History of Arnis

History of Arnis

• Arnis, a traditional Philippine martial art, predates the discovery of the archipelago.
• Lapu-Lapu, the chieftain of Mactan, is believed to have introduced Arnis to the world by defeating Ferdinand Magellan on April 27, 1521.
• Miguel De Legaspi landed in Abuyog Leyte in April 1564, befriending warrior chief Malitik to avoid Magellan's fate.
• De Legaspi witnessed the natives' fighting skills and later met Chief Tupas in Sugbo, taking a non-hostile approach.
• Originally named "Kali", Arnis was developed during the Spanish regime.
• The Spaniards colonized the Philippines and named it after King Philip of Spain.
• Due to Spanish influence, Kali became known as "Arnis de Mano" and acquired names like "Estokada", "Estoque", and "Fraile”.
• In 1764, Arnis was prohibited because of its fighting techniques so Filipinos practiced secretly.
• Natives used wooden pieces called "bahi" or "kamagong," or bamboo-like materials "rattan" or "oway" during training.
• In 1873, the fighting system was renamed "Arnis," from "Arnes" which means armor used in Moro-Moro plays.
• The Tagalogs called it “Pananandata’", Pangasinan natives called it “Kalirongan", Ilocanos called it “Didya" or "Kabaraon”, Ibanags named it “Pagkalikali"
• Pampaguenos used the term “Sinawali” while the visayan natives utilized the term “Kaliradman” or "Pagaradman” or “Eskrima.”
• "Eskrima" is derived from Spanish, meaning a game between two combatants with blunt instruments.
• Eskrima was popularized during the American period and the first Arnis organization, the Labangan Fencing Club, was established in Cebu City in 1920.
• The Labangan Fencing Club was dissolved in 1931, and Eulogio Canete founded the Doce Pares Club in 1932.
• In 1975, General Fabian Ver formed the National Arnis Association of the Philippines (NARAPHIL) which failed to unite all Arnis groups.
• After the EDSA Revolution, General Ver was exiled, and Arnis Philippines (ARPHI) was formed in July 1986.
• Early Arnis competitions included the First Asian Martial Arts Festival in Manila (1976), First National Arnis Festival in Cebu City (1976), and the First World Eskrima Kali Arnis Championships in Manila (August 11-13, 1989).
• The World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) was established by 78 delegates from 10 countries, led by lawyer Dionisio “Diony” Canete.

Modern History

• Modern Arnis is a Filipino fighting art founded by Remy Amador Presas as a self defense system.
• Remy Presas aimed to create an injury-free but effective self-defense training method.
• The style is derived from the Presas family style of bolo (Machete) and Balintawak Eskrima, with influences from other Filipino and Japanese martial arts.
• Remy Presas studied his family's system, Shotokan karate, Judo, and Balintawak.
• Presas moved to Manila in 1969, forming the Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines.
• Presas continued to develop and spread his art through books and video tapes, later moving to North America.
• Modern Arnis grew by adding Jujitsu, but the focus remained on single stick and self-defense.
• Modern Arnis includes the use of anyo (kata), solo forms with and without the stick.
• Remy Presas was recognized as the “Father of Modern Arnis."
• Arnis became the National Sport with Republic Act No. 9850 in 2009.
• The Department of Education was mandated to include Arnis as a Physical Education course.

Equipment and Attire

• Olisi or baston
  • Made of rattan or hardwood
  • Ideal length of 75 cm
  • Diameter of about 2.4 cm
  • Weight of about 200 gms
• Daga or baraw
  • Knife or dagger shaped piece of hardwood
  • Length between 25 and 32 cm.
• Uniform
  • Loose garments of strong fabric for free body movements
  • T-shirt recommended during regular workout session
• Belt
  • Color of cloth varies to indicate grade or rank
  • Ideal width of 4.5 to 6 cm
  • Arnis players start with the rank Novice Level 1 (White Belt), Novice Level 2 (Yellow Belt), Intermediate Level 1 (Green Belt), Intermediate Level 2 (Blue Belt), Advance Level (Brown Belt) and the Masters Level (Black Belt Degrees)
• Armor
  • Headgear, body protector and gloves
  • Made of hard foam, leather or leatherette
  • Resistant to hard striking blows or poundings
  • Designed to cover the body, head, neck, arm, hands, the upper leg area and genitals

Benefits of Arnis

• Effective self-defense
• Contributes to Physical Fitness
• Develops mental qualities like alertness and precision
• Acquires desirable traits like self-confidence, self-control, and discipline
• Develops mental strength and courage
• Develops virtue of perseverance
• Improves Reflexes

Terminologies in Arnis

• Abaniko: "fan" lateral side to side motions with a straightened arm as a blocking maneuver.
• Anyo: Also called form or sayaw; informal dance movements.
• Arko: A series of circular strikes called sirkulo.
• Arnis: Term used in the Northern Philippines for FMA, same as "escrima" and "kali".
• Arnisador: A stick fighter.
• Banda y banda: Back and forth side to side slashes or strikes.
• Baston: A stick or baton used in FMA.
• Blocking: Stopping or striking the attacking force.
• Butt: Punyo of the stick closer to the handle.
• Daga: Knife or dagger.
• Disarming: Wresting away a weapon from the opponent.
• Espada y daga: Sword (espada) and dagger (daga) used together.
• Estokada: Training drills one stick, two men.
• Flywheel: Series of backhand arkos.
• Gripping: The way the olisi is held.
• Kurbada: Curving strikes such as pronating or supinating strikes.
• Olisi: Baston, Cebuano term for stick.
• Plancha: Back and forward horizontal strikes to midsection.
• Redonda: Continuous drill employing two batons continuously.
• Redondo: A circular power strike.
• Rompida: Upward and downward slash or strike in an X pattern.
• Saludo: Salutation.
• Sirkulo: Series of curving strikes such as witik, abaniko, media, arko, bartikal redoble etc.
• Slash: A strike normally delivered in a descending or ascending direction.
• Stances: Footwork used in arnis.
• Sungkiti: A hooking strike
• Sinawali: "to weave," the continuous weaving motion with two batons, knives or hands.
• Thrust: Strike that uses the top end or the tip of the olisi.
• Witik: Short curving snap strike from the wrist.