“Survival in combat is the essence of Eskrima.”
“The spirit of Eskrima is alive and well at Warrior’s Cove. The art itself has stood the test of time since its early beginnings with the warring tribes in the Philippines. The methods of Filipino Combat were passed down generation after generation, from Kampilan wielding Lapu Lapu to Guros, teachers and instructors all over the world. The art was eventually passed down to Guro Inosanto and Mangisusuro Mike Inay in the United States.
Instructor McWethy continues the spirit of Eskrima at Warrior’s Cove with the “Equilibrado Orihinal System of Eskrima.” Instructor McWethy himself has faced several obstacles and challenges in his pursuit of the path of Eskrima, and yet his dedication persists. My experience under the guidance of Instructor McWethy is much more than learning traditional techniques, but rather the concepts and philosophy behind the techniques, allowing me to be able to adapt to dynamic situations.
Equilibrado Orihinal System of Eskrima allows the student to make the art his/her own. Tailoring Eskrima into the body type of the student, giving the student a greater chance of survival in combat. Survival in combat is the essence of Eskrima, enhancing the warrior’s spirit in time’s past, as well as today’s modern practitioners, in their pursuit of the art. The right path of Eskrima is within this school.”
Dave Rada – Eskrima Student. Previous Training Includes Kung Fu San Soo, Military, Security, Corrections and Law Enforcement.
“I’ve met great people, had fun times, and achieved excellent physical fitness.”
“In the three years I’ve been taking Instructor McWethy’s Equilibrado Orihinal System of Eskrima at the Warrior’s Cove, I’ve met great people, had fun times, and achieved excellent physical fitness. However, the most important benefits I’ve gained are related to the confidence the class has inspired in me. I feel like I can hold my own in the world, largely due to the pride I feel in becoming proficient in something I never thought I could. That, and hitting things with sticks is an immense stress reliever.”
Aimee Kuzenski – Intermediate Level Eskrima Student
“Eskrima can be an excellent form of self defense, and it can also be a life long journey.”
“One of the most fascinating aspects of Eskrima for me rests in the conceptualization of range and how to engage and close the gap. Eskrima forces the practitioner to develop a strong and balanced foundation of basic techniques, and once this foundation is established the practitioner is able to flow and move into more advanced concepts. Eskrima also forces the practitioner to become familiar with many different styles based on whatever tool is in your hand, and what can be a weapon when all you have is yourself. You are never unarmed.
“Eskrima can be an excellent form of self defense, and it can also be a life long journey with no end in sight. However far you decide to go, this art will expand and push your physical and mental ability to new levels.”
Maxwell Kubala – Intermediate Level Eskrima Student
“I enjoy the challenging, realistic conditioning.”
“I enjoy the challenging, realistic conditioning and training that Eskrima at the Warriors Cove has provided. It stresses the “martial” aspect of the martial arts, which is a major plus. After being exposed to several martial arts, whether as a hobby, or through the military, I have found Eskrima to be a martial art that is unparalleled in it’s approach to provide the martial artist with many skills that work in many situations, with or without a weapon.”
Ben Peterson – Basic Level Eskrima Student
“The ability to defend yourself in real world situations is a priority.”
“Eskrima is a great martial art for building confidence in your weapon handling ability and in your hand to hand capability. This is a class where application and the ability to defend yourself in real world situations is a priority. I recommend this class to people who are serious about learning an aggressive fighting style in a supportive enviorment.
Nick Jones – Intermediate Level Eskrima Student
“If some guy approaches me with a knife drawn, I
now have options.”
“Before I joined the Equilibrado Orihinal System of Eskrima, I had never heard
of Eskrima or even Filipino Martial Arts. I was originally looking for a
replacement for Judo, as my work schedule didn’t allow me to attend on even a
semi-regular basis. My first motivation in exploring the art was that the class
was offered at a time that was convenient for my busy and relatively
unpredictable schedule. After attending my first trial class, and discussing
the art with Instructor McWethy, I quickly realized the art of Eskrima had so
much more to offer.
“Some of the many things I have gained while
practicing Eskrima are an eye for movement, improved coordination,
ambidexterity, and confidence. If some guy approaches me with a knife drawn, I
now have options. Prior to learning Eskrima, I didn’t know the proper way to
defend against a knife that protects major arteries and veins from being cut.
The Equilibrado Orihinal System of Eskrima has a strong emphasis on being able
to apply the techniques we learn while sparring. Sparring is our laboratory,
it’s where we gain the confidence to whip out some stunt of adrenaline-induced,
fluidity-based can of whoop-ass on an unsuspecting, knife-wielding attacker.
