SOLO BASTON ABCEDARIO & ABCEDARIO DE MANO: OVERVIEW
An Overview of the Solo Baston Abcedario and the Abcedario de Mano sets of the Pekiti-Tirsia System.
Originally, the Solo Baston Abcedario was one of the first things taught in the Pekiti-Tirsia system, while the Abcedario de Mano was one of the last things taught.
This was due to the classic way of learning Pekiti-Tirsia, in that the system was originally taught as all the Solo Stick/Sword material first, "A through Z," with all the Double Stick/Sword coming next, then all the Espada y Daga, then all the Daga a Daga, then finally all the Mano a Mano empty hand material.
Both the Abcedario and the Abcedario de Mano have 144 techniques, divided into 12 sets of 12 attacks. You can think of each set as an alphabet of 12 letters, while the differences between sets can represent a different "font" on how that alphabet is printed.
SOLO BASTON ABCEDARIO OVERVIEW:
Grand Tuhon Gaje told us that he spent one full year as a child learning the Solo Baston Abcedario, learning one set of 12 attacks at a time, building up until he had all 144 techniques in the 12 sets. Let's say he started in January with the first set: 12 strikes learned and practiced over a month's time is not too much for most children to learn. In February, he would warm up with the first set and then begin learning the second set, which was a mirror image of the first set. (This is the general pattern for most of the Abcedarios, as the odd numbered sets are the "lead" sets, with the next even numbered set as its mirror image). This 12 techniques at a time learning schedule is a much less intimidating way to learn these large sets than learning all 144 techniques from day one.
SOLO BASTON ABCEDARIO NOTES: (image from my teaching notebook)
ABCEDARIO DE MANO:
The Abcedario de Mano is the empty hand version of this material, with each set involving a different way to strike with the hands, arms and feet. Once the whole 144 is learned, then the student can find which type of strike suits his physical build and personal fighting style and specialize in the sets that use that part of the body.
Here is the form for set one "Forward Slap." The form is first learned as a mnemonic device, to help memorize the movements.
The video below is a sample from the Abcedario de Mano Mini Lesson.
Here is a sample from the CT/Instructor's Notes video on the Abcedario de Mano. The video focuses on applications, with each technique used as a counter to a surprise attack with footwork. Notice the footwork used here. It is usually just a simple step, but it is done at the right time and at the right angle to give you an advantage.
The kick set from the Abcedario de Mano. Notice that no kick goes higher than the groin.
ABCEDARIO DE MANO NOTES: (images from my teaching notebook).
PAGE 1
PAGE 2
Both the Solo Abcedario and Abcedario de Mano have sword or knife based variations which are taught during the instructor's class on these subjects.
SOLO ABCEDARIO BLADE VERSIONS:
Sets 1, 2, 3 & 4: Basic and Reverse. Double Force and Reverse = Bolo.
Sets 5 through 8: Punyo and Hook = Pakal knife.
Sets 9 & 10: Reverse grip and Reverse-Reverse grip = Large blade or sword when you disarm and find the sword in reverse grip.
Sets 11 & 12: Bayonet sets = Pekiti-Tirsia long sword (with long dull section for left hand grip), or a rifle with a bayonet, or a short spear.
ABCEDARIO DE MANO BLADE VERSIONS
Slap sets = Pakal.
Wrist hack sets = pommel of Sak-Sak knife
Forward fist = Pakal
Reverse fist = Sak=Sak or push dagger
Elbow sets = Pakal
Hack sets = Pakal
Eye jab is a small knife held alongside forefinger or thumb
Kick set is simply to practice your kicks with a blade in your hand so you can kick without stabbing or cutting yourself.
The palm stick set and drills share some principles with the blade versions of the Abcedarios, so you can get a general idea of how the blade functions by watching the palm stick material.
For more info on the Solo Baston Abcedario and Abcedario de Mano videos, visit the links below:
Train Hard, but Train Smart!
Tuhon Bill McGrath
Links to purchase related videos and other information:
ABCEDARIO FOR SOLO BASTON (L1) video
ABCEDARIO DE MANO MINI LESSON. SET 1 APPLICATIONS video
ABCEDARIO DE MANO: CT/INSTRUCTOR'S NOTES
FMA DIY Target Chart Flag: https://pekiti.com/products/fma-dyi-target-chart-flag
For information on upcoming Pekiti-Tirsia seminars, camps, on-line and local classes, visit: https://pekiti.com/pages/upcoming-seminars