Module 2: Fundamental Skills of Arnis THE 12-ZONE STRIKING SYSTEM

The Grip Strike no. 1 opponent’s left temple

- very important to deliver every blow with Strike no. 2 opponent’s right temple
power, control and quickness.
Strike no. 3 right arm
The proper Way of Gripping
Strike no. 4 left arm
1. Hold the stick with four (4) fingers with the
Strike no. 5 stomach
blade of the palm, about two (2) to three (3)
inches from the base or butt of the stick. Strike no. 6 left chest
2. Tighten the grip and press the thumb over
the forefinger. Strike no. 7 right chest
3. Each stick must be executed with the firm Strike no. 8 right foot
grip. The wrist should be very flexible when
striking. Strike no. 9 left foot

Courtesy Strike no. 10 left eye

- respect for one’s opponent and the cardinal Strike no.11 right eye
rules and principles of sportsmanship.
Strike no. 12 top of the head
Arnis Stances
THE 12-ZONE STRIKING DEFENSES
• Attention Stance Defense against strike no. 1 or 3
a. The closed attention stance
b. The open attention stance - sidestep to your right (2) to avoid his strike as
• Forward Stance you execute an outside block
- move one forward until the knee and the toe
Defense against Strike no. 2 or 4
are in line to each other.
- commonly used with frontal striking or - sidesteps (2) to you left to avoid his strike as
blocking techniques. you swing your stick out to execute an inside
• Obliques Stance block
- move one foot forward 45 degrees away from
the body until the knee and the toe are line to Defense Against Strike no. 5
each other. - sidesteps to your right to avoid the thrust
- commonly used for forward blocking and while executing a vertical block
evasion techniques
• Straddle Stance Defense Against Strikes no. 6 or 10
- move one foot about two (2) feet to the left - sidesteps to your right as you execute ab
foot or the right direction until both legs are outside block with your stick
almost perpendicular to the ground.
- commonly used for blocking the strikes to the Defense Against Strikes no. 7 or 11
side of the body.
- sidesteps to your left as you execute an
• Side Stance
inside block
- move one foot about two feet (2’) to the left
or right direction. Defense Against Strike no. 8
- commonly used for strike deflection and
evasion technique. - sidestep to your left as you raise your stick
high to the left side of your body and execute
• Back Stance
a strike
- move one foot backward 45 degrees away
from the body.
- used for blocking and backward evasion
techniques.
Defense Against Strike no. 9
- sidestep to your right as you raise your stick
on the right side of your body and execute a
strike
Defense Against Strike no. 12
- sidestep to your right (2 & 3) as you execute
slashing strike upward across your
opponent’s right arm.
Module 3: The Sinawali
Sinawali are weaving motions made with two sticks
in Arnis that are practiced in precise, prescribed
motions to familiarize the student with the method of
stick fighting, both in free sparring and with
blades.
Three basic types of sinawali:
1. single sinawali
2. double sinawali
3. reverse
SINGLE SINAWALI (STICKS) STRIKE PATTERN
STRIKE PATTERN
• Ready Position
- Your right hand is held high near your right
ear, and your left arm is bent so that your
forearm is parallel to the ground and your left
palm is near your waist.
• First Strike
- execute a forehand strike to your opponent’s
left temple.
• Second Strike
- execute a backhand strike using your right
stick to your opponent’s right knee.
• Third Strike
- execute a forehand strike using your left stick
to your opponent’s right temple.
• Fourth Strike
- execute a backhand strike to your
opponent’s left knee.
DOUBLE SINAWALI (STICKS)
STRIKE PATTERN
• Ready Position
- Your right hand is held high near your right
ear, and your left arm is bent so that your
forearm is parallel to the ground and your left
palm is near your waist.
• First Strike
- execute a forehand strike using your right
stick to your opponent’s left temple.
• Second Strike
- execute a backhand downward strike using
your left stick to your opponent’s left knee.
• Third Strike
- execute a backhand strike using your right
stick hitting your opponent’s right temple.
• Fourth Strike
- execute a forehand strike to your opponent’s
right temple.
• Fifth Strike
- execute a downward backhand strike using
your left stick targeting your opponent’s right
knee.
• Sixth Strike
- execute a backhand strike using your left
stick hitting your opponent’s left temple.
Module 4: Stick Disarming
Different Stick Disarming Drills
• Sombrada
- one partner feeds an attack, which the other
counters, flowing into a counterattack, which
is then countered, flowing into a
counterattack, and so on.
• Contrada
• Sinawali
• Hubud-lubud
- From Doce Pares is frequently used as a
type of "generator" drill, where one is forced
to act and think fast. Initially, students learn a
specific series of attacks, counters, and
counter-attacks.
• Sequidas
- taken from the San Miguel system, are sets
of hitting and movement patterns usually
involving stick and dagger.
• Paklaw
- from the Balintawak style, are un-
choreographed and random defensive and
offensive moves.
- in Cebuano means a walk-through or
rehearsing the different strike angles and
defenses.
- It may be known as corridas, or striking
without any order or pattern.
These are initially presented to the public as a set of
organized drills by the Inosanto school, are
expressly designed to allow partners to move quickly his stick. Your opponent at this point is also
and experiment with variations while remaining safe. off balance.
4. Disarm Against Strike no. 4
Rhythm
- (1) As your opponent attempts a high
- essential part of eskrima drills, is backhand strike to your right side (strike 4),
emphasized more in the United States and sidesteps (2) to your left as you execute an
