The syllabus is only a guide-line to learn a system and to help advance the quality of our syllabus it has been written in three formats to ensure everything gets taught in a correct order that enables the students to link and blend the levels together for their personal growth within our art.
The first written programmes are for the students to show what is examinable only. Students need to be controlled and confident and be able to move, armed, unarmed and both together. By the third student grade these basics are understood then the progression is stepped up a level to power and speed which then helps students attain a high quality in a fast time due to how the first three grades are taught.
The second programme is designed to give club instructors extra drills and advice to make the syllabus more fun and to show what can be done with the techniques and concepts from the grades.
The third is for the Chief-Instructors and their designated seminar instructors to bring the whole thing together with more theory and understanding of what can be done with grade and non-grade applications.
First we learn some basics, then we get introduced to the syllabus - then the theories, drills and techniques are absorbed, backed up by the concepts - which makes Escrima Concepts a direct, honest, informative and an effective combat system that has been taught with truth and fun that creates good knowledgeable students and instructors in a social environment that will continue to help future generations.
These programmes are supported by written documents that explain; the basic box, the aggressive, box and the floating box, the power of curves, the types of hits, the three points of strategies and at more advanced levels there will be extra theories to support the instructor grades.
It is a system designed to be creative and analysed aimed at different levels and to reflect different skills. It gives everyone an equal chance to progress at their own pace.
Grading takes into consideration the average standard to help progress the system. Everyone is entitled to progress if they put the work in and it is unfair to judge too high or too low, it must be in the middle. This allows the lower end of student levels to increase their skill, the average levels to improve and the naturally talented to show their ability.
Students are expected to apply the 'Five Concepts' to the techniques taught within the programme. The drills, exercises and forms are there to supplement the retention of the concepts within the syllabus. There must be a distinct difference between the quality of movements and understanding of the concepts at different levels. For example a student practicing at a 'Grade Nine Student Level' should be much higher skilled then a person at the 'Grade Five Student Level' and a student who wishes to take a grade after the sixth student level may be called upon to show and explain a grade at a lower level to prove that they have not forgotten what has been previously taught and a student or instructor above the tenth student level may be asked to teach a grade any level below the level they wish to be graded on.
To complement the system we have additional programmes on Blade Awareness, Police and Security and Environmental awareness.
Meetings between Chief-Instructors and instructors should be held at least three times a year to assess the development of the system and the quality of the grades given.
For all instructor levels, there will be an examining committee that will exist of either One Grandmaster (or Chief-Instructor), or two masters or one master with two high grade instructors to assess the instructor levels and a majority vote must be gained to pass - under special circumstances Master levels who have seen instructors and students on a regular basis may give their vote without attending based on this knowledge to enable another Master to grade if time constraints are apparent.
Progress through the system, remember what you have learned, be creative and enjoy 'ESCRIMA CONCEPTS'.
