LESSON 3

Arnis
TOPIC 1: HISTORY

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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.
Arnis  is the system of Filipino martial arts founded by the late
Remy Presas as a self-defense system . His goal was to create an injury-
free training method as well as an effective self-defense system in order
to preserve the older Arnis systems . The term Modern Arnis was used
by Remy Presas’ younger brother Ernesto Presas to describe his style of
Filipino martial arts ; since 1999 Ernesto Presas called his system
Kombatan . It is derived principally from the traditional Presas family
style of the Bolo(Machete) and the stick-dueling art of Balintawak
Eskrima , with influences from other Filipino and Japanese martial arts .
Arnis -
Arnis is a Philippines’ national martial art or sport , After President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Reoublict Act. No. 9850 in 2009.
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.

TOPIC 2: EQUIPMENT

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Weapon
 The padded stick shall be the official weapon of the player.
 The specification of which shall be in accordance with the i-
ARNIS standard.
 No other similar material will be allowed to be used in any local,
national or international competition.
 Each padded stick shall be properly foam-cushioned and shall have
a maximum grip diameter of not more than 3.81cm.(1 ½ inch) and
length of 76.20cm (30 inches for men and women).The length of
padded stick shall be 27 inches for boys and girls.
 Both padded stick shall be color-coded, one red and the other blue.
Head Protector
  Refers to a pair of protective head gear to include an impact
worthy face mask, the specifications of which shall be in
accordance with the i-ARNIS standard.
 Both headgears must be color-coded, one red the other blue, to
match the padded stick of the player.
Body Protector
 Refers to a pair of protective body protector, properly cushioned,
the specifications of which shall be in accordance with the i-
ARNIS standard.
 Male and female player must both wear body protector and groin
protector.
 Body protector and groin protectors specifications shall be in
accordance with the i-ARNIS standard.
 Both body protectors and groin protectors shall be color coded to
match the color of the player.
 Forearm and shin guards are compulsory.
 The specifications shall be in accordance with i-ANIS standard.
Both shin & forearm guards must be color of the player.
Scoreboards
 A pair of scoreboard, either manually or electronically operated,
the specifications of which shall be in accordance with the i-
ARNIS standard.
 Two score boards per contest area shall be placed at diagonally
opposite at diagonally opposite corners outside the playing area,
inside the competition area within the free zone, right where the
judges are positioned.
Flags
  Two sets of red and blue flags, the size of which is 30 cm by 25
cm, are used by the judges in declaring decisions or asking for
consultations.
 One yellow flag, size 30 cm by 25 cm.
 For timer’s use to signal the start and the end of each round and to
declare a time-out and resumption of the game.
Other Equipment
 Stopwatch is use to keep the two-minutes per round.
 This include interruptions such as injury, changing of broken stick.
 A gong and mallet or other similar audible substitutes such as
whistle, bell or buzzer shall be provided for the timer to indicate
the start and end of the round.
 A table shall be provided for the TIMER and RECORDER which
shall be situated one (1) meter in front of the playing area so that
TOPIC 3: FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS IN ARNIS

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time signals are audible enough to both players and referee.

The stick is the principal weapon in learning arnis. It is made of rattan

stick approximately 28-30 inches long and a diameter of around 1 inch.
GRIP
 2 inches from the line
 No extension downward
 6 inches from the base or butt
 Middle grip
 4-6 inches from the tip or “susi” or “daga” or knife
Mechanics in the Correct Way of Gripping the Weapon
 Hold your cane stick with your two hands it at the ends.
 Bring the cane upward in front of you
 Release your right hand and transfer it to the left side of your hand
holding the cane.
 Palm facing towards you, roll your fingers and press them on the
first and middle fingers, holding it firmly but not too tight.
 When the wrist becomes flexible it adds speed and power then
follow and try to strike your stick.
Length of the Weapon
The length of the stick, or cane depends on the height and build of the
practitioner. He should measure the length of the arnis weapon
depending upon the length of his arm.
Step 1
 Extend your right arm straight downward and straighten your
forefinger.
 Measure your stick from the tip of your finger up to the shoulder.
Step 2
 Extend your right arm to the right side of the body at shoulder
level then measure your cane.
Step 3
 Some measure from 24 to 26 inches.
 Others’ from 28 to 30 inches, and others have a measurement of 90
centimeters or 1 meter.
Stance and Posture
Arnis is a martial art of self-defense. Prowess and stability are essential
to succeed against the opponents. Before fighting, one should learn the
proper stance and posture to enable one to master other skills.
A. Straddle Stance
 Perform by sliding the left foot sideward.
 The toe should point forward.
B. Forward Stance
 Perform by sliding the foot forward.
 The toes should point forward.
 The front leg should be bent while the leg at the back should
be straight.
 It can be performed either by using the left foot in the left
forward stance or by the right foot in the right forward
stance.

