History of arnis in the Philippines and it's benefits in our society and

education

MEMBERS :
Chavez, Joshua
Mandanas, Gabriel
Marudo, Robert
Miñoza, Marbel

Section:
BS Crim 1 - Echo

Submitted to :
Sir. Agoncillo, Alex
 HISTORYOFARNIS

The History of Arnis dates back before the colonization of the Spaniards, during those
periods it was called Kali and the techniques of the art is focused on bladed weapons
fighting. Kali was widely practiced throughout the archipelago; both nobleman and
commoners were enthusiast and practitioners of the said art. Also during those days
Kali is being taught in a school like training grounds, which was called Bothoan along
with military tactics, Alibata (Native Alphabet), and herbal medicines.

On the dawn of April 27, 1521 the Portuguese navigator and warrior named Ferdinand
Magellan was defeated by a native warrior chief named Lapu-lapu this was the recorded
incident which Kali was used against foreign invaders. Forty years after that event, on
April of 1564 another warrior navigator from Spain named Miguel De Legaspi landed in
Abuyog Leyte Philippines. He was aware of the unfortunate fate of Magellan so took a
non-hostile approach to avoid battle with the native. He befriend the warrior chief
Malitik, it is at this point he witnessed the deadly fighting skills of the natives through a
demo to entertain them. Afterwards he traveled to the nearby island of Sugbo and met
another warrior chief named Tupas, he took a non-hostile approach to again avoid
confrontation. For the second time he witnessed the formidable fighting techniques of
the natives through a demo.
Years have passed by Spain was able to colonize the Archipelago thru the use of
religion and what was then regarded as modern weapons such as Muskets and
cannons. The Spaniards claimed the Archipelago and named it “Philippines” in honor of
the King Philip of Spain. This was the start of the dark age of Kali, in the year 1764 the
Spanish overlords banned the practice of Kali to the natives. Using the alibi that the
natives were wasting time practicing it instead of tilling the fields. However the natives
knew too well that their colonizers were just afraid that such skills would be used in a
revolution against them because due to oppression the revolutionaries were gaining
support from the natives.

The natives, hidden from the watchful eyes of their colonizers, practiced Kali secretly.
Due to some cultural influence of the Spaniards the term Escrima, Estoque, Fraile, and
Kaliradman were used to regard the native fighting system. It was also during these
period when the natives were able to develop the stick fighting techniques of the art,
which was proven to be as versatile as the bladed weapons technique. Even the Moro-
Moro stage play to entertain the colonizers was utilized as an excuse to practice the
fighting system.

In 1873 the fighting system was renamed “Arnis” derived from the word Arnes which
means colorful trapping on defensive armors used on the Moro-Moro plays. Some of the
heroes of the Philippine revolution were also practitioners of Arnis namely Andres
Bonifacio, the spouses Diego and Gabriela Silang, and the young General Gregorio Del
Pilar. The National Hero Jose Rizal was also reported to practice the fighting system. As
well as the founder of Aglipayan Church Rev. Gregorio Aglipay was also recorded as a
practitioner of the art.

After hundreds of years with Spanish colonization the Japanese invaders took their
place to invade the Philippines during the World War II, again experts of the native
fighting arts were called upon to fight for the country’s freedom. Kali, Escrima or Arnis
whichever term the individual prefer to use was once again employed on the battlefield.
It’s efficiency was put to a test again but this time against the Japanese invaders.
The Filipinos fought side by side with the Americans. Natives with skills in the fighting
art signed up to be freedom fighters known as “Guerillas”. It is also these “Guerillas”
who were usually front liners during the encounter and they were usually sent on a
commando mission for reconnaissance against the Japanese.

Arnis was developed by the indigenous populations of the Philippines, who used an
assorted range of weaponry for combat and self-defense. Encompassing both simple
impact and edged weapons, arnis traditionally involved rattan, swords, daggers and
spears.

In 1521, equipped with nothing more than bladed weapons and their fearsome arnis
abilities, Filipino islanders defeated Ferdinand Magellan’s armored, musket-bearing
Spanish conquistador forces when they tried to invade.

