Learning a martial art can be an effective way to stay in shape and relieve stress and pent-up aggression, all while learning self-defense.  Commonly known styles we have: Karate, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, and Kickboxing.  There are a lot of “fighting styles” that are relatively unknown the our Western culture… one being Eskrima.

Eskrima (also known as Arnis and Kali) is a Filipino martial arts style that originated to train large numbers of Filipinos how to defend themselves against conquistadors, using little besides their bodies and sticks.  The techniques are usually easy to learn, but the style is complex enough that fighters must take many years to learn every nuance.  Although it is weapons based, it also includes striking (kicking and punching), wrestling and grappling, and even ground-fighting, as well as teaching practical defenses against most weapons.

At Dragon Within Mixed Martial Arts, Salem MA our Filipino Jiu-Jitsu program incorporates Filipino Martial Arts Concepts into a well-rounded self-defense system.  Filipino Jiu-Jitsu is not a new system or style, it is a modern approach towards practical street self-defense.  This unique fighting method combines the principles, concepts and techniques of Panantukan (Filipino “dirty” Boxing), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/BJJ, silat, Muay Thai kickboxing, Combat Jujitsu and Filipino Eskrima/Kali/Arnis (Stick & knife fighting) to make it very modern approach towards practical street self-defense.

Filipino Jiu-Jitsu  is well suited for men, and women of all ages, because physical strength and athletic abilities are not essential. Only the core techniques have been taken from these combative arts and organized into an easy to learn curriculum that can benefit the beginner as well as the advanced practitioner. In addition to learning effective self-defense, Filipino Jiu-Jitsu also provides the student with the means to improve their physical fitness, awareness, flexibility and self-confidence. Combining the best of many styles into a blended system gives our students the advantage they need to protect themselves in virtually any situation.