The “alive hand” in arnis-escrima pertains to the non-weapon hand. It is called “alive hand” because though at times it may not be holding a weapon, it is never passive but plays an active role in combat. When an escrimador wields long and short weapons as in the case of espada y daga, which was borrowed from western fencing, the “alive hand” is the hand that holds the shorter weapon. In the West, historically, the dagger was originally used mainly for parrying.
Youtube footage of FMA Pulse's Featured Instructor, and founder of Pulahan Derobio Eskrima, Tuhon Chaz Siangco
