Take Initiative: How Filipino Martial Arts Empowers You to Control the Fight

By Jason Inay | Inayan System of Eskrima | Los Gatos, California

In the world of Self Defense, timing is everything. Most systems focus on reactive tactics—blocking, evading, and countering once a threat presents itself. It makes sense, but it's also amounts to waiting to be hit, not the best tactical decisions... But what if you could enter on your own terms, control the exchange, and nullify the threat before it escalates?

This is exactly what we teach in the Inayan System of Eskrima, a practical, time-tested method of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) with deep roots in both battlefield and modern street combat. As a practitioner and instructor based in Los Gatos, California, right in the heart of Silicon Valley, I’ve seen firsthand how this art provides students—from tech professionals to law enforcement—with the clarity and confidence to act when it matters most.

Today’s lesson focuses on one of our core entries: Foundation 1.

What Is Foundation 1?

In simple terms, it’s a three-beat sequence: hand, knife hand, hand. That’s your left hand parrying, your right (knife hand) reinforcing or redirecting, and your left again checking or trapping. This isn’t just flash and sizzle martial arts—it’s built to flow with your opponent’s natural motion and break their timing.

Traditionally, this tactic is used as a response to an Angle 1 attack—a high diagonal swing from shoulder to neck, often mimicking a stick or knife strike. But here’s where it gets really interesting...

Repurposing for the Preemptive

Instead of waiting for the opponent to strike, we use Foundation 1 as an attack sequence. That means I can enter before the attack lands, intercepting their positioning or intention.

In this way, I’m not gambling on their next move—I’m taking space, controlling limbs, and disrupting structure. This makes it ideal for real-world self defense where waiting can be a ticket to the hospital.

This strategy gives a clear advantage when facing opponents who are already postured to strike. Especially when they chamber high, the forward momentum and limb exposure makes them vulnerable to entries that begin as preemptive parries but end in decisive control.

Why It Matters in Real-World Self Defense

In real fights, hesitation is costly. This trap-cut-trap concept allows you to initiate without overcommitting. It’s about managing risk while maintaining control—something that’s core to Filipino Martial Arts and deeply embedded in our curriculum here in Los Gatos.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned practitioner, this type of training instills the kind of discipline, precision, and awareness that transcends martial arts. You learn how to read body language, exploit timing, and impose your will without needing to rely on brute force.

Why the Inayan System?

The Inayan System of Eskrima isn’t just about sticks and knives—it’s about personal evolution. We build tools that prepare you mentally and physically, whether you're walking down a dark alley, working late in a Silicon Valley tech office, or just seeking to feel safer in your everyday life.

We teach our students to adapt dynamically and take control—not just defend, but defend forward.

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