A Brief History Of Arnis.

Before reading this, I think it would be remiss not to mention that the exact origin of the art of
Arnis remains unknown. What is written here has been pieced together from various texts and
engaging conversations about the style. As with all things in history, a lot can be
misrepresented or even left out. Therefore, take this historical depiction with a grain of salt,
and just know that this is a general understanding derived from various traditions taught
around the Philippines. That being said, here is my understanding:

Initially employing sticks and bow and arrows for combat, the native Filipino were first
introduced to the long bladed weapon by the migrating Malays in 200B.C. From this initial
encounter, the Filipinos began utilizing the long blade not only for its effectiveness as a
farming tool, but for combat as well. This devised method of knife fighting was known
as kalis (later reduced to kali); a combative art specializing in all manners of bladed weaponry.

Passed down only to certain Filipino classes, similar to that of the Samurai in Japan, kali was
a highly effective weaponized fighting system that helped aid the Filipino people in many
defences against foreign invaders. Historically, it can be said that in 1521, during the landing
of Ferdinand Magellan in Cebu, the greatest kali warrior of the time, Raja (chief) Lapu Lapu,
displayed the true effectiveness of kali when he struck down Magellan with two fatal blows —
one to the knee and one to the neck — warding off the impending Spanish invasion.

43 years later, in 1564, the Spanish returned to the Philippines; this time landing in Abuyog,
Leyte. Led by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the conquistadors expected another violent
encounter. However, they were met by the island chief, Malitik, and his son, Kamutunan, who
excitedly welcomed the conquistadors with great hospitality, inviting Legaspi and his men to
dine with them and witness a display of the might of kali. During this time, kali had transitioned
from a purely martial system to becoming a performance art, complete with choreographed
arrangement designed to impress royalty. However, these displays were often very
dangerous, with most accidents resulting in death.

Building upon this relationship with the natives, the Spanish eventually colonized a large
majority of the Philippines, leaving the art of kali to be mostly used for entertainment
purposes; commonly referring to it as 'the sport of kings'. During Philippines' rule by the
Spanish, the art of kali became highly influenced by its culture, taking on a more fencing-like
style and expanding into a derivative known as Espada y daga (sword and dagger).

It should be noted, however, that although most of the Philippines was colonized and
occupied by many different cultures (from the Japanese to the Americans) the people of
Mindanao and Sulu in the Philippines have remained true experts in the original art of kali,
able to ward off all attempts at invasion through the use of the art; alluding to why these two
regions are the only areas of the Philippines still predominantly Muslim — the first religion
spread throughout the Philippines by the migrating Malays who introduced the long bladed
weapon to the Filipinos.

As time progressed, the Spanish became overly concerned with the potential for revolt by the
Filipino people; resulting in the ban of all practice and performance of kali with bladed
weapons in 1764. This was likely established as a measure to keep the majority of Filipino
people unskilled in the art of combat, as kali had become a highly popularized pastime across
the country. Due to this ban, Filipino people began trading in their bladed weapons for the
rattan (a type of vine with a weight lighter than most wood and a density thicker than
bone). Kali exhibitions were then performed with a stick and colourful armour was
implemented to protect performers during shows. These colourful pieces of armour were
known as arnes, the Spanish word for harness, which later became the new name for the
style; marking its transition from kali (knife fighting) to arnes (stick fighting). Additionally, due
to the widespread outlaw of bladed weapons for kali practice and performances, the Filipino
people began carrying concealed weapons, mostly daggers, leading to the development of the
style Olisi y baraw (stick and dagger).
Eventually, performers ended up doing away with the harness altogether, and by 1853 the
word kali was completely replaced by the new term, Arnis (or Eskrima), a modification of the
term arnes.

Many years afterward, during various attempts at propagating the new style while both losing
and gaining favour within the Filipino community, it wasn’t until 1969 when Remy Amador
Presas established Arnis within the physical education system of the Philippines as a viable
means for military practice and maintaining cultural identity; leading to what is now known
as Modern Arnis— a style more based on competition and performances. Typically, Modern
Arnis is practiced with two rattan, one in each hand, and involves many intricate partner
arrangements known as sinawali (weaving).

