Most people are familiar with Escrima primarily as stick or weapon fighting. However, Escrima also includes fighting and self-defense without weapons. But what exactly is behind the term Filipino Boxing or Cadena de Mano? Let us shed some light on the matter.

A Question of Perspective

There are countless styles in Escrima/Eskrima/Arnis/Kali, and each has its own interpretation of unarmed combat. This diversity is what makes Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) so exciting and what makes it so special.

All following explanations are based on my personal view of Latosa Escrima and my understanding of the Cadena de Mano.

The Power of the Word

When most people hear the term “Filipino Boxing,” they think of boxing in the ring with gloves, rules, referees, one-on-one duels, etc. Sport, in other words. However, since Filipino Boxing is neither boxing nor sport, this term can be misleading.

Unarmed Escrima has many names, including Filipino Boxing or Cadena de Mano, as well as Pinoy Boxing, Empty Hands, Panantukan and some others. Personally, I prefer the term “Cadena de Mano”.

Since nobody outside the FMA knows the term “Cadena de Mano”, I deliberately use the term “Filipino Boxing” in public communication so that people at least know that it is something Filipino and about hitting. Or, if you are not an FMA insider, would you read a text about “Cadena de Mano”?

Ultimately, all of these are just names for the unarmed area of ​​the FMA.

unsportsmanlike conduct

Cadena de Mano is not designed for sporting competitions in the ring. We are not aiming for an exchange of blows. It is about effective self-defense, which can be unsportsmanlike and unfair when it comes to protection in self-defense situations. Our goal is to end such situations quickly and escape as unscathed as possible. In addition to effective technique, this of course requires the right strategy and the right mindset.

Nevertheless, in my opinion, solid Cadena de Mano training can be helpful for your competitive athletic skills.

The Basis

The original Latosa Escrima by Grandmaster René Latosa is concept-based, practice-oriented and straightforward. The transferability or transition from weapon/hand or hand/weapon is one of the basic principles of Latosa Escrima.

The basis of Cadena de Mano is the weapon - the blade. Cadena de Mano is the unarmed implementation of the Escrima weapon concepts. It is not based on the Western boxing style, which was then expanded to include "dirty techniques".

The Way of the Weapon

Unlike other systems, in FMA basic weapon techniques and concepts are learned first, which are then transferred to the "empty hand" and other body weapons. The weapon serves not only as a weapon, but also as a tool for training unarmed combat. The weapon, especially the blade, shows the way for your unarmed actions.

The body becomes a weapon

If there is no weapon at hand, the body becomes a weapon. It is already a weapon even with a weapon, but I will explain that in another article. When I talk about "weapons", I mean external weapons (stick, knife, palm stick, etc.) and body weapons (hands, arms, etc.). The body weapons we work with are varied:

  • Hands: Open hands, palms, edges of hands, hammer fists and fists for hitting. And fingers for gripping, drilling, etc.
  • forearms
  • elbow
  • shoulders (yes, those too)
  • Head
  • Legs: knees, shins and feet

When many people think of "punching", they first think of the fist as seen in films and boxing matches. However, the fist is very fragile. The relatively small knuckles and bones as well as the wrist can be seriously, even permanently, injured when striking. That is why we prefer the open hand and more robust body weapons to the "normal" fist, unless we know that and where we are going to hit.

Grips, levers and dirty tricks

The Cadena de Mano is primarily about hitting, as well as pushing and pulling as a supplement or alternative to hitting if a more measured application is required.

Grips and levers have their place in the Cadena de Mano, but only if you can afford to hit hard and effectively. Only if you can give 100% (hitting hard) can you afford 60% (leverage). If 60% is not enough, you can always switch up.

The use of levers makes sense:

  • To restrain an attacker when you are physically dominating him, ie he is already injured or significantly weaker, or when you are working as a team. However, this can backfire if he is not alone and others intervene in the conflict. Ultimately, you have to ask yourself if you can/want to restrain someone and what should happen afterward (call the police?). It has its place, but also its limits.
  • For temporary leverage in order to be able to strike better, e.g. to temporarily unbalance the opponent or put him in a weaker position.
  • For breaking joints. Sounds harsh, but what's broken is broken. Broken body weapons are harder to use against you.

Handles, levers…

The Cadena de Mano focuses primarily on striking, but also includes pushing and pulling as an additional or alternative option to striking when a more measured application is required.

Levers and grips are part of the Cadena de Mano, but only if you can afford to hit hard and effectively. Only if you can give 100% (hitting hard) can you afford 60% (leverage). If the 60% is not enough, you can always switch to a higher intensity.

When are levers useful?

  • Pinning down an attacker when you are physically superior, ie he is injured or significantly weaker, or when working as a team. However, this can go wrong if the attacker is not alone and others interfere. Ultimately, you have to ask yourself if you can/want to pin someone down and what should happen afterward (call the police?). It has its place, but also its limits.
  • Note: The police need 3-4 colleagues to “gently” detain a resistant person.
  • Short lever to make it easier to strike, e.g. to temporarily unbalance the opponent or put him in a weaker position.
  • For breaking joints. It sounds harsh, but once it's broken, it's broken. Broken joints are harder to use against you.
  • Note: Levering is basically a slow and controlled breaking of joints, i.e. a gentle approach.

Grips, levers and breaks are usually difficult or even impossible to plan. Rather, they arise spontaneously from the situation and it is important to recognize and use them.

… and tricks

The Cadena de Mano is sometimes referred to as “dirty boxing.” But what’s so “dirty” about it?

For example, if you poke someone in the eye with your finger, that is…

  • in a sporting context, an illegal action that can end the fight because the person who was poked in the eye can no longer continue fighting. The offender is disqualified and loses the fight. This is a "dirty", unfair and forbidden technique. This technique has no place in a sporting context. All athletes should remain unharmed.
  • in the context of self-defense, it is an effective action that can potentially stop or confuse the attacker and enable an escape or follow-up action. The defender wins. Here, it is an effective technique because it is unfair and specifically targets a weak point of the opponent that is difficult to protect.

Cadena de Mano is designed for self-defense and survival, not for competitive boxing. The "dirty" techniques are part of the "normal" repertoire, because real fighting is dirty. This requires a completely different mindset than training in martial arts.

No switching

Cadena de Mano / Filipino Boxing is the unarmed application of the Escrima weapon concepts. The beauty of Latosa Escrima is that you don't have to change your behavior much from armed to unarmed situations, because you follow the same concepts both with and without a weapon - of course taking into account the characteristics of your weapon, your opponent and the situation.