Disarming in Martial Arts: Real Techniques, Filipino Terminology and Personal Safety

Did they take your machete? That’s why you need to study disarmament.

“It is almost impossible to disarm an opponent armed with a sword… if that person knows how to use a sword.”
– Guro Dan Inosanto

Have you ever heard that “disarms don’t work”? Yes, many people say that. Unfortunately, in the real world, repeating set phrases isn’t enough to survive a blade.

This is not another academic paper or action movie sequence.
Let’s be clear: if one day you find yourself bare-handed in front of someone with a gun , knowing what to do – even if it’s just to gain two seconds – can save your skin.

No, I’m not saying you should “seek disarmament.” But if the opportunity presents itself , you have to be ready to act. Like a smash in tennis: you don’t look for it, but when it comes… you hit it.

In this post I take you into the raw and pragmatic universe of disarmament in Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) .
You will discover why the concept of Agaw is not a “move”, but a mental strategy , how the infamous “breaking the serpent’s tooth” works, and why without solid training the knife wins. Always.

This guide is for those who are not satisfied with illusions , for those who really want to train , and for those who do not want to end up in a corner bleeding just because they were told that “there is no point in learning how to disarm weapons” .

Ready to find out the truth?
Street Fight Mentality.

They took my machete, because you have to study disarmament!

While you should never look for disarms , this does not mean you do not know them or know how to perform them perfectly.

I want to start our chat by telling you a phrase that Guro Dan Inosanto often says :

“ It is almost impossible to disarm a sword-wielding opponent, if that person knows how to use a sword .”

I am writing this to immediately silence all the usual sterile and know-it-all polemics of those who say that disarmament doesn’t work, etc. We all know this, so if you have nothing new to say, stop echoing if you have nothing new to say , but read the final part of the sentence in orange carefully until the end, perhaps you will discover that even you who think you are an expert are not and can be disarmed.

Now I don’t want to talk further in this post about the question ” to disarm from a knife yes or to disarm from a knife no “, but to go and analyze what the Filipinos call agaw .

Agaw is the Filipino term for disarmament.

Let’s move forward with this discussion on studying the disarmament of weapons.

The complexity of defending yourself with your bare hands against a weapon is incredibly difficult, a cutting weapon is even worse because it is fast and requires very little loading to do significant damage.

The difficulty is doubled when a well-trained attacker is armed with two melee weapons.

If, however, the opponent is not thoroughly trained and experienced in the use of his weapon, it is possible to take or carry the weapon away from him, find a moment to free oneself, or seize his own weapon.

Many Filipino Kali eskrimadores spend hours every day perfecting their skills in the time-tested art of Agaw (the art of disarming).

In today’s society (which is unfortunately increasingly violent), the art of disarmament is something that you but every martial artist must include in their daily training routine, whatever martial art they practice.

Without disarming and knife fencing skills, your chances of surviving a fight with a gun-wielding attacker are virtually nil.

But if as Guro Dan Inosanto says, it is practically impossible to take a cutting weapon from a trained opponent , why spend all this time with theories and techniques in disarming?

The answer is in reality .

Most real life situations/occasions provide you with alternatives that are not always repeatable in gym training.

If your well-trained attacker gives you that opportunity you must know what to do in the most instinctive way you know how.

Disarmament is like a smash for a tennis player, you don’t have to look for it but when it’s there you have to score a point!

Guru Bob Breen (a great knife expert) says that to survive a knife attack you have to be very lucky but if you train a lot you become very lucky.

When you are attacked in reality you have two options against an armed attacker:

• Option number one: is to evade the initial attack (something that is quite possible), forget about picking up the weapon and perform a lightning-fast escape.
• Option number two: is to survive for those few seconds it takes to grab something like a stick or a bottle and then continue the battle on a more even footing.

As you can see, I’m not talking to you about disarming, but just about knowing about this possibility and looking for a short fencing match.

With consistent training over time, well focused and with the correct methodologies that are not those often seen on YouTube and in most gyms, you can be trained to the point of becoming so “lucky” as to survive a fight with an armed opponent and perhaps even take away his weapon.

