JustBeginning
Beginner's guide

So you're getting into escrima

Filipino martial arts — whether you call it escrima, kali, or arnis — start where most fighting systems end: with weapons in your hands. A pair of rattan sticks and a willingness to get hit is all you need. The footwork, the angles, and the flow drills are addictive from day one.

By Colin B. · Published August 9, 2026 · Last reviewed August 9, 2026
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Photo by Joseph Ogbonnaya on Unsplash

The 60-second version

If you only buy 3 things to start:

  1. HUEY Kali Escrima Rattan Sticks (Pair, 28") — A pair of 28-inch natural rattan sticks — the real thing, the right length, under $20.
  2. Martial Arts Armory Foam Escrima Sticks (Pair with Case) — Foam padded sticks for sparring at home without bruising your training partner.
  3. MSE Aluminum Training Knife — An aluminum training knife for learning the blade work that makes FMA unique.
Budget total
$25
Typical total
$65
Escrima is one of the cheapest martial arts to gear up for. A pair of rattan sticks is all you strictly need. Everything else is comfort and safety.

We earn commission on qualifying Amazon purchases — see our affiliate disclosure. Price tiers and budget totals shown above are editorial estimates; actual Amazon prices vary.

At a glance

Our top pick in each category

The fastest path through this guide — each best-starter pick by category. Scroll for the budget and upgrade alternatives.

CategoryTop pickPriceWhere to buy
Rattan SticksHUEYHUEY Kali Escrima Rattan Sticks (Pair, 28")$ See on Amazon →
Padded SticksMartial Arts ArmoryMartial Arts Armory Foam Escrima Sticks (Pair with Case)$ See on Amazon →
Training KnivesMSEMSE Aluminum Training Knife$ See on Amazon →
Protective GearValleycomfyValleycomfy Boxing Curved Focus Mitts$ See on Amazon →
Before you buy anything

A few things worth knowing first

Find a class first, buy gear second. Most FMA schools have loaner sticks for beginners. One class will tell you what length and weight you prefer before you spend money. If there's no school nearby, YouTube has excellent solo drill content from established instructors.

Rattan is the traditional and correct material. It's lightweight, flexible enough to absorb impact without shattering, and it develops character with use. Hardwood sticks look cool but are dangerous for partner drills — they don't flex, and they'll break fingers. Rattan bends before it breaks.

You will get hit. Escrima is a contact art — that's part of the training. Padded sticks and light gloves reduce the sting, but the occasional bruise is part of the deal. If that's a dealbreaker, this isn't your art.

The gear

What you actually need

Rattan Sticks

The baston — a 26-28 inch rattan stick about 1 inch in diameter — is the primary weapon of Filipino martial arts. You'll train with a pair (double stick / sinawali) and a single stick, and everything you learn with sticks transfers directly to empty hands, knives, and improvised weapons. That's the genius of the system. Buy a pair to start; you'll want a second pair within a month because they wear down with use.

HUEY Kali Escrima Rattan Sticks (Pair, 28") Best starter
HUEY

Kali Escrima Rattan Sticks (Pair, 28")

$

Our rating

Natural skin-on rattan at the standard 28-inch length and 1-inch diameter. The skin gives better grip and slightly more durability than skinless sticks. These are the sticks most FMA schools would hand you on your first day.

What we like

  • Natural rattan with skin on — better grip and durability
  • Standard 28-inch length used by most FMA schools
  • Sold as a pair — ready for sinawali drills immediately

What to know

  • Natural variation means sticks aren't perfectly identical
  • Will develop chips and splinters with heavy use — that's normal
See on Amazon →
HUEY Tiger Flamed Escrima Sticks (Pair, 28") Upgrade pick
HUEY

Tiger Flamed Escrima Sticks (Pair, 28")

$$

Our rating

Same quality rattan with a fire-hardened finish that looks striking and adds a small amount of surface durability. The flaming process slightly hardens the outer layer. Functionally identical to natural sticks but they look great on a rack.

What we like

  • Fire-hardened surface adds slight durability
  • Distinctive tiger-stripe appearance
  • Same 28-inch standard length and diameter

What to know

  • Costs more for what is essentially a cosmetic difference
  • Flaming can make the surface slightly more slippery when sweaty
See on Amazon →

Padded Sticks

Once you start sparring or doing contact drills at speed, padded sticks let you train with intent without leaving welts. They have a rigid PVC core wrapped in foam — enough stiffness to feel like a real stick, enough padding to make full-contact sparring sustainable. Essential for home training with a partner who isn't used to getting hit with rattan.

Martial Arts Armory Foam Escrima Sticks (Pair with Case) Best starter
Martial Arts Armory

Foam Escrima Sticks (Pair with Case)

$

Our rating

A pair of 26-inch foam padded sticks with a carry bag. The foam is dense enough that strikes still have feedback — you know when you've been hit — but soft enough that you won't bruise through a t-shirt. The carry bag is a nice touch for bringing them to class.

What we like

  • Dense foam provides realistic feedback without bruising
  • Includes carry bag for transport to class
  • PVC core maintains proper stick weight and balance

What to know

  • Foam wears down with heavy use and needs replacing
  • Slightly lighter than rattan — timing transfers aren't perfect
See on Amazon →
Foam Practice Escrima Sticks (4-Pack) Budget pick
Force

Foam Practice Escrima Sticks (4-Pack)

$

Our rating

Four sticks for roughly the price of two elsewhere. The extra pair means you can train with a partner without anyone having to share. Build quality is basic but adequate for home practice.

