Private Eskrima Lessons in Portland, Oregon
About
Private Training in Filipino Weapons Systems
I teach private Eskrima and Kali lessons in Portland, Oregon, one-on-one or with a friend.
Eskrima is a Filipino martial art. Unlike other martial arts that teach empty hand fighting first and weapons second, an Eskrimador (a practitioner of Eskrima) learns to fight with Double Rattan Sticks, a Single Rattan Stick, and Knives before learning empty hand fighting.
Eskrima tactics are influenced by the many indigenous martial arts of the Philippine archipelago, as well as by the sword and knife tactics of Spain. (The Spanish colonial period of the Philippines lasted from 1521 to 1898.)
What a Private Lesson Looks Like
- 60 minutes, one-on-one, or bring a friend.
- Beginners start with Double Stick, then Single Stick, then Knife.
- Later, we get into Stick and Dagger and Filipino empty hand methods.
- A lesson plan for every week, so each lesson builds on the last.
Eskrima, Kali, and Arnis
Eskrima, Kali, and Arnis are all names used for the Filipino martial arts. What I teach is mostly Eskrima and Kali. I’ve trained some Modern Arnis, but I don’t teach it.
My Eskrima Background
Most of my Eskrima training came from group and private classes with Professor Leonard Trigg here in Portland during the late 1980s and throughout most of the 1990s.
Professor Trigg played an important role in the development of Filipino martial arts in the Pacific Northwest. He trained with Grandmasters Remy and Ernesto Presas and is credited with helping bring both men and their martial art of Modern Arnis to the Pacific Northwest during the late 1970s.
His relationships with Punong Guro Edgar Sulite and Maestro Ted Lucaylucay were especially significant. Professor Trigg became a senior instructor in Edgar Sulite’s Lameco Eskrima system, and following Sulite’s passing, his family entrusted Trigg with helping preserve and guide the organization. In 2005, Edgar Sulite’s widow, Felisa Sulite, appointed Professor Trigg interim president of Lameco Eskrima International, with Guro Dan Inosanto serving as interim vice president.
Professor Trigg also had a longstanding relationship with Maestro Ted Lucaylucay and served as an executive officer of the Lucaylucay Kali/JKD Association. Following Maestro Lucaylucay’s passing, Trigg was one of the senior instructors entrusted, with the blessing of the Lucaylucay family, to help carry on his Kali and Jeet Kune Do teachings.
Through Professor Trigg, my training partners, including Professor Jeff Patterson, and I had the opportunity to train directly with some of the most respected Filipino martial arts instructors of that era when they came to Portland for seminars and private training.
Just as important as the techniques I learned from Professor Trigg was the way he taught me to think about martial arts. His emphasis was always on understanding principles and concepts rather than simply collecting techniques. The goal was to understand why something worked, so you could adapt your movement and technique to whatever was happening in front of you.
That philosophy became the foundation of how I teach martial arts today. Rather than giving students an endless list of techniques to memorize, I want them to understand the underlying concepts well enough to adapt, problem-solve, and respond naturally in the moment.
Among the instructors I had the opportunity to train with through Professor Trigg were:
- Punong Guro Edgar Sulite (R.I.P.), founder of Lameco Eskrima
- Maestro Ted Lucaylucay (R.I.P.), founder of the Lucaylucay Kali/JKD Association
What You’ll Work On
- Practical self-defense against a weapon-wielding opponent
- Awareness of blunt and bladed weapons
- Hand-eye coordination
- Mobility and footwork
- Dexterity in both hands
- Reaction speed
- Forearm and grip strength
- Drills that work your Lead and Rear hands together
Prof. Leonard Trigg, Prof. Jeff Patterson, Punong Guro Edgar Sulite, and me
Me, Maestro Ted Lucaylucay, and Prof. Jeff Patterson
Common Questions
Do I need my own sticks?
Yes. I recommend two 28-inch rattan Eskrima sticks.
Is it safe for beginners?
Yes. I start with real basic drills, build up your coordination, and go from there.
Do I need any experience?
No.
Start Private Eskrima Lessons in Portland
Private Eskrima lessons are by appointment, one-on-one or with a friend. To get started, send me a message with your experience and what you would like to learn, and I will reply to arrange your first lesson.
Other Private Lessons
I also teach private Muay Thai lessons and Boxing lessons in Portland, as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts. About Sean Haley