2C ARCIAGA, RUEL VINCENT V. P.

E 3
BSMT ALPHA

HISTORY OF ARNIS

The Philippines are an island nation rich not only in culture, heritage, and history, but also in
sports. Arnis / Kali / Eskrima, a Filipino martial art, has contributed to the history and diversity
of the Philippines. Some common questions that every reader has are (a) "Where did this Sport
Come From?"(b) "Why is it being played? “In order to gain a better understanding of the sport,
we must look to the past."

Originally, the sport was practiced by peasants or commoners. However, because these
practitioners lacked scholarly knowledge, there are no written records of this sport. Arnis can be
traced back to native fighting techniques used during conflicts between various Pre-Hispanic
Filipino tribes or kingdoms. In contrast, another form of Spanish fencing dating back to the 15th
century influenced the current form of Arnis, as did Chinese, Arab, and Indian martial arts.

Some Filipinos believe that the Filipino art of Arnis has roots in India because people who
traveled through Indonesia and Malaysia to the Philippine islands brought this art with them.
Silambam, a stick-based ancient martial art of Tamil Nadu, India, has influenced many martial
art forms in Asia, including Silat. It is also believed that the Filipino martial art sport, Arnis, has
ancestors in Silambam, as it shares some moves with the short stick (kali or kaji) and other
weapon-based styles of Silambam.

Arnis was originally associated with the people of the Philippines, but as time passed, the art
spread to other countries, and by the time of World War II, it had been adopted by many
continents. Arnis was also a key figure in the Philippine revolutionaries' fight against the
Spaniards.

It was eventually the Filipinos who gave the art a systematic structure. In the 1920s, it was
introduced to Hawaii and California. Until the 1960s, the teaching was kept within the Filipino
communities, when Master Angel Cabales and others began teaching it to others. It took nearly
 two
decades to make the art known throughout the world, and it was officially recognized as the
National Martial Art and Sport of the Philippines in January 2010.

Arnis is divided into two styles based on the use of weapons and sticks: Classic Arnis, which
focuses on the use of blades and weapons, and Modern Arnis, which focuses on the art of sticks
and everyday objects. Remy Presas founded the Modern Arnis system of Filipino fighting arts as
a self defense system. His goal was to develop an injury-free training method as well as an
effective self-defense system to carry on the Arnis systems of the past.

Arnis was declared as the Philippines’ National sport and martial art on 11 December 2009. The
first national organization for Arnis is the National Arnis Association of the Philippines
(NARAPHIL) which was founded in 1975 by Gen. Fabian C. Ver. 

However, its existence faded post the Philippine Revolution in 1986. The two major types of
Arnis practiced as sports are the system followed by WEKAF (World Eskrima Kali Arnis
Federation) which was established in 1989, and is recognized internationally; and the other
system followed by Arnis Philippines (ARPI), established in 1986, which was used prominently
during the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

1. World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (“WEKAF”) 

WEKAF is the most common system of Arnis art which is used internationally. It was
established in 1989.  The system works on the 10-point ‘must’ system that is quite similar
to boxing. Here, the participants spar with live sticks wearing a long padded vest, skirts and
sleeves. In this system, hitting below the thigh is strictly prohibited. This system emphasizes
heavy offence at the expense of defensive techniques, and the combatants are seen hitting each
other in a disorganized manner. Hence, the "four-second rule" according to which the
participants were forbidden to use the same strike for more than twice in succession. This system
is preferred by participants who want to test themselves.   

2. Arnis Philippines System (“ARPI”) 

The Arnis Philippines system was established before the WEKAF system (in 1986) and adapted

the scoring system similar to fencing. The matches are observed by multiple judges to mark fouls
and the loudness of the impact judges the strike strength. The participants score points by
disarming their opponent or by forcing them to step out of the ring. In
the ‘ARPI’ system, participants use padded sticks with light rattan cores (wooden stem) in place
of live sticks as they are tenderer and flex while attacking.

Objective

The sport Arnis is played between two fighters with a main objective of earning more points by
legally attacking the opponent with the help of stick. It is said that Arnis develops self-
discipline and control because this sport is a simple martial art and it is all about defending
oneself by using sticks.

Participants

For individual category event in Arnis, one player is selected per team and for team

category, three players are selected per team.

ARNIS EQUIPMENT

Arnis / Kali / Eskrima are all part of the same art depending on the location, dialect and type of
training. The one interpretation common to all of them is that Kali is the mother
art of Arnis and Eskrima. Moreover, Arnis focuses on the knife, including the dagger, sword, and
any other form of bladed weapon whereas Eskrima is based on the ‘baston’ or stick. Therefore,
the equipment used in Arnis is:

1) Impact Weapon:

Baston: This is the most basic and common weapon in Arnis. Traditional common materials used

for wooden bastons are usually rattan, kamagong, and bahi wood. It is also available in modern
materials such as fiberglass and plastics and in metals like aluminum.