Though the style has flourished within the educational system of today's contemporary
Philippines, many practitioners of the original art of Arnis have derived their own expressions
of the style — from Balintawak, to Tapi Tapi, to Doce Pares — though made most-popular,
combatively, by the Cañete family in Cebu. However, these are stories for another time…

Cardinal Rules or Principles in Arnis

By nature man is never violent. Unless otherwise affected by some physical or psychological
affliction, or forced by outside reasons or provocations, no man will harm a fellow human being
(or animal for that matter) let alone feast on their physical sufferings. Man is an "institution" of
love and kindess.

However, history is replete which stories of man's brutalities to his fellowman. Wars were waged
and lives were laid in battlefield after battlefields. This is a sad commentary on man's true
nature, or an irony of his being.

But it must be remembered that this violent quality of man is forced upon him by the vicissitudes
of time and circumstance. Outside forces edged him out of his human resistance which
inevitably led him to react in order to preserve himself. Thus the truism of the "survival of the
fittest". The vagaries of a cruel life led man to violence.

This need forced man to devise arts and implements for fighting. From the first caveman to the
present spaceman, tools for fighting were made and improved until sophisticated machines and
implements of warfare have become dreadful realities.

Thus, the caveman had his stone clubs, the Europeans their epees and foils, the Chinese their
Kung-Fu and the Japanese, their Kendo and Karate, and many other with their forms of martial
arts. The Filipinos are not spared of this need. The Filipinos were also forced to devise their own
Arnis, the martial art of a cane which had its beginnings even before the coming of the
Spaniards.

Present trends, however, converted these martial arts into forms of sport. Although they are
taught as defensive and offensive weapons, their concentration is now as a form of sport
indulged in friendly competitions like all other wholesome sports. These arts have "Cardinal
Rules and Principles" to be observed and followed. Arnis has its own principles that have to be
inculcated in the student.

The cardinal principle in Arnis is respect for one's opponent as a person and as a fighter, and as
a sportsman. It should always be remembered that an opponent is a human being with a dignity
as you have and worthy of respect. Also do not under rate his fighting ability overconfidence
would be costly, if not fatal, therefore never underestimate the ability of an opponent.
Sportsmanship on the other hand is the measure of a fighter or player. The laurels of victory
should never be worn with superiority but with humility. Victory is not a stamp of invulnerability
but rather a reason for magnanimity.
Besides these cardinal principles, there are other principles in Arnis that the students, must
remember these are: Character, sincerity, discipline, self-control, etiquette and student's loyalty
to his tutor.

a) Character - a ruffian has no place in Arnis let alone in sports. Refinement in character is
important. A student must be taught the moral (and religious) values of everything. It is an
obligation of the teacher of Arnis to mold the character of the student in such a way that his
behavioral structure would be motivated by righteous desire. It is what a man is that counts not
the number of trophies he won. In spite of the abetted fallacies of values of the present world, it
is who you are that will matter in the end.

b) Sincerity - sincerity for victory's sake is not the all--consuming end of an Arnis player. It is
the sincerity in him to his fellowman and to his art that makes him shine in the array of men. The
will to win maybe inculcated, but such tutelage should never end after the tick of the ultimate
second in the game but beyond the canvass and the arena of competition. The martial art of
Arnis, it should be remembered, is a good medium of development man's sense of dedication in
all his everyday endeavor and involvement. Sincerity, is the mother of trust and trust makes an
institution of what has been shattered by doubts. A man who is not sincere will never have a
true friend.

c) Discipline - Arnis is a molder of discipline. Proper behavior in the sport and in life itself will
be the gauge of success. Personal discipline is important. The kaleidoscopic invitations and
temptations of life should never undermine man in his obligation to his art, to himself and his
fellowman. A student should learn to control himself in the pursuance of his goal, not only to his
art but also to life in general.

d) Self-control - losing one's head means defeat. One should learn to control his temper if he
hopes to achieve success in every endeavor. In Arnis, self-control is important for without it, life
and the good health of another may be lost. The possession of an ability to kill or main a person
should be handled with extreme caution and prudence. Man's clear perception of things is
anchored on his ability to control the outbursts of his inner self. Provocation is dishonorable but
hasty reaction to it is just as dishonorable if not despicable.

e) Etiquette - etiquette is allied to the main cardinal rules in arnis. One's norm and standard
should never be imposed upon others. One should learn how to respect others. Giving credence
to the standard and ability of another person should or will best prepare anybody in any
endeavor. The pacific waters of human understanding will stay unruffled if exercise of proper
etiquette and respect whether it be in sporty competition or in life itself is observed.

f) Student's loyalty - loyalty should be emphasized to the student, loyalty to the art, to a fellow
player, and to his teacher. Ingratitude to one is ingratitude to the other. A student should be
loyal to a fellow player because any disloyalty to him is disloyalty to the art itself. More
important, a student should be loyal to his teacher. Everything one has learned is owned by him
to his teacher. Personal whims should never cause one to be ungrateful to where he owes
everything he knows. Even if the ultimate aim of the art is already achieved by a student that he
can now manage on his own, he should never forget the teacher who labored for him. In the
skirmishes of things, the student should be always loyal to him.