Ultimately, it is clear that even if surviving is practically “Impossible” it is not so IMPOSSIBLE after all but it is clear that we are talking about one of the most extreme combat conditions and that is why even today the knife in its simplicity is one of the weapons that causes the most murders.

Now without going into too much detail outside of this article there are some key disarms you need to know especially to disarm a stick.

It is not intended to be a treatise on disarmament because if you want to learn them correctly contact me or soon you will see them online on my courses but this is useful for you to start knowing some basic concepts on the possibilities of disarmament!

Studying disarmaments and how to disarm an armed man

Breaking the snake’s tooth

” Breaking the serpent’s tooth ” is a technique used in Filipino Kali to effectively contain and stop an incoming weapon attack.

The concept is simple, directly destroy the hands by hitting them and then contain the attack.

This technique goes by other names such as “displacement”, which means to hit the weapon or stick instead of blocking, or “displace” the block to hit the hands instead.

Another commonly used term is “praksyon” or fraction, the terms derives from the speeds that are used to deliver the defanging stroke, i.e., a fraction of a section.

This means that in order to hit the hands when an attack is performed, one must hit faster than the attacker.

A sort of advance.

“Breaking the serpent’s tooth” in the context of Filipino Kali is an important part of the art of disarmament in Filipino martial arts. Here is a summary of the key concepts of this technique:

1. Main Objective : The main objective of “Breaking the Serpent’s Tooth” is to directly destroy the armed attacker’s hands to prevent an imminent attack.
2. Displacement : Another way to call this technique is “displacement.” This term emphasizes the importance of moving or deflecting the attacker’s weapon or stick to protect yourself from injury.
3. Praksyon or Fraction : “Praksyon” or “fraction” refers to the speed at which the defanging strike is executed. This implies that the defender must anticipate and strike faster than the attacker to disengage the weapon.
4. Anticipation : The technique requires some sort of anticipation on the part of the defender to strike the attacker’s hands before the attack can cause damage.

In essence, “Breaking the Serpent’s Tooth” is a disarming technique that focuses on neutralizing the attacker’s weapon by directly striking the hands, thus preventing the attack from being successfully completed.

This technique requires speed, precision and a good understanding of the timing of the attack to be effective.

Snake

In Philippine Kali one of the first disarms one learns is to disarm with the method known as the “snake”.

Only works against cordless weapons such as a stick or pole.

The snake is performed by weaving the arm around the opponent’s arm and locking to the body.

This disengages the weapon, and usually ends up in the hands of the defender.

This technique is one of the first and fundamental disarming techniques taught in this style of martial arts. Here is a summary of the key points related to the “snake” technique:

1. Main Objective : The “snake” technique is designed to disarm an attacker using a cordless weapon, such as a stick or pole.
2. Arm Weaving : The defender performs this technique by weaving his arm around the attacker’s arm, creating a block tightly around the attacker’s body.
3. Disengagement of the weapon : By weaving the arm around the weapon and the attacker’s body, the weapon is disengaged from the attacker’s hands. Usually, the weapon ends up in the defender’s hands or is rendered useless.
4. Effective Execution : To execute this technique successfully, the defender must be able to quickly and effectively weave his arm around the weapon and the attacker. Accuracy and timing are crucial.

The “snake” technique in Filipino Kali is a disarming technique that uses the defender’s ability to wrap his arm around the weapon and the attacker’s arm to disengage the weapon and neutralize the threat.

It is an effective technique against cordless weapons and requires practice and skill to perform correctly.

Vine

Next on the list of disarms is the “screw”, which is similar to the snake in that it also requires the defender to apply leverage to the opponent’s arm and weapon.

The difference is that the screw spins in the opposite direction of the snake and often sends the weapon spiraling and flying away.

This technique is a similar variation to the “snake” technique, but with a key difference in the direction of movement. Here is a summary of the key points regarding the “screw” technique:

1. Main Objective : As with the “snake”, the “screw” technique is designed to disarm an attacker using a cordless weapon, such as a stick or pole.
2. Leverage and Direction of Movement : The “screw” technique requires the defender to apply leverage to the attacker’s weapon and arm. The main difference from the “snake” is that the “screw” involves a rotational movement in the opposite direction of the “snake”.
3. Weapon Disengagement : Spinning in the opposite direction often causes the weapon to disengage from the attacker’s hands and be sent flying. This result is similar to the “snake” target.
4. Effective Execution : To successfully execute the “screw” technique, the defender must apply leverage quickly and effectively, either spinning the weapon out of use or knocking it out of the attacker’s hands.

