Sifu ben, I thought that the FMA were bred by people that didn't wear much armor? Don't some FMA treat a stick as a stick and not a blade? Hmm Im going to find a way to condense what you wrote and ask it to a MUCH more knowledgeable person I know. With your permission of course.
Of course there maybe...but it is not this attire I am talking about. I am talking about vests, weapons, etc., And no, pink or other "loud color" camo does not count
Don't need much, just something to minimise cutting to the chest and wrists. A cursory search for Filipino warrior on Google images reveals plenty of people with breastplate and bracers.
I don't as my job and the risk doesn't make it necessary. In my neighbourhood you'll get punched or glassed, maybe a bat, but knife or gun crime is almost unknown.
Some of the southern islands (Moros) had full mail and plate armors. But yes, most of the FMAs were light armor or no armor. Some FMA do treat stick as stick, some as either, some don't use a stick.
Regarding 'checking' a weapon with your body edged or otherwise, I was taught if your going for a take down its preferable Read, SAFER, to have the weapon on your body ( pinned) to your body. The rational being the blade will only cut when it can move; two hands close to your core is a lot stronger than one at extension. Seems like a ludicrous idea, but if you think about the horrible knife defense videos around showing bent at waist defender with butt stuck out, outstretched arms grabbing attackers arms for grim death in an ungrounded, unbalanced weak position. It does seem a better idea. Personally I wouldn't want to bet my life to any of it, better with a good set of running shoes