What we like

  • Four sticks — enough for two people to train together
  • Very affordable entry point for padded sparring
  • 26-inch length matches standard rattan sticks

What to know

  • Foam is thinner than premium padded sticks
  • No carry case included
See on Amazon →

Training Knives

Blade work is central to Filipino martial arts — arguably more so than stick work. The same angles, the same footwork, the same flow drills you learn with sticks apply directly to knife defense and knife fighting. Training knives are aluminum or rubber replicas that let you practice safely. Most FMA schools introduce knife drills within the first few months.

MSE Aluminum Training Knife Best starter
MSE

Aluminum Training Knife

$

Our rating

An aluminum practice dagger with realistic weight and balance. The thick blade can be covered in chalk for marking drills — you'll see exactly where cuts would land. Aluminum gives better weight simulation than rubber while remaining safe for controlled partner work.

What we like

  • Aluminum weight simulates a real knife realistically
  • Chalk-markable blade for tracking cut accuracy in drills
  • Durable enough for years of daily training

What to know

  • Metal can still sting on hard contact — use control
  • Unpadded handle may need tape wrapping for comfort
See on Amazon →
MACS Flexible Rubber Training Knife Budget pick
MACS

Flexible Rubber Training Knife

$

Our rating

An 11.5-inch flexible rubber practice blade that's safe for light to medium contact. Good for beginners who want to practice disarms and defenses without worrying about hurting their partner. Less realistic weight than aluminum but much more forgiving.

What we like

  • Flexible rubber is safe for full-speed disarm drills
  • Rounded tip eliminates any puncture risk
  • Very inexpensive — buy several for group training

What to know

  • Much lighter than a real knife — weight transfer feels different
  • Rubber can tear with aggressive use over time
See on Amazon →

Protective Gear

For solo drills and light partner flow, you don't need protective gear. But once you start sparring with speed and intent — and you will, because it's the fun part — basic hand protection and a good pair of focus mitts make the experience much more sustainable. Full FMA sparring gear (head cage, body armor) exists but is overkill until you're competing.

Valleycomfy Boxing Curved Focus Mitts Best starter
Valleycomfy

Boxing Curved Focus Mitts

$

Our rating

Curved focus mitts work double duty in FMA training: your partner holds them as targets for your stick strikes, and you can use them as impromptu hand protection during light stick sparring. The curve channels strikes into the center for better feedback.

What we like

  • Curved design absorbs stick strikes naturally
  • Double duty as target pads and light hand protection
  • Leatherette material is durable and easy to clean

What to know

  • Not designed as full hand protection — fingers are still exposed
  • Would need dedicated FMA gloves for serious sparring
See on Amazon →
Playwell Full Contact Escrima Head Guard Budget pick
Playwell

Full Contact Escrima Head Guard

$$

Our rating

A full-face escrima headguard with metal cage visor, heavy-duty padding, and leather construction. Designed specifically for stick sparring — the cage protects against direct stick strikes to the face while maintaining good visibility. Essential once you start contact drills.

What we like

  • Metal cage visor protects face during stick sparring
  • Full head and neck padding absorbs impact
  • Designed specifically for Filipino martial arts

What to know

  • Heavier than open-face headgear — takes adjustment
  • Sizing runs slightly large — measure carefully
See on Amazon →
Going deeper

Your first month of escrima

Filipino martial arts move fast. You'll be holding sticks, learning angles, and drilling with a partner from minute one. Here's what the first month looks like — the patterns you'll learn, the mistakes you'll make, and when it starts to click.

Read the guide →
Save your money

What you don't need yet

Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.

  • Live blades or training knives — You'll spend months on stick work before blade techniques enter the curriculum. Sticks teach the angles that knives use later.
  • Double-stick sets — Single stick (solo baston) comes first. Double sticks (doble baston) is an intermediate skill that requires solid single-stick flow.
  • Full sparring gear — Light stick sparring starts with just headgear and gloves. Full armor is for tournament competitors, not beginners.
First week

Your first seven days

A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.

  1. Find a local Filipino martial arts school or instructor — technique learned wrong is hard to unlearn. · Action
  2. Get a pair of 28-inch rattan sticks and start learning the 12 angles of attack. · Action
  3. Practice basic footwork: the triangle step and replacement step. · Learn
  4. Drill the block-check-counter sequence against each angle at slow speed. · Learn
FAQ

Common questions

Is escrima the same as kali and arnis?

They're different names for overlapping Filipino martial arts traditions. Escrima and arnis are Cebuano and Tagalog terms for the same weapon art. Kali is used more in the US and may emphasize blade work. The core curriculum — stick angles, footwork, flow drills — is nearly identical across schools.

Will I get hit during training?

Light contact with padded sticks happens early and is a normal part of learning timing and range. Hard sparring is optional and comes much later. Good instructors control contact levels carefully, and beginners always start slow.

Do I need to be in good shape to start?

No. Escrima is technique-driven, not strength-driven. Footwork builds cardio gradually, and stick work develops grip and shoulder endurance naturally. Start where you are — conditioning follows practice.

How long until I can spar?

Light flow sparring with cooperative partners starts within 2-3 months at most schools. Competitive free sparring with protective gear typically takes 6-12 months of consistent training.

Going further

Where to next

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