Life has shown us many treacheries committed in the name of greed and personal gratification.
This has no place in the art of Arnis or in sports for that matter. A true sportman is always loyal
to his art and to the prime movers of the art. He sees with gratitude in everything and everybody
from whom he had owed everything he knows. In this world of muck and mire only those who
look back with gratitude shall succeed. Loyalty to the fundamental basis of his achievements
weighs for a greater measure in the merits of man. Ingratitude is treachery and a traitor has no
place in the forum of honorable men.
 Governing Agency of Arnis

Arnis, also known as Kali or Eskrima/Escrima, is the national martial art of

the Philippines.[2] The three are roughly interchangeable umbrella terms for the
traditional martial arts of the Philippines ("Filipino Martial Arts", or FMA), which
emphasize weapon-based fighting with sticks, knives, bladed weapons, and various improvised
weapons, as well as "open hand" or techniques without weapons. It is also known
as Estoque (Spanish for rapier), Estocada (Spanish for thrust or stab) and Garrote (Spanish for
club). In Luzon it may go by the name of Arnis de Mano.
The indigenous martial art that the Spanish encountered in 1610 was not yet called "Eskrima" at
that time. During those times, this martial art was known as Paccalicali-t (pronounced
as pakkali-kalî) to the Ibanags,[3] Didya (later changed to Kabaroan) to
the Ilokanos, Sitbatan or Kalirongan to Pangasinenses, Sinawali ("to weave") to
the Kapampangans, Calis or Pananandata ("use of weapons") to the Tagalogs, Pagaradman to
the Ilonggos and Kaliradman to the Cebuanos. Kuntaw and Silat are separate martial arts that
are also practised in the Philippine Archipelago.
There have been campaigns for arnis to be nominated in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural
Heritage Lists, along with other Philippine martial arts. As of 2018, UNESCO has inscribed 9
martial-arts–related intangible heritage.

Basic Arnis Terminology

The following tables contain some of the words and phrases that are traditionally used in Filipino
Martial Arts training. They are based on Tagalog, the primary Indonesian language of
the Philippines. You'll notice the Spanish influence in some of these terms, not surprising since
the Philippines was once a Spanish posession.

(If you're having trouble seeing the charts below, then your browser doesn't support tables and
you should check out our text only page instead.)

Rank & Title

Tagalog English Tagalog English
Sa Pinuno Leader (Master) Pundador Founder
Arnisador/ Escrimador Arnis Practitioner Baguhan Beginner
Panggitna Intermediate Abante Advanced
Dalubhasa Expert Taga-Pagsany Trainer
Saligan Taga-Pagturo Basic Instructor Taga-Pagturo Instructor
Abante Taga-Pagturo Advanced Instructor Punong Taga-Pagturo Senior Instructor
Guro Teacher Punong Guro Senior Teacher
 Numbers (Counting)
Tagalog English Tagalog English
Isa One Pito Seven
Dalawa Two Walo Eight
Tatlo Three Siyam Nine
Apat Four Sampo Ten
Lima Five Labing Isa Eleven
Anim Six Labing Dalawa Twelve

Actions & Techniques

Tagalog English Tagalog English
Patama Strike Sanga Block
Hawak Hold Pakawalan Release
Sugod Attack Lumaban Fight
Sinawali Weaving Rompida Up & Down
Banda y Banda Back & Forth Redonda X Movement
Corto Short Largo Long
Abanico Fan Palis Palis Sweep Stroke
Crossada Cross De Cadena Give & Take
Tulok Push Tusok Poke/Jab
Hirada Forward Mahuli Trap
Mano-Mano Hand to Hand Cadena De Mano Chain of Hands
Ocho-Ocho Figure Eight Sungkiti Thrust
Hawi Parry Hawi-Sungkiti Parry-Thrust
Doblada Double Movement Abaniko Doblata Double Fan
Suntukan Boxing Anyo Form (Kata)

