Often, when it comes to empty hand translations of the stick sinawali drills, we in Modern Arnis tend to think in terms of sinawali boxing. The video below featuring Professor Chuck Gauss contains some common sinawali boxing techniques. However, there are also sinawali striking techniques contained in Modern Arnis as well. Read on to find out more!

If you are not able to view the video, go here.

But what about striking techniques based on sinawali? There’s a lot of material there, and it’s quite practical.

Please note that I’m limiting this post to sinawali striking and not discussing chi sao, hubud or other drills common to FMA, JKD or Wing Chun.

But just for the heck of it, watch Datu Kelly Worden below.

If you are not able to view this video, go here.

Anyway…….check out the video below where I demonstrate two basic applications of sinawali striking. The first is based on single sinawali while the second application is based on redonda/heaven sinawali.

Empty hand translations of Modern Arnis stick techniques involve adapting sticks to unarmed combat scenarios. This practice integrates the patterns of stick drills, such as the sinawali patterns, into hand strikes and blocks.

I tell you what. There is a lot of material you can extract from the sinawali drills for self defense. A LOT. As I mentioned in the video the key to finding applications is to use the “high, low” concept. When you strike high, hit low. If you hit low, that sets up a strike to the upper part of the body. It’s not that hard.

Quick Question

Do you want to see more sinawali striking techniques in a future post or two?

Let me know!

Push-up Update

My 60th birthday is coming up a week FROM TODAY.

Yikes!

As indicated in the video, my best push up effort to date is 54. It’s a close call on whether I’ll be able to get to 60 on my birthday. I’m working on it.

To meet my goal, I have been doing this push-up variation for the last three weeks. It’s far more challenging than the standard push-up.

Send me every bit of luck you can spare!