Here's a FMA Tabak Toyok Demonstration by Tuhon Ray Dionaldo from www.fcskali.com and www.martialmatrix.com. He is known world-wide for his mastery of the Martial Arts.
+Yuki Asuzagawa Yeah, you're right, and it has a longer chain to, kind of like the one that Bruce Lee used. I think he used the 10" handles. I learned on the Japanese version, because they're more common, and they became illegal for a time in California. I don't know if they still are, the laws are confusing. I can order them from Century, and I got my 1st Tabak Toyok from Amazon. I had to learn to adjust, because of the longer chain, but it didn't take to long. To be honest, I never bothered with the type of twirling that Ray does, because they can easily be knocked out of your hand. To be frank, it not very practical. I just do the basic twirling without letting go of the handle, and use strikes from in between. That's all you really need vs. an opponent with something like a knife.
I have been self teaching myself to use nunchaku for about a year now. My freestyle form mimics an Okinawan kata (doesn't follow it verbatim). I want to explore actual prepared styles of using my weapon. I like Bruce Lee's use of them and I like the impressive twirling-based Filipino styles. But to me, Okinawan seems more practical and less flashy for combat. All of those twirls are reduced to basics spins and passes to change strike positions. Am I right or is there more to this Escrima style?
@Not An Expert Mountain Climber Holy smokes. I typed that 9 years ago. Thank you for the thoughtful reply and the trip down memory lane. I still use nunchucks and somehow, I've gotten to the point that I can do most, if not all, of what he's doing in the video. Having said that, I can greatly appreciate your point. I was speaking out of ignorance 9 years ago. I can certainly see how twirling brings about greater comfort and how that would help me in a fight even if I was relying on Japanese strikes and moves. Plus, it's been at least 7 years since the last time I cracked myself in the head and I know I can blame it on the twirling practice B-)
Take a good look at his technique, then compare it with Bruce Lee's in Enter the Dragon and Return of the Dragon. Bruce Lee didn't use the Okinawan methodology, but rather the Filipino "Tabak-Toyok" that was taught to him by Dan Inosanto. Interesting point of note, I think...:)
