What is Latosa Escrima?

Latosa Escrima is a Brutally Efficient Filipino Fighting System.

Latosa Escrima's purpose is to equalize a disadvantaged violent situation that involve weapons or superior numbers.

Latosa Escrima uses traditional blunt and edged weapons (stick and knife), improvised weapons, and empty hand techniques.

Weapons training progresses as follows:

Stick then
Knife then
Improvised Weapons then
Empty Hand

Scenario training progresses as follows:

Stick then
Knife then
Multiple Armed Attackers

With the Latosa concepts, the weapons become interchangeable:

Stick can be a water bottle, umbrella, flash light
Knife can be a fork or ball point pen
Empty hand can hold a cell phone

Range Training addresses the range of effectiveness of both you and your partner. On the receiving end it spans from:

Oh Crap! (any Emergency technique that limits damage)

Whew! I blocked it.    (defensively blocking their weapon or hand)
Ha! I got your arm.    (offensively attacking his attack)
I got you first!    (pre-emptively stopping the attack outright)

Each of the above ranges are performed using the same movement (for simplicity). Only the range and timing changes.

A good example: every self defense program has an overhead block against a blunt weapon or ice-pick 'Psycho' style knife attack. The Filipino arts calls this an Umbrella or Roof block. Unofficially we might call it the 'Oh Crap' move. It means you were late to your own defense. This emergency technique is essential, but is only 25% of the range of effectiveness. The other 75% represents three other possible outcomes had you not been so late. Each of the other three outcomes amounts to earlier and faster awareness, response, and pro-activity.

More to come soon.