Europe, where a regular beat serves a guide outside block with your right stick. (3) While
for students to follow. keeping your left hand on his right wrist,
quickly force your stick over and underneath
Eskrima your opponent’s stick, raising his right wrist
- is usually practised in the Philippines without (4) until your stick and your left hand are both
a rhythm, off-beat or out of rhythm. The pressing (5&6) against the back of his wrist.
diversity of Filipino martial arts means that Force your opponent down with strong
there is no officially established standard pressure until he lets go.
uniform in eskrima. 5. Disarm Against Strike No. 5
- (1) As your opponent threatens with a
STICK DISARMING TECHNIQUES forehand thrust to your midsection (strike
no.5), sidesteps to your right (2) as you
1. Disarm Against Strike no. 1
execute inside block with your stick pointed
- (1) When your opponent threatens with a
down. (3) Bring your right wrist over and
high forehand strike to your head (strike
outside his right wrist and your left hand up
no.1), sidestep to your right (2) as you
to press on his stick. (4&5) With your right
execute an inside stick block and
wrist and stick underneath his right wrist,
immediately grab (3) your opponent’s stick in
pivot to your right and press against the top
your left hand. Twist the stick quickly (4-6) in
of his right wrist, maintaining upward
a counterclockwise direction as you press
gestures on the end of his stick with your left
hand on his stick with your stick, as if trying
hand. (6) swiftly pivoting to your right, your
to cut in half. Your opponent will either let go
opponent's wrist will be bent backward and
or be taken down to the ground along with his
he will let go.
weapon.
6. Disarm Against Strike no. 6
2. Disarm Against Strike no. 2
- (1) Your opponent attempts a forehand thrust
- (1) As your opponent attempts a high
(strike no. 6) to the left side of your body, (2)
backhand strike to your head (strike no. 2),
shift your right and block, (3) grabbing the
sidesteps to your left (2) as you execute an
end of his stick immediately. (4) Rotate the
outside block with your stick while keeping
back and of your stick underneath your
your left hand ready to scoop (3 & 4) inside
opponent’s right wrist and then over the top
your opponent’s right forearm. Wind your left
as your pivot to your right (5) forcing pressure
arm quickly in a clockwise direction until his
against the back of his right wrist. (6) Follow
stick is pressing against your left forearm (5)
through until he releases the stick.
and his right wrist is pinned under your left
7. Disarm Against Strike no. 7
wrist. (6) Continuing the pressure will force
- (1) As your opponent attempts a backhand
him to release his stick, and will keep your
thrust to your body (strike no. 7), sidesteps to
opponent open for a counterstrike.
your left (2) as you execute a high outside
3. Disarm Against Strike no. 3
block. (3) Simultaneously, reach your left
- (1) As your opponent attempts a high
hand underneath his right wrist and draw it
forehand strike to your left side (strike no. 3),
quickly back (bending it at the elbow) as you
sidesteps to your right (2) as you execute an
press against his stick in the opposite
inside block with your right stick and reach
direction with your stick. His hold will be
over his stick and right wrist with your left
broken.
hand (3) to scoop his wrist. (4) Wind your left
arm in a counterclockwise direction (pinning
his stick against your stick) and bend his right
wrist backward, (5&6) forcing him to release
8. Disarm Against Strike no. 8 pulling down (5&6) on his right wrist and
- (1) As your opponent threatens with a low grabbing the end of his stick as he lets go.
backhand strike to your right side (Strike You are now in a position for a follow-up
no.8), sidestep to your left (2) and execute a strike.
low outside block. (3) Pressing down on his
stick, step in and force your right wrist inside
his right arm and wind your arm upward (4)
in a clockwise circle, trapping his right wrist
and stick (5) against your stick and right
hand. Use your left hand to hold his stick
against your own. Pivot quickly to your right
(6) to bend his right wrist backward, forcing
him to let go.
9. Disarm Against Strike no. 9
- (1) As your opponent attempts a low
forehand strike to your left side (Strike no. 9),
sidestep to your right (2) as you execute a
low inside block, bringing your left arm
quickly to the outside of his right arm (3) to
scoop his wrist. (4) Wind your arm in a
counterclockwise direction and press against
his stick with your stick. By pivoting to your
right and pressing against the back of his
wrist with your left hand (5&6) your opponent
will be forced to let go.
10. Disarm Against Strike no. 10
- (1) As your opponent threatens with a
forehand thrust to your head (Strike No. 10),
sidestep to your right (2) as you execute an
inside block and simultaneously bring your
left hand up to trap (3) his stick arm between
your left forearm and right stick. His stick is
blocked against your left shoulder. (4) Pivot
quickly to your right as you press downward
with your left forearm, breaking his grasp on
the stick.
11. Disarm Against Strike no. 11
- (1) Your opponent attempts a backhand
thrust to the right side of your body (Strike no.
11). (2) Shift to your left and block his stick,
reaching underhand (3) to grab the end of his
stick. (4) Pull his stick over the top of your
stick so that his right wrist is pulled back (5)
across your stick, forcing him to release (6)
his stick. Note how you have pulled his stick
in a counterclockwise motion.
12. Disarm Against Strike no. 12
- (1) Your opponent attempts an overhead
strike (Strike No. 12) to your head. (2) Step
in and block horizontally, rotating the back
end of your stick around his stick to your right
and then over the top (4) of his right wrist,