Did I mention sparring is fun? Probably the most important component of our
sparring sessions is that the rest of the class breaks down the good, the bad
and the ugly after you finish your round. This critique is always positive, and
because the sessions are taped you can go back and watch your round later in the
week and wince as the constructive criticism and praise becomes all to blatantly
obvious right in front of your eyes. This combination of video and discussion
has been very beneficial to myself and other students.
Instructor
McWethy’s passion and love of teaching and spreading Eskrima quickly instilled
in me a desire to learn the art and make it my own. Instructor McWethy has a
unique approach to teaching Eskrima. He doesn’t teach the art in a rigid,
lock-step fashion. This teaching style allows us to learn and apply techniques
that are valid across the several styles early on and does not require the
student to learn everything there is about one particular style before they can
move onto the next. This concepts-based teaching approach makes the training
more versatile and applicable to the real world and allows the practitioner to
apply his or her knowledge to whatever they may have on hand during a
confrontation.
The Equilibrado Orihinal System of Eskrima has something
for everyone. I encourage you to go try a class. The workout is amazing, the
instructor is top-notch, and the camaraderie and confidence you will gain cannot
be valued.
Esten Rye – Beginner Level Eskrima Student
“Dedicated to the training and promotion of competent Stick fighters.”
“I have been training in Eskrima for 3 years. I love this school’s Eskrima because, it doesn’t forget the martial, in being a martial art. It is dedicated to the training and promotion of competent Stick fighters, and fighters in general. Eskrima has given me focus, and made someone who thought he would never be able to stand 3 seconds in the ring, confident in himself. Eskrima has definitely given me a new lease on life, in both health and spirit. I was interested in Eskrima, because I wanted to learn more about my cultural heritage as a Filipino. I continue training in this style, because I have learned that beyond a static art form from the past, Eskrima is a fluid and practical martial art that improves one as a fighter. My friends and family now think I’m a broken record, in trying to convince them to learn this wonderful art.”
Federico Malibago – Eskrima Student. Former Training Includes 3 years of Tae Kwon Do.
“Helps develop finesse, coordination and quick reflexes.”
“I started training in Eskrima three years ago, in order to round out my training regimen with a weapons – based art. I have found that Eskrima fits my goals and training style very well. Eskrima is a “soft” art that emphasizes range, timing and technique. It helps develop finesse, coordination and quick reflexes, and does not require a high level of strength or endurance to perform well. Its scope is broad, but its characteristics are consistent and complementary. The Eskrima organization is like an extended family that loves to get together and have fun and share and grow. Everyone is extremely supportive and friendly, and eager to help each other grow in the art.”
Dave Hunter – Eskrima, Kicboxing, MMA & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Student. No Previous Martial Art Experience.
“Emphasis on flowing from one thing to another in a seamless blur of movement.”
“I’ve trained in both grappling and striking arts since 1991. Though some other arts teach basic stick and knife techniques, most do not fully integrate weapons and empty hand practice. Eskrima teaches a variety of ways to effectively attack with and defend against various possible weapons with whatever you happen to have access to. The emphasis on flowing from one thing to another in a seamless blur of movement is consistent with my personal training preferences and with the nature of real fighting.”
“Eskrima practice has enhanced my appreciation for the dangerous potential of weapons in real life. I also have a great time practicing with everyone, as it’s fun to share the challenges of mastering new drills and strategies with other people! I strongly recommend Eskrima to others, particularly under instructor Chris McWethy. He thoroughly understands what he teaches and is excellent at spotting and correcting technical flaws. I also commend him for having an open-minded appreciation for other arts and training strategies.”
Jason Erickson – Eskrima, MMA & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Student.
“Thank you again.”
“I enjoy Warrior’s Cove in all aspects of the training. This cannot be emphasized enough!! Thank you again, as well as the other instructors
for all the help!”
Ryan Wichmann – Eskrima, MMA & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Student.
“Everyone here is really supportive.”
“Warriors Cove offers great realistic martial art training to keep you safe on the street or at home. It gives well rounded instruction, allowing you to be a well rounded fighter and capable of defending yourself in any environment. However the best thing I like about Warriors Cove is the friendly training environment. Everyone here is really supportive and answer any questions that you have.”
Cutler Dozier – Eskrima, MMA & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Student.
“I had the time of my life.”
“I had the time of my life in Mr McWethy’s class. I learned a lot, enjoyed every class, and felt better about myself. I will miss Mr Mcwethy’s class, his teachings, his humor and the others in the class.”
Mike Woodard – Eskrima Student.
