Arnis Stick: Parts and Uses

Parts of the Arnis Stick and Its Uses

• It is useful to compare the parts of an arnis stick to bladed weapons like bolos, parangs, or long swords when examining them
• Visualizing an arnis stick as a bladed weapon helps students practice striking and blocking techniques
• Knowing which side of a weapon is for cutting and which is blunt helps develop proper striking and blocking form when applied to a stick

Arnis Stick Head

• Can be used for thrusting and striking
• Like blades, the pointed head concentrates force for piercing
• Ideal for striking due to the law of potential energy
• Delivers greater impact because most potential energy concentrates at the stick's end

Arnis Stick Body

• Unlike bladed weapons, the stick's body is round and blunt
• It is useful for blocking, countering, and deflecting strikes
• It can also be used to lock hands, elbows, and shoulders effectively when leveraged against joints or pressure points

Other Uses of the Stick Body

• Includes choking, as the hard material of the stick is more effective than a forehand
• Useful for throwing and clinching opponents

Arnis Stick Butt

• Though small, it can inflict damage effectively
• Ideally, maintain about 2 inches of distance from the butt's tip to the hands' tip
• Used for butt strikes targeting the eyes and face on the head, or ribs and solar plexus on the body
• In the lower body, butting usually targets the groin
• Other uses include parrying, clearing, grabbing, disarming, and applying pressure to vital points

Stances in Filipino Martial Arts

• Stances are a way of standing or being placed
• They allow martial to remain standing, maintain balance while moving, and stay in a steady position
• Proper stances are crucial in martial arts
• They also develop form and maneuverability

Stances Develop Form and Power

• Correct stance is the foundation of correct form
• Training for proper form begins with awareness of correct stance, body shift, and hand placement
• Correct stance enables correct form, which provides power for every strike and block

Stances Maintain Stability and Balance

• Allows one to maintain stability and balance when performing techniques
• Correct body weight or center of gravity placement based on stance
• Consistent practice with proper stance enables dynamic body weight shifting to avoid being unbalanced

Stances for Maneuverability

• Facilitates movement from one position to another, achieved through foot placement
• Involves different maneuvers/footwork like striking, blocking, and evasive maneuvers
• Knowing how to utilize stances in order to move is as important as the technique itself

Basic Strikes of Filipino Martial Arts

• Strikes are used for Anyo forms
• Forehand & Backhand Strikes target the temple, shoulder, and knee
• Sungkiti (Thrusting) targets the eyes, chest, and stomach
• Butt/Punyo targets the temple and frontal areas
• Ekis/X-Strikes involve a diagonal downward motion
• Aldabis/Bartikal Rodoble/Otso-Otso are performed with a diagonal downward motion
• Banda y Banda/Plansta Strikes utilize horizontal inward/outward motions and diagonal downward motions
• Arko/Arco/Doblete/San Miguel Strikes include horizontal inward/outward, diagonal downward, and upward (outward/inward) motions
• Rompida Strikes include vertical downward/upward and horizontal inward motions

Common Filipino Martial Arts Strikes

• Ekis strike (X-strikes) involves striking/slashing with a diagonal downward motion
• Aldabis strikes (reverse ekis strike) is where you strike/slash using a diagonal motion upward toward the opponent
• Apply this technique to counter or attack the opponent when the hand is in downward position

Banda y Banda Strikes

• Strikes involve an inward and outward horizontal motion
• Rompida/Vertical strikes involve a vertical motion upward and downward
• Arco/Arco strikes (inward & outward strikes) strike/slash using an inward and outward circular motion towards the opponent

Arnis Sinawali

• Double-cane fighting method in arnis, escrima, and kali
• Named after Tagalog word "sawali"
• Woven split bamboo mats used as walls of nipa huts
• Crisscrossing movements mimic the mats' pattern, and developing strength and coordination for both hands is an additional benefit
• Drills relate the movement of thee weak hand to that of the strong hand hence promoting ambidexterity.

Single Sinawali Applications

• The posture involves fighting stance, execute a forehand strike, target the left temple with your right hand, then a backhand strike (target the right knee) with your right hand, and vice versa with your left hand.
• The posture involves a fighting stance execute a forehand strike; target the right temple with your left hand, then a backhand strike (target the left knee) with your left hand, and vice versa with your right hand.

Advanced Single Sinawali

• Strike left temple with the right forehand, then lay it on the left shoulder
• Strike downward to the right knee, returning to the left shoulder and striking the right temple with the left hand
• Strike the right temple with the left hand then lay it on the right shoulder
• Strike downward to the right knee, return to the right shoulder, and strike the right temple with your left hand

Double Sinawali

• The strike stance involves the left backhand inward when the right body position is selected and position , the right forehand is ready to hit
• Strike stance with the left backhand inward of the right body position, after that, place it on your left shoulder
• Follow through to the ready forehand striking position when you strike your left backhand on the left knee target.
• follow through to the ready forehand striking position when you strike your right backhand on the left knee target
• Return to Strike stance, with the left hand backhand inward of the right body position and the right forehand poised to strike.