of the same concerning single knife use on its own accord. My combative effect concerning knife fighting tripled after training Itak at Baraw as I was forced to consider certain counter threat potential concerning a simultaneous threat of both short and long bladed weapons which I would never be forced to consider other wise. Thereby allowing me to see certain inherent advantages, disadvantages and specific uses for a knife that can only benefit my true combative effect while wielding a knife.
To be effective with Itak at Baraw weapon autonomy has to be granted, developed, enhanced and relied upon. In other words each weapon is responsible for a primary designation and when necessary has to work independently on its own accord, never relying on the other for its own combative effect. One needs to be able to assist the other at times when necessary but neither should be used only in a support role to the other but rather each will lead specific roles of combative designation in containing any threat faced with positive effect. Both have sectors of responsibility but both can come together for the better good of strategic purpose and design when necessitated and dictated by a crisis situation gone badly awry.
In Lameco Eskrima we have neither a right hand nor a left hand but rather we have two hands equally capable leaving the closest hand available to the most immediate threat accountable to deal with that threat. Likewise in Itak at Baraw we neither rely on the sword or the knife specifically but rather the closest weapon in position to strike the closest counter opportunity will inherit the task while the other will respond to any indiscriminate counter activity as a direct result of that action.
I can assure you that Itak at Baraw as developed through Lameco Eskrima should not be confused with “Espada y Daga” as presented in most Pilipino Warrior Arts, where the knife plays only a supporting role to the sword and knife hierarchy, yielding the lions share to the sword. In most “Espada y Daga” which I see represented in most other systems seem to train primarily with a stick and knife and most only seem to follow dead patterns never allowing each weapon to develop independently on its own accord. On the contrary it seems that concerning most “Espada y Daga” the knife always religiously follows the sword based solely on fulfilling a subconscious requirement as opposed to fulfilling a necessity dictated by realistic circumstances found within the situation as it naturally plays itself out.
With Itak at Baraw we always use a sword and a knife, typically the real weapon only dulled down to the bare minimum. Only by actually training with a sword and a knife will we be made aware of the specific mandates required by each as well as actual threat faced. Although the sword or knife may be dull each participant has to face the actual weight and effect of the steel as it comes into contact with flesh and bone on impact. Things that would not capture our attention or conscience with a stick and wooden training blade more than dominates our attention span when using the more realistic weapons leaving us accountable for our action with a realistic risk for injury for any mistakes made in training.
If you want true ambidextrous capability where each hand is truly independent of the other I see no better way than to train this weapon combination to develop at the highest level of combative development. In this combination combative truth is daunting, as the situation will reveal both numerous strengths and weakness in things that were once seen as being “bullet proof” to most of us based on how many of us have previously trained. Combative truth rips holes in many misconceptions that are found in this arena based solely on how most of us train it.
When I first trained this combination with Punong Guro Edgar G. Sulite I was amazed at how quickly a situation could be over with and how devastating a defeat that I could be introduced to. Quite honestly when I was training with him on this level I only felt pain never being able to see where most of it came from. His counter response was so quick and furious balancing itself solely on economy of motion, simplicity and proximity to target which would decide when and where he would deliver his deadly intent with precise effect. After training this combination with him being left held accountable for all of my actions or inaction’s did I come to realize how much more effective my single knife skills had developed as well as the knife to safety hand relationship in its regard.
The best response that we can hope to give is to perform well in the face of adversity. The most pertinent question in our combative development, which begs to be asked, is does reality support our conclusions on combat? If it does not than we have not prepared realistically and we will need to retrain ourselves relentlessly until it does. As I see it training Itak at Baraw goes a long way in preparing us to contend with adversity in combat and by partaking in its training we can assure that our combative development does support the harsh realities of combat thereby making us more effective when it counts the most, in the streets.
Guro Dave Gould.
The art of Itak at Baraw always places you at an advantage, for as long as both short and long weapon capability work in unison to achieve one immediate goal; survival. When dealing with short and long bladed weapons we negotiate in the hybrid ranges more so than specific ranges. With this weapon combination I am not solely left to the definition of lets say close or medium ranges in and of themselves as it were but rather both ranges simultaneously because I possess both weapons there by securing both ranges at once. Therefore my focus shifts to the hybrid range of corto-medio which encompasses both close and medium range and the transition from one to the other leaving me well prepared to deal with any threat potential recognized in either of those two ranges and the transition in-between.
