A.R.

Fernandez, RCrim, MSCJ (u)

PE2 – Arnis and Disarming Techniques

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

The Art of Arnis

Arnis is the national martial art of the Philippines. It is mainly a self-defense system
designed to protect you from injury while inflicting the biggest amount of damage to the
body of your opponent. This martial art involves the use of many weapons, strikes and
different foot works. As noticed, one of the most favored weapons by Arnis practitioners
is the stick or the baton. Traditionally speaking, the same strikes can be used with
different weapons like daggers and swords.

Arnis stances are the combination of foot orientation and the distribution of the body. It
also involves the position of your legs and torso, whether you are attacking, defending,
retreating or advancing. Stances are done so that you can gain competitive advantage
over the balance of your opponent, whether you are practicing Arnis training or actually
involved in an actual fight.

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.

What is Arnis?

Arnis (also called Kali or Eskrima) is a generic term for the deadly martial arts of the
Philippines. It contains both barehand and weaponry arts - everything that has got to do
with fighting. The bare hand combat includes boxing, wrestling, grappling, pressure
points and locks.

What is Arnis as a Sport?

Arnis is the national martial art sport of the Philippines. It is also known as Eskrima and
Kali. This sport actually emphasizes weapon-based fighting which is done using knives,
bladed weapons, sticks and various improvised weapons.

The primary weapon used in this traditional martial art sport of the Philippines is called
a cane or a baton. The cane or baron varies in sizes but the original length of it is 28
inches. The cane used in this sport is also considered sacred by the Arnisadores
practitioners, which is why the cane is hit on the hand or forearm of the sparring partner
and not at the latter’s cane during the sport.

Arnis is the Philippines' national martial art and sport, after President Gloria

Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Republic Act. No. 9850 in 2009. R.A. 9850 is a
consolidation of House Bill No. 6516 authored by South Cotabato Rep. Arthur Pingoy
Jr., and Senate Bill No. 1424 authored by Majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri with the
help of Richard Gialogo. R.A. 9850 is expected to help propagate arnis as a modern
martial art/sport that can compete with its popular foreign-originated brethren like
taekwondo, karate and judo. The Act mandates the Department of Education to include
the sport as a Physical Education course. Arnis will be included among the priority
sports in Palarong Pambansa (National Games) beginning 2010.

The Arnis Law

Republic Act No. 9850 of the Congress of the Philippines, approved on December 11,
2009 declares Arnis as the national sport and martial art of the Philippines for
promoting patriotism, nationalism and appreciation of the role of national heroes and
symbols in the historical development of the country. There were many versions of the
Arnis Bill but the version chosen was drafted by Richardson Gialogo which was
submitted to the Senate. Because of this law, Arnis becomes a prerequisite for Physical
Education classes in most colleges in the Philippines.

The body of the law is as follows:

Fourteenth Congress, Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-seventh day of July, two
thousand nine.

Republic Act No. 9850

AN ACT DECLARING ARNIS AS THE NATIONAL MARTIAL ART AND SPORT OF

THE PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

Section 1. It is the policy of the State to inculcate patriotism, nationalism and
appreciation of the role of national heroes and symbols in the historical development of
the country. Furthermore, the State must give priority to education, science and
technology, arts and culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate
social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.

Section 2. Definition of Arnis Arnis, also known as Eskrima, Kali, Garrote and other

names in various regional languages, such as: Pananandata in Tagalog;
Pagkalikali, Ibanag; Kabaraon and Kalirongan, Pangasinan; Kaliradman, Bisaya;
and Didja, Ilokano, is an indigenous Filipino martial art and sport characterized by the
use of swinging and twirling movements, accompanied by striking, thrusting and
parrying techniques for defense and offense. This is usually done with the use of one (1)
or two (2) sticks or any similar implements or with bare hands and feet also used for
striking, blocking, locking and grappling, with the use of the same principle as that with
the canes.
Section 3. Arnis is hereby declared as the Philippine National Martial Art and Sport.
The official adoption of arnis as the national martial art and sport shall be promulgated
by inscribing the symbol of arnis in the official seal of the Philippine Sports
Commission and by making it as the first sport competition to be played by participating
teams on the first day in the annual Palarong Pambansa. The Philippine Sports
Commission shall be the lead agency to implement the provisions of this Act.

Section 4. The Department of Education, the National Commission for Culture and the

Arts, and the Philippine Sports Commission shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Section 5. Any provision of law, decree, executive order, rule or regulation in conflict
or inconsistent with the provisions and/or purposes of this Act is hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

Section 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved: December 11, 2009

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Philippines