Yapsangco, Julius Vincent S.

3/24/2023
PATHFIT3-H1286
History and Background of Eskrima/Arnis/Kali
Eskrima, Arnis, and Kali are three names that collectively refer to the traditional Filipino
martial arts. This martial art's history is deeply entwined with that of the Philippines and the
numerous tribes' distinctive cultures. Eskrima is distinguished by the use of improvised
weapons like knives, sticks, and other implements. Among the three terms, Kali is the oldest
since it originates from the southern region of the Philippines where the natives speak the
native dialect, Cebuano. The name of the phrase derives from a Spanish term "esgrima," that
means "fencing."
During the colonial era (1521–1898), Spanish explorers uncovered indigenous Filipino
martial arts and tried to eradicate them by burning books and outlawing the use of the
Baybayin language. But by blending Kali motions into the pious Moro-Moro dances and
incorporating Baybayin into creative needlework, Filipinos managed to preserve the culture.
This endeavor to preserve Filipino culture gave rise to the third type, Arnis. The dances filled
with Kali and the adept hand movements mesmerized the Spaniards. They gave it the name
"arnes" after their hand armor. The term changed into "Arnis" through time.
Definition:

• Contemporary dance – It is an innovative kind of interpretative dance that combines

elements of jazz, modern dance, lyrical dance, classical ballet, and other disciplines.
Traditional dance forms' restrictions do not apply to this sort of dance, which
emphasizes floor work over leg work and pointe work.

• Folk Dance – It is the history of the people in movement. They are traditional dances of
a country which were evolved naturally and spontaneously in connection with everyday
activities and experiences of the people who developed them.

• Modern Dance – It is a type of dance that puts less emphasis on adhering to the strict
rules typical of many dance disciplines and more emphasis on the serious expression of
feelings through a free-flowing, interpretive approach. Modern dance was initially
formed at the beginning of the 20th century, and as time went on, it grew increasingly
entwined with other dance forms like jazz, ballet, and tap. Some dancers now perform
in both modern and classical dance forms, using methods from both.

• Swing Dance – It is a fun kind of social dancing where the dancer frequently lifts, spins,
and flips the other person. Swing dancing is a popular among social dancers of all ages
since it is regarded as both trendy and fashionable.
 References:

Bedinghaus, T. (2018, August 12). What Is Swing Dance? LiveAbout.

https://www.liveabout.com/what-is-swing-dance-
1007192#:~:text=Swing%20dance%20is%20a%20lively%20style%20of%20social,a%20favorite%
20among%20social%20dancers%20of%20all%20ages.
FOLK DANCE DEFINITION, CHARACTERISTICS, OBJECTIVES, TERMS. (n.d.-b). Scribd.
https://www.scribd.com/document/443044745/FOLK-DANCE-DEFINITION-CHARACTERISTICS-
OBJECTIVES-TERMS#
Martial, B. (2018, November 14). The History behind Eskrima, Arnis, and Kali - Martial Tribes.
Martial Tribes. https://www.martialtribes.com/history-behind-eskrima-arnis-kali2/
MasterClass. (2021, December 7). What Is Contemporary Dance? A History of Contemporary
Dance - 2023 - MasterClass. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-contemporary-
dance
What is Modern Dance? (2023, March 13). Musical Expert.
https://www.musicalexpert.org/what-is-modern-dance.htm