Dacayana UK

Alicaway Combat Knife System

A.C.K.S.

Overview

The Alicaway Combat Knife system is named after Grandmaster Jun Dacayana’s Grandfather – Grandmaster Dalmacio ‘Insyong’ Alicaway, who was Instrumental in teaching Grandmaster Jun in his formative years as a young Martial Artist

Grandmaster Alicaway served in the Philippine Police Bantok regiment and the Anderson Guerillas who were charged with, and were successful in, hunting Japanese soldiers during their occupation of the Philippine Archipelago. see here LINEAGE

The knife fighting techniques of Dalmacio’s style were key to him surviving the war. The style originated from the Island of Negros Occidental. Jun was very interested to learn from his grandfather at a very early age, and because of his keen interest his grandfather was happy to teach him.

The Alicaway Combat Knife System is founded on the experience and teachings of Grandmaster Alicaway and has been modernised through the addition of drills, non-lethal targeting and principals from GM Jun’s own Dacayana System. It also includes the unique flow and footwork that is the trademark of GM Jun.

The system is taught through a weapons first approach (as with the Dacayana Family system of Eskrima) before Empty Hand techniques are introduced.

The sytem combines elements of both the Knife fighting and the Combat Judo systems found on the higher levels of the Dacayana Eskrima syllabus.

Combat Judo is the term used for empty hand defence against an untrained attacker, whereas knife fighting assumes both combatants have and are prepared to use a knife.

The main areas covered on the course are as follows:

ACKS Grips, Angles and Basic Knife Flow Templates

ACKS Knife Drills

ACKS Targeting Overview

ACKS Combat Judo Targeting & Basic Form

The emphasis has been adapted to the modern day with non-lethal targeting as the priority to protect both the defender and the attacker. However by understanding the more lethal targeting of the Combat Judo form we have a complete picture of the knife in combat. Using contemporary targeting combined with the trademark form and flow of the Dacayana Knife system we have developed this unique approach.

The three overriding principles of the system are as follows;

1/ The overriding aim is to protect life.

2/ Defender should use muscular and structural targets as the Priority

3/ Defender should only use lethal targets as alast resort

The Instructor program is initially taught over FOUR separate days and requires a great deal of practice between each of the training days in order to fully absorb the system.

The training days are therefore likely to be scheduled approximately a month apart. Authorisation of each day (Level) will be during the successive training day meaning Authorisation will be given retrospectively once the examiners are confident the required hours of practice have been carried out.

The Authorisation is as follows:

A.C.K.S Instructor Level 1 (awarded on completion of day 2)

A.C.K.S. Instructor Level 2 (awarded on completion of day 4)

Once A.C.K.S. Level 2 is achieved Practitioners are Authorised to teach the system and grade to Student Level 4 at their own clubs (training halls / praktisanan / Dojo’s / Dojang’s Kwoon etc)

A.C.K.S Level 3 Senior Instructor will be awarded not less than one year from Level 2 Authorisation and will allow Instructors to fully Authorise Students to level 6 after completion of the ACKS Coaching Day which will include advanced techniques and teaching methods.

A.C.K.S Level 4 Principal Instructors are Dacayana UK & Europe Coaches at 4th degree Black belt or above. Principal Instructors can teach and grade all levels of the A.C.K.S. system to fully Authorise Instructors to Senior Instructor level 3.

All A.C.K.S qualifications are awarded by Dacayana UK & Europe - making them an Internationally recognised and respected Martial Arts Certification which will be viewed as a highly desirable addition to any Martial System.

The Alicaway CKS is designed as a fast response, easily learnt and effective system for use both offensively and defensively. It is best suited to those that are already on the Dacayana UK & Europe coaches program but consideration will be given to other experienced practioners.

For further study to a greater depth of all aspects of Knife defence and knife fighting it is recommended that experienced practitioners study the higher levels of the Dacayana system which includes both the Combat Judo and the Knife fighting Modules.

The broad aims of the Basic course to Instructor Level 2 are as follows:

To understand and implement the overriding principles through the acquisition of the following;

An acceptable level of skill and understanding of the basics of Combat Judo & Knife fighting concepts from within the Alicaway and Dacayana systems. This will include A good grasp of the meaning of key terms and principles e.g. Dynamic shield, ‘Inside / outside’, grips, blade orientation etc
An understanding of lethal and non lethal targeting through the practice of the Alicaway system
An ability to teach the basic knife drills and theory responsibly to senior students to a high standard.
A solid understanding of how to transfer skills and knowledge gained from the use of the weapon to basic empty hand defence against an untrained attacker.

I would like to thank GM Jun Dacayana for the opportunity to assist in development of this system and to help in my continual development as a Martial Artist and John Devereaux Dacayana UK & Europe Representative who developed and pressure tested the program with me.

I would also like to thank Dacayana UK & Europe Principal Coaches, Principal Doug Levenets and Keith Anthony for continued support and Dacayana UK & Europe Coach Andy Crowe for opening my eyes and making me face some of the less savoury aspects of blade combat.

Marcie Harding October 2015

Dacayana UK

Alicaway Combat Knife System, A.C.K.S.