What is Arnis?

Arnis (also called Kali or Eskrima) is a generic term for the deadly martial arts of the
Philippines. It contains both barehand and weaponary arts - everything that has got to do
with fighting. The barehand combat include boxing, wrestling, grappling, pressure points
and locks. Weaponary arts include swords, sticks, staffs, knives, nunchakus, sai and all
sorts of "weapons of conveinence" like the hankerchief, walking stick. Contrary to
uninformed public opinion, Arnis is not only a stick fighting art.

Unlike other martial arts (eg. Karate, Judo, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do), Arnis has not been
exposed to the West until recently and thus retained more of its original essence. It is thus
very different from most other systems known to the West.

Arnis places emphasis on using and defending against weapons. In the practical world, a
knife or machete is regarded as a dangerous weapon that is easily obtained and used in
conflicts. Therefore, Arnis practitioners familarise themselves against knife and machete
attacks. Unfortunately, this important aspect is not emphasized in other martial arts.

Arnis requires that the whole body moves as a single co-ordinated unit, involving usage of
all muscles. Flow of movement is emphasized. Its practice is therefore excellent for co-
ordination.

Arnis regards the arms/legs as weapons. Therefore, the techniques that are used for
swords/sticks/knives are the same ones used in empty-hand combat. "Weapons are just an
extension of the arms". Students do not need to memorise so many techniques as in other
martial arts.

The main weapon of entry when learning Arnis is generally the stick or baton. This is very
convenient to obtain and carry. The elderly and handicapped will easily adapt their walking
cane to Arnis. Exercise with a stick is very beneficial to enhance fitness and vitality.

Unlike most other martial arts, strength and speed is not an important factor in Arnis.
Thus, it is suitable for ladies, the young, and the elderly.

In short, Arnis is :-

* Extremely practical self-defence

* Great all-round exercise for health

* Great for fitness and co-ordination

* Deadly Art of Empty-Hand, Stick, Sword, and Knife Combat

* Uncomplicated and easy to learn

* Performed effortlessly - no strength required

* Suitable for all ages and sexes

* Complete system of martial arts

* Based on the blade, but applied to empty hands and all weapons

* Spiritual Way of The Warrior

HISTORY:

Arnis enjoys the status of the de jure national sport of the Philippines. It is a martial art
characterized by the use of “swinging and twirling movements, accompanied by striking,
thrusting and parrying techniques for defense and offense.” Having been handed down from
generation to generation for centuries, the discipline hones the skill, speed, accuracy and
agility of its practitioners.

Arnis/Kali/Escrima was originally developed by the people native to the islands using simple
impact and edged weapons such as kampilans, rattan, swords, daggers, spears and other
assorted weaponry for combat and self defense. These weapons were also sometimes used
as farm implements.

The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan’s force in 1521 was met in battle with a group of
islanders, led by Raja Lapu Lapu, who defeated Magellan using only a bladed weapon.
Magellan’s armored and musket bearing conquistadors were overpowered by the fierce
fighters and retreated. The Spanish returned in the 1570’s and this time the Philippines
came under Spanish rule unable to contend with the modern weaponry the Spanish used.
The practice of Arnis/Kali/Escrima was prohibited, but continued and was preserved through
native ritual dance, performance, and mock battles. Thus the arts were passed down in
families from generation to generation, honing their skill, speed, accuracy and agility.

The terms Arnis, Kali and Escrima are all used to refer to the Filipino martial arts. There has
been some confusion as to what word refers to which part of the martial art. It is believed
that Arnis, Kali, and Escrima are all a part of the same art and depending on the location,
dialect and type of training taught. Also, any of the three names may apply to a certain part
of training. One interpretation is that Kali is the mother art of Arnis and Escrima. Arnis
focuses on the knife, including dagger, sword, and any other form of bladed weapon.
Escrima is based on the baston or stick. It has also become very popular in the sport aspect
of full contact stick fighting.

To this day Arnis/Kali/Escrima has retained a strong Spanish influence not only in the names
and titles used in training, but in the impact it has had on Filipino culture. Filipino martial
arts continue to encompass a large range of weapons training and hand-to-hand combat,
enriching the culture of Filipino society. Thus the reference to it being a “complete” martial
art.

Arnis was developed by the indigenous populations of the Philippines, who used an assorted
range of weaponry for combat and self-defense. Encompassing both simple impact and
edged weapons, arnis traditionally involved rattan, swords, daggers and spears.

In 1521, equipped with nothing more than bladed weapons and their fearsome arnis
abilities, Filipino islanders defeated Ferdinand Magellan’s armored, musket-bearing Spanish
conquistador forces when they tried to invade.

