Intro

Why use a blade trainer? Because sticks don't always cut it.

As a practitioner of the Kada Anan Martial Arts curriculum, you already know that Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) aren't just "Filipino stick fighting". Fundamentally, FMA's are a bladed method; rattan sticks are used to simulate a blade during training . Historically, training with a stick was necessary for safety...but not anymore!

Why use a Talim Trainer?

• Become a better Eskrimador - Develop proper technique and learn the difference between stick and blade use
• No more ruined edges - Learn how to wield a blade correctly to avoid damaging it
• Reduce injury - Aluminun trainers can cause injury during hard training or when used by newer practitioners who haven't yet developed control
• Money Back Guarantee - We stand behind our product and will gladly give a full refund if you aren't completely satisfied

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How to Buy

Talim Trainers products are available to active members of Kada Anan Martial Arts Association (KAMA) either through the members' section of the KAMA website or from their instructor. However, if stock is on hand, an active KAMA chapter may have items available to the general public for purchase. Press the "Go to KAMA" button for more information about the association, to apply for membership or to find a KAMA chapter near you (a new window/tab will open)

Our trainer selection reflects KAMA's curriculum. We offer blade trainers unique to each of the three styles taught in the system.

The Kada Anan Larga Mano style trains with a long blade

The Kada Anan Serrada style trains with a straight bolo

The Kada Anan DeCuerdas style trains with a golok

Each of the three styles in the KAMA curriculum also use a knife

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Details

Talim Trainers' sword and knife trainers are approximately 3/4" (1.9cm) thick. Made from one solid piece of wood, these trainers are intended for contact training but are also great for demonstrations, solo practice and no-touch training. Each trainer is crafted in the shape of an indigenous blade without any unnecessary details or sharp edges.

Each sword trainer has jute wrapping on the handle to aid grip and reduce vibration caused by contact during training. The wrapping also serves as an indicator to the instructor if a practitioner is shifting the trainer in their hand while striking.

The following picture shows a sample of Red Oak, the wood species used to craft Talim Trainers' sword and knife trainers. Since wood is a natural product, each trainer will have a unique coloring and grain pattern.

The Red Oak blade trainers are light, quick and resilient. These trainers are designed for light contact and to hone blade awareness in training. Being of medium density, Red Oak has the tendency to accumulate "dents" from contact. These dents serve two functions. First, they are a safety feature. Hardwoods (like an ebony or ironwood species) tend to crack and break without much warning. The dents in the Red Oak trainer will gradually wear down the structure of the wood and the piece can be discarded before it completely breaks during practice. Second, since the dents are visible, practitioners get immediate feedback with regard to proper blade orientation during practice.

Talim Trainers offers 36" (~91cm) and 28" (~71cm) rattan sticks for training as well. Traditionally, rattan sticks are considered the "safety equipment" of FMA and serve as a proxy for a blade. Because rattan is abundant in the Philippines, instead of using a live blade, purposefully dulling a blade, or taking the time and using the resources to make a blade trainer, it was quicker and easier to just cut down a few stalks into sticks and start training.

With most species of rattan that is used in FMA being quite light yet strong, rattan is a good choice for incorporating speed and hard contact during training. Once proper bladed technique is developed using a Talim Trainer slowly and with light contact, using rattan for hard contact training can help "pressure test" the lessons learned and pinpoint any gaps in skill.

The following picture shows a sample of a rattan stick. Since rattan is a natural product, each stick will have unique coloring and node placement & number.

Talim Trainers's rattan sticks have the skin intact; they aren't peeled and sanded to make them smooth. Peeled sticks are weaker and more prone to fraying. There are no burned or carved designs and except for some minor straightening, the sticks are left completely natural.

Talim Trainers also offers the mighty hickory sledge handle in 32" (~81cm) and 26" (~66cm) lengths. These are not for messing around; they're literally a weapon on their own. The heavy weight of the sledge handle is a great strength builder. After swinging one of these, everything else will feel like nothing.

The following picture shows a sample of a sledge handle. Since hickory is a natural product, each stick will have unique coloring and grain pattern.

The sledge handles are recommended for training slowly and with no or light contact.

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Care & Maintenance

Martial arts training can be dangerous and even lethal. Talim Trainers are for practice, demonstration or decorative use only. When using a Talim Trainer, the user expressly and voluntarily assumes all risks, including, but not limited to, personal injury and death. Always train under qualified instruction. Use extreme care when using a Talim Trainer while engaging in martial arts activities. Check the trainer thoroughly before each use to ensure it will function properly. Discard and replace if it does not appear to be in safe condition.

• Each Talim Trainer is shipped untreated. It is highly recommended to treat the trainer with linseed oil. This oil keeps the wood from drying out, provides protection and extends the life of the wood. Tung oil can be used to achieve similar results with a glossy finish. Oil the trainer regularly. Warning: Exercise caution when using Linseed oil. Oil soaked cloths can spontaneously ignite when improperly stored while drying. Follow all safety precautions on the packaging.
• Sand lightly with fine-grit sandpaper to remove dirt and grime.
• Regularly check the trainer for splinters. Sand out with medium-grit sandpaper and smooth with fine-grit. Re-oil the trainer as required.
• Do NOT leave the trainer in direct sun, heat, water or damp areas. This includes leaving the trainer in a vehicle. This can cause the trainer to warp or crack. This is not covered by the guarantee.
• Do NOT use the trainer against metal trainers/weapons. Sharp edges can gouge the wood beyond simply sanding smooth. This is not covered by the guarantee.
• Do NOT use beeswax, varnish, polyurethane, paint, etc. These finishes do not penetrate and preserve the wood. Trainers with these types of finishes are not covered by the guarantee.
• Do NOT neglect oiling the trainer. The moisture content in the wood will change. Moving the trainer from a dry, air conditioned house to a humid workout room may cause the wood to warp. Oiling can prevent this. Also, without oil, the wood can dry out and splinter with contact. This is not covered by the guarantee.

