EWO Ezcrima

In EWO Ezcrima we train with weapons to gain a better understanding of how to defend against an opponent who uses a weapon.

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EWO Ezcrima inhances the visual skills to 'read' the opponent moves much better.

EWO Ezcrima (Escrima, Eskrima) is a Filipino Martial Art with European roots. It is a Filipinization of the Spanish word ‘esgrima’ for fencing. Others use the term Arnis instead, which comes from arnes (Old Spanish for armor).

Origin: Historical European Martial Arts

The roots of the name Escrima go even further back in history. They are related to the Germanic term ‘Skirma’ from which the German word ‘schirrmen’ and the Dutch word ‘schermen’ (fencing) derive.
The French word for modern (Olympic) fencing is ‘Escrime’, since 1882. In Turkey it is called ‘Eskrim’ since 1923.
Long time before Filipino Immigrates brought their art to the US, the name itself existed from way back and the connection to Europe is undeniable. Even concepts like espada y daga, largo mano, dos manos, cinqo terra etc. have Spanish names suggesting European roots.

Fusion of European & Filipino Martial Arts

During the 300 years of Spanish colonization, Spanish conquistadors imported their European Martial Art to the Philippines where it fused with the already-developed weapons-based fighting arts practiced by the natives.
Due to Filipino immigration into the United States, Stockton in California became in the 60’s and 70’s the Centre of Knowledge for Escrima. 

EWO Reviews

Read what martial arts practitioners say about the EWO programs.

“Met genoegen denk ik terug aan de tijd dat ik bij Sifu Edgar Zimmermann trainde. Ik herinner me Edgar als een bevlogen leraar die met veel kunde en kennis, enthousiasme en geduld les gaf.”

— Dirk Beernink, Amsterdam

“Geweldig om te ontdekken waar je allemaal toe in staat bent en wat je niet wist. Geeft je focus, kalmte, reactievermogen, zelfvertrouwen en nog veel meer!
Het zou eigenlijk een verplicht vak op school moeten zijn.”
 
— Jan-Hein Groot, Enschede
 
“Superleuke manier om je lichaam op een andere manier te leren kennen en ontdekken hoe je jezelf weerbaar maakt in conflict situaties.
Sifu Edgar is in mijn ervaring zeer kundig en geeft aandacht aan het inrichten van zijn lessen op een manier dat iedereen op zijn/haar niveau kan leren.
Ik kom er altijd met veel plezier vandaan en kijk uit naar de volgende les. Zonder twijfel 5 sterren.”
 
— Joachim Brandenburg, Enschede 
 

Escrima in Stockton

The most influential Escrimadors in Stockton (CA) were Angel Cabales, Maximo Sarmiento, Leo Giron and Dentoy Revilar.

This was the place where Rene Latosa started his Escrima journey. However, the most known person in Fillipino Martial Arts, thanks to Bruce Lee, is Dan Inosanto who also learned from Angel Cabales and Leo Giron. E.g. ‘The Bourne Trilogy’ and ‘The Hunted’ are just a few of many good Filipino Martial Arts featured movies.

Latosa Escrima

After learning from the Stockton Escrimadors, Rene Latosa studied the Latosa family style, by learning from his father Juan and from his uncle Pedro. In the 70’s Rene Latosa brought Escrima (back) to Europe. Together with his early student Bill Newman, they re-established this art on the old continent.

Edgar Zimmermann, founder of EWO Ezcrima WingTczun Org., has received his training from this lineage. Credit also goes to Heinrich Pfaff, at the time trainer at Langenzell Castle. He talked about concepts like 'figure 8', 'box' etc. right from the start.

Sifu Edgar Zimmermann - GM Rene Latosa, Master Bill Newman, Sifu Heinrich Pfaff

EWO Ezcrima

‘From weapons to empty hands’ the motto is called in EWO Ezcrima. Starting with a stick is a different way than most other Martial Arts go. This helps to see and to ‘read’ the opponent faster. It is a fact that only somebody who really knows how to use weapons has a chance against an opponent who is armed with a weapon. The higher EWO programs are about using a variety of swords, shields, staff weapons etc. from the European Medieval and Renaissance combat systems.

EWO Ezcrima - Sifu Edgar Zimmermann, training with stick

Martial Arts

While the term ‘martial arts’ today is typically synonymous with ‘Asian fighting arts’, it is very well known that for centuries highly sophisticated European martial art systems existed from ages ago.
It is from the Latin language that we derive the English term, ‘martial arts’ – ‘arts of Mars’, which is actually the Roman god of war.
The term ‘martial art’ was used in regard to fighting skills as early as the 1550s and in an English fencing manual of 1639 referred specifically to the science and art of swordplay. 

EWO Ezcrima - Sifu Edgar Zimmermann, Roy Mol and Sifu Stefan Somorst with swords

Exercise of Arms

In reference to Medieval and Renaissance combat systems the terms ‘fencing’ and ‘martial arts’ should thus be viewed as synonymous.

Fencing was in essence the ‘exercise of arms’ – and arms meant more than just using a sword.

In EWO Ezcrima, we use the Wisdom and Knowledge of the Historical European Martial Arts to improve our skills for self protection.

EWO - Talhoffer, Silver, Leckücher, Roworth

EWO Self-Defence

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EWO Self-Defence is a PRESENT that will last a lifetime. You will benefit from it at school and at work.