Most people seem to think of Escrima as “stick fighting”, that is like only seeing the tip of the iceberg & then realising later that there is much more below it. The B.I.F.F. Escrima system will teach through all the ranges of sticks, long and short, single and double, left and right handed. The use of all bladed weapons-machetes, axes, knives- is part of our training. All bladed weapons are taught “live” – with sharp weapons.

BIFF Escrima “Fighting System”.

BIFF is a close quarter system which encompasses a collection of concepts and techniques that are designed to work in reality based environments. As such, common ‘everyday’ objects are added into the mix at a later stage of the students development, such as baseball bats and axes. BIFF is first taught as a stick fighting art, but at its heart lies a blade system. Only live blades are used in this system.

Profile Master Jay Dobrin:

Jay started his training in 1967, after being involved in Karate, Aikido and Judo, he was introduced to the System of Wing Chun Kung Fu. After reaching the level of Black belt (3rd level), he was then introduced to a Filipino Instructor by the name of Rene Latosa who taught Jay his Escrima system, plus the unarmed side of Escrima, Cadena de Mano. Jay travelled to the USA, where he trained with some top Escrima Instructors of the time, such as Leo Giron and Dentoy Revillar. In England Jay also trained with and met many great Martial Artists such as Dan Inosanto and Jeff Imada. Jay then formed The British International Fighters Federation and has trained and taught many Instructors around the world. Jay now lives in England where BIFF has his main Headquarters.

Jay Dobrin can be considered one of the true founders or FMA in Britain stepping into the footsteps of his Teacher and mentor “GM Brian Jones”, beginning with his first experience training with Rene Latosa back in 1974. Already a highly skilled practitioner of the Wing Chun system, Jay trained with Rene for 4 years intensely before expanding his knowledge by travelling to the United States to train with GM Angel Cabales, Dentoy Revillar, GM Leo Giron and others.

Jay explains:

” We teach with nothing but live weapons because this is the way that It was originally taught, and I feel that it is correct to continue to teach the system in this way for the maximum benefit of the student. As with most martial arts, you need to get as close as possible to a real situation to become accustomed to our bodies natural responses, nerves, shaking, adrenalin, all of these things can be worked if you know this is the way you are going to react. Working with real knives makes your approach to situations realistic. There are many things you may do against a dummy blade you certainly wouldn’t do when confronted with a real one!”

Escrima by Tim Waterschoot:

“Escrima Fighting System” is for me the road I feel that I have to go, for better understanding and teaching the system as I am taught by Master Jay Dobrin. I like the way Jay is teaching, it is “Old School”, but it is the original way as Jay was taught back in the seventies.
Private lessons (one to one) is very intense and hard, not always the easy way, but it gives the students better and faster understanding of how to fight an opponent. Just as Jay, I like training with sharp blades and I firmly believe in this way of teaching and practising. It makes you sweat like a horse and shaking as an addict without his drugs, but it is the closest to real fighting, without losing reality and safety with your partner.  You should never be doing sharp blades if you do not feel confident enough and without the right Instruction.

Many systems in the FMA practise al lot of drills and many different techniques, although drills such as Sinawali develops very good eye-hand and foot coordination, it can happen if done to much that you will get predictable in your fighting strategy. Also in a real fight there is no time to do “fancy” techniques, as your technique will be limited to striking and blocking or moving out of the way. The one who hits first, usually will win the fight.

As for me personally, as a martial artist, I have never seen a system more realistic as the one Jay is teaching. Which doesn’t mean there are no other good systems, all systems are good, it is the student who needs to make it work for him/her for it is your life in combat.

Escrima Training syllabus.

The system has not been developed to get many grades or titles, but to teach you to become a better fighter with the best possible training to survive an assault.  This Syllabus consists out of 7 student grades, after completing all seven grades you get a BIFF Instructor ’s License.  Later on you can be awarded with levels of instructorship. (levels of knowledge, not dan grades).

In our Club grades are only awarded on merit and if you are a Full member, thus being a licensed BIFF student meeting the standard required by the BIFF Headquarter in the UK.