Filipino Stick Fighting Techniques: The Essential Techniques of Cabales Serrada Escrima

I give this book 5 stars due to the historical content. The first half of the book covered the back story of Angel Cabales and Serrada Escrima. As a practitioner of arnis for nearly 30 years, I enjoy learning the emphasis of different styles and how they came to be as well as how they developed. The section on Dizon and the original Doce Pares was the most interesting to me. The second half of the book covered specific drills, blocks, disarms, and techniques with and without weapons. Dr. Wiley mentions in the text that the original edition of the book had different techniques not show in this version. Since I don't have that edition, I can't tell what is missing. I would say that the hand positions in the photos are hard to see and while I could understand all the techniques, it wasn't always easy to follow. In most cases, the photo shows the practitioners using different colored sticks (white and black) which helps somewhat. The book is not comprehensive but serves as an excellent introduction to the style.

Good read on Arnis martial arts.

If you have the Secrets of Cabales Serrada Eskrima, this is basically the same book with a new/updated forward. I took a star away because I thought it was a new book and I already have The Secrets of Cabables Serrada Eskrima, which is a good book. They are both good books! Just want to be clear. This is just slightly updated, so unless you're a collector, you don't really need it if you have the 1st one.

Not laid out properly. The text doesn't match the pictures on the same page. The text is for the technique on the next page, so the text and technique are split over two pages rather than having the text and the technique to which it applies on the same page.

This book is mostly history. No kata

Just took up this hobby. Trying to get back to pinoy roots. Eating sinigang & balut haven't improved my pinoy game, perhaps this will?

Again this is another reference book I have added to my martial arts collection about a style that I enjoy training in when I get the chance. Great reference and a great read if you are into these sorts of things. Totally recommend adding it to your collection.

Haven't had a chance to finish book. Very interesting snd educational

This is a great book. My instructor, Jon Broster is a student of the author and he really rated the book

Don't be fool by the cover. It's the same book as previous edition , The Secrets of Cabales Serrada Escrima. Just the book cover & the name has change. I would have given a high rating if I didn't owned one before. But I felt the change of cover & title to trick someone to buy it again is pretty .........

If you train in Serrada Escrima or you are interested in Filipino Martial Arts in general, then this is an essential read. This is in fact a new edition of the author's second book on the subject (namely: Secrets of Cabales Serrada Escrima), so, if you own that book, there is nothing new here. For students of Serrada Escrima there are only three books work reading: - this one - Mark's first book: Filipino Martial Arts - Cabales Serrada Escrima - The Pure Art of Cabales Serrada Escrima by J C Cabiero (which is very hard to find) In contrast to Mark's first book (Filipino Martial Arts - Cabales Serrada Escrima), this features very few pictures of Mark, instead showcasing various masters of the art such as: Ron Saturno, Frank Rillamas, Anthony Davis, Art Miraflor, Rey Tap, Jerry Preciado, Vincent Cabales, Gabriel Asuncion, Carlito Bonjoc and Darren Tibon. In addition, the techniques demonstrated are different - this serves to make the books a good complement to each other. In addition, there are essays by: Art Miraflor, Rene Latosa, Jerry Preciado, Carlito Bonjoc, Darren Tibon, Khalid Khan and Anthony Davis. The book covers the basic twelve angles of attack and defences to each of these. There are disarming techniques, empty hand techniques and picks too, as well as a general description of some of Serrada's training methods.