Hubud Drill
Hubud (often called Hubud-Lubud) is a close-range sensitivity and flow drill from Filipino Martial Arts (Kali / Eskrima / Arnis).
The name comes from Cebuano words:
Hubud = to tie / bind
Lubud = to untie / release
That perfectly describes the drill: control → feel → release → counter.
What the Hubud Drill Is
At its base, Hubud is a cyclical arm-contact drill that trains you to:
Read pressure and intent
Control your opponent’s limbs
Flow between offense and defense
React without thinking
It’s usually trained empty-hand, but it directly translates to:
Stick fighting
Knife defense
Panantukan (dirty boxing)
Clinch fighting
Basic Hubud Pattern (Simple Version)
Two partners stand close.
1️⃣ Parry / deflect incoming strike
2️⃣ Check / trap the arm
3️⃣ Pass / clear and return a strike
Then the roles reverse—non-stop flow.
No winner. No loser. Just constant motion.
What Hubud Teaches
🧠 Sensitivity
Feeling pressure instead of watching hands
Knowing when to push, pull, or release
⚡ Timing
When to strike
When to trap
When to disengage
🪤 Trapping & control
Elbow pins
Wrist traps
Shoulder checks
🥊 Striking integration
Slaps → punches → elbows
Head control
Gunting (limb destruction)
Hubud vs. Chi Sao (Wing Chun)
They’re often compared, but they’re different:
Hubud: Is circular flowing, breaks contact often is weapon-based and encourages disengagement.
Chi Sao: Is empty-hand focued, encourages staying in with forward pressure and constant contact.
Common Mistake
People treat Hubud like choreography.
Real Hubud should:
Speed up
Add pressure
Break rhythm
Insert strikes
Add elbows, headbutts, off-balancing
If it stays “pretty,” it’s missing the point.
Why It Matters in Real Fighting
Hubud trains the moment after first contact, when:
Punches are smothered
Clinches happen
Things get chaotic
That’s where most fights actually live. This is why Hubud is an integral part of the training here at Strickland’s Martaila Arts.
