Disarm Tutorial: Low Thumb-base & Half Snake Disarms | Filipino Martial Arts

In this video, I’m going to share with you the first 2 disarms I like to teach:
*the Low Thumb-base & *the Half Snake

What I like about these 2 disarms is their universality. I can do them against a variety of weapons (Sword, Stick, Knife) and I can execute these disarms whether I’m armed or unarmed. ...in other words, the mechanics are pretty much the same whether I’m holding a single sword / stick / double sword / sword and dagger / double dagger / single dagger / empty hands

Now, I feel that I should point out, that disarming is probably lower on the list of important skills one needs to learn. In fact, when it comes to disarming, probably about the best thing you can do is hit or cut the aggressor’s hand or arm (defanging the snake).

Having said that, what I really like about the Low Thumb-base & Half Snake disarms are the positioning and zoning these disarms require. Even if the disarm is unsuccessful, the positioning is still good.

In fact, I like these positions better than the “2 on 1” & the “over & under grip”
...but they do require the practitioner to be significantly more educated.

The thing is, you’re not just working the disarm - you’re practicing a good entry, the achieving of good positioning, working mechanics of the disarm, then the follow-ups - the single exquisite power blow, or ABC, or locks, throws…etc.

In closing, I think these 2 disarms are kind of a hallmark of the skills from a more ancient time… before the Philippines were named the Philippines….When the edged weaponry ruled…. Maybe that’s a romanticized notion, but I like the idea. And I use it as inspiration to keep pushing my skill level.

P.S. There are training groups that believe you should only disarm friends and family. But of course that implies you are skilled enough to do so.

P.P.S. Disarms are fun!

Index
00:00 Intro
00:58 Why learn these?
02:51 Benefits of Disarm Practice
03:21 Disarm Details
04:31 Disarm Numbering System
05:20 Flow State Disarming
06:18 Conclusion

Filmed and Edited by Skellytone -    / skellytone  

Music from http://www.teknoaxe.com/