The “vine” technique is a variation of the “snake” technique in Philippine Kali.

Both techniques aim to disarm an attacker armed with a cordless weapon, but the main difference lies in the direction of the rotary motion, which in the “screw” is opposite to that of the “snake”.

Both require practice and skill to be performed successfully.

Strip

The “stripe” is one of the major disarming techniques of Filipino Kali.

It relies on leverage and making the weapon slide out of the attacker’s hand.

The swipe is quick, effective and closely related to the fourth and final of the Philippine’s major disarmament methods, the “Quick Release”.

This technique is one of the main and effective disarmament techniques in this style of martial arts.

Here is a summary of the key points regarding the “swipe” technique:

1. Main Objective : The “swipe” technique has as its main objective to disengage the weapon from the attacker’s hands. This is done by applying leverage and sliding the weapon out of the attacker’s grip.
2. Leverage and Movement : To perform the “swipe”, the defender must apply leverage to the weapon and make a controlled movement to slide it away. This technique requires precision and coordination.
3. Speed ​​and Effectiveness : The “swipe” is known for its speed and effectiveness. It is designed to disarm the attacker as quickly as possible, thus reducing the risk of injury.
4. Correlation with the “Quick Release” : The “swipe” is closely related to the concept of the “Quick Release” in Filipino Kali. Both techniques aim to release the weapon from the attacker’s grip quickly and efficiently.

The “swipe” technique is one of the primary disarming techniques in Philippine Kali and is designed to disarm the attacker’s weapon through the application of leverage and a controlled sliding motion.

This technique is known for its speed and effectiveness and is closely related to the concept of “Quick Release” in Filipino martial arts.

Consistent practice is essential to perform this technique successfully.

Quick Release

Basically, the “Quick Release” ends up stripping the weapon from the opponent’s grip and causing it to disperse into the air.

This technique is also one of the main disarmament strategies in this style of martial arts.

Here is a summary of the key points regarding the “Quick Release”:

1. Main Objective : The “Quick Release” is designed to quickly release the weapon from the assailant’s grasp. The ultimate objective is for the weapon to be disengaged and dispersed into the air, thereby reducing the threat from the assailant.
2. Stripping the weapon : This technique involves a process of “stripping”, which literally means removing or pulling the weapon from the attacker’s grasp. The defender tries to remove the weapon from the attacker as quickly as possible.
3. Speed ​​and Effectiveness : The “Quick Release” is known for its speed and effectiveness. It is designed to be executed quickly and accurately to quickly neutralize the attacker’s threat.
4. Weapon Dispersal : Once successful, the “Quick Release” causes the weapon to be dispersed into the air or dropped from the attacker’s hands, rendering it useless.

The “Quick Release” is a disarming technique in Filipino Kali that focuses on speed and effectiveness in releasing the weapon from the attacker’s grip.

This technique is designed to quickly neutralize the threat and can result in the weapon dispersing, rendering it useless.

Consistent practice and precision are essential to perform this technique successfully.

Filipino Kali terms referring to disarmament:

• Agaw : to seize, disarm or take away – to seize, disarm or take away
  
• Agaw -Sandata: disarming & retrieval of the weapon
  
• Bigay-Bali : lock release technique – locking technique
  
• Dakip : capture – to capture
  
• Diin : to put pressure on – to put pressure on
  
• Dukop : to catch – to capture
  
• Dukot : to reach out – to reach
  
• Hulagpos : to escape from capture or restraint – to escape capture or restraint
  
• Kalas : disengage, release or disarm – disengage, release or disarm
  
• Kalas-Sandata : disarming technique – disarming technique
  
• Pangilog : disarming – to disarm
  
• Saplet : quick disarm – quick disarm
  
• Suplete : quick disarm – quick disarm

These terms provide a good understanding of the specific vocabulary used in Filipino martial arts to describe disarming techniques and related actions. Here is a summary of some of the main terms:

