Quote:
Originally Posted by drac2k
Thank you Jim for your insightful observations. I hadn't thought(nor did I know), of the connection of sword types and martial art skills being exported from Mexico to the Philippines via Mexican Mercenaries.
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Absolutely my pleasure, I always appreciate the opportunity to learn more from examples shown. The diffusion of forms was as complex as the networks of trade routes themselves. There are swords in the Spanish colonies in Morocco which reflect influences from the Philippines and other archipelagos in the Spanish East Indies sphere. The martial arts skills (destreza) traveled with those on trade vessels. The mercenary forces out of Spanish Luzon were much as mercenary forces have always been, broadly honed in many fighting skills and these men found their way to allied forces of France in SE Asia...Im sure these martial arts skills were included.
It is interesting to see further Spanish influences such as morions and mail used by moros etc as well.