HISTORY OF ARNIS

Arnis was developed by the indigenous peoples of the Philippines, who used a variety of weapons for
combat and self-defense. Rattan, swords, daggers, and spears, as well as basic impact and sharpened
weapons, were once included in Arnis. In 1521, Filipino islanders fought Ferdinand Magellan's armored,
musket-wielding Spanish conqueror army with just bladed weapons and their terrifying arnis talents.
When the Spaniards finally returned and successfully conquered parts of the Philippines, the Arnis
tradition was preserved in the form of ceremonial dances, performances and mock combat, albeit
banned. Early Filipino martial arts were influenced by Spanish colonization, but modern forms were
influenced by contact between the United States and Japan after independence in 1898. More than a
century later, in 2009, the Philippine government adopted Arnis and declared it a martial art and a
national sport of the Philippines.

FACILITIES

Dimensions The playground is an 8.0m x 8.0m square with a minimum of 2m clear zone around it and an
unobstructed open space up to a height of more than 5m from the competition surface. Play Area Line
All play area lines are 2 inches long.

EQUIPMENTS
Both male and female players should wear abdominal and body protection. When developing body and
abdominal protectors, iARNIS standards must be observed. The body and groin covers should be color
coded to match the player's skin color. You need Shin and a forearm guard.

BENEFITS

The following are some of the advantages of studying Arnis:

 Learning to defend yourself by utilizing what is available to you.

 Strength and cardiac fitness have improved.
 Faster reflexes
 Increased self-assurance in high-stress situations

STANCE

Ready Stance
Stand with your feet apart parallel to the shoulder with both toes pointing forward.   The knees should
be straight, the waist and the body facing forward.  Hands are on waist level and the hands should hold
the sticks on both sides.  The ready stance is commonly used when standing at ease during training or
tournaments.

Attention Stance
 Stand with your feet forming a 45 degrees angle.    Heels should be close to each other, knees should be
straight, the waist and body facing forward.  Shoulders are dropped to the side and both hands are at
waist level.  The Attention Stance is commonly used in preparation for courtesy or “bowing” at
commencement of sparring.
Forward Stance
Starting with the ready stance, move one foot forward until the knee and the toe are in line to each
other.  Both toes are pointing in front, the waist and the body is facing forward.   The body should not be
too low or the lead foot too extended otherwise it will be hard to maneuver.  Distribute the weight or
center of gravity to both legs.  Forward stances can be right foot lead, which is the Right Foot Forward
Stance or it can be left foot lead which is Left Foot Forward Stance. Forward Stance are commonly used
with frontal striking or blocking techniques.

Oblique Stance
 Starting with the ready stance, move one foot forward 45 degrees away from the body until the knee
and the toe are in line to each other.  Move on the same direction as the lead foot (e.g.  for right foot
lead, move 45 degrees forward to the right). Both toes are pointing in front, the waist and the body is
facing forward.  The body should not be too low or the lead foot too extended otherwise it will be hard
to maneuver.  Distribute the weight or center of gravity to both legs.  Oblique stances can be right foot
lead, which is the Right Foot Oblique Stance or it can be left foot lead which is Left Foot Oblique Stance. 
Oblique Stances are commonly used for forward blocking and evasion techniques.

Straddle Stance
Starting with the ready stance, move one foot about two feet (2’) to the left or the right direction until
both lower legs are almost perpendicular to the ground.   Both toes are pointing in front, the waist and
the body is facing forward.  The body should not be too low or extended otherwise it will be hard to
maneuver.  Distribute the weight or center of gravity to both legs.  Straddle stance are also called
Horseback Riding Stance since it mimics position when riding on a horse back.  Straddle stances are
commonly used for blocking the strikes to the side of the body.

Side Stance
Starting with the ready stance, move one foot about two feet (2’) to the left or right direction.  Moving
foot will be perpendicular to the ground while the other leg is extended thereby creating a position like
that of a side kick.  Both toes are pointing in front, the waist and the body is facing forward.  The body
should not be too low or extended otherwise it will be hard to maneuver.  Distribute the weight or
center of gravity to both legs.  If the left foot moves to the side it becomes Left Foot Side Stance, if the
right foot moves to the side it becomes Right Foot Side Stance.  Side Stances are commonly used for
strike deflection and evasion techniques.

Back Stance
Starting with the ready stance, move one foot backward 45 degrees away from the body. The heels of
the foot should form an imaginary “L” shape while the legs are in a straddle position.  The body should
not be too low or extended otherwise it will be hard to maneuver.  Distribute the weight or center of
gravity to both legs.  Back stances can be right foot lead, which is the Right Foot Back Stance or it can be
left foot lead which is Left Foot Back Stance.  Back stances are used for blocking and backward evasion
techniques.
STRIKING TECHNIQUES

Left Temple Strike

Right Temple Strike
Left Torso Strike
Right Torso Strike
Thrust Strike
Left Chest Stab
Right Chest Stab
Left Leg Strike
Right Leg Strike
Left Eye Poke
Right Eye Poke
Crown Strike

BLOCKING TECHNIQUES
1. Left side of the head attack.  

A diagonal downward forehand swing to the left temple. From the position, the warrior will hold the
stick with one hand at 1 o’clock moving his stick in slashing motion while his free hand on his chest.

2. Right side of the head attack.

A diagonal downward backhand swing striking to the right temple. Assuming a fighting stance like the
left temple strike, the warrior this time held his stick at 11o'clock with his free hand kept on his chest.

3. Left side of the body or torso, to the left arm or elbow.  

The 3rd striking technique allows the practitioner to extend his weapon hand making it easier for him to
strike any part of the opponent between its shoulder and hips. The stick will be draw in a diagonal
forehand slashing swing making it easier to deliver a damage.

4. Right side of the body or torso, to the left arm or elbow.  

Same as the 3rd strike but this time the practitioner will extend the weapon hand to strike any part of
the body between the shoulder and the hips in a backhand slashing swing located on the right side

5. Thrust to the stomach.  

In this strike, the practitioner will thrust the weapon hand to the stomach and is followed by an upward
motion that will cut through his opponent's body.

6. Left chest stab.

In this strike, the weapon hand is then extended to the front with the palm facing outward and the
elbow kept up where this strike can cause damage to the rib cage.
7. Right chest stab.

In this stance, the practitioner will practice the scooping action. The weapon hand is then extended
forward with the palm facing outward. To deliver the strike properly, the elbow should be kept up
puncturing the opponents right lung.

8. Left lower leg.

In this technique, the practitioner will deliver a powerful strike to the opponents lower leg, mainly the
knee, the angle or the ankel which throws off the opponents balance and immobilize him. By doing this,
the warrior is supposed to lower his body(extending the weapon arm). Holding his palm upward and hit
any part of the opponents lower leg.

9. Right lower leg.  

Again, like the 8th strike, the main target here is the right lower leg which immobilize the opponent. By
doing this, the palm should face downward.

10. Left eye poke.  

The target here is the left eye socket. In order to execute it properly, the practitioner should assume
fighting stance then extend the weapon hand forward with the palm facing outward with its elbow kept
down.

11. Right eye poke.  

Same as the 10th strike technique. To execute it properly the practitioner will have to hold his elbow
down poking the right eye of the opponent.

12. Strike to the crown/top of head.

The last strike will be a straight downward overhead swing directed towards the crown of the head
which could throw off the opponents mobility and balance.