1. Agaw : Meaning “to seize, disarm, or carry away.” It is the generic term to refer to the act of taking or disarming a weapon.
2. Agaw-Sandata : Refers to “disarming and recovering the weapon”, indicating the process of disarming and subsequently taking the weapon.
3. Bigay-Bali : Represents a “locking technique”, which could be used to control or immobilize the armed attacker.
4. Dakip : Meaning “to capture”. This term could be used to refer to the process of capturing the weapon from the attacker.
5. Diin : Meaning “to apply pressure on”. It could be used in situations where the defender applies pressure to the weapon or attacker to disarm them.
6. Dukop : Means “to capture”. This term could be used in similar contexts as “Dakip” to refer to the process of capturing the weapon.
7. Dukot : Means “to reach out”. It could be used to refer to the extension of the arm to reach out and disarm the attacker.
8. Hulagpos : Refers to “to escape from capture or control”. It could be used in situations where the defender is trying to free himself from the attacker’s grasp.
9. Kalas : Meaning “to disengage, release, or disarm.” It is a generic term for the process of disarming.
10. Kalas-Sandata : Indicates a “disarmament technique”, specifying the disarming action in more detail.
11. Pangilog : Represents “disarmament”, which is the action of disarming an attacker.
12. Saplet : Meaning “quick disarmament”. Could be used to refer to a quick and efficient disarmament.
13. Suplete : This also refers to “quick disarmament”. It indicates a disarmament that occurs rapidly.

These terms provide a useful basis for understanding the specific language associated with disarmaments in Filipino Kali and related martial arts.

❌ Common Mistakes in Disarming: What Never to Do (If You Want to Stay Alive)

Training disarms is an art as fascinating as it is dangerous. And it is precisely because life is at stake that certain errors must be avoided at all costs. Below you will find the most common and insidious ones , those that often creep into even “serious” training and that – in reality – would condemn you.

1. Look for the weapon instead of the attacker

Mistake : Focusing all your attention on the object (knife, stick, gun) instead of on the body and intentions of the attacker.

Why it’s lethal : The weapon itself isn’t dangerous. It’s the mind and body behind it that drives it. Trying to “catch” a knife in mid-air without reading the body’s patterns is suicidal. The attacker knows what he wants to do. You’re reacting.

Correct : Read the body , not the weapon. Follow the shoulders, hips, load. Train peripheral and tactical visual focus. The weapon is just the extension.

2. Use brute force instead of leverage and biomechanics

Mistake : Trying to wrestle the weapon away by force, engaging in a tug-of-war.

Why it’s lethal : If the attacker is physically stronger (or on drugs, or psychotic), you lose. Working against the biomechanical structure of the body leads to technical collapse.

Correct : Apply leverage, angles, and rotations . Use leverage at the thumb, wrist, and elbow. Kali is a dance of structure and disruption, not a contest of strength.

3. Don’t strike before disarming

Mistake : Going straight for disarmament, without destabilizing the aggressor.

Why it’s lethal : A lucid, armed, and fully aware attacker will never give up . Your disarmament will be ineffective unless you “disturb his operating system” first.

Correct : Strike first , then disarm. Use a distraction, a throat strike, an eye pressure, a low kick. Create a mistake in the attacker’s mind. Only then can you proceed to disarm with an open window.

4. Have your mental focus on “technique” rather than survival

Mistake : Trying to remember the “perfect form” of disarmament instead of adapting to the environment and surviving .

Why it’s lethal : In real chaos, you don’t have time to think “step 1 – step 2 – step 3.” Adrenaline buries you if you haven’t conditioned your responses. Technical thinking blocks instinctive action.

Correct : Train scenarios and adaptations , not just isolated techniques. Real disarmament is an adaptive intention , not a choreographed sequence. “Do what it takes” – even if it’s not pretty.

5. Train stationary, static and clean demo disarms

Mistake : Always practice slow, single, predictable attacks. The classic “I swing and stop.”

Why it’s lethal : In reality, attacks are rapid, irregular, dirty and animalistic . The attacker doesn’t cooperate. Training only demos is fooling you.

Correct : Practice stress drills , randomized. Use light protection, marker knives, loud music, screaming. Train your mind and body for chaos . The road is never clean.