C. Back Leading Stance

 Put one leg forward and let the toe of your forward foot touch
the ground at the same time pivot at the back.
 It can be performed using either the left or the right.
D. Forward Leaning Stance-Side Direction
 Perform by sliding the foot to the side bended knee, toes
should point sideward.
 The other leg must be straight, similar to forward stance but
the direction is different.
E. Forward Leaning Stance-Facing the Back
 Perform as in forward stance but the direction of the body is
at the back.
 However, the eyes are focused at the opponent.
F. Cross Stance
 Perform by positioning the other leg forward.
Salutation or Saludo
Both fingers, as a courtesy and a sign of a true gentleman, give
salutation. There are mechanics followed in executing the saludo.
 Hold the Stick down the open leg facing each other.
 Close the leg by moving the left leg close to the right in 45
degrees angle.
 Lift the stick to the chest wherein the butt is resting on the
chest. The top of the stick is pointing up.
 Take a bow with the opponents or sparring mate, then go
TOPIC 4: 12 STRIKING POINTS

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back to the original position.

1. Left side of the head attack.  

A diagonal downward forehand swing to the left temple. From the

position, the warrior will hold the stick with one hand at 1 o’clock
moving his stick in slashing motion while his free hand on his
chest.
2. Right side of the head attack.

A diagonal downward backhand swing striking to the right temple.

Assuming a fighting stance like the left temple strike, the warrior
this time held his stick at 11 o'clock with his free hand kept on his
chest.

3. Left side of the body or torso, to the left arm or elbow.  

 The 3rd striking technique allows the practitioner to extend his
weapon hand making it easier for him to strike any part of the
opponent between its shoulder and hips. The stick will be draw in a
diagonal forehand slashing swing making it easier to deliver a
damage.

4. Right side of the body or torso, to the left arm or elbow.  

Same as the 3rd strike but this time the practitioner will extend the
weapon hand to strike any part of the body between the shoulder
and the hips in a backhand slashing swing located on the right side

5. Thrust to the stomach.  

In this strike, the practitioner will thrust the weapon hand to the
stomach and is followed by an upward motion that will cut through
his opponent's body.

6. Right lower leg.  

Again, like the 8th strike, the main target here is the right lower leg
which immobilize the opponent. By doing this, the palm should
face downward.

7. Left lower leg.

In this technique, the practitioner will deliver a powerful strike to

the opponents lower leg, mainly the knee, the angle or the ankel
which throws off the opponents balance and immobilize him. By
doing this, the warrior is supposed to lower his body(extending the
 weapon arm). Holding his palm upward and hit any part of the
opponents lower leg.

8. Right chest stab.

In this stance, the practitioner will practice the scooping action.

The weapon hand is then extended forward with the palm facing
outward. To deliver the strike properly, the elbow should be kept
up puncturing the opponents right lung.

9. Left chest stab.

In this strike, the weapon hand is then extended to the front with
the palm facing outward and the elbow kept up where this strike
can cause damage to the rib cage.

10. Right eye poke.  

Same as the 10th strike technique. To execute it properly the

practitioner will have to hold his elbow down poking the right eye
of the opponent.

11. Left eye poke.  

The target here is the left eye socket. In order to execute it

properly, the practitioner should assume fighting stance then
extend the weapon hand forward with the palm facing outward
with its elbow kept down.

12. Strike to the crown/top of head.

The last strike will be a straight downward overhead swing
directed towards the crown of the head which could throw off the
opponents mobility and balance.