Starting Your De Campo Journey

If you’re interested in learning De Campo Filipino Martial Arts, there are a few important concepts to start building your foundation.

In this recorded video, Maestro Paolo Pagaling highlights three key aspects of De Campo that distinguish it and give practitioners an advantage:

1. Baiting or luring your opponent – De Campo trainees learn to appear unaware of weak spots while “baiting” enemies into striking vulnerable areas that are actually traps. This intentional deceit generates opportunities to execute counters.
2. Striking and Counter Striking: – Once your enemy takes the bait, you launch quick and proper strikes while also developing the capability to counter any counter attempts using techniques like Hayang-Kulob wrist movements. De Campo employs several unpredictable striking patterns that disrupt your opponent’s rhythm.
3. Footwork drills – De Campo relies heavily on footwork. Practices like Paspas (stomping feet in sync with strikes in synchronization with fast and fluid striking combinations.) and Sagadsad (sliding the feet in quick succession) enable you to rapidly switch positions, keeping enemies off balance and confused about where the next attack will come from and confusing them and making it difficult for them to keep up with changing positions.

In the video, Master Jomalin Caballero also models the application of these concepts through a live demonstration of basic De Campo techniques.

To start your journey, focus on mastering the foundational footwork drills and striking patterns. Practice remaining relaxed yet alert, simulating the “unaware” baiting posture that will draw in attacks you’re prepared to counter.

Once you gain competence in generating and escaping from entrapping angles, expand your library of counters and combinations.

Maintain an ongoing focus on developing proper structure and precision within each technique. The basics will serve as building blocks for more complex sequences and scenarios as your skills grow.

Start slowly, practicing each component individually before attempting to integrate them. With consistent effort and an open yet strategic mindset, the natural fluidity and spontaneity of De Campo will gradually emerge from your disciplined training.

Let me know if you have any other questions on how to get started studying De Campo Filipino Martial Arts! I’d be happy to provide more advice or recommend resources to kickstart your training journey.