Kali Angles 1 & 2 | Easy Lesson to Begin FMA Training
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Angle Three Strike·Mark Anastacio
TRAIN AT MY GYM: Union Martial Arts Academy - NW Calgary 102 - 345 Sage Valley Common NW Calgary, AB T3R 1T8 — CONNECT W…
Angle Three Strike
Genus第三角度打ち(Dai-san Kakudo Uchi)
TraditionalTranslation: angle three strike
Overview
The Angle Three Strike is a forehand horizontal strike targeting the opponent's left elbow, ribs, or hip (from the attacker's perspective), travelling horizontally from the attacker's right to left. [1] Angle Three targets the mid-section with a horizontal trajectory, attacking the body rather than the head and exploiting openings below the opponent's guard. [1],[2] In blade application, Angle Three corresponds to a horizontal slash across the midsection or a cut to the weapon arm's elbow — both high-value targets in edged weapon combat. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Angle Three is the third fundamental strike in the Filipino martial arts angle system, targeting the body's midsection to complement the head-level attacks of Angles One and Two. [1] Its horizontal trajectory attacks a different defensive plane, requiring the opponent to adjust their guard from high-line to mid-line defence. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Angle three (forehand strike to the body/ribs) is defined in most FMA systems as the third angle of attack. [1]
Competition Record
Angle three strikes are used in FMA stick-fighting competition. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Cutting, thrusting, or striking with a bladed weapon — edge alignment and trajectory determine cutting effectiveness
Joints Involved — Wrists (edge alignment and rotation), elbows (extension for thrusts, chambering for cuts), shoulders (arc of the cut), hips (power generation)
Force Vector — Varies — downward diagonal cut (kesa-giri), horizontal cut (yoko-giri), thrust (tsuki), or rising cut (kiri-age)
Weapon Mechanic — Edge alignment (hasuji) is critical — the blade must travel along its cutting plane for effective cuts
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
How to Create Striking Angles with Stephen WONDERBOY Thompson
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Angle Three Strike·Karate Combat
UFC fighter Stephen Thompson teaches how to change angles in a jab step-off w/ KC champ Luiz Rocha. It's time for anoth…
Reverse Striking Angles - Kali Sword and Stick Fighting Techniques | Arnis Eskrima
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Angle Three Strike·Kali Center
Get the NEW Kali Apex training course here: https://www.kalicenter.training/ And Join the APEX Members for continued tra…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
Angle Three Strike is a diagonal striking technique foundational to Filipino martial arts systems, though instructors emphasize varying nomenclature across Kali, Arnis, and Eskrima curricula. Kali Center positions Angle Three within a framework of four basic diagonal angles (1-4), where odd-numbered angles originate from the forehand and even-numbered angles from the backhand; Angle Three rises diagonally along the forehand line as part of an X-pattern with Angle Four on the backhand side. The technique benefits from full-arc execution during initial training, with the striker beginning from chamber position to develop complete control and precision before advancing to tighter manipulations. Mark Anastacio emphasizes that Angle Three exemplifies the principle of continuous circular striking—the infinite strike—where one angle naturally feeds into the next without rechamber, creating flowing combinations. Both Kali Center and Anastacio stress that Angle Three functions as both offensive strike and defensive block simultaneously; in partnered application, understanding line dissection allows practitioners to target the opponent's hand rather than weapon, particularly when the opponent commits to a chambered position. The technique's utility extends across self-defense, sparring, and weapons contexts (stick, sword, or improvised implements). Kali Center teaches reverse Angle Three through a left-hand flip mechanism from the four position, enhancing coordination and weapon transitions. All instructors converge on the pedagogical value of deliberate, slow practice before speed development, establishing technical precision as prerequisite to effective application.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Kali Center — Reverse Striking Angles - Kali Sword and Stick Fighting Techniques | Arnis Eskrima: Comprehensive framework positioning Angle Three within four basic diagonal angles; full-arc chamber methodology; reverse Angle Three execution using left-hand flip mechanism from position four; integration into continuous drilling sequences.
- Karate Combat — How to Create Striking Angles with Stephen WONDERBOY Thompson: Application of angle methodology to create offensive opportunities through stance positioning and footwork; demonstrates gap closure and angle change tactics using similar principles to diagonal striking patterns.
- Mark Anastacio — Kali Angles 1 & 2 | Easy Lesson to Begin FMA Training: Principle-based pedagogy emphasizing Angle Three as part of forehand/backhand foundation; infinite/circular strike concept; line dissection and defensive interception applications in partner work and sparring contexts; emphasis on treating diagonal angles as moneymakers in curriculum development.
