The Pinoy martial art

• Is called Arnis, kali , or escrima in various parts

of the country
• Is a martial