Stick Fighting.

[JMP MT]

I have heard many names for this art (Escrima, Kali, Arnis, Modern Arnis) and I am not really sure if there is a difference between them, I am looking for a martial art that is traditional and self-defense oriented (not street fighting but self-defense) I want something that has history and something that I can develop my mind and body with, so before I ramble on more, would one of these stick fighting arts be good for me? And does anyone know of schools that teach these styles in Bergen County, New Jersey?

[bushido_man96]

You should do a google search on some of these styles, and also search your area, to see if any schools come up. They can be very good styles, but they are weapon based, as opposed to empty hand based.

Good luck finding your style.

[superfighter]

try looking for a jeet kun do school.

youll find that many off them focus on wing chun, kali, escrima etc.

Allot of them in the UK do anyway.

worth a look

[K Williams]

Try Bakbakan(Kali Illustrisimo, etc.) in Lodi, NJ or PIMA(Doce Pares) in Jersey City, NJ.

http://www.bakbakan.com

http://www.doceparesusa.com

[JMP MT]

I have heard of Bakbakan before but I couldn't their webpage until now because I was always spelling it wrong, so thanks i'll look into that, also thanks for the JKD recommendation I know of a place in North Bergen maybe i'll give that a try.

[koryu]

Escrima is the name of the actual sticks used. Arnis is typically what the style is called using the escrima, being as it is a phillipine based art. But with everything else, I'm sure more styles have developed from the original. We incorporated traditional Arnis with our kobudo training as it is a very practical weapon.

[Jiffy]

Definately a favourite of mine. As far as practicality is concerned, one of the best (AFAIC)

[parkerlineage]

Escrima/Arnis is different from Kali, but they are rather similar. Either one would be good for you in the terms you specifiy; I believe Kail does work with knives and other bladed weapons as well.

[bushido_man96]

I was just going to comment on the kali use of knives, parkerlineage. Darn, you beat me to it! You're reading my mind, aren't you?

[elbows_and_knees]

the difference is regional, from what I was told in my kali days.

kali is of the southern phillipines. As we know, magellan and his spaniards invaded the phillipines. They took kali and combined with their skill of espada y daga and began calling in escrima and arnis. escrima is central and arnis is northern.