Weapons
Tagalog English Tagalog English
Espada Sword Baston Cane
Single
Solo Baston Doble Baston Double Cane
Cane
Sword or
Punyal Knife Punyo
Cane Butt
Daga Dagger Espada y Daga Sword & Dagger
 Yantok Rattan Bahi Iron Reed
Tabak Bolo Balisong Butterfly Knife

Misc. & Conversational

Tagalog English Tagalog English
Lakan Male Dayang Female
Galang Courtesy Simula Start
Opo Yes Sir Hindi Po No Sir
Tayo Stand Upo Sit
Sigaw Shout Orascion Meditation
Watawat Flag Yuko Bow
Thank You
Salamat Thank You Miraming Salamat
Very Much
Walang Anuman You Are Welcome Kumusta Ka How Are You ?
Mabuti Fine / Good Dinaramdam Ko I Am Sorry

Facilities of Arnis:

Shall refer to the area by which the conduct of the competition shall be set or held
including the free zone around it.
Dimensions
The playing area is a square measuring 8.0 meters by 8.0 meters with a two (2) meters
minimum free zone around it, and a clear space without any obstruction up to a height of not
less than 5 meters from the playing surface.
Lines of the Playing Area
All lines of the playing surface are 5.08 cm. (2 inches) and must be of different color from that of
the floor and other lines previously drawn for other purposes.
Boundary Lines
Four lines mark the boundary of the playing area. The free zone distance measuring 2.0 meters
are drawn outside of the playing area.
Match Lines
Two lines of 1.0 meter long and 2.0 meters apart mark the horizontal match line. The horizontal
match lines are drawn 3 meters from the boundary lines that run perpendicularly to the official's
table, and 3.5 meters from the boundary line that run parallel to the official's table.
 Equipment of Arnis:

Wooden Stick- The wooden stick shall measure not less than 60 cm and not more than 90 cm
in length with a diameter of not less than 1.3 cm and not more than 3.8 cm. It must not have
sharp edges or pointed ends.
Wooden Replica of a Bladed Weapon- The wooden replica shall measure not less than 60 cm
and not more than 90 cm in full length and should be Ethnic Asian in origin. It must not have
sharp edges or pointed ends.
Foam- cushion material- should be foaming the padded sticks and shall have a maximum grip
diameter not greater than 3.81 cm.
Head Protector- refers to a pair of protective head gear to include an impact-worthy face mask.

Explanation:
Arnis- is a stick made out of rattan that is 28 inches long. It is a Filipino martial art, and is used
as self defense.
The game is played by using prescribed padded stick in delivering artistic and legal
blows, strikes, thrusts, and disarming the opponent to gain scores.

The Benefits of Filipino Martial Arts – Eskrima

1. Burns Calories and Keeps You in Good Shape

Eskrima is one of the best ways to lose or burn calories without your realizing it. It has a
conducive exercise program that develops and enhances various fitness components, primarily
the aerobic which improves your cardio. Eskrimadors are aware of the demand on cardio when
performing Sinawali and Redonda nonstop for several minutes.

Experts state that it’d take two hours of exercise to burn approximately 1,000 calories. In order
to relate calorie burning to weight loss, the simple equation is this – 3,600 calories is equal to a
pound of fat. Therefore, burning such amount of calories indicates removing one pound of body
fat.

Escrima- exercises also stimulate joint mobility especially the four primary joints of the body –
elbows, shoulders, knees, and hips. Joint mobility is the answer to getting other fitness
attributes like flexibility, agility, and balance
2. Learn Practical Self-Defense
Each culture throughout history has established some type of self-defence martial art so that
they can protect their people in times of crisis. However, the only actual test of martial arts is
actual combat. As a combat art, Eskrima has proven it practicality and potency through the
many years of warfare and death matches among its practitioners.

As a weapon-based martial art, one advantage of kali escrima is that it allows you to defend
with a weapon and it also enables you to defend against a weapon-wielding opponent. Because
you are familiar with the different bladed and non-bladed weapons used by the attacker, it
becomes easier for you to anticipate and reverse his attacks.

With the rising number of violence and brutality on the streets these days, as well as the
increase of theft and crime involving weapons, this method of Martial Arts turns out to be even
more prominent in the society today.

