(pakal vs. sak-sak)
The Attacks:
Because Level Two is the practioner’s introduction to Espada Y Daga with the knife in pakal, the Attacks in this part of the system have the practitioner learning some of the benefits and peculiarities of the pakal hand. There are parts of this set that demonstrate the knife switching from pakal to sak-sak, sak-sak to pakal. These are practices in the transition from grip ro grip, although the system does not advocate the switching of grips in the middle of combative techniques. Rather, the switching is to occur (if necessary) at the end of an engagement, when the opponent is disabled or pinned. The switching also serves to show that both grips have an interchangability to them, and that many pakal and sak-sak techniques can be translated to the other–if one knows how to do just that accurately, and not in a haphazard manner.
The Disarms:
The main differences between the disarms here and the first level disarms is that the practitioner is learning how to use the pakal hand to disarm, as opposed to using a sak-sak hand. In addition, instead of a set of twelve disarms against the sword and twelve disarms against the knife, it is one set…six disarms against the sword and six disarms against the knife.
The Contradas:
Like its counterparts in the other parts of the system, this set of twelve Contradas is based on quick, multiple hits and various angles of entry. The difference here is that the practioner practices using the pakal hand to aggressively negate the sword or sak-sak knife of the opponent when appropriate. Several “contingency” plans are explored that show some of the advantages a pakal grip has over a sak-sak grip.
The Recontras:
Keeping with the spirit of Recontras theory, this twelve-technique set of Recontras contains direct heavy-hitting, coupled with some chokes and locks. The practioner’s pakal hand becomes even more offensive. The entries are typically timing-dependent and are very aggressive.