Inayan Eskrima

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Inayan Eskrima is an abbreviation for the "Inayan System of Eskirma" a complete martial combat system, founded by Mike Inay.

Eskrima is a martial art that originated in the Philippines. It is the national sport of the Philippines, and has a very long history of combat use. One difference from many martial arts is that the student is taught to train with weapons from the very start, rather than beginning with empty-hands training. The Filipino martial arts ingrain an interrelationship between empty-hand skills and weapons, and because of this philosophy, Eskrima is widely recognized in the martial arts community for its effective weapons techniques.

Inay studied privately under the tutelage of two great Eskrima masters, Max Sarmiento and Angel Cabales. It was Inay who proposed, to Angel Cabales, the formation of an organization to preserve and promote the Cabales Serrada Style of Eskrima. With Inay's help, Cabales formed the first Cabales Serrada association. Inay also developed a ranking structure for Cabales.

Max Sarmiento is credited with convincing Cabales to open the first public Eskrima school in the United States.

Mike Inay studied under both these men for over 11 years and was instrumental in bringing both of their arts out to the greater public. Since the death of Sarmiento and later Cabales, Inay had continued to expand and propagate the styles of Eskrima he learned from them in their truest form. Since his death, his teachings continue through his most senior students.

Since the death of Michael G. Inay in 2000, Inayan Eskrima has continued to be taught by his son, Jason, and his senior instructors, Emmanuel Hart, Steven Klement, Cory Hanosh and Jon Ward, as well as by other organizations that branched off after his passing.

Inayan Eskrima is composed of seven styles

Kadena de Mano
Serrada Eskrima
Largo Mano
Dequerdas
Sinawali
Espada y Daga
Sibat/Bankow

A brief description of the three core styles of the system:

Kadena de Mano Kadena De Mano translates to “chain of hand” and is a combination of empty-hand and knife/dagger techniques. It covers basic and advanced blocks (or counters), basic and advanced hand and knife drills as well as permuted locks from the basic/advanced drills. Lock/flow/trap practice drills are stressed as well as subject control through the use of Vital Points (Pressure Sensitive Nerves).

Serrada Eskrima Serrada translates to either "to close" or "close quarters". The style is noted for using a shorter stick, male triangle footwork, and quick, linear, in-close fighting. This blade and stick system translates well into empty-hand applications.

Largo Mano Largo Mano translates to "long hand" and is a long-range system of Eskrima. Evolved to use a longer/heavier cane (~40") and to use the cane as if it were a Kampilan, the longest sword found in the Philippines. This style is credited as being the first complete formal style to teach the use of the Kampilan.