6. Not considering follow-up after disarmament

Mistake : Once you have taken the knife or stick, you remain there “still”, almost satisfied.

Why it’s lethal : Disarmament is not the end of the fight , it’s just a phase. The attacker can attack with the other hand, with a kick, or have a second knife. Or an accomplice.

Correct : Practice hitting and moving immediately after disarming . Make a visual check, use the weapon if necessary, create distance, look for an escape route. Disarming is a means, not the final trophy .

Final Consideration

Training disarms without these precautions is like learning to swim… in your living room .
Technique gives you tools. But it is the awareness of mistakes that really saves you.

“The best disarm is never having to do one.
But if you do… it has to be the most fluid, brutal, instinctive action you have in your repertoire .”
– Street Fight Mentality

Comparison Table – The 4 Philippine Disarmament Strategies

Quick Reading Legend :

• Direction : the biomechanical direction in which the technique moves with respect to the attacker’s line of force.

• Weapon Type : Suitable for cordless weapons only (staves, pipes, blunt objects).

• Technical Focus : the biomechanical principle on which it is based (block, lever, stripping).

• Risk of Failure : How risky is it to apply it in a real context if not done perfectly.

• Technical Complexity : how much it requires in terms of training, sensitivity and timing.

Practical Tip

Train them in sequence in flow drill, then mix them up randomly:
“Snake → Vine → Swipe → Quick Release → Snake again…”

Final goal : to make these disarms interchangeable in flow , as you perfectly said in your conclusion. When you succeed, you are no longer performing a technique , you are fighting.

Suggested Teaching Progression – Training Disarms Intelligently and Realistically

If you want to train disarms seriously and responsibly , avoid gym mistakes and build real skills , you can’t improvise. You need a method.
Here is a proven teaching progression, which takes you from theory to reality , step by step.

1. Theoretical Study + Terminology

“You can’t use what you don’t understand.”

• Understand the concept of Agaw , Kalas , Hulagpos , etc.

• Analyze biomechanical principles (lever, fulcrum, rotation).

• Learn to distinguish the 4 main techniques (Snake, Screw, Strip, Quick Release).

• Study real cases and simulations for context.

Objective: To create a mental and technical vocabulary . Without this, every technique is an empty movement.

2. Manipulation with Simulated Objects

“Learn to feel the gun without hurting yourself.”

• Use soft sticks, rubber knives or hard plastic trainer knives.

• Work with cooperative partners: Learn resistance-free movements.

• Study the grips, the levers, the feeling of disarming.

Objective: To get used to physical contact with objects and armed hands without panic.

3. Flow Drill with Partner (Slow and Progressive)

“First smooth. Then fast.”

• Perform disarms in sequence (1–2–3–4) in flow mode.

• Change side, angle and trajectory.

• Introduce variations: right-handed/left-handed partner, high/low grip.

Goal: Automate patterns naturally and continuously. No interruptions.

4. Introduction of Chaos (Shots, Noise, Disturbance)

“Order does not survive the first blow in the face.”

• The partner begins to resist slightly .

• Introduce disruptive strikes (pushes, slaps, scratches, low kicks).

• Train with loud music , screaming, tiredness.

• Fogged glasses, cramped spaces, objects on the floor.

Goal: Develop motor and cognitive resilience . Stay clear in the noise.

5. ⏱️ Training under Stress (Time, Fatigue, Environment)

“Train yourself to decide under pressure.”

• Perform disarms after a physical circuit (rope, burpees, bag).

• 30 sec. timer to perform a disarm under pressure.

• Change environment: low light, narrow corridor, unstable ground.

Goal: Get used to reacting in real conditions , without reset. No comfort zone.

6. Real Role Playing – Street Simulations

“Adrenaline lies. Only experience speaks.”

• Real scenarios: parking lot, public bathroom, car, corridor, elevator.

• Partner disguised as attacker, perhaps concealed armed.

• Insert urban elements: backpacks, bottles, jackets.

• Focus on decision making, de-escalation, use of improvised objects .

Goal: Train your mind and body to recognize danger , act realistically, and use every available resource.

Extra Tip: Train in “Educational Cycles”

Each phase can last 2-4 weeks . Then you move on to the next one without abandoning the previous one .
It is a continuous cycle, not a rigid scale . You go back, you review, you refine.

