What type of training Bolo do you use?

[Brian R. VanCise]

I have a couple of training Bolo's that I use!
However the one I like the best at this moment
is a wood one from Kris Cutlery! Here is a link
to it: www.kriscutlery.com/other/index_woodbolo.html!
Even though this design is based off their Espada y Daga
it is shorter and a lot of fun to work with!

What other type of trainer's due you like to work
with? I prefer wood when possible but some of the
latest one's made out of different materials are great
as well!

Brian R. VanCise

 

[Gryphon]

I use a wooden one as well, handmade by one of my fellow students at Kick's & Sticks in Easthampton, MA. He does great work

 

[Guro Harold]

Hi Gryphon,

Welcome to MartialTalk!!!

Have you trained with a group near W. Greenfield, MA? There were several people that I had met from that group who would go to the Professor's Orlando seminars hosted by Bruce Chiu.

Now back to the topic:

I use aluminum trainers and ground down machetes.

Best regards,

Palusut

 

[Dan Anderson]

I have copies of the bolos Prof. Presas gave to Bram Frank. Being the non-metalurgist that I am, the two metal ones I have I think are aluminum. One is finished and the other is rough. I have another which is a composite of something that resembles a hard plastic.

Yours,
Dan Anderson

 

[Rich Parsons]

I have copies of the bolos Prof. Presas gave to Bram Frank. Being the non-metalurgist that I am, the two metal ones I have I think are aluminum. One is finished and the other is rough. I have another which is a composite of something that resembles a hard plastic.

Yours,
Dan Anderson

After seeing Bram a few years ago, I tired to follow up with his supplier for these, and could not get a reply, and then a dead e-mail.

I use a cheap plain Machete type blade, that still has its edge, when I do solo work. Right now when I do partner work I use a stick.

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Hi Dan, Gryphon, Palusut and Rich

I also used ground down machete's as well! They are
a pretty good substitute! I still like wood but like you
Rich I would be interested in getting a copy of one of
Bram's and Dan's trainer's! Dan, if you ever run across
a couple extra's let me know and I will take them off
your hands!

I like the wood one I currently use as it is 24 1/2 inches
long and almost fits from my palm to my armpit! This allows
me to rotate the Bolo both outside and inside! The other
thing I like about it is the balance is good! Nothing wrong
with using a stick though, but when I am teaching having
a blade helps in the students orientation toward blade work!

Gryphon welcome to MartialTalk as well!

Brian R. VanCise

 

[arnisador]

I need to get myself a wooden, or dulled metal, bolo. I have a wooden tai chi sword and I have a bokken, but no wooden Filipino weapons. (I do have some live blades from the FMA.) The one at kriscutlery.com seems like it'd do.

I use a cheap plain Machete type blade, that still has its edge, when I do solo work. Right now when I do partner work I use a stick.

I think Mr. Parson's idea of using a stick to substitute for a sword could really catch on.

 

[Datu Tim Hartman]

I use what ever I can get my hands on. I currently have aluminum bolos that Jason Arnold made for me.

 

[Mark Lynn]

I have a dulled steel training bolo that I got off of ebay a while back. I really enjoy it, but the blade design is a bit different from a true bolo or machete. it is pretty heavey on the front end.

I also bought some komagong training bolos, swords, Kiris etc. etc. from GM
Ernesto Presas when he was here in the states a 2-3 years ago.

I also picked up a straight flat wooden sword that was from the Philippines as well.

But as I said the first dull steel training blade is my favorite.

Mark

 

[Delta]

Hello all,

In Atienza Kali, which is primarly a blade art, we have two metal training bolos. There is a 20 inch bolo as well as a tactical bolo which is 16 inches long. Also available is a long pinuti style blade.

To get down the proper handling as well as good body mechanics needed for long blade work, one should definately use a good metal trainer as it has the weight and feel of a live blade but is a safe training tool.

For any one interested the trainers they can be found at:

http://www.atienzakali.com/pages/catalog_new.html

Respectfully yours,

 

[Guro Harold]

I think Mr. Parson's idea of using a stick to substitute for a sword could really catch on.

Too Funny!!! :rofl:

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Hey Delta,

Those are some good looking trainers! Very similar
to the trainers over at www.edges2.com ! Personally
I do like aluminum trainers as well as wood, even though
I am partial to the wood trainers! I really feel that it is good
to have a variety of different training tools. Well I have
not purchased any of the training knives on Datu
Hatman's site www.wdsupplies.com they look good for
training work as well! I like the nice looking Kamagong
dagger, I will have to pick one of those up soon!

Now speaking of training Bolo's or knives for that matter
has anyone had a bad experience with one and if so
was it wood, aluminum or other?

Brian R. VanCise

 

[Datu Tim Hartman]

Now speaking of training Bolo's or knives for that matter has anyone had a bad experience with one and if so was it wood, aluminum or other?

Brian R. VanCise

I've have a few near calls over the years. One thing I suggest is wearing some form of eye protection!

:asian:

 

[Guro Harold]

Now speaking of training Bolo's or knives for that matter
has anyone had a bad experience with one and if so
was it wood, aluminum or other?

Brian R. VanCise

My Crown #29 cracked by an aluminum trainer. Had to have a root canal. Before this incident, I had zero dental work. I can smile about it now!

 

[arnisador]

I've have a few near calls over the years.

Go on, tell the machete story.

 

[graywolf]

I now use Bram Frank's Bolo.It is based on G.M"s family Bolo.He sells it along with instructional DVD's.Howard

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Graywolf,

Do you know if Bram is selling his training Bolo's on the internet!
I have not seen them listed on his site! I not only ask for myself
but also for several other people who are interested in those
trainer's?

With Machete's I have had a few problems! Mostly my own fault
in that I used them with some contact involved. Cheaply made
machete's are just that CHEAP! My experience way in the past
has made me never play with contact with a cheap machete!
Simply put hey chip! Flying pieces! YIKES! While I like training
with Machetes in a no contact manner I will not train with them
with contact anymore! However I have some expensive ones that
I use for cutting training! They are great at that, and a lot of fun!

Brian R. VanCise

 

[Pete Kautz]

You can get a Cold Steel machete for only a few bucks and they really hold up, as you would expect from CS.

I have been using a ground down set of long and short Tramontina brand machetes for years now with great success. These are inexpensive machetes but not "cheap" in any way. Real work-horses in the field IMO. If you look at Modern Knives Issue #1 (Spanish Fighting Arts) they are what I am using in the Classical Espada y Daga segment. Visit http://modernknives.com for more info.

All the best,

Pete Kautz
http://alliancemartialarts.com
http://modernknives.com

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Hi Pete,

Yes cold steel products always seem to hold up and
withstand a lot of rigors! Personally I like that they
keep a very sharp edge without much maintenance!
Pete what products would you not use?

Brian R. VanCise

 

[graywolf]

Dear Brian,

I do not see them at his website www.cssdsc.com. He was selling them at the the Brevard Summer Camp. Graywolf