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Angles of Attack
By George Hernandez The FMAs use specifically numbered angles of attack. The numbers are used as shorthand in class. The general theme is that the blows are usually paired (odd numbers are the forehand; even numbers are the backhand). The following examples assume a blow with right hand. Here are the 12 attacks from Modern Arnis (1974), by Remy Presas. Interestingly the thrusts are done using the guard of rapier and with the strong angle too: Right thrusts are done with the hand in seconda, the stomach thrust is done in with the hand in terza, and the left thrusts are done with the hand in quarta. 1. Forehand to left temple 2. Backhand to right temple 3. Forehand to left shoulder 4. Backhand to right shoulder 5. Thrust to stomach 6. Thrust to left chest 7. Thrust to right chest 8. Backhand to right knee 9. Forehand to left knee 10. Thrust to left eye 11. Thrust to right eye 12. Downward to crown Angles one and two lateral blows from the top of the head to the base of the neck. Angles three and four lateral blows from the shoulders to the hips. The main targets are the shoulders, elbows, and hands. Angle five mid-line thrust from below the elbow. Angles six and seven lateral thrusts to the chest or the armpits. Angles eight and nine lateral blows from the hips to the feet. The target areas are the knees, shins, ankles, or feet. Angles ten and eleven lateral thrusts to the eyes or the neck. Angle twelve mid-line blow from above downward. Here is the most common numbering but some schools may use some variant. This list assumes the right hand is attacking with a single-edged weapon. 1. Downward and inward upon the receiver's upper left. Forehand. 2. Downward and inward upon the receiver's upper right. Backhand. 3. Horizontally and inward upon the receiver's mid left. Forehand. 4. Horizontally and inward upon the receiver's mid right. Backhand. 5. Straight thrust, usu. to the receiver's midsection. 6. Slightly angled thrust to the right of the receiver's head. 7. Slightly angled thrust to the left of the receiver's head. 1

George Hernandez Exploring http://www.georgehernandez.com/h/Default.asp 8. Vertically downward upon the top of the receiver's head. 9. Horizontally and inward upon the receiver's lower left. Forehand. 10. Horizontally and inward upon the receiver's lower right. Backhand. 11. Upward and inward upon the receiver's mid or upper left. Forehand. 12. Upward and inward upon the receiver's mid or upper right. Backhand.

One pattern is to start with the most common attacks. Another pattern is that some angles are pairs (1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12) where the attacker would do a right forehand then a left backhand (the exception is 6-7)