Final Goal:

Train disarms not to make a scene , but to gain seconds , create openings and SURVIVE.

A textbook technique is not enough. You need presence of mind , fluid reactivity , and the ability to get your hands dirty when it counts.

“You don’t learn disarmament to become a hero.
You learn to disarm so you don’t die a fool.”

Recommended Insights

Want to go beyond techniques and build a true urban fighter mentality?
Here are some other articles I recommend you read right after this one:

️ Knife Fencing for Self Defense: Footwork, Timing and Tactical Intelligence

Discover why the real anti-knife is movement , not muscle.
Drills, angles, distance management and backyard fighting, not on the platform.

Self Defense with Makeshift Objects: Bottles, Backpacks and Pens as Improvised Weapons

Don’t have a stick or a knife? Good. Here’s how to use what you have to survive.
Real urban fighting. With whatever you find.

Training Under Stress: How to Simulate Real Chaos and Prepare Your Brain for Violence

The body follows the mind. But the mind, if you don’t train it to panic, collapses .
Here’s how to incorporate disturbances, fatigue, noise, and disorder into your training.

The Lies of Krav Maga: What No One Tells You About Disarming, Training, and Realism

A straight-talking article. If you love the truth more than your ego, this is for you.
Let’s dismantle illusions and get back to reality.

Continue your journey with awareness.

Remember: disarmament is only one of the many weapons of your preparation.
Your most powerful weapon remains the mind trained to choose .

BONUS RESOURCE 1 – Basic Training Sheet for the 4 Disarmament Techniques (Kali FMA)

Objective : train fluidity, adaptation and muscle memory of the 4 fundamental strategies.

Disarm: Snake – Screw – Swipe – Quick Release

Round 1: Single Technique (Slow and Clean)

• 3 minutes for each technique (x2 per side)

  • Snake → Screw → Strip → Quick Release

• Focus: mechanics, direction, levers

• Collaborative partner

Round 2: 2 Technique Transition

• Snake + Screw / Strip + Quick Release

• Change every 30 seconds (use timer)

• Focus: Smooth Transition

Round 3: Disarm + Strike + Disengage

• Disarm → Disturbing shot → Side exit or push back

• Train with randomized scenarios (attacker armed with a stick)

Round 4: Chaos Drill

• Unpredictable partner (disturbing blows, screams, sudden reactions)

• Disarm only if a gap is created

• Simulates realistic pressure

BONUS RESOURCE 2 – Kali Disarmament Terminology (Quick Mini Glossary)

Objective : To become familiar with the original Filipino vocabulary to develop technical culture and teaching precision.

Suggested use : print it, memorize it, repeat the terms during training. It is more than a lexicon: it is part of the mindset.

BONUS RESOURCE 3 – Pre-Engagement Mental Checklist (Survival vs Ego)

Objective : To condition the tactical decision before the body acts instinctively.

Pre-Engagement Mental Checklist

☑️ Can I escape?
☑️ Are there objects around that I can use as a weapon?
☑️ Is the attacker alone?
☑️ Can I see the other hand?
☑️ Did I strike before trying to disarm?
☑️ Can I close the distance without getting stabbed?
☑️ Have I already struck his hands? (defang)
☑️ Do I have a plan after disarming?
☑️ Can I create distance immediately after?
☑️ Do I want to survive… or am I trying to win?

Conclusion :
✅ If you don’t have at least 6-7 of these favorable points → don’t disarm .
The best disarmament? The one you avoid without ending up underground .

Conclusions – The Art of Disarmament is a Choice of Realism

The art of disarming in Philippine Kali is not a show.
It is a raw, technical and dangerous discipline , which must be approached with respect and dedication.

Training to disarm means accepting an uncomfortable truth:
your life can depend on a second, a corner, a choice.

The reality is this: situations where a disarmament can save you are rare, fast, chaotic and dirty .
But if you are not prepared… you do not even survive that “rare”.

That’s why you can’t afford to ignore them .

Not for ego. Not for show. But so as not to die a fool.

⚠️ Disarmament is never Plan A.
Plan A is avoidance, escape, dodge. But when can’t you?
When escape is not an option, your only choice is preparation.