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Arnis: The Philippines' National Sport and Martial Art

Arnis enjoys the status of the de jure national sport of the Philippines. It is a martial art
characterized by the use of “swinging and twirling movements, accompanied by striking,
thrusting and parrying techniques for defense and offense.” Having been handed down
from generation to generation for centuries, the discipline hones the skill, speed,
accuracy and agility of its practitioners.

Arnis was developed by the indigenous populations of the Philippines, who used an
assorted range of weaponry for combat and self-defense. Encompassing both simple
impact and edged weapons, arnis traditionally involved rattan, swords, daggers and
spears.

In 1521, equipped with nothing more than bladed weapons and their fearsome arnis
abilities, Filipino islanders defeated Ferdinand Magellan’s armored, musket-bearing
Spanish conquistador forces when they tried to invade.
When the Spanish eventually returned and successfully conquered parts of the
Philippines, the traditions of arnis were preserved, despite its prohibition, in the forms of
ritual dance, performance and mock battles. While earlier Filipino martial arts were
influenced by Spanish colonization, the modern forms have been affected by the
country’s contact with both the United States and Japan after gaining independence in
1898. Just over a century later, in 2009, the government of the Philippines declared
arnis to be the martial art and national sport of the Philippines.
Culture and traditions

Arnis is otherwise known as eskrima, kali and garrote, and by even more names in

different Filipino regional languages. Although Spanish influence had a pacifying effect
on Filipino martial culture, the original warrior ethos has persisted and remains on the
fringes of the art. Arnis “death-matches” were outlawed as late as 1945 yet, as Mark V.
Wiley explains in Filipino Martial Culture, they still take place in private today.

As an arnisador (practitioner of arnis), it gives me joy to see other people getting

interested in the Philippines’ National Martial Art and Sport, as declared by Republic Act
No. 9850. Not because they have joined me in the bandwagon but because we are now
one in the desire to practice and propagate arnis. As a form of self-defense, we all want
to make ourselves prepared against attack and aggression. As a means of maintaining
good health, arnis forms part of our physical fitness regimen.
With the permission of their parents, my university students are now members of my
SanDaTa (’Sang DaluhongnaTapang) Arnis Club. They know that trainings are free of
charge and are conducted only after classes. I let them borrow some of my sticks, if
they have none. It is very interesting to note that they are not the prominent students in
the campus. They are not athletic, muscular or tall. But they have one thing in common:
They are aware of the dangers that they may encounter every day. Many of them told
me that they have already experienced threat and intimidation on the streets. One of
them has been held up and her wallet and cellular phones were forcibly taken from her.
I told her, together with her fellow members, that learning arnis or any other form of
martial art does not give her the go-signal to always resist and fight an attacker. It is
very important to first assess the situation, as fast as possible. It means that the victim
must determine, as early as possible, whether the aggressor only intends to take her
belongings or really desires to take even her life. Although one may be a well-trained
practitioner, she must not put her life at risk just because she does not want to lose her
material belongings. What is important is to preserve life. Hence, arnis and other martial
arts are known as forms of self-defense. They are not used to bully or intimidate
innocent and weak people.
With regular training, an arnisador refines his skills and techniques. These, coupled with
the desire to maintain peace inside and outside his home, give him the intelligence to
determine imminent danger and the courage to confront attack and abuse. A
practitioner says, “There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well-prepared to
meet an enemy.” And I say: “All people have the right to say no to abuse and
intimidation through self-defense techniques.”

Anderson Martial Martial Arts are right to assert that the weapon is an equalizer when it
comes to self-defence. When you have an opponent who is bigger than you, then you
have to rely more on techniques and strategy. If there is an object that you can use as a
potential to defend against your potential assailant – a pen, stick, cloth, etc., then you
must use that object.

But potential weapons would be useless if you are not skilled with the weapon. You
might as well just throw the stick to your opponent if you can't use it properly. But if you
are adept with the weapon, then any potential weapon can work to your advantage.

