Sinawali (weaving) is a Filipino martial arts (FMA) term referring to a structured double stick pattern. These drills can be done solo or with a partner, and are common to many styles.

In movies and television shows today, many times movements of the sinawali are incorporated because they give the impression that a lot is happening, yet no one is getting hit so the censors are kept happy.

If you go to see a FMA demo, odds are good that you will see some two person sinawali because the drills are very exciting visually and the striking of the sticks sounds impressive. Depending on the school, a student may have to learn dozens of specific sinawali.

Some FMA instructors today believe that learning sinawali is a waste of time, however. They consider it overly structured and unrealistic. The point to the clunky robotic-looking mess that some players make out of sinawali. Who fights like this, they cry.

So where does the truth lie? Is sinawali a vital part of the art, or is it just a flashy trinket to be thrown away?

Well, over the years I have seen the sinawali (which I believe to be a useful skill) be grossly "over used but under utilized". That is to say, I feel people spend a lot of time on them without necessarily understanding their structure or greater purpose. Lots of people run around and collect sinawali patterns, but the truth is that when you understand them you can create all the patterns you want.

This article, then, is designed to offer some insights that might just be what you need to open up new horizons in your study of the sinawali.

Ready? Let's go!

One teaching device I learned many years ago was the sinawali map. This opened my mind to the possibilities that existed. By using the map, you become not only capable of writing down sinawali patters, but you quickly learn how to modify and create them for yourself.

This is the difference between memorizing addition tables and understanding the addition. In the former case you are limited to only what you know, but in the later you are unlimited - you can add anything to anything, since you know HOW it works.

In this method, sinawali are first mapped for the right hand side. The left hand side will be the mirror image of the right. Together, these two sides form the complete sinawali.

Drawing the Map

First, you draw a cross on your paper, to make 4 boxes. These represent the high and low lines of attack, on the left and right sides of your opponent. The vertical line of the cross is the opponent's centerline, and the horizontal line is roughly the opponent's belt line or tan-tien (lower abdomen).

Now, let us look at what the late Professor Remy Presas would call Single Sinawali.

In Single sinawali, the right hand strikes a high forehand and then a low backhand, and then the left hand does the same. You can find pictures of Professor doing this on pages 98-99 of his widely available book "Modern Arnis: The Filipino Art of Stick Fighting" (Ohara, 1983).

This would be mapped out as:

Whereas in the Single Sinawali one hand does each side (i.e.. right hand right side, left hand left side), in the Double Sinwali (pgs.104-105 of the same book) the hands alternate. First the right hand strikes a high forehand, then the left hand strikes a low backhand, then the right hand hits a high backhand to complete the right hand side of the sinwali. Then the mirror image left hand side is performed to complete one cycle of Double Sinawali.

This would be mapped out as:

Finally, in the Reverse Sinawali (pgs.110-111 of the same book) the right hand strikes a low forehand, then the left hand strikes a low backhand, then the right hand strikes a low backhand to complete the right hand side of the sinwali. This would be mapped out as:

By learning to break down all your actions on this kind of analytic level, you will gain a deeper insight and understanding, as well as have an easier time hardwiring them into your body. Try mapping out other sinawali patterns you know and creating new sinawalis by modifying existing ones.

There is a lot more to mapping than what we have covered here, but this should open the door...now it's up to you!