Eskrima schools drill practitioners for hours in a variety of combative and weapons situations
involving knives, machetes, clubs, broken bottles, chains, long sticks, and other weapons –
including the bare hands. These empty hand techniques of tapping, parrying and countering
bare hands strikes are called tapi-tapi or mano-mano.

Esrkima prepares you to defend yourself from attackers by giving you the reflexes and muscle
memory to react quickly against compromising situations. What you learn from training can
easily be applicable to real life.

3. Develop more Confidence

Knowing that you can defend yourself against an attacker or even multiple attackers, gives you
the confidence to deal with unforeseen attacks. The fear comes from not knowing what to do
during an attack, especially one that is fatal. So martial arts also gives you the courage to face
any challenge.

Training in Filipino Martial Arts, you’ll inevitably go through sparring sessions or even
competitions. The pressure ones go through during competition or sparring is immense. But with
training comes self-confidence and such confidence will build up once you go through sparring
or competition.

Win or lose you’ve walked through the path towards building confidence – conquering your fears
and working through pressure. And the more you train and challenge yourself, the more
confident you will feel.

4. Inherit Mental Discipline and Focus

When you train in Eskrima, you are constantly put to the test. As frustrating as it may seem, we
are forced to push ourselves when we are at our weakest. To excel in Eskrima, the practitioner
must ensure that the drills and exercises are given the required effort and time.

80% of Eskrima competition – of attacking or defending against an opponent – is mental. Thus,

training in Filipino martial arts schools involves conquering your fears against an opponent,
staying calm in a stressful situation, and the repetition and development of technique.

Eskrima entails that the practitioner to have an analytical mind in both sparring and solo
practice. This can be seen when the practitioner looks for an opening and weakness in his or
her opponent during a fight or when he or she is looking for ways or mixing the various attack
angles.
5. Promotes Improvement

With each training, day come new challenges. This compels us to step up to our game and
improve ourselves. This enables us to turn bad habits into good ones and brings us closer
towards our goals.

In the martial arts of Eskrima, improvement can be fast because of the proactive approach to
learning. You learn by applying the technique. Courses are compartmentalized into different
levels and each student has to master the techniques in the lower levels before they can learn
techniques in the higher levels.

Many of the Filipino Martial Arts schools adopt the belting system wherein a student acquires a
coloured belt after gaining proficiency at a certain level and passing an evaluation. This system
promotes improvement as the students strive to master every level through consistent training.

6. Forge the Warrior Spirit within You

Each time we spar or test our skills with a partner or opponent, we grow a little bit stronger and
become more confident. This forges the warrior spirit within us to accept whatever challenges
that may come our way.

Filipino Martial Arts training can push your body to its limits. This ability to endure hardship and
beat the odds forces the indomitable warrior spirit within you. Sparring sessions and
competitions help you to conquer your self-doubt and engage with a sparring partner or
competitor.

Thus, you do not shy away from challenges and battles but welcome it as an opportunity to
prove yourself. You are forging the warrior spirit every time you prepare for anything that may
come in your way together with the determination to face it when it comes.

7. Relieves Stress

Martial arts like Eskrima is one of the best ways to relieve stress and there’s nothing like the
clash of arnis sticks and a series of drills to release those endorphins.

Eskrima training promotes consistency in training such that the practitioner has to forget about
his troubles and worries and focus on the training. Schools like the APO-Balintawak Self-
Defense System and the Darwa Pangalima Eskrima, among others, perform meditation and
breathing exercises to help prepare the student mentally for training.

Filipino stick fighting is a mental game as much as It is a physical game. It requires patience to
learn and master all the different techniques of the art. Developing such patience helps relieves
whatever stress you may feel at the moment.

8. Build Strong Bonds

Aside from the master-student relationship, you will be surrounded by fellow martial artists with
the same passion and interest in every training session, a sense of brotherhood and comradery
follows. In Filipino Martial Arts training, practitioners drill with different partners to expose
themselves to different personalities.
Training with different partners enables you to learn more about other people’s styles, biases,
and attitudes. Thus, a deep sensitivity and bond develop among practitioners who withstood
training together. There’s nothing like bonding with people who are motivated by the same
things you are.

Final Words

As you can see, there are many benefits to learning Eskrima. Are you ready to immerse yourself
in Eskrima training? If you are, you can begin by learning the ultimate Eskrima drill to develop
hand speed for self-defence
ROMHELYN A. CONDINO
RLBSIT-FT 1J