In digging around online, I found a link to this article. An interesting read which seems to make some sound conclusions on the amount of outside influence on the FMA. Of course, being rather clueless, I have to ask for others opinions on this bit.
Rest is at : http://www.thearma.org/essays/influence.htmThe Influence of Spanish Renaissance Swordsmanship on Filipino Martial Arts?
by John Clements
Although it is not often recognized or acknowledged, the various Filipino martial arts such as Escrima/Arnis are said to contain many elements of Spanish Renaissance swordsmanship. Frequently, when this is acknowledged, it is often done in a misconceived manner that apparently allows followers of modern Filipino weapon arts to dismiss this influence as either inconsequential or even irrelevant. If there is influence from Spanish Renaissance swordsmanship, it would likely be from methods of military cut & thrust swords, not the style of civilian thrusting rapiers. Just what these technqiues might be, and how they are known to be 16th century Spanish in origin (and not something introduced from 19th century epee fencing) would certainly be interesting for today's student of Reniassance martil arts to discover.