Angle Theory: Part 1 - Point of Origin
Universally, the rare exceptions notwithstanding, every style or system of Filipino martial arts has centered around it the same basic angles of strike. They may be in a different sequence from one style to another, but they are generally always the same five. One could reason it is borne out of tradition, but ultimately it had to start somewhere much more fundamental - biomechanics.
Approximately 10% of the world's population is left-handed, which by simple deduction means that 90% of people are right-handed. I'm including the small percentage of self-proclaimed ambidextrous people because I would submit that despite their claims they in fact have a dominant hand (probably the right hand).
Given that the right (dominant) hand will have better fine motor control, this will be the preferred hand for wielding tools, and by extension, weapons. Given a long, thin weapon grasped at one end (a rattan stick in this case), and desiring to strike a target (another human being in this case), the optimal direction will be diagonally downward from right to left, or as everyone in FMA knows it to be: Angle #1.
This angle is the most preferred striking angle because:
So now that Angle #1 is defined, it is simple a matter of filling in the gaps.
Since we as human are bilaterally symettrical, a mirror image of Angle #1 is needed for a left-to-right motion, which would be Angle #2.
Angles #1 and #2 cover the upper part of the body, so adding versions of these that are lower in elevation yield Angle #3 and Angle #4. Some styles have horizontal version of these, some do them diagonally upward. Either way, they cover the lower quadrants.
Finally, since the weapon can be used in thrusting motion, Angle #5 covers the center.
Every FMA style has many more angles than these. Some have 12, some 18, some 24, some possibly many more. They could be for stylistic identification/idiosyncracy, personal preference, etc. But the first 5 are universal becauuse they are the most biomechanically logical.
Approximately 10% of the world's population is left-handed, which by simple deduction means that 90% of people are right-handed. I'm including the small percentage of self-proclaimed ambidextrous people because I would submit that despite their claims they in fact have a dominant hand (probably the right hand).
Given that the right (dominant) hand will have better fine motor control, this will be the preferred hand for wielding tools, and by extension, weapons. Given a long, thin weapon grasped at one end (a rattan stick in this case), and desiring to strike a target (another human being in this case), the optimal direction will be diagonally downward from right to left, or as everyone in FMA knows it to be: Angle #1.
This angle is the most preferred striking angle because:
- The origin point of the strike comes from the shoulder, which is mounted high on the body.
- Moving the arm from an outward position to an inward position (abduction) is stronger than moving from an inward position to an outward position (adduction) because it involves sevearl muscle groups including the deltoids, pectorals, abdominals, as well as the legs.
- The downward motion allows gravity to assist, adding power for free.
So now that Angle #1 is defined, it is simple a matter of filling in the gaps.
Since we as human are bilaterally symettrical, a mirror image of Angle #1 is needed for a left-to-right motion, which would be Angle #2.
Angles #1 and #2 cover the upper part of the body, so adding versions of these that are lower in elevation yield Angle #3 and Angle #4. Some styles have horizontal version of these, some do them diagonally upward. Either way, they cover the lower quadrants.
Finally, since the weapon can be used in thrusting motion, Angle #5 covers the center.
Every FMA style has many more angles than these. Some have 12, some 18, some 24, some possibly many more. They could be for stylistic identification/idiosyncracy, personal preference, etc. But the first 5 are universal becauuse they are the most biomechanically logical.