Sinawali: The Flow, The Fight, and the Fire Behind the Pattern

If you've spent five minutes around Kali or Arnis, you've probably seen Sinawali in action—the double stick drill that looks like martial arts decided to take up dance. It’s flow, it’s rhythm, it’s timing—it’s weaponized coordination. On the surface? Two people smacking sticks in a choreographed pattern. Under the hood? A symphony of combat, brain wiring, and adaptive problem-solving in real time.

Let’s dig in.

What Even Is Sinawali?

Sinawali comes from the Tagalog word meaning “to weave,” and yeah, that’s exactly what you’re doing. You’re weaving strikes, blocks, and parries with your partner to build a flowing rhythm that teaches your body how to move, react, and adapt. Think of it like two-person Chi Sao—but armed and dangerous.

But don’t let the fluidity fool you—Sinawali isn’t just pretty. It’s practical. It builds muscle memory through repetition, sharpens timing and angles, and helps you create reactive ideas mid-fight. It’s also your ticket to understanding how rhythm fuels reaction.

Also worth noting: Hubad Lubad? That’s a Sinawali drill too. Empty-hand this time, but same concept—create rhythm, feel pressure, respond with structure and flow.

The Smell of Combat

You haven’t truly drilled Sinawali until you’ve smelled it. Real ones know.

Ever hit a flow so fast and consistent with your partner that the rattan starts heating up from friction? That earthy, toasted scent rising between your sticks? One time at a seminar in a high school gym, there were maybe 20 pairs working Sinawali hard. The gym started smelling like smoke and old library pages. The admin staff thought there was a fire. I was grinning like a pyro in a dojo.

It’s not just a memory—it’s a marker. That smell gets into your brain. It’s the scent of rhythm, timing, and sticks grinding stories into muscle.

Basic Sinawali: Where It Starts

Before I knew what Sinawali even meant, I was drilling Heaven-6 as a warm-up in Muay Thai. We didn’t call it that back then—we were just hitting angles and sweating bullets. It wasn’t until I stepped deeper into Kali and Silat that I really started to understand what the sticks were teaching me. Timing. Angles. Openings. Habits. And oh man, elbows.

My instructor Jay used to walk the room shouting "Elbows IN!" like a metronome of truth. I still hear it in my head to this day. You had to keep those elbows tucked to protect yourself and build the kind of spatial awareness that made you hard to read—and harder to hit. If your elbows flared, you were basically offering a free disarm coupon to your partner. So yeah, I say it now too: “Elbows in!”—for safety, structure, and a little nod to tradition.

Timing, to me, always feels like standing at the edge of a double dutch jump rope—ready to jump in, heart racing, feet twitching, but not quite committing. When it lands? You feel invincible. That’s Sinawali.

Most folks learn Sinawali through basic 4-count or 8-count drills—right-hand or left-hand lead. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Right Sinawali (4-count basic):

• Start with your right stick.

• Diagonal upward strike (right)

• Horizontal strike (left)

• Diagonal downward strike (right)

• Horizontal strike (left)

Left Sinawali:

• Just flip it. Start left, mirror the pattern.

  
  

That’s all fine—but here’s where I usually start my people:

Heaven-6 Drill (My go-to)

• Diagonal downward strike (Right – Angle 1)

• Diagonal downward strike (Left – Angle 1)

• Diagonal downward strike (Right – Angle 11)

Why’s it called Heaven-6? Because every shot is up high. No leg hunting, just crown-level chaos until footwork and timing get dialed in. We train using an analog clock system to track angles—so 1, 1, and 11 make it easy to see and teach. Once the student gets comfy, we evolve: add angle changes, footwork, even kicks to keep the rhythm alive and avoid turning drills into frozen karaoke.

"Whack whack, whack. Whack, whack whack!" - Sticks

Stick Talk: Why Rattan?

You might ask—why sticks? Why not go straight to knives or swords? Simple: rattan is the MVP of weapons training.

Here’s why we love it:

• Blunt, not boring – You’ll feel the hit, but you won’t lose a finger.

• Fast & light – Quick recovery, rapid flow. It rewards timing, not just strength.

• Destructible – The sticks can break. That’s a lesson too: even your tools have limits.

• Tip or flat edge – Both suck to get hit with. One leaves gnarly little half-moons that scream “you missed your block.”

• The pommel matters – The butt of the stick isn’t just decoration. It’s a weapon. It digs, drives, and checks the guard.

Training with rattan builds awareness of how range, control, and angles translate to other weapons.

Sinawali in Motion: Offense, Defense, and Flow

You don’t just “do” Sinawali—you feel it. It teaches you:

1. Offensive Setup – It’s not about smacking targets—it’s about creating reactions that set up the next strike.

2. Parrying on the Fly – You defend while staying in rhythm. The block is the beat.

3. Angling – You learn to move off-line, to shift with your partner. It’s a chess match—only faster.

4. Adaptability – You start mixing patterns, interrupting flow, finding openings. You don’t just drill—you improvise.

Not Just for Sticks: Sinawali with Anything

Sinawali isn’t locked to rattan. Once you get the rhythm, you can apply the flow to:

• Knives – Smaller movements, tighter ranges. Emphasis on cutting angles and deception.

• Swords – Bigger commitment, focus on weight transfer and power shots.

• Impromptu weapons – Rolled up magazine? Flashlight? Umbrella? If you can swing it, you can Sinawali it.

The big takeaway? Sinawali is a movement system, not a stick drill.

Repetition Builds Flow (Not Boredom)

Let’s be real—yes, Sinawali is repetitive. But so is any good training. The repetition isn’t to bore you—it’s to burn timing and mechanics into your bones. You’re not memorizing a kata; you’re building the capacity to react instinctively at full speed under pressure.

Drill long enough and the sticks feel like extensions of your intent. Your brain doesn’t have to think about angles—it just flows. And that is where Sinawali levels up your entire martial game.

"It burns it into your bones." - Drills

Music, Vibe, and Finding Your Rhythm

I train Sinawali to music a lot. EDM? Helps me drill fast and stay on beat. Rock? Those drum fills jack up my angles. 80s pop? Don’t judge me—I flow like I’m in a fight scene montage.

The point? Let your body sync with something bigger than thought. Let rhythm guide your timing.

The Bottom Line

Sinawali isn’t a pattern—it’s a passport. A permission slip to explore flow. It’s not the endgame. It’s the training ground. The jam session. The art and science of combatives merging into one elegant, chaotic dance.

So pick up your sticks. Find a partner. Start with the basics—and then break the pattern.

Train smart. Flow hard.

Your Turn:

How has Sinawali helped you discover your own rhythm? Do you practice it with weapons beyond sticks? Got your own Heaven-6 flavor or favorite musical track to drill to? Let’s hear your stories below and weave this conversation into something great.