Posts about Arnis
Dual wielding is already quite the controversial method of armed martial arts. Normally, it's done with blades of equal length or with unequal lengths like sword and dagger. And then there's Sword and Spear, quite the absurd combination of a style of armed martial arts.
The first time I've heard of Sword and Spear is from HAMA (Historical African Martial Arts), as demonstrated by Da'mon Stith with a ritualized combat style from the Tuareg people. As he has mentioned, the spear offers defense against an approaching opponent while the sword is used to parry attacks and deliver counterattacks.
And then I find out there's also a similar style found in the Philippines named Kabaroan. The background of this martial art is limited, but surviving accounts of this practice has somewhat enabled it to endure the test of time via modern practitioners. Upon learning the martial art's choice of weapons, it rather puts heavier emphasis on sticks and spears. Interestingly enough, Kabaroan is practiced by dual wielding spears of equal/unequal lengths. One for parrying and threatening an opponent, while the other delivering the killing shot. Here is where the sword and spear comes into play, as the stick/spear is discarded via throwing, the sword becomes the main hand's weapon. Techniques from the African counterpart is arguable the same given the limited options in holding both sword and spear.
If anyone else is eager to learn some weird and wacky Filipino Martial Arts topics, let me know.
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