Rattan: This is usually constructed from a stem of Southeast Asian vine. This stem
is hard and durable yet lightweight that makes the weapon useful for defense against blades. At
present, fighters use padded Bastons. The Baston (Baton) is about 28 inches (71 cm) in length.
Kamagong (also known as Mabolo): This is a dark, dense, expensive type of wood known for its
hardness and weight. Kamagong is also an endangered species of ebony wood.
Bahi: Bahi is a type of wood made from the heart of a palm tree. It is similar to kamagong but is
made of a porous material in weight and density.

2) Edged Weapons: Knife, dagger, spear, etc. are edged weapons used throughout the history for
combat, hunting and ceremonies.

3) Head Gear: It is a necessity in Arnis combat. It is covered with high-grade

leatherette and vinyl that is printed with ethnic art. Its materials provide
vital protection from head strikes and a multi-thickness metal frame is developed for impact
protection.

4) Body Armor: It is designed specially to provide complete upper body protection while

allowing mobility and protection. The armor is usually made of hard
plastic and vinyl for lightness and the lower panels are extended downwards to provide extra
coverage.

5) Leg Guard: These guards can be used to protect both thigh and the shin area and are not only

designed for protection but also for comfort and practicality.

6) Groin: It is a special padding for the lower abdomen. It has a groin cup to provide complete

protection to the groin area.

7) Hand Gloves: It is a thick rubber protection which serves as a protection from strikes as the

stick is held in hand. Its open palm design ensures a stable grip and finger flexibility for impact
absorption.

8) Arnis Clothing: The basic Arnis Uniform is made from twill fabric, which maintains

durability and comfort. It is specially designed after the classic Arnis uniform with Velcro
straps to close the flaps easily.
BASIC STANCES OF ARNIS

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.
Arnis incorporates 3 methods: espada y daga (sword and dagger), solo baston (single stick) and
sinawali (to weave) which uses two sticks

The 12 Basic Striking Techniques of Arnis

Left Temple Strike

From the forward stance, twist your wrist to an angle of 1 o’clock as you pull your hand towards
your shoulders to prepare for a strike. Swing your arm in the 1 o’clock direction in a slashing
action while placing the other hand on your chest. The action should be a diagonal downward
swing to the left temple of the enemy.

Right Temple Strike

This strike is similar to the left temple strike. The strike movement follows the 11 o’clock angle
while the free hand is placed on the chest. This strike is a diagonal downward backhand swing to
the right temple of the enemy.

Left Torso Strike

The left torso strike involves the practitioner to extend the lead hand when striking to deliver
maximum force. This strike is a diagonal forehand slashing swing towards any part of the body
between the shoulder and the hips. When swinging the lead hand, the turning force must initially
come from the rear foot, then followed by the hip rotation to make the blow more effective.

Right Torso Strike

Just like the left torso strike, again the practitioner will extend the weapon hand to strike any part
of the body on the right side between the shoulder and the hips. The arm movement is a
backhand slashing swing.

Thrust Strike

This strike is a powerful thrust to the solar plexus of the opponent. It can cause fatal damage to
the organs within the abdomen area. This move is most helpful when you notice that the
opponent is over-committing in his forward foot movement when striking. This is an effective
counter against a temple strike, but remember to never stretch out when doing the thrust strike.

The force of the attack should come more from the momentum of the opponent coming forward,
and it should be more of a counter. Using it as a casual strike opens up the body to attacks from
the opponent.
 Left
Chest Stab

This strike involves extending the arm in a thrusting motion with the palm facing outward
towards the left chest of the opponent.

Right Chest Stab

This strike is similar to the left chest stab, but aim the thrust to the right chest of the opponent.
When done right, the opponent’s lungs will be damaged, which will make it hard for him to
breathe and even cause death.

Left Leg Strike

This technique involves striking the opponent’s lower leg, usually the knee or ankle, to
immobilize him. It is necessary to lower your lead leg and strike in a downward diagonal
slashing motion to the opponent’s leg with the palm facing upward. In traditional Arnis, the aim
of the technique is to just hit any part of the leg.

However, in Modern Arnis and Jeet-Kune-Do, the left leg strike should be aimed 6 inches above
the knee where a pressure point exists. When hit correctly, one blow could immobilize the
opponent.

Right Leg Strike

This technique is similar to the left leg strike but aims the strike at the right leg of the opponent.
The motion of this technique is a diagonal downward backhand swing.

Left Eye Poke

This technique is similar to the left chest stab but with the strike aimed at the left eye socket. The
goal of this attack is to take away the opponent’s vision and thus, ending the fight faster.

Right Eye Poke

Just like the left eye poke, this technique takes away the opponent’s vision. However, this
technique is aimed at the right eye of the opponent.
Sinawali is a method of striking and connecting with a target in a very organized way.

Single sinawali is about single-motion striking: one arm strikes high, medium, low in sequence.

Double sinawali is about double-motion striking: both arms working in a loop and in a parallel
but opposite motion, i.e., as one strikes, the other is cocked, ready to strike. Sinawali is an
efficient defense and offense against multiple targets because of the multiple strikes it can
generate in a short amount of time and at various levels (high, medium, low). Sinawali can be
executed wildly with extended arm movements in order to strike undefined targets, or more
conservatively with small/short arm/wrist movements in order to strike specific targets.