Okay I was ordering one of Dan Anderson’s Espada y Daga books and the supplemental dvd for a friend the other day.  This is really a good book and the supplemental dvd is excellent.  Every now and then I buy one to give to a friend/student because some of the photos and a little footage was from one of Dan’s seminars up here in Alma, Michigan.  Now that led me to one of Dan’s newest products and that is his Espada y Daga DVD.  This DVD was shot at another seminar in an Aikido dojo and is really a nice watch.  Dan Anderson was a direct student of Remy Presas and one of his Senior Instructors of the art of Modern Arnis in the United States.  After Remy’s passing Dan has continued to teach and explore and now is the founder of Modern Arnis-80.  While Dan was a stick guy and will proudly tell you so, in the last five to six years or so he has become one us or that is a blade guy.  The movement was always there as Dan made an extensive study of the body movement of Remy Presas and mirrors his movement better than anyone else I have seen to date.  So all it took was a little thinking of the bladed application and a connection with a Modern Arnis blade oriented guy by the name of Bram Frank. (Common Sence Self Defense)  With that Dan was off to the races and is now out there on the edge so to speak of blade movement!  Keep it sharp Dan!  Anyways back to the dvd.  Espada y Daga of Modern Arnis 80 is a good watch with lots of explanation and detail.  There is training with the baston (cane), baston and dagger, long knife and dagger and more.  There is some great footage of Professor Presas with Grand Master Max Pallen of Senkotiros and also some footage of Dan and the Professor.  That is all great stuff.  Best of all if you look closely at the DVD footage you will have the opportunity of seeing some quality blade work.  I am always looking for fresh approaches on this topic or innovations as the Professor would have said.  Dan’s dvd rates up there as one of the better ones to watch in regards to Espada y Daga! 

                                                           Ken Blackburn and Dan Anderson

Dan Andersons Website: http://www.danandersonkarate.com/index.html

Link to Espada y Daga dvd webpage: http://www.danandersonkarate.com/store/arnis_FT2.html

Teaser trailer:

More Dan Anderson Espada y Daga in the Philippines:

                                                         Dan Anderson and Ken Blackburn

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