The 6 Count drill is one of the staple Modern Arnis drills. From our perspective, the most fundamental skill this drill teaches is check hand usage. It is often taught at Modern Arnis seminars worldwide. Before you learn this drill, you must learn the basic block, check, counter drill!

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Using Professor and Judy Clapp from the above video, the 6 Count drill can be broken down as follows:

  1. Ms. Clapp attacks Professor with Angle 1;
  2. Professor counters with a cut block and counters with Angle 8;
  3. Note where Professor’s check hand is after the cut block;
  4. Ms. Clapp responds by stepping back with her right foot (to avoid the strike) and executing a drop block;
  5. Note that Ms. Clapp checks the Professor’s weapon hand while executing the drop block. Another option at this point is to check Professor’s elbow with the fingers pointing down;
  6. Ms. Clapp then steps back in and attacks with a #12;
  7. Professor responds with an umbrella block;
  8. Again, note the Professor’s check hand as he executes the umbrella block.
  9. At this point, we are halfway through the drill;
  10. Professor then attacks Judy Clapp with angle 1.
  11. The rest of the 6 Count drill continues with their roles reversed.
Screenshot of Professor and Judy Clapp during the 6 Count drill
Note that the Professor uses his check hand after the umbrella block in the 6 Count Drill.

This drill teaches footwork, body shifting, blocking, striking, and recognizing the angles of your opponent’s attacks in addition to checking.

But wait! There’s more in the 6 Count drill!

Starting at 1:57 of the video, the Professor starts exploring the empty-hand version of this drill. Isn’t that cool? You’ll notice that the Professor explores different options for each section.

For example, he defends against Jim Clapp’s angle 1 attack with a brush, grab, and strike to the rib area. See the photograph below.

Screenshot of Professor doing a strike to Jim Clapp's rib area.
Professor striking Jim Clapp’s rib.

After the empty hand section, the Professor demonstrated the drill’s stick and empty hand applications. An example is a stick disarm depicted in the below photograph.

Screen shot of Professor disarming his partner.
Professor demonstrating a disarm.

What about doing it with a knife? Yes, you can practice this drill with a knife!

The bottom line is that this drill is deep in applications and can be practiced in many different ways!

Additional Reading