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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 three is the horizontal forehand strike targeting the midsection — a lateral strike to the ribs, elbow, or hip (Inosanto, The Filipino Martial Arts, 1980)
✓This angle attacks the body's midsection from the outside — a common target in stick fighting because it damages the weapon arm's elbow
✓In blade translation, angle three is a devastating lateral cut to the torso — understanding this makes the training more intentional
✓Angle three demonstrates the FMA principle of 'defanging the snake': targeting the opponent's weapon arm rather than the body
✓The horizontal path of angle three makes it useful for sweeping the opponent's weapon aside — creating openings for follow-up strikes
✓Angle three is less telegraphed than the diagonal strikes — it travels a shorter path and arrives faster
✓This angle trains lateral hip rotation — the body coils and releases horizontally rather than diagonally
Common Mistakes
!Dropping the striking hand too low — angle three is a horizontal strike, not an upward diagonal
!Not rotating the hips fully — horizontal strikes depend on complete hip rotation for power
!Leaving the head exposed during a body-level strike — the guard hand must protect the head when attacking low
!Treating angle three as less important than angles one and two — body strikes are tactically crucial for breaking the opponent's structure
!Not following through horizontally — the stick should sweep through the target zone, not poke at it
!Telegraphing with a weight shift — keep the movement compact to preserve the element of surprise
!Not using angle three to set up head shots — a low strike draws the guard down, opening the head for angles one or two
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] Wiley, M., Filipino Martial Arts (Charles E. Tuttle, 1994)
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] Wiley, M., Filipino Martial Arts (Charles E. Tuttle, 1994)
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
Why should I switch stances when practicing angle strikes?
According to Stephen Thompson, switching between open and closed stances allows you to work the same technique effectively regardless of which side your opponent comes out with—whether they lead with their left or right side.
How do I create an opening to land angle strikes from distance?
Stephen Thompson recommends maintaining good distance, then closing the gap by pulling or shuffling forward while throwing a technique to distract or blind your opponent, which allows you to move off to the side and land strikes away from their power hand.
What's the key principle of linking angle 1 and angle 2 strikes together?
According to Mark Anastacio, the principle is that one strike leads directly into the next without re-chambering—you feed angle 1 into angle 2 and back into angle 1 continuously, allowing you to flow strikes together seamlessly.
How can I use angle strikes to predict and counter my opponent's attacks?
Mark Anastacio explains that if you can read your opponent's chamber position, you can move into the right position to 'dissect the line'—hitting their hand or intercepting their strike before it fully develops, essentially staying one step ahead.
How does the Angle Three Strike work?
The Angle Three Strike is a forehand horizontal strike targeting the opponent's left elbow, ribs, or hip (from the attacker's perspective), travelling horizontally from the attacker's right to left. Angle Three targets the mid-section with a horizontal trajectory, attacking the body rather than the head and exploiting openings below the opponent's guard.
Where does the Angle Three Strike come from?
Angle Three is the third fundamental strike in the Filipino martial arts angle system, targeting the body's midsection to complement the head-level attacks of Angles One and Two. Its horizontal trajectory attacks a different defensive plane, requiring the opponent to adjust their guard from high-line to mid-line defence.
Is the Angle Three Strike legal in competition?
WEKAF: legal — Legal in padded stick competition; HEMA: legal — Legal in applicable weapon categories
How dangerous is the Angle Three 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 Three Strike?
The standard setup chain: Ready Position → Distance Control → Execute Technique → Return to Guard.
How do I defend against the Angle Three Strike?
Standard counters include: Parry (Absetzen) — deflect the incoming blade with a counter-displacement / Void (Step Back) — withdraw from measure to avoid the cutting arc / Counter-Cut (Nachreisen) — strike into the opponent's opening during their attack.
What are the variants of the Angle Three 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 Three Strike in competition?
Angle three strikes are used in FMA stick-fighting competition.
What are common mistakes when doing the Angle Three Strike?
Top errors to watch for: Dropping the striking hand too low — angle three is a horizontal strike, not an upward diagonal / Not rotating the hips fully — horizontal strikes depend on complete hip rotation for power / Leaving the head exposed during a body-level strike — the guard hand must protect the head when attacking low / Treating angle three as less important than angles one and two — body strikes are tactically crucial for breaking the….
What are other names for the Angle Three Strike?
The Angle Three Strike is also known as Dai-san Kakudo Uchi, Angle #3, Forehand Horizontal, Numero Tres.