Certainly if you want to become effective with a knife you can not prepare yourself more completely than by sculpting and honing your skills in the arena of Itak at Baraw. Only by understanding the strength and weakness of Itak at baraw will you clearly be made aware of the same concerning single knife use on its own accord. My combative effect concerning knife fighting tripled after training Itak at Baraw as I was forced to consider certain counter threat potential concerning a simultaneous threat of both short and long bladed weapons which I would never be forced to consider other wise. Thereby allowing me to see certain inherent advantages, disadvantages and specific uses for a knife that can only benefit my true combative effect while wielding a knife.
To be effective with Itak at Baraw weapon autonomy has to be granted, developed, enhanced and relied upon. In other words each weapon is responsible for a primary designation and when necessary has to work independently on its own accord, never relying on the other for its own combative effect. One needs to be able to assist the other at times when necessary but neither should be used only in a support role to the other but rather each will lead specific roles of combative designation in containing any threat faced with positive effect. Both have sectors of responsibility but both can come together for the better good of strategic purpose and design when necessitated and dictated by a crisis situation gone badly awry.
In Lameco Eskrima we have neither a right hand nor a left hand but rather we have two hands equally capable leaving the closest hand available to the most immediate threat accountable to deal with that threat. Likewise in Itak at Baraw we neither rely on the sword or the knife specifically but rather the closest weapon in position to strike the closest counter opportunity will inherit the task while the other will respond to any indiscriminate counter activity as a direct result of that action.
I can assure you that Itak at Baraw as developed through Lameco Eskrima should not be confused with “Espada y Daga” as presented in most Pilipino Warrior Arts, where the knife plays only a supporting role to the sword and knife hierarchy, yielding the lions share to the sword. In most “Espada y Daga” which I see represented in most other systems seem to train primarily with a stick and knife and most only seem to follow dead patterns never allowing each weapon to develop independently on its own accord. On the contrary it seems that concerning most “Espada y Daga” the knife always religiously follows the sword based solely on fulfilling a subconscious requirement as opposed to fulfilling a necessity dictated by realistic circumstances found within the situation as it naturally plays itself out.
With Itak at Baraw we always use a sword and a knife, typically the real weapon only dulled down to the bare minimum. Only by actually training with a sword and a knife will we be made aware of the specific mandates required by each as well as actual threat faced. Although the sword or knife may be dull each participant has to face the actual weight and effect of the steel as it comes into contact with flesh and bone on impact. Things that would not capture our attention or conscience with a stick and wooden training blade more than dominates our attention span when using the more realistic weapons leaving us accountable for our action with a realistic risk for injury for any mistakes made in training.
If you want true ambidextrous capability where each hand is truly independent of the other I see no better way than to train this weapon combination to develop at the highest level of combative development. In this combination combative truth is daunting, as the situation will reveal both numerous strengths and weakness in things that were once seen as being “bullet proof” to most of us based on how many of us have previously trained. Combative truth rips holes in many misconceptions that are found in this arena based solely on how most of us train it.
When I first trained this combination with Punong Guro Edgar G. Sulite I was amazed at how quickly a situation could be over with and how devastating a defeat that I could be introduced to. Quite honestly when I was training with him on this level I only felt pain never being able to see where most of it came from. His counter response was so quick and furious balancing itself solely on economy of motion, simplicity and proximity to target which would decide when and where he would deliver his deadly intent with precise effect. After training this combination with him being left held accountable for all of my actions or inaction’s did I come to realize how much more effective my single knife skills had developed as well as the knife to safety hand relationship in its regard.
The best response that we can hope to give is to perform well in the face of adversity. The most pertinent question in our combative development, which begs to be asked, is does reality support our conclusions on combat? If it does not than we have not prepared realistically and we will need to retrain ourselves relentlessly until it does. As I see it training Itak at Baraw goes a long way in preparing us to contend with adversity in combat and by partaking in its training we can assure that our combative development does support the harsh realities of combat thereby making us more effective when it counts the most, in the streets.
Guro Dave Gould.