PE Assignment

Arnis

Arnis de mano is the best known and the most systematic fighting art in the Philippines. It is a
perfected art after a long historical development from the kali systems designed to train the
student to defend thyself against armed or unarmed attacks.

History

Arnis, as a martial art, was spawned in Philippine soil. It was known in ancient Philippines
as kali, an ancient Malayan word that implies a large bladed weapon longer than a knife. This art
was practiced primarily for self-defense by the pre-Spanish Filipinos who were noted for their
friendly nature and legendary hospitality.

Even before the introduction of the bladed weapon, the early Filipinos were already a fighting
people using the bow and arrow or the longbow. The primitive Negritos, coming from Central
Asia during prehistoric times, were experts in these weapons.

Filipino heroes triumphantly waged their heroic battles through the power of the martial art
of Arnis. Bonifacio brandished a bolo in his famous "Cry of Balintawak." Kali (Arnis) was
known as the sport of kings and of the members of the royal blood. The first and foremost
experts of the art were the rajah and maharlika of the Visayas and Tagalog regions, Amandakwa
in Pangasinan, and Baruwang of the Cagayan Valley region.

Kali was a standard fighting technique in hand-to-hand combat of the Filipinos when they
revolted against Spain. However, the Spanish authorities discouraged the practice of kali (it was
eventually banned in 1764) as the said art was considered dangerous since they decreed that
natives found practicing kali would be considered Tulisanes or outlaws.
In 1637, the friars introduced the moro-moro, a play with fighting techniques using a sword.
With moro-moro, the Filipinos interest in kali was revived. In the play, Spanish soldiers fighting
for Christianity were supposed to wear arnes, a Spanish word for the English harness, the
colorful trappings worn by medieval soldiers. From the word arnes came the present Arnis. In
1853, the word kali was completely replaced by Arnis.

Arnis today has experienced changes in the weapons used. Although the art still makes use of the
bolo now and then, it has relied considerably on the use of the cane as a self-defense weapon. In
later years, Arnis is engaged in more as a sport. The antiquated techniques of the old Arnis have
been modernized to avoid injury to students and to teach discipline and other moral values are
impressed upon the students to strengthen not only the body but the spirit as well.

12 Striking techniques in Arnis

1) Left Side of the Head Attack

  From the fighting stance, the warrior will hold the stick with one hand at 1 o’
clock.

 He will then move the stick in a slashing action while keeping the free hand
on the chest.

 This is a diagonal downward forehand swing to the left temple.

2) Right Side of the Head Attack

 Like the left temple strike the warrior assumes fighting stance, this time with
the stick held at 11 o’clock and the free hand kept on the chest.

 The strike to the right temple is then done in a diagonal downward backhand
swing.

3) Left Side of the Body or Torso

 In this strike, the practitioner will extend the weapon hand.

 Then, he will proceed to strike any part of the trunk located between the
shoulder and the hips.

 The stick will be held in a diagonal forehand slashing swing.

 This is the way to deliver the maximum amount of damage.

4) Right Side of the Body or Torso

 The practitioner will extend the weapon hand to strike any part of the body
located on the right side between the shoulder and the hips.

 The weapon of choice will be moved in a backhand slashing swing.

5) Thrust to the Stomach

 This is a strong thrust to the solar plexus or the stomach and can cause fatal
damage to the vital organs in the abdomen.

 In this strike, the practitioner will thrust the weapon hand to the target point,
which is the solar plexus.

 It is then followed by an upward motion that will cut through the opponent’s
body.

6) Left Chest Stab

 In this strike, the practitioner will assume the fighting stance with the weapon
of choice in his hands.
  The weapon hand is then extended to the front with the palm facing outward
and the elbow kept up. This strike can cause real damage to the rib cage.

 A weapon like a knife, spear or sword will end your opponent’s life
immediately as it punctures the lungs and the heart.

7) Right Chest Stab

 After assuming fighting stance, the practitioner will practice the scooping
action.

 The weapon hand is then extended forward with the palm facing outward.

 The elbow should be kept up in order to deliver an efficient strike to the right
lung that will puncture it and end your opponent’s life immediately.

8) Left Lower Leg

 A practitioner here will try to deliver a powerful strike to the lower leg,
targeting the knee, the shin or the ankle.

 The aim of the strike is to throw your opponent off balance and immobilize
him.

 Using the right weapon, you might be able to break a bone or even cut a limb.

 The warrior is supposed to lower his body while extending the weapon arm.

 He should hold the palm upward and hit any part of the lower leg.

9) Right Lower Leg

 This strike is just like the previous one.

 The practitioner will extend the weapon hand and lower his body to hit the
knee, the shin or the ankle.

 This time the palm should face downward

10) Left Eye Poke

 A targeted thrust to the eye socket will not just blind your opponent, but will
also deliver real damage to the brain.

 Using a sharp weapon like a sibat or the right baston can end your opponent’s
life right there.

 The practitioner should assume fighting stance then extend the weapon hand
forward with the palm facing outward and the elbow kept down.
 11) Right Eye Poke

 This thrust is similar to the previous one except that the practitioner will have
to hold his elbow down.

 This will allow him to hit the eye precisely with the right weapon penetrating
all the way through to the brain.

12) Strike to the Crown/ Top of the Head

 This is a straight downward overhead swing directed towards the crown of the
head.

 Hitting the top of the head can immobilize your opponent, deliver damage to
the brain and throw him off balance.

 Using a real sharp or powerful weapon can even shatter the skull bones ending
the fight to your favor in a matter of seconds.

REFERENCES

Lum, P. (2015). Modern arnis history. Harrisburg Kung Fu Center Homepage. Retrieved from

https://www.hbgkungfu.com/arnis-history

Sterling, R. (2019, October 22). 12 Striking techniques in arnis – basic lessons. Martial Art

Skills. Retrieved from https://martialartskills.com/12-striking-techniques-in-arnis/