eskrima single knife 6 angles of attack exercises
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Angle Four Strike·wmpyr
eskrima single knife 6 angles of attack exercises The following exercises featured in this video can be practiced with s…
Angle Four Strike
Genus第四角度打ち(Dai-yon Kakudo Uchi)
TraditionalTranslation: angle four strike
Overview
The Angle Four Strike is a backhand horizontal strike targeting the opponent's right elbow, ribs, or hip (from the attacker's perspective), travelling horizontally from the attacker's left to right. [1] Angle Four mirrors Angle Three on the backhand side, completing the horizontal mid-section attack pair just as Angles One and Two form the diagonal pair. [1],[2] The backhand horizontal is particularly effective in combination with Angle Three, creating a rapid left-right mid-section attack sequence that is difficult to defend against. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Angle Four is the fourth fundamental strike in the Filipino martial arts angle system, completing the four primary angles (two diagonal, two horizontal) that cover the main attack trajectories. [1] Together, the first four angles create the basic offensive matrix used across all Filipino martial arts systems. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
The angle four strike (backhand to the body/ribs) attacks the opponent's midsection from the reverse direction, effective for breaking through guards focused on high-line defence. [1]
Lineage
Angle four is defined across FMA systems as a backhand horizontal or diagonal strike to the lower body. [1]
Competition Record
Angle four strikes are used in FMA competition as part of numbered-angle combinations. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Striking, blocking, or thrusting with a long rigid weapon — the staff's length creates leverage and reach advantage
Joints Involved — Both hands (sliding and rotating grip positions), wrists (snap for strikes), hips (rotation for power)
Force Vector — The rear hand pushes while the lead hand acts as fulcrum — staff rotation generates speed at the striking tip
Weapon Mechanic — The staff can be used from either end and at any range — versatility from long-range strikes to short-range blocks
Position & Entry
From fighting stance (stick in hand) — Hold the stick in the dominant hand, establish range, execute angles of attack (numbered striking patterns)
As counter (after block) — Block the opponent's strike with the stick, counter-strike to the exposed target immediately
From double-stick position — Coordinate both sticks — one attacks while the other covers or follows up
Variants
Angle 1 (forehand diagonal) — downward diagonal strike from the dominant side
Angle 2 (backhand diagonal) — downward diagonal strike from the off side
Angle 5 (thrust) — straight thrust with the tip of the stick
Redonda (continuous) — flowing circular strikes chaining multiple angles
Videos
1 video
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
8
Very High8/10
Arnis/Escrima/Kali stick and blade techniques; designed for close-range lethality
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
WEKAF — Legal in padded stick competition {srcHEMA — Legal in applicable weapon categories {src
Training Notes
✓Angle four is the horizontal backhand strike targeting the midsection — attacking the ribs, elbow, or hip from the opposite side (Inosanto, The Filipino Martial Arts, 1980)
✓This angle mirrors angle three on the backhand side — completing the horizontal attack vocabulary at the midsection level
✓Angle four is effective for targeting the opponent's weapon arm from the inside — a backhand strike to the elbow or forearm
✓The backhand horizontal strike requires strong wrist mechanics — the wrist must snap to generate power without a long wind-up
✓Angle four combines with angle three to create a horizontal combination — sweeping back and forth across the midsection
✓In sparring, angle four often follows a block of the opponent's angle one — the natural counter-movement from blocking high forehand is a backhand to the body
✓This angle develops the often-neglected backhand horizontal power — training it creates a more complete striker
Common Mistakes
!Swinging too wide on the backhand — the horizontal backhand should be compact and efficient
!Not protecting the lead side during the backhand body shot — the live hand must cover while the stick attacks
!Generating insufficient power — the backhand horizontal requires deliberate hip engagement to be effective
!Not targeting precisely — angle four should target specific points (elbow, ribs, hip), not just swing in the general area
!Ignoring angle four in combination training — this angle is often skipped, creating a gap in the horizontal attack system
!Tensing the arm throughout the strike — the arm should be relaxed until the moment of impact, then tighten
!Using angle four only as a counter — it can be an effective lead attack to the body as well
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Ready Position — assume the guard stance appropriate for the weapon
2Distance Control — manage spacing relative to the opponent
3Execute Technique — perform the offensive or defensive action with correct form
4Return to Guard — recover to a defensive ready position
Sources & References
Primary Source
The Filipino Martial Arts (Dan Inosanto, 1980)
1BookFilipino Martial Arts (Inosanto, 1980)
Alias sources — [1] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994) [2] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994) [3] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994)
2BookEskrima (Presas, 1983)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1997)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
4CitationFilipino Martial Arts (Inosanto, 1980)
Alias sources — [1] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994) [2] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994) [3] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1994)
5CitationEskrima (Presas, 1983)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Filipino Martial Arts (Wiley, 1997)
Community
Athletics
Requires
wrist speed, hand coordination (especially double stick), cardiovascular endurance
Favours
quick hands, conditioned forearms, coordination
Key muscles
forearms, wrists, shoulders, core rotators
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I practice the Angle Four strike correctly?