And even if you can't find any potential weapon around, you can still use your bare
hands. Your bare hands could be just as deadly as the weapon because the weapon is
only the extension of the arm and the fighting principles of the weapon can be
transferred to the bare hands.
The Philippines

is an island nation rich in both culture and history. The Filipino martial art of
Arnis/Kali/Escrima has contributed to both the history and diversity of the Philippines.
There are an abundance of styles and systems of Arnis/Kali/Escrima that are taught
throughout the world to this day, that have survived and developed throughout the
different regions, families and teachers who have preserved what is sometimes called a
“complete” martial art.

Arnis/Kali/Escrima was originally developed by the people native to the islands using
simple impact and edged weapons such as kampilans, rattan, swords, daggers, spears
and other assorted weaponry for combat and self defense. These weapons were also
sometimes used as farm implements.

The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan’s force in 1521 was met in battle with a group of
islanders, led by Raja LapuLapu, who defeated Magellan using only a bladed weapon.
Magellan’s armored and musket bearing conquistadors were overpowered by the fierce
fighters and retreated. The Spanish returned in the 1570’s and this time the Philippines
came under Spanish rule unable to contend with the modern weaponry the Spanish
used. The practice of Arnis/Kali/Escrima was prohibited, but continued and was
preserved through native ritual dance, performance, and mock battles. Thus the arts
were passed down in families from generation to generation, honing their skill, speed,
accuracy and agility.

The terms Arnis, Kali and Escrima are all used to refer to the Filipino martial arts. There
has been some confusion as to what word refers to which part of the martial art. It is
believed that Arnis, Kali, and Escrima are all a part of the same art and depending on
the location, dialect and type of training taught. Also, any of the three names may apply
to a certain part of training. One interpretation is that Kali is the mother art of Arnis and
Escrima. Arnis focuses on the knife, including dagger, sword, and any other form of
bladed weapon. Escrima is based on the baston or stick. It has also become very
popular in the sport aspect of full contact stick fighting.

The fundamentals skills in arnis are striking and blocking. It takes intelligence first to
understand the primary principles that makes a system effective. When we are talking
about Arnis, what really matters is fluid body mechanics, eye and hand coordination,
footwork, and lots of practice of the techniques of the particular style of Arnis that you
will study. What many term 'attributes' meaning those physical, mental and emotional
qualities that are present or absent in every practitioner is what really makes a Martial
Artist stand out and makes the difference regarding functional ability. Functional ability
is what skill is all about; what others call skill may simply be an understanding of
technique, but that does not mean that they are capable to use it in a real situation.

Real situations whereby one must use counter offense/defense requires adapting to real
time, real pressure and true aggression. There is no other type of true skill and therefore
that means that fundamental skill in Arnis or any other system goes beyond a
prescribed curriculum or any rote memorization of movement. Martial Arts is beyond a
physical activity. It is the ability to meet violence and overcome such violence with
ingrained skills and any so called Martial Art that does not require for one to study under
pressure and against near full-on attacks is nothing more than a means of selling false
confidence. Arnis is hand-to-hand combat with or without weapons and if it sold as any
other thing, in my opinion, is not true Arnis. Note: often times the terms Kali, Escrima,
and Arnis are interchangeable the difference is generally based on the language of the
region from which the art was developed
 BENIFITS OF ARNIS

1. Burns Calories and Keeps You in Good Shape

Eskrima stretching exercise and warming up before formal practice.

Eskrima is one of the best ways to lose or burn calories without your realizing it. It has a
conducive exercise program that develops and enhances various fitness components,
primarily the aerobic which improves your cardio. Eskrimadors are aware of the demand
on cardio when performing Sinawali and Redonda nonstop for several minutes.

Experts state that it’d take two hours of exercise to burn approximately 1,000 calories.
In order to relate calorie burning to weight loss, the simple equation is this – 3,600
calories is equal to a pound of fat. Therefore, burning such amount of calories indicates
removing one pound of body fat.

A regular Arnis martial arts class can last about two hours, and its intensity may differ
according to the power required in every session. There is indeed no doubt that Arnis
Escrima is an excellent exercise, and the only determining factor in succeeding is
whether the student can stand by the training until he or she begins losing weight.