When the Spanish eventually returned and successfully conquered parts of the Philippines,
the traditions of arnis were preserved, despite its prohibition, in the forms of ritual dance,
performance and mock battles. While earlier Filipino martial arts were influenced by Spanish
colonization, the modern forms have been affected by the country’s contact with both the
United States and Japan after gaining independence in 1898. Just over a century later, in
2009, the government of the Philippines declared arnis to be the martial art and national
sport of the Philippines.

CULTURE AND TRADITIONS

Arnis is otherwise known as eskrima, kali and garrote, and by even more names in different
Filipino regional languages. Although Spanish influence had a pacifying effect on Filipino
martial culture, the original warrior ethos has persisted and remains on the fringes of the
art. Arnis “death-matches” were outlawed as late as 1945 yet, as Mark V. Wiley explains in
Filipino Martial Culture, they still take place in private today.

The Philippine government’s declaration of arnis as the national sport has codified a clear
martial culture. This should begin to develop an accessible story of Filipino cultural heritage
that the outside world can grasp, like Japan did during the Edo period (1603-1868) and as
post-cultural revolution China has done with Wushu.

HOW IT WORKS

Like all martial arts, arnis is primarily defensive, encompassing hand-to-hand combat,
grappling and disarming techniques. However, the fighting style also includes the use of
bladed weapons and sticks, in addition to improvised weapons. A baton-like cane is the
primary melee tool employed and the weapon used in officiated arnis competitions.

Competitive Arnis generally takes one of two forms: the performance-based anyo model or
the combative leban. Anyo competitions are judged on the basis of the overall choreography
of the performances, including the gracefulness, strength and force employed. Meanwhile,
the leban form tests participants’ agility and reactions, as competitions are judged based on
the number of strikes inflicted. Although most leban competitions exclude body contact,
such as grappling, blocks and disarming an opponent using the hands or feet, there are
some exceptions where full contact is permitted.

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENTS:

The game is played by using prescribed padded stick in delivering artistic and legal
blows, strikes, thrusts, and disarming the opponent to gain score.

COMPITATION AREA

Shall refers 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 not less than 5 meters from the playing surface.

LINE OF THE PLAYING AREA

All line of the playing surface are 5.08 cm.

 (2 inches) and must be of the floor and other lines previously drawn for other
purposes.

BOUNDARY LINE

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 line 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.

WEAPON

The padded stick shall be the official weapon of the player.

The specification of which shall be in accordance with the i-ARNIS standard.

No other similar material will be allowed to be used in any local, national or

international competition.

Each padded stick shall be properly foam-cushioned and shall have a maximum grip
diameter of not more than 3.81cm.

(1 ½ inch) and length of 76.20cm (30 inches for men and women).The length of
padded stick shall be 27 inches for boys and girls.

Both padded stick shall be color-coded, one red and the other blue.

HEAD PROTECTOR

Refers to a pair of protective head gear to include an impact worthy face mask, the
specifications of which shall be in accordance with the i-ARNIS standard.

Both headgears must be color-coded, one red the other blue, to match the padded
stick of the player.

BODY PROTECTOR

Refers to a pair of protective body protector, properly cushioned, the specifications

of which shall be in accordance with the i-ARNIS standard.

Male and female player must both wear body protector and groin protector.

Body protector and groin protectors specifications shall be in accordance with the i-
ARNIS standard.

Both body protectors and groin protectors shall be color coded to match the color of
the player.

Forearm and shin guards are compulsory.

 The specifications shall be in accordance with i-ANIS standard. Both shin & forearm
guards must be color of the player.

SCOREBOARDS

A pair of scoreboard, either manually or electronically operated, the specifications of

which shall be in accordance with the i-ARNIS standard.

Two score boards per contest area shall be placed at diagonally opposite at
diagonally opposite corners outside the playing area, inside the competition area within the
free zone, right where the judges are positioned.

FLAGS

Two sets of red and blue flags, the size of which is 30 cm by 25 cm, are used by the
judges in declaring decisions or asking for consultations.

One yellow flag, size 30 cm by 25 cm.

For timer’s use to signal the start and the end of each round and to declare a time-
out and resumption of the game.

OTHER EQUIPMENT

Stopwatch is use to keep the two-minutes per round.

This include interruptions such as injury, changing of broken stick.

A gong and mallet or other similar audible substitutes such as whistle, bell or buzzer
shall be provided for the timer to indicate the start and end of the round.

A table shall be provided for the TIMER and RECORDER which shall be situated one
(1) meter in front of the playing area so that time signals are audible enough to both players
and referee.