Arnis: Filipino Martial Art

• Arnis is a Filipino martial art and the national sport of the Philippines.
• Other names are Kali or Eskrima.
• Arnis utilizes sticks, knives, and other weapons for both defense and attack.

Etymology

• Kali most likely originates from the pre-Hispanic Filipino term for blades and fencing.
• Eskrima, also spelled escrima, derives from the Spanish word for fencing.

History

• Arnis comes from the stick-fighting techniques of indigenous Filipinos.
• During the Spanish rule, it was forced underground.
• Remy Presas developed Modern Arnis in the 1960s.
• In 2009, Arnis was declared the national martial art and sport of the Philippines.

Techniques

• Arnis involves swinging, twirling, striking, thrusting, and parrying techniques.
• Arnis includes hand-to-hand combat, joint locks, and weapon disarming techniques.
• Arnis techniques flow from one to the next, inflicting more damage and gaining greater control of the opponent.

Benefits

• Arnis provides self-defense skills, physical fitness, flexibility, and injury resistance.
• Arnis emphasizes discipline and moral values.

Other Names

• Garrote, Pananandata, Pagkalikali, Kabaraon, Kalirongan, Kaliradman, and Didja are other names for Arnis.

Ready Stance

• Stand with feet apart parallel to the shoulder with toes pointing forward.
• Knees should be straight, waist and body facing forward.
• Hands at waist level, holding sticks on both sides.
• Commonly used when standing at ease.

Attention Stance

• Stand with feet at a 45-degree angle, heels close together.
• Knees should be straight, waist and body facing forward.
• Shoulders are dropped to the side, with both hands at waist level.
• This stance is used in preparation for courtesy or bowing at the start of sparring.

Forward Stance

• Start with the ready stance, move one foot forward until the knee and the toe are in line.
• Maintain body tinting in front, ensure neither the body nor the lead foot are overly extended to maintain maneuverability.
• Distribute weight or center of gravity to both legs.
• A forward stance can lead with the right foot (Right Foot Forward Stance) or the left foot (Left Foot Forward Stance).
• Commonly used with frontal striking or blocking techniques.

Straddle Stance

• Start with the ready stance, move one foot about two feet to the left or right direction until both lower legs are almost perpendicular to the ground.
• Both toes should point in front, with the waist and body facing forward.
• Maintain body position to avoid being too low or extended for maneuverability, and distribute weight or center of gravity to both legs.
• A Straddle stance is also called Horseback Riding Stance as it mimics the position on horseback.
• Commonly used for blocking strikes to the side of the body.

Side Stance

• Starting with the ready stance, move one foot about two feet to the left or right direction.
• Ensure one leg is grounded perpendicularly while the other is extended, positioning for potential side kicks.
• Maintain both toes pointing forward, with the waist and body facing forward while avoiding being too low or extended.
• 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.
• Feet should form an imaginary "T" shape.
• Avoid being too low or extended and distribute weight evenly, the body's center of gravity must sit in both legs.
• Back stances can be right foot lead (Right Foot Back Stance) or left foot lead (Left Foot Back Stance).
• Back stances are used for blocking and backward movements.

Solo Baston

• Solo Baston is one of three major fighting systems of arnis.
• It involves various systems of fighting using a long stick weapon.
• While named solo baston, it is not limited to sticks; bladed weapons, umbrellas and walking sticks can be used.

Sinawali

• "Sinawali" refers to weaving and Philippine martial art Eskrima two-person, two-weapon exercises.
• Sinawali exercises teach basic Eskrima skills/motions with a two-weapon blocking and response method, Doblete.

Single Sinawali

• Swing cane to strike opponent's temple, withdraw cane.
• Swing down to strike opponent's knee, withdraw cane, place above shoulder.
• Strike opponent's right temple with right cane, withdraw right hand passing the left shoulder, and strike opponent's knee.
• Withdraw right hand, position it above the left shoulder, and strike opponent's temple, advancing in Single Sinawali.

Double Sinawali

• Strike the opponent's temple using the right cane.
• Then, withdraw it and place it below the left armpit and strike the opponent's temple using the left cane.
• After that, withdraw it, then place it above the right shoulder and strike the opponent's knee using the right cane.
• After performing that, place the right cane above your right shoulder, then hit the opponent's knee using the left cane and then position it above the left shoulder.

Redonda

• Start with the right cane over the right shoulder and the other one under the right armpit.
• Swing the right cane diagonally forward and position it above the left shoulder.
• Swing the left cane diagonally forward and position it above the left shoulder.
• Swing the right cane downward then position it below the left armpit.
• Swing the left cane diagonally forward and position it over the head afterwards.
• Swing the right cane diagonally forward then position it above the right shoulder and the other hand under the right armpit.