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 sparing.
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 weigh or center of gravity to
both legs. Forward stance 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 toes are in
line to each other.
• Move on the same directions as the
leads 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.
Oblique Stance
• Distribute the weight or center of gravity
to both legs.
• Oblique stance 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 are commonly used for
forward blocking 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 from 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.
Back Stance
• 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.
Straddle Stance
• Starting with the ready stance, move
one foot about two (2) feet to left or
the right direction until both lower leg
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 over wise it will be hard to
maneuver.
Straddle Stance
• 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 stance are commonly used for

blocking the strikers to the side of the
body.
 ARNIS
THE 12 VITAL STRIKING POINTS
OF THE BODY
1 2 3

LEFT TEMPLE RIGHT TEMPLE LEFT SHOULDER

4 5 6

RIGHT SHOULDER STOMACH LEFT CHEST

7 8 9

RIGHT CHEST LEFT KNEE RIGHT KNEE

10 11 12

LEFT EYE RIGHT EYE CROWN/HEAD

 AREA TYPE OF STRIKE REACTIONS
USED
1. Left Temple Strike No. 1 Fatal. The least it will cause
is internal hemorrhage in
the brain or skull fracture.
2. Right Temple Strike No. 2 Same as in No. 1
3. Left Shoulder Strike No. 3 Numbing pain. It may also
cripple the shoulder.
4. Right Shoulder Strike No. 4 Same as No. 3
 AREA TYPE OF STRIKE REACTIONS
USED
5. Stomach Strike No. 5 Crippling pain and could
be fatal.
6. Left Chest Strike No. 6 Could be fatal.
7. Right Chest Strike No. 7 Could be fatal.
8. Right Knee Strike No. 8 Dislocation or fracture.
May also cripple.
 AREA TYPE OF STRIKE REACTIONS
USED
9. Left Knee Strike No. 9 Same as in No. 8

10. Left Eye Strike No. 10 Serious damage to the eye.

11. Right Eye Strike No. 11 Same as in No. 10

12. Crown Strike No. 12 Fatal.

 AREA REACTIONS
Nose Excruciating pain with the
breaking of the nose.
Back of the neck Fatal.
Side of the neck Fatal.
Adam’s apple Fatal.
Solar Plexus Excruciating pain and could
be fatal.
 AREA REACTIONS
Side below the last rib Excruciating pain and breaking of
the rib. One should note that the
last rib is very vulnerable because
it is hanging.
Lower Abdomen Paralyzing and could possibly
cause permanent injury. Could be
also fatal.
Groin and Testicles Fatal.
Shin Sharp pain and numbing.