Lower Providence Aikido

One of the most impressive and, one could say, beautiful, techniques in the Filipino Martial Art of escrima must be the Espada Y Daga. Espada Y Daga comes from the Spanish phrase "sword and dagger", and as the name implies, is performed with two weapons. Usually the longer weapon (which can sometimes be replaced with a stick) makes the first move followed by the shorter and quicker knife weapon. This is inherently a close range combat technique, where the weaker and farther knife hand can already stab the opponent.

You can find this technique in many of the major styles of escrima, such as Lightning Scientific Arnis, Modern Arnis, and Lameco Eskrima. But this is only taught much later in the training of the fighter, after he has become fluent in the basics of pure stick fighting. And usually it is taught first with just a stick and an open palm. The last stage of training may include training with live blades which could injure the person wielding them if he's not careful.

Though it may be difficult at first, eventually those who master the espada y daga can perform alternating attacks at breathtaking speeds, attacks which can no longer be anticipated by the opponent. Also, the master of espada y daga no longer has to rely on predetermined combinations but can completely improvise, targeting different parts of the opponent's body at his choosing. In this way the opponent is literally "chopped to pieces."

It seems that even though the name of the technique is Spanish (because of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines for more than three-hundred years), the technique itself is pre-hispanic in origin. It is possible that native warrior clans were already using and practicing the espada y daga long before the Spanish ever arrived. They may even have used this technique on the Spanish soldiers they fought with!

You might ask, but what's the use of the espada y daga technique when facing a criminal with a gun? And it's not everyday you get to carry a long sword and a combat knife with you (unless you want to get arrested). There is no set answer to this question, but it really depends on the individual practitioner of the art. Some learn escrima as one might learn a dance, in pursuit of a martial art which also has a certain deadly beauty to it. Others will insist that it is actually possible to use the espada y daga technique in the context of modern weapons. You might even be able to use the espada y daga technique with your bare hands.

In any case, one should be very responsible in learning the espada y daga and not use it for illegal purposes. Centuries before, the espada y daga was probably used to defend the "barangay" (community) against tribal invaders. It is a technique used for protecting other people, not threatening or intimidating them. Hopefully that aspect of the art can still be continued today.