Techniques like the Snake, the Screw, the Crawl, and the Quick Release are not just “moves.”
They are biomechanical survival strategies that—if trained correctly—can give you that extra second .
That second that separates trauma from life.

The real level?

It is when these 4 paths merge into an instinctive flow, without thought.
When you do not apply a technique, you are the technique .

Studying disarmament is not an option.

It is part of the technical, mental and cultural baggage of those who take self-defense seriously.
It does not matter what your martial art is. If you have never studied disarmament, you are vulnerable.

Street Fight Mentality.

Not to fight every day.
But to be ready for the day you can’t avoid fighting.

Stay Tuned – The journey has just begun.

The art of disarming in Philippine Kali is a crucial aspect of martial arts that requires dedication, constant practice and skill.

While disarming situations against an armed assailant are extremely complex and risky, gaining skills in this area can mean the difference between survival and danger.

It is important to emphasize that disarming should be the last option and the main priority should be personal safety and escape but being familiar with disarming techniques provides martial artists and self defense practitioners with greater confidence and awareness when dealing with dangerous situations.

Consistent practice of disarming techniques, such as the “snake,” the “screw,” the “swipe,” and the “quick release,” can help individuals develop the skills needed to protect themselves in critical situations.

Always remember that personal safety is paramount, and these techniques should be used responsibly and only when there are no alternatives.

The study of disarmament in Filipino Kali and in martial arts in general represents a path of learning and personal growth, providing martial artists with the tools to face dangerous situations with greater confidence and competence.

The snake, twist, swipe, and quick release techniques are all interchangeable .

The highest level of disarming ability is one where all four methods are blended together as if in an effortless flow.

Stay Tuned! Studying disarmament is not an option.

Street Fight Mentality

❓ FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Disarmaments in Martial Arts

Do disarmaments really work in real life?

Yes and no. Disarmaments should never be sought , but must be known . They only work in certain conditions: when the aggressor is distracted, inexperienced, or a technical opening opens up. They must be a conditioned and trained reaction , not an improvised or theatrical gesture.

⚔️ What are the fundamental disarmaments to study?

In Philippine Kali the main ones are:

• Snake : arm wrapping

• Screw : counter-rotating lever

• Strip : lever and slide

• Quick Release : Quick release and dispersion of the weapon
  Each has specific contexts and requires time and constant practice to become effective.

What does it mean to “break the snake’s tooth” ?

It is a technical concept of Kali: to strike the hands of the armed attacker before he can hurt you, to neutralize the weapon at the root. It requires anticipation, speed and precision , and is considered one of the most pragmatic strategies in armed combat.

️ Is it possible to defend yourself from a knife with your bare hands?

It is extremely difficult and dangerous . The first real goal is to escape . If that is not possible, a combination of:

• Dynamic footwork

• Improvised objects

• Short Fencing Strategies

• Conditional disarmaments
  In any case, mental preparation and training under stress are required .

Can I learn disarms on YouTube?

You can see ideas , but you don’t really learn. Disarms are high-intensity, high-risk actions that need to be practiced with partners, under expert guidance, and in realistic, progressive scenarios .
Learning them alone is a dangerous mental trap .

When to use a disarm and when not to?

You should only use a disarm when:

• You can’t escape

• The attacker is close and you have already had contact

• See a concrete opening (angle, error, moment)

• You are already in hand-to-hand combat and have no other option

Disarmament is a technical response to an opportunity, not a plan.

Are disarmament techniques interchangeable?

Yes. Snake, screw, swipe, and quick release are not watertight compartments . With experience, they become a dynamic, adaptable flow , where you switch between them based on the grip type, the opponent’s reaction, and your timing.

What do I risk if I attempt a disarmament without being trained?

You risk everything:

• Of being stabbed

• To lose one’s balance

• Of ending up disarmed yourself

• To make the situation worse

Disarmament is never a default option . It is a technical, conditional, extremely dangerous act . And it must be seriously trained.

Where can I study disarmament seriously?

You can start from styles like:

• Kali / Eskrima / Arnis

• Silat

• Jeet Kune Do

• Krav Maga (if taught well)
  But the real value is the teacher .
  If you want serious training, contact me or follow me for updates on my online and in-person courses.