FORBES, Kazandra Cyline PED 0033-15

HISTORY OF ARNIS

Tribal Era

- The commoner or peasant class first practiced the skill of arnis. Because of this, most system

practitioners lacked the education required to produce any kind of written record or documentation. This

is true of many martial arts, but it is especially true of Arnis martial arts because almost all their Arnis

history is just anecdotal, promotional, or oral.

- Arnis can be traced back to native fighting styles used in conflicts between the many pre-Hispanic

Filipino kingdoms or tribes, while the current version includes some Spanish influences from the

original Spanish sport of fencing.

Spanish Era

- Until they were defeated during the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Spanish had only briefly ruled

the Philippines. Spanish colonialism had a significant impact on the Filipino culture over this prolonged

period of occupation. Except for the Muslim Moros of the Sulu archipelago, most people were first

converted to Roman Catholicism. Espada y Daga (sword and dagger), a term used in fencing, is one

salient aspect of Arnis that may indicate Spanish influence. The postures are different, and the weapons

used are typically shorter than swords created in Europe in the Filipino version of the Espada y daga,

which is very different from the European rapier and dagger techniques. After the Spanish took over the

Philippines, a law was passed prohibiting the common people from owning weapons like the Kris and

Kampilan. The southern portions of the Philippines were never fully conquered by the Spaniards or even

the Americans, whilst Mindanao kept only blade-oriented techniques.

American Era

- As the explorer raiders invaded the tropical isle, they were met by local natives who fought savagely and

effectively for their land, using only fire hardened sticks and primitive blades, The ensuing battles saw
 the Spanish swordsmen routed and their Portuguese captain killed at the hands of the island chieftain. As

the American martial artist becomes more familiar with the principles of modern arnis, many of the

movements, blocks, and attacks in one’s own style can be seen as variations of the applications of arnis

weapons techniques to empty hand. Two modern arnis instructors, Jeff Arnold, and Michael Replogle,

have long felt the need to integrate the style with the more standard American arts to create a

comprehensive system of training. Whereas modern arnis, as developed and taught by Remy Presas, can

give martial arlists tremendous insights and enhance their own arts, American arnis can take the new

student and give him the basics of martial arts training and the flow of arnis from the ground up.

Modern and Present Time

- Before it was introduced in Manila, modern arnis has its humble beginnings in Bacolod City in the

Visayas where the author first learned the techniques of the art. It was in Manila, however where these

modern techniques underwent thorough improvements and gained wider acceptance when the National

College of Physical Education, through the encouragement and patronage of Col. Arsenio de Borja,

director and secretary treasurer of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (PAAF) offered modern

arnis as regular subject in Physical Education to the students who major in this course. Besides these

teachers, students who enrolled in Modern Arnis in the school of the author, also help propagate the art.

That's why by the time these students taught Arnis, they were qualified teachers of the art having with

them a full knowledge of advanced Arnis.