Solo Olisi: Single Stick

Eskrima training always begins with the use of the single stick. The strong hand wields a stick (approximately 30" in length and 3/4" in diameter, usually made of rattan) and serves as the primary offense. The empty hand is used mainly for defense, focusing on controlling the opponent's weapon hand. Most (but not all) of these techniques are similar to "espada" (sword) techniques. Twirling techniques ("amarra") are taught to develop wrist strength and coordination, which facilitates the ability to generate power and re-angle the wrist evasively at short range.

Solo olisi techniques are practiced in long ("largo"), medium ("medya") and short ("corto") ranges. The largo range (also referred to as "largo mano" range) is characterized by evasive footwork and angling, fast continuous strikes to the opponent's weapon hand. The medya range (also refeered to as "sumbrada" range) utilizes sophisticated checking of the opponent;s weapon hand wth simultaneous counterattacking. "Tapi Tapi", the highly sophisticated system of trapping and checking is taught to develop these skills. The corto range (also referred to as "hubad" range) emphasizes curving attacks and continuous re-angling of the strikes around the opponent's defense.

One of the most fundamental solo olisi drills is the abesedario, a comprehensive defense/counter-strike drill, the seven levels of which are designed to develop movement, angling, checking and countering in each of the three ranges. A variety of disarming techniques are also studied.

Doble Olisi: Double stick

Both hands wield a stick. The sticks are used for a combination of offense and defense. The long range is the most frequently used range in this type of fighting because of the variety of checking techniques available in that range. A wide variety of striking and twirling techniques is taught to develop power and coordination. Several drills with partner are also taght to develop these assets, known as "pinky-pinky" or "siniwali".
The skills acquired through double stick training also come into play in other types of fighting such as empty hand striking ("mano mano"), combinations of solo olisi striking and checking and stick and knife ("espada y daga").

Baraw: Knife

Knife fighting is strongly developed in the Philippino martial arts and a particular great variety of styles can be found. This has a logical explanation. Eskrima was originally developed on the battlefield and contains some very realistic aspects because of that. Hence the highly developed knife fighting because it is always safer to use a weapon in one's defense when a fight occurs uexpectedly. Even if that weapon is a knife.
The training starts with defense techniques against different knife attacks. Many blocking and defense techniques are taught in four ways: single, double and multiple sliding and slicing. Counterattacks are performed simultaneously. More elaborate defence techniques contain locks, dirarms and checking and re-directing the opponent's weapon.
The advanced training consists of knife-to-knife techniques taught through a variety of drills containing practical offense-, defense- and countertechniques in different combinations with continuous checking and re-directing of the opponent's weapon hand.

Espada y Daga: Stick and knife

Espada y daga (also known as "punta y daga" or "olisi y bara") is one of the most complicated and sophisticated parts of Eskrima. The strong hand wields a stick or long blade and serves as the primary offense. The weak hand holds the knife and is used for both offense (thrusting and sliding) and defense (blocking, checking and locking).
Training starts with drills teaching coordination of the two weapons in striking and checking patterns. After that footwork and body angling are added.
Drills then progress to those involving multiple attacks (usually the long weapon followed by the short weapon). Basic defenses are followed by transitions to the outside, that way avoiding remaining between the opponent's weapons. Finally the complicated espada y daga locks and takedowns are added.

Mano Mano: Empty Hand

It is told that in the Fillipino martial arts the weapon is mainly a substitute for the empty hand. Many techniques remain practically the same with or without a weapon being used. Many empty hand techniques come from espada y daga. Many parts of the body can serve as a weapon so empty hand fighting involves punching, kicking, elbows, knees, headbutts etc. Locks and throws are also applied. Doce Pares Mano Mano contains a special tapi tapi-drill called kaw-it.
This involves trapping and checking the opponent's attacking hand with only a few fingers or even one finger and simultaeniously counterattacking. These controling techniques can be applied in armed or unarmed fighting and are also used to break the opponent's rhythm.