Double stick drills, is an aerobically challenging training because of the weight of the
two kali sticks and the degree of coordination required to execute the intricate
movements. It promotes muscle tonality of the arms, legs, and body parts involved in
the exercise.
Sparring in Filipino Arnis with heavy armour that lasts two to three minutes requires
muscular and aerobic endurance. Shadow fighting using single or double weapons for
two to three minutes also develops cardiovascular endurance.

Escrima exercises also stimulate joint mobility especially the four primary joints of the
body – elbows, shoulders, knees, and hips. Joint mobility is the answer to getting other
fitness attributes like flexibility, agility, and balance

. 2. Learn Practical Self-Defense

Practising Empty-hand Eskrima techniques.

Each culture throughout history has established some type of self-defence martial art so
that they can protect their people in times of crisis. However, the only actual test of
martial arts is actual combat. As a combat art, Eskrima has proven it practicality and
potency through the many years of warfare and death matches among its practitioners.
As a weapon-based martial art, one advantage of kali escrima is that it allows you to
defend with a weapon and it also enables you to defend against a weapon-wielding
opponent. Because you are familiar with the different bladed and non-bladed weapons
used by the attacker, it becomes easier for you to anticipate and reverse his attacks.

With the rising number of violence and brutality on the streets these days, as well as the
increase of theft and crime involving weapons, this method of Martial Arts turns out to
be even more prominent in the society today.

Eskrima schools drill practitioners for hours in a variety of combative and weapons
situations involving knives, machetes, clubs, broken bottles, chains, long sticks, and
other weapons – including the bare hands. These empty hand techniques of tapping,
parrying and countering bare hands strikes are called tapi-tapi or mano-mano.

Esrkima prepares you to defend yourself from attackers by giving you the reflexes and
muscle memory to react quickly against compromising situations. What you learn from
training can easily be applicable to real life.

3. Develop more Confidence

Master Louis Lim executing the follow-through strikes

Knowing that you can defend yourself against an attacker or even multiple attackers,
gives you the confidence to deal with unforeseen attacks. The fear comes from not
knowing what to do during an attack, especially one that is fatal. So martial arts also
gives you the courage to face any challenge.
Training in Filipino Martial Arts, you’ll inevitably go through sparring sessions or even
competitions. The pressure ones go through during competition or sparring is immense.
But with training comes self-confidence and such confidence will build up once you go
through sparring or competition.

Win or lose you’ve walked through the path towards building confidence – conquering
your fears and working through pressure. And the more you train and challenge
yourself, the more confident you will feel.

4. Inherit Mental Discipline and Focus

Practicing Double Stick Sinawali to develop body coordination and focus

When you train in Eskrima, you are constantly put to the test. As frustrating as it may
seem, we are forced to push ourselves when we are at our weakest. To excel in
Eskrima, the practitioner must ensure that the drills and exercises are given the required
effort and time.

80% of Eskrima competition – of attacking or defending against an opponent – is

mental. Thus, training in Filipino martial arts schools involves conquering your fears
against an opponent, staying calm in a stressful situation, and the repetition and
development of technique.
Eskrima entails that the practitioner to have an analytical mind in both sparring and solo
practice. This can be seen when the practitioner looks for an opening and weakness in
his or her opponent during a fight or when he or she is looking for ways or mixing the
various attack angles.

5. Promotes Improvement

Master Louis Lim performing defense and counter drill in transition.

With each training, day come new challenges. This compels us to step up to our game
and improve ourselves. This enables us to turn bad habits into good ones and brings us
closer towards our goals.

In the martial arts of Eskrima, improvement can be fast because of the proactive
approach to learning. You learn by applying the technique. Courses are
compartmentalized into different levels and each student has to master the techniques
in the lower levels before they can learn techniques in the higher levels.

Many of the Filipino Martial Arts schools adopt the belting system wherein a student
acquires a coloured belt after gaining proficiency at a certain level and passing an
evaluation. This system promotes improvement as the students strive to master every
level through consistent training.