Lesson 1 Introduction to Arnis

1. Definition and
Characteristics of Arnis
2. History of Arnis
3. Benefits of Practicing Arnis
4. Equipments and Gears used
On arnis
5. Safety Procedure in
Practicing Arnis
Definition and Characteristics of Arnis
The sport Arnis is played between
two fighters with a main
objective of earning more points by
legally attacking the
opponent with the help of stick.
It is said that Arnis develops self-
discipline and control because this
sport is a simple martial art and it is
all about defending oneself by
using sticks.
 Philippine is an island nation that is not only rich in culture,
heritage, and history but also in sports. The Filipino martial art widely
known as Arnis / Kali / Eskrima has contributed to both the history and
diversity of Philippines.

Origin of Arnis can be traced back to native fighting

techniques during the conflicts among the various Pre-Hispanic
Filipino tribes or kingdoms. Whereas, another form of Spanish
fencing dating back to the 15th Century, also influenced the current
form of Arnis, moreover it also has
the impact of Chinese, Arab and Indian martial arts.
 It is also believed by some people of Philippines that the
Filipino art of Arnis has some roots connected to India as the people
who traveled through Indonesia and Malaysia to the Philippine
islands had brought this art with them.

Silambam, a stick based ancient martial art of Tamil Nadu,

India, has influenced many martial art forms in Asia like Silat among
which it is also believed that the Filipino Martial art sport, Arnis, also
shares ancestry with India’s Martial art, Silambam, as it has some
similar moves with the short stick (kali or kaji) and other weapon
based styles of Silambam.

Arnis originally belonged to the people of Philippines, but as

time passed by, the art spread over to other countries and by the time
of World War II; many continents adopted it. Arnis also played a
significant role during the Philippine revolutionaries against
the Spaniards.
 It was the Filipinos who provided the art with a systematic
structure. It was brought to Hawaii and California in the 1920s. The
teaching was kept within the Filipino communities until
the 1960s after which Master Angel Cabales and others began
teaching it to others. It took almost two decades to make the art
known to all around the world and in January 2010; it was officially
recognized as the National Martial Art and Sport of
the Philippines.

Arnis is the 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.
REMY PRESAS
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 .
Remgio (Remy) Amador Presas
Born : December 19 , 1936
Hinigaran , Negros Occidental
 Died : August 28 , 2001 (brain
cancer) Victoria , Canada
Occupation : Teacher and Martial
artist Known for : founding Modern
Arnis and he is brother of Ernesto
Presas (known as Kombatan
Grandmaster)
Benefits of Arnis
 Effective self-defense
 Arnis contributes to the development of physical
fitness
 Develops mental qualities such as alertness and
precision
 Desirable character traits such as self-confidence,
fortitude, and self-discipline are developed in the
practice of arnis.
 Develops mental strength and courage that allows
someone to face danger and pain
 Develop the virtue of perseverance to the highest
degree
 Equipments and Gear used In Arnis
Arnis / Kali / Eskrima are all part of the same art depending on the location,
dialect and type of training. The one interpretation common to all of them is that Kali is
the mother art of Arnis and Eskrima.
1) Impact Weapon:
 Baston: This is the most basic and common weapon in Arnis. Traditional common
materials used for wooden bastons are usually rattan, kamagong, and bahi wood. It is
also available in modern materials such as fiberglass and plastics and in metals like
aluminum.
 Rattan: This is usually constructed from a stem of Southeast Asian vine. This stem
is hard and durable yet lightweight that makes the weapon useful for defense against
blades. At present, fighters use padded Bastons. The Baston (Baton) is about 28 inches
(71 cm) in length.
 Kamagong (also known as Mabolo): This is a dark, dense, expensive type of wood
known for its hardness and weight. Kamagong is also an endangered species of ebony
wood.
 Bahi: Bahi is a type of wood made from the heart of a palm tree. It is similar to
kamagong but is made of a porous material in weight and density.
2) Edged Weapons: Knife, dagger, spear, etc. are edged weapons used throughout
the history for combat, hunting and ceremonies.
3) Head Gear: It is a necessity in Arnis combat. It is covered with high-grade
leatherette and vinyl that is printed with ethnic art. Its materials provide
vital protection from head strikes and a multi-thickness metal frame is developed for impact
protection.
4) Body Armor: It is designed specially to provide complete upper body protection while
allowing mobility and protection. The armor is usually made of hard
plastic and vinyl for lightness and the lower panels are extended downwards to provide
extra coverage.
5) Leg Guard: These guards can be used to protect both thigh and the shin area and are not
only designed for protection but also for comfort and practicality.
6) Groin: It is a special padding for the lower abdomen. It has a groin cup to provide
complete protection to the groin area.
7) Hand Gloves: It is a thick rubber protection which serves as a protection from strikes as
the stick is held in hand. Its open palm design ensures a stable grip and finger flexibility for
impact absorption.
8) Arnis Clothing: The basic Arnis Uniform is made from twill fabric, which maintains
durability and comfort. It is specially designed after the classic Arnis uniform with Velcro
straps to close the flaps easily.
Safety Guidelines
Arnis is an injury-free self-defense, some safety
awareness should still be part of the martial art
discipline. The following safety measure should be
consider:
Medical Check-U
Do warm-up exercises
Prepare a first aid kit during all sessions
Be attentive all the time
Be familiar on the proper use of arnis stick
OBA 1
Whole sheet of
Yellow Pad

Essay on the
Importance of Arnis
to Filipino students.