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Product Review of “VirtualBlade Training System”
By Jay de Leon
Originally Published by WorldBlackBelt, 2004
In addition to their vaunted stickfighting skills, practitioners of Filipino martial arts (FMA) are also renowned for their knifefighting or bladed or edged weapons skills. More and more, this is being reflected in both the combative and sports aspect of FMA.
Many FMA “guros” (teachers) who are experts in bladed or edged weapons regularly conduct seminars for law enforcement and military personnel as well as civilians . These blademasters include such notable FMA masters like Nilo Limpin, Godofredo Fajardo and Nene Tortal in the Philippines, and Felix Valencia, Hock Hochheim, Ray Dionaldo, Bram Frank, Graciella Casillas and many others in the United States.
Master Godofredo Fajardo of Modern Arnis with double knivesat a FMA training camp in Saudi Arabia.
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In the sports arena, for example, the annual Gathering of the Pack of the Dog Brothers now features knife-fighting contests in addition to their very popular, time-honored full-contact bouts utilizing stick and other impact weapons. More and more FMA tournaments are creating separate knife-fighting divisions in addition to the traditional single and double stick competitions. Just recently, the Sayoc Kali organization, a blade-oriented FMA system, and Cold Steel, a cutlery manufacturing company, held huge tournaments and training camps devoted solely to knife fighting.
Knife-fighting against multiple attackers at a recent Dog Brothers’ Gathering. Photo courtesy of Dog Brothers Martial Arts.
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As in real-life, the need for certain attributes needed in tournament stick-fighting become even more magnified in knife-fighting—speed, agility, timing and footwork. Certain techniques unique to FMA become heavily favored, such as body shifting, angle changes, “elastiko” movements (back and forth, weaving motions using the upper body) and “labas-pasok” movements (in and out movements).
FMA practitioners
training double knives drills.
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But whether it is for reality training, tournament competition or just “play-fighting” drills, a particular problem always arises, that of instantaneous feedback. It is hard to judge whether one has scored or tagged the other seriously enough to score a hit or a “kill,” as there is no visual cue to indicate such a hit. Even an “instant slow-mo replay” on a TV monitor would not be of much help, considering the blur of motion of tangled weapons and bodies. As a solution to this problem, I have seen practitioners utilize training knives dipped in dyes or even actually spar with markers.
The latest product in the market to address the feedback problem is a product called “VirtualBlade.” What it does is, it turns your training blade into a marking tool. It does not require any special training blade; you may use your regular training blade. See www.virtualblade.com.
The two components of “VirtualBlade”—the deliverysystem and chalk stick. Photo courtesy of “VirtualBlade.”
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The product consists of two components—a marking delivery system and a chalk stick with enough chalk for thousands of cuts. You simply peel and stick the first item to your training blade and convert your training blade into a marking tool as well. You then re-chalk the delivery system as necessary. The chalk comes in green and blue, and is extremely visible and non-toxic. The total system takes only a few minutes to put together, and is relatively inexpensive, easy to clean, long-lasting, and there are no moving parts or messy dyes to contend with.
VirtualBlade also sells Sharkee trainingblades, including the tanto version, already equipped with the VirtualBlade product.
A Sharkee training blade with “VirtualBlade.” The chalk alsocomes in blue. Photo courtesy of “VirtualBlade.” |
Together with my Lameco instructor and training partner Felix Valencia, I have tested the product a few times. Recently featured in “Inside Kung-fu” magazine, Felix regularly uses this product in his edged weapons training camps for civilian, military and law-enforcement groups. You will of course still have to “armor up” but the green chalk will definitely show up either on skin, shirt, hockey glove, helmet and whatever equipment you have on. We wore white shirts and the stains on the shirts washed off with regular laundry. The stains on the equipment can be either wiped away or cleaned off with just soap and water.
Blademaster and senior Lameco instructor Felix Valencia.
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Going one-on-one against a training partner or another tournament competitor using this product is a great way to test your bladed weapons skill. It is also a lot of fun. At this point, let me remind you that any activity involving weapons, even simulated weapons, can be dangerous. I highly recommend that any use of this product, or any weapons training activity for that matter, should be under the supervision of a qualified “guro” (teacher) of Filipino martial arts.
To purchase this product, go to www.filipinofightingartsintl.com.
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