PEKITI-TIRSIA ESPADA Y DAGA OVERVIEW
.
Like most of the advanced work in the Pekiti-Tirsia system, Espada y Daga is taught in techniques grouped around core principles specific for that weapon or the fighting style of the practitioner. These are divided into three levels or “sets” with each having a specific grip of the dagger.
Set 1: The daggers of both you and your opponent are held in Hammer grip.
Set 2: You are switching between Icepick and Hammer grips, while your opponent remains in Hammer grip.
Set 3: Both you and your opponent hold your daggers in Icepick grip.
Each of these sets has a subset of 12 Attacks, 12 Disarms, 12 Contradas (“Counters”) and 12 Recontras (“Recounters”). This gives us 144 Espada y Daga techniques in total in the Pekiti-Tirsia system.
Attacks: These are a combination of cuts and thrusts that use the sword and dagger in coordination with each other. An important part of training the attacks is learning to move effectively with two edged weapons of different lengths.
Disarms: These are techniques to remove the sword and the dagger from the opponent’s grip.
Contradas: These are attack combinations based on speed and out-maneuvering the opponent. Contradas techniques are useful when your opponent’s weapons are stronger or heavier than your own. Contradas techniques tend to leave an escape route open, in case the attack is not successful. Most of the techniques in Contradas try to answer the question of "What if?" As in "What if my first disarm is unsuccessful" or "What if my opponent counter attacks in the middle of my disarm attempt?" This is learned first as a technique with specific attacks and counters. Later you will practice a larger drill where you respond to random counters in real time.
Recontras: These are direct and decisive attacks, used when your opponent, or his weapon, is faster than you or your weapon. Attacks in Recontras are simple, strong and fully committed, but require excellent timing to execute successfully.
PEKITI-TIRSIA ESPADA Y DAGA VIDEOS:
ESPADA Y DAGA TOOLS MEASUREMENT:
Measuring the sword and knives for sets 1, 2 & 3 of Pekiti-Tirsia Espada y Daga.
Espada y Daga Set 3, Draw 1.
ESPADA Y DAGA SOLO DRILL FOR SET 1:
A solo practice drill for the 1st set of Pekiti-Tirsia Espada y Daga. Part one shows a double dagger drill. Part 2 integrates the sword and dagger movements.
The focus here, as well as the next two videos, is to practice keeping each arm away from the weapon on the opposite side of your body. The principal here is that your first training with a weapon should be how not to hurt yourself with that weapon during it use.
ESPADA Y DAGA SOLO DRILL SET 2:
This Espada y Daga warm up drill is based on the *matrix pattern from the 5 Attacks Subsystem that I teach as an intro to Pekiti-Tirsia Solo Baston. Shown is a 4 X 4 pattern drill using four basic cuts with the sword, interspersed with sample dagger thrusts. You will hear me refer to a “reverse” number at the beginning of each set of four. The idea here is using a point of origin for a strike that is not the usual one practiced. So, if a forehand diagonal download cut is normally delivered chambered on the right shoulder, a number 1 in this set, then a reverse 1 is a forehand diagonal downward strike that comes from a chamber on the left shoulder. Here is the pattern shown in the video: The R at the beginning of each pattern denotes a reverse cut.
R 1, 2, 3, 4.
R 2, 1, 4, 3.
R 3, 4, 1, 2.
R 4, 3, 2, 1.
In the basic version of the drill, you are using only fluid cuts. You can then move on to intermixing any sequence of broken, circular cuts, etc as well as add the knife thrusts at different points. The idea here is to force the student to get a bit of practice in his “non-favorite” angles of attack. To deliberately hit from awkward and unusual angles, because the opponent will often have the “usual” angles well protected. It is also designed to give the student some mental flexibility in what options are open to him. (*A matrix is a math term that predates the movie of that name, and here denotes a rectangular pattern of numbers).
ESPADA Y DAGA SOLO DRILL SET 3:
This solo practice drill is based on Upper 8 from Doble” Baston, plus the 5 Attacks Subsystem.
SET 1 DRILL: A two-man timing drill from Set 1, based on the 5 Attacks subsystem. Notice the footwork and positioning used during this drill.
Espada y Daga, Set 1 sample.
An Attack, a Disarm, a Contradas and a Recontras from level one Pekiti-Tirsia Espada y Daga.
Espada y Daga Set 2 Attack # 1
ESPADA Y DAGA SET 2 CONTRADAS # 1
Espada y Daga Set 2 Recontras number 1
Espada y Daga Set 3 Attacks, 1 & 2.
ESPADA Y DAGA SET 3 CONTRADAS # 1
ESPADA Y DAGA SET 3 RECONTRAS #1
Train Hard, but Train Smart,
Tuhon Bill McGrath
For information on PTI seminars, classes and camps, visit:
https://pekiti.com/pages/upcoming-seminars