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FAQ

What does "Talim" mean?

Talim is a Filipino word that means "blade" or "edge". It refers to something that is sharp, like the cutting edge of a knife but can also be used to describe anything that is long, wide and flat, like the blade on a propeller or a blade of grass. Although not grammatically correct, the idea behind the name "Talim Trainers" is to allude to the simulation of training with a sharp edge or "a blade for training"..

What types of wood do you use to make Talim Trainers?

Talim Trainers' sword and knife trainers are made out of Red Oak, sledge handles are made out of Hickory (we also offer rattan sticks)

What's the difference between the wood types you use?

• The Red Oak trainer is light, quick and resilient.These trainers are designed for light contact.
• Rattan sticks are light and strong and are excellent for hard contact and speed training.
• The hickory sledge handle is heavy. It offers a great strength workout.

Can I practice at full speed and power with a Talim Trainer?

Using a Talim Trainer sword of knife trainer for full speed/power practice is not recommended and not the focus behind their use. Please remember that wood is a natural product and is not unbreakable. Any wood trainer will eventually break from consistent, hard contact. Rattan is an excellent choice for any hard contact or speed training.

How did you come up with the blade designs?

Every Talim trainer is based on a real blade (some are antiques) or from a combination of multiple blades, with slight modifications in the shape as necessary for the sake of safety in training.

Can I apply a clear coat to protect the wood?

Yes. However, clear coat finishes do not penetrate and preserve the wood. Applying a clear coat also voids the Talim Trainer warranty. It is highly recommended to treat the trainer with linseed oil. This oil keeps the wood from drying out, provides protection and extends the life of the wood.

Please read the Care & Maintenance page for more information.

What payment options do you offer?

We accept all major credit cards. All prices are in U.S. dollars. We process payments through PayPal, but you do not need a PayPal account to make your purchase. For orders outside of the U.S., the checkout store will automatically calculate the price in your currency and charge you accordingly.

How do you ship Talim Trainers?

We do our best to get your Talim Trainers in your hands as soon possible. Products in stock will be shipped via USPS within 1-5 business days of ordering.

What's your return policy?

If you aren't completely satisfied, contact us within 15 days of receiving your Talim Trainer. Once you return it in saleable condition, we will refund the purchase price minus shipping.

If the trainer has a material or manufacturing defect, it will be repaired or replaced at our discretion. Contact us within 15 days of receiving the trainer, describe the issue, provide pictures (where applicable) and the problem will be resolved to your satisfaction.

Please read the Talim Trainer Policies for more information.

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Policies

We stand behind our products and truly believe you will find value in their use.

Due to the hand crafting process and because wood and rattan are products of nature, characteristics such as knots, grain variation, color variation and mineral streaking are not defects. As a result, some slight variations in shape and color will occur. These variations make each piece unique while maintaining the design and function and are not covered by this guarantee.

If you are not completely satisfied with the quality or purpose of the trainer, the purchase price will be refunded minus shipping. Please contact us within 15 days of the date the trainer was received, send the trainer(s) back in the original, saleable condition and we will begin the refund process.

Each Talim Trainer is guaranteed to be of good material and workmanship. Furthermore, each trainer is guaranteed to be free from any defects that may render it unserviceable for the use for which it is intended. However, it is possible for the wood to have faults that were not visible during manufacture. Thoroughly examine the trainer, rattan stick or sledge handle as soon as you receive it. If there is a material or manufacturing defect, it will be repaired or replaced at our discretion. Please contact us within 15 days of the date the trainer was received, describe the issue, provide pictures (where applicable) and the problem will be resolved to your satisfaction.

Shipping Policy

If an order is refused or returned due to inaccurate or incorrect address information or because it was declined or undeliverable, Talim Trainers reserves the right to retain the original shipping/handling fee and to charge the payment method originally used for costs incurred related to the return of the undeliverable packages or merchandise.

International Buyers - Please Note: Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to buying.

Limitation of Liability

In no event shall Talim Trainers or any persons connected to TalimTrainers be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special consequential damages whatsoever arising out of or connected with its products. This includes but is not limited to product failure, damage or injury caused by normal wear and tear; accident; dropping; environmental conditions; improper use, handling or maintenance or the natural breakdown of colors or material over time.

Warning

Martial arts training can be dangerous and even lethal. Talim Trainers are for practice, demonstration or decorative use only. When using a Talim Trainer, the user expressly and voluntarily assumes all risks, including, but not limited to, personal injury and death. Always train under qualified instruction. Use extreme care when using a Talim Trainer while engaging in martial arts activities. Check the trainer thoroughly before each use to ensure it will function properly. Discard and replace if it does not appear to be in safe condition.

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Contact

Don't hesitate to connect with us. We're happy to help in any way we can.

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