Start by exaggerating the motion with an elongated, stiff arm to make your starting point very clear. For Angle Four, bring your arm to the chamber position and then execute either a slash or stab depending on your variation.
Should I practice Angle Four as just slashing, or should I blend in stabs too?
You should blend slashing with stabbing because stabbing is an important part of the technique. Practice executing Angle Four with the same chamber and trajectory, but alternate between slashing and stabbing motions.
What's the purpose of exaggerating my movements when learning the angles?
Exaggerating the motion makes it very clear where your starting point is and ensures the diagonal or path of each angle is correct. This helps build muscle memory and prevents confusion between the different angles.
How does the Angle Four Strike work?
The Angle Four Strike is a backhand horizontal strike targeting the opponent's right elbow, ribs, or hip (from the attacker's perspective), travelling horizontally from the attacker's left to right. Angle Four mirrors Angle Three on the backhand side, completing the horizontal mid-section attack pair just as Angles One and Two form the diagonal pair.
Where does the Angle Four Strike come from?
Angle Four is the fourth fundamental strike in the Filipino martial arts angle system, completing the four primary angles (two diagonal, two horizontal) that cover the main attack trajectories. Together, the first four angles create the basic offensive matrix used across all Filipino martial arts systems.
Is the Angle Four Strike legal in competition?
WEKAF: legal — Legal in padded stick competition; HEMA: legal — Legal in applicable weapon categories
How dangerous is the Angle Four Strike?
Danger rating 8/10. Very High — Arnis/Escrima/Kali stick and blade techniques; designed for close-range lethality
How do I set up the Angle Four Strike?
The standard setup chain: Ready Position → Distance Control → Execute Technique → Return to Guard.
How do I defend against the Angle Four Strike?
Standard counters include: Guard Position — return to a defensive ready stance / Distance Management — control the measure to avoid being in range / Counter-Attack — strike during the opponent's recovery or between movements.
What are the variants of the Angle Four Strike?
Common variants: Angle 1 (forehand diagonal) (downward diagonal strike from the dominant side); Angle 2 (backhand diagonal) (downward diagonal strike from the off side); Angle 5 (thrust) (straight thrust with the tip of the stick); Redonda (continuous) (flowing circular strikes chaining multiple angles).
How effective is the Angle Four Strike in competition?
Angle four strikes are used in FMA competition as part of numbered-angle combinations.
What are common mistakes when doing the Angle Four Strike?
Top errors to watch for: Swinging too wide on the backhand — the horizontal backhand should be compact and efficient / Not protecting the lead side during the backhand body shot — the live hand must cover while the stick attacks / Generating insufficient power — the backhand horizontal requires deliberate hip engagement to be effective / Not targeting precisely — angle four should target specific points (elbow, ribs, hip), not just swing in the general ….
What are other names for the Angle Four Strike?
The Angle Four Strike is also known as Dai-yon Kakudo Uchi, Angle #4, Backhand Horizontal, Numero Quatro.