History of Arnis

History of Arnis

• Declared as the national martial art and sport of the Philippines by Republic Act No. 9850.
• Palarong Pambansa features Arnis as the first competitive sport among participating teams.
• Originated as a combat method using daggers, swords, and sticks; rooted in Indonesian cakalele silat.
• Also known as Eskrima or Kali, Arnis was preserved through dance, mock battles, and religious plays during Spanish colonization.
• Regional names for Arnis include Pananandata (Tagalog), Pagkalikali (Ibanog), Kalidaran (Bisaya), Didja (Ilocano), Kabaraon, and Kalingoran (Pangasinan).

Arnis Equipment

• Sticks are typically made of rattan, ranging from 12-36 inches in length and 3/4 - 1 inch in diameter; standard length is 28 inches.
• Other equipment includes bladed weapons such as bolo, itak (machete), daggers, knives, or long poles.
• Training attire consists of a white T-shirt, red loose pants, and belts.

Arnis Posture

• Front Facing: Directly faces the opponent.
• Half Front: Body oriented at a 45-degree angle to either side.
• Side Facing: Entire body faces either right or left.

Arnis Courtesy

• The attention stance (Pugay) signifies respect towards opponents or partners, emphasizing sportsmanship and tradition.

Arnis Grip

• A correct grip is crucial for power and control; hold the stick about a fist's distance from the bottom with a closed grip using the thumb.

Arnis Stances

• Attention Stance (handa): Relaxed hands at the sides, heels together, feet at a 45-degree angle.
• Open-leg Stance: Legs shoulder-width apart, toes slightly outward.
• Straddle Stance: Legs spread twice shoulder width, knees bent, balance weight evenly.
• Forward Stance: One leg steps forward, body angled and cane held diagonally.
• Back Stance: One foot back in L-shape, weight ratio 70-30% between rear and front legs.
• Oblique Stance: Foot steps obliquely while maintaining the L-shape.

Arnis Forms of Play

• Solo Baston: Play with a single stick.
• Espada y Daga: Involves a long wooden sword and a short wooden dagger.
• Sinawali: Use of two sticks representing criss-cross patterns similar to native house walling material.

Vital Striking Points

• Twelve critical striking points in the human body can inflict severe harm:
  • Left/Right temple
  • Left/Right shoulder
  • Stomach
  • Left/Right chest
  • Left/Right knee
  • Left/Right eye
  • Crown

Striking Techniques

• Techniques focus on targeted strikes, beginning with specific positioning of the stick and body, which enhances effectiveness and force during attacks.