History of Arnis

History of Arnis

• Arnis is a traditional martial art in the Philippines
• It existed before the archipelago was discovered
• Lapu-Lapu exposed this art when he defeated Ferdinand Magellan during the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521
• Miguel de Legaspi landed in Abuyog Leyte in April 1564
• He befriended warrior chief Malitik to avoid Magellan's fate
• Legaspi witnessed the native's fighting skills in demos
• Originally named "Kali," Arnis developed during the Spanish regime
• Spain colonized the archipelago by religion and weapons
• The archipelago was renamed "Philippines”
• Arnis de Mano" became known due to Spanish influence, along with “Estokada,” “Estoque,” and “Fraile.”
• In 1764, Arnis practice was prohibited because Spaniards thought natives were wasting time instead of tilling, but Filipinos practiced in secret
• Natives used "bahi," "kamagong," "rattan" or "oway" during training
• The fighting system was renamed "Arnis" in 1873, from "Arnes," referring to colorful trapping on defensive armors

Regional Names

• Tagalogs called it “Pananandata”
• Pangasinan natives called it “Kalirongan."
• Ilocanos used “Didya" or "Kabaraon”
• Ibanags named it “Pagkalikali.”
• Pampaguenos used the term “Sinawali”
• Visayan natives used “Kaliradman” or "Pagaradman,” and later “Esgrima” or “Eskrima.”
• "Eskrima" means a game between combatants using blunt instruments and was derived from Spanish roots
• Eskrima was popularized during the American period
• The first Arnis organization was established in Cebu City in 1920: the Labangan Fencing Club
• Due to political issues, it dissolved in 1931, and in 1932 Eulogio Canete founded the Doce Pares Club

NARAPHIL and ARPHI

• In 1975, General Fabian Ver established the National Arnis Association of the Philippines (NARAPHIL) to unite Arnis groups
• General Ver was exiled, and in July 1986, another organization Arnis Philippines (ARPHI), was formed with the same objective

Early Competitions

• First Asian Martial Arts Festival in Manila (1976)
• First National Arnis Festival in Cebu City (1976)
• First National Open Championships in March 1979
• First National Invitational Tournament in August 1979
• First World Eskrima Kali Arnis Championships in Manila on August 11-13, 1989
• 78 delegates from 10 countries, led by Dionisio “Diony” Canete, approved the creation of the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF)

Modern History

• Modern Arnis was founded by Remy Amador Presas as a self-defense system
• His aim was to create safe training and preserve the older arnis system
• The style came from his family's Presas style of bolo and Balintawak Eskrima
• Remy Presas learned Shotokan karate, Judo, and other Filipino systems like Venancio Bacon's Balintawak
• He moved to Manila in 1969 and formed the Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines
• Presas continued to develop his art in North America
• Jujitsu was added as modifications, maintaining a focus on single stick and self-defense
• Modern arnis includes the anyo (kata), solo forms with/without a stick
• Remy Presas was recognized as the “Father of Modern Arnis."
• Arnis became the National Sport when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9850 in 2009, mandating Arnis as a Physical Education course

Equipment and Attire

• Olisi or baston: rattan or hardwood, 75 cm long, 2.4 cm diameter, 200 gms
• Daga or baraw: knife or dagger-shaped hardwood, 25-32 cm long
• Uniform: Loose garments of strong fabric
• T-shirt recommended during workouts
• Belt: hard cloth indicating grade/rank, 4.5-6 cm wide
• Ranks: Novice Level 1 (White), Novice Level 2 (Yellow), Intermediate Level 1 (Green), Intermediate Level 2 (Blue), Advance (Brown), Masters (Black)
• Armor: headgear, body protector, and gloves of hard foam, leather, or leatherette
• Covers body, head, neck, arm, hands, upper leg, and genitals
• Required for full contact sparring or competition

Benefits of Arnis

• Effective self-defense
• Contributes to physical fitness
• Develops mental qualities (alertness and precision)
• Builds character traits (self-confidence, self-control, and discipline)
• Increases mental strength and courage
• Develops perseverance
• Improves reflexes

Terminologies in Arnis

• Abaniko: fan-like side motions for blocking
• Anyo: informal dance movements also called form or sayaw
• Arko: circular strikes; sirkulo
• Arnis: FMA term in Northern Philippines; synonymous with escrima or kali.
• Arnisador: stick fighter
• Banda y banda: side slashes or strikes
• Baston: stick used in FMA
• Blocking: stopping or striking an attack
• Butt: punyo of the stick near the handle
• Daga: knife or dagger
• Disarming: taking weapon away from opponent
• Espada y daga: sword and dagger used together
• Estokada: one stick, two-man training drills
• Flywheel - series of backhand arkos.
• Gripping refers to the way the olisi is hold by the hand.
• 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 an upward and downward slash or strike delivered in an X pattern.
• Saludo- salutation.
• Sirkulo- series of curving strikes such as witik, abaniko, media, arko, bartikal redoble etc.
• Slash also known as cut, a strike normally delivered in a descending or ascending direction.
• Stances - refers to different footwork used in arnis.
• Sungkiti - a hooking strike
• Sinawali - lit. "to weave," connoting the continuous weaving motion that one uses with two batons, knives or hands to couple simultaneous strikes and blocks.
• Thrust- S strike that used the top end or the tip of the olisi hitting the target.
• Witik- short curving snap strike from the wrist that creates a whip-like motion.