PEKITI-TIRSIA ESPADA Y DAGA WEAPONS EXPERIMENT (Tools & Drills for Sets 1, 2 & 3)

by Tuhon Bill McGrath January 18, 2026

In December of 2025, GT Jared Wihongi and I had a proposal for all Pekiti-Tirsia instructors from all organizations; to try an experiment using swords and knives for each of the 3 sets of Pekiti's Espada y Daga, using different size tools for each set.

This essay is designed to give Pekiti instructors some samples of how to design drills around these tools.

The purpose of this experiment is as an exercise to develop problem solving skills using these specific weapons and sample drills; but your goal is to be able to apply these principles in a variety of situations.

V1. TUHONS MCGRATH & WIHONGI EXPLAIN THE EXPERIMENT

V2. PEKITI-TIRSIA ESPADA Y DAGA TOOLS MEASUREMENT

EYD SET 1 TOOLS AND DRILLS

V3. PEKITI-TIRSIA EYD, LEVEL 1 SAMPLE

V4. EYD SET 1, DRILLS INTRODUCTION

V5. TRAINING KNIVES FOR SET 1

V6. ESPADA Y DAGA BAG DRILL (FOCUS ON KNIFE GRIP)

V7. SWORD TRAINER SET UP

V8. TRAINING SWORD DRAW

V9. SWORD BODY MECHANICS

V10. EYD SET 1 BASIC 8

V11. EYD SET 1 DISTANCE CONTROL DRILL

V12. EYD SET 1. NUMBER 1. SAMPLE APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES

V13. SAMPLE 2 MAN TIMING DRILL FOR EYD LEVEL 1, USING THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE LONG SWORD.

TRANSCRIPT: (Tuhon Bill) "Okay, here's a sample application drill using the attributes of the long sword with the dull blocking front portion. You're fighting on ones and twos. Notice how I'm extending my hip to get more distance. I'm trying to block on his points of percussion to where his blade is sharp against my dull portion.
On a theory of Seguidas, I let this pass because I have contact, I know where it is and drop immediately behind that.
If I don't get a definitive cut, I'll keep firing here until I get something right or see what he's doing. If I do find that first cut gets a good contact, then I can thrust with the and thrust with a dagger and come here on that line and then get back out. And then you do the same thing on the two line
On the theory of Contradas; now we're firing ones and twos getting him to commit. But I don't make contact. I fake step more on the lateral slide. Come in with a diagonal two or a horizontal. But I come in on that line. Now I can come in and do the same basic gross motions with the upper body, just different footwork.
So on Seguidas I stayed straight and fired in this corridor. On Contradas, I step on the lateral trying to avoid contact with the sword and then cut. And then I can come in on the same idea here.
However, now on Recontras I'm coming in on reverse triangle, aggressively coming to smother his attack and then cut from there. This (dagger thrust) is really an anchor, so he doesn't move that dagger, stab and then take the head or the weapon arm and leave.
And it's three theories using the long sword set up with the dull blocking portion portion on the base."

EYD SET 2 TOOLS AND DRILLS

V14. EYD SET 2 TOOLS

V15. EYD SET 2 ATTACK 1

V16. SOLO DRILL FOR EYD SET 2, ATTACK 1

V17. EYD SET 2, ATTACK 1: TWO MAN DRILL

EYD SET 3 TOOLS AND DRILLS

V18. EYD SET 3 TOOLS

V19. PEKITI-TIRSIA EYD SET 3 ATTACKS, 1 & 2

V20. EYD SET 3, ATTACK 1, TWO MAN DRILL

V21. PEKITI-TIRSIA WARM UP DRILLS FOR ESPADA Y DAGA (samples for sets 1, 2 & 3)

Attention Pekiti-Tirsia Instructors: Would you like a free video of each set of Espada Y Daga Attacks? If you are a full instructor in any Pekiti-Tirsia organization (or a Certified Trainer in PTI for EYD material), I have an offer for you. Send me a video of you and a student applying the principles shown in these videos for one of the EYD attacks (preferably one not shown in this essay). I will choose one video from submissions to include in this essay and send that instructor a code to download the video from the PTI version of that set of EYD Attacks free of charge. I'm limiting this offer to one video for each attack and will choose the best video for each number. Please explain your choice of movement in detail and include the pros and cons of the main elements of the technique.

Regards,
Tuhon Bill McGrath
President, Pekiti-Tirsia International

EQUIPMENT USED IN THIS ESSAY:

VULPES TRAINING: My recommended maker of polymer trainers.

Vulpes Sword Trainers

Vulpes Knife Trainers

Trainers used in the Set 1 videos:

Polypropylene Cavalry Saber Plastic Long Sword with Scabbard

Vulpes SakSak Daga Trainer. (similar to the model as shown in the video)

Cold Steel Leatherneck S/F Trainer

Cold Steel Rubber Training Recon Tanto

Trainers used in Set 2 videos:

Vulpes Polish Saber Trainer (This is the same size as the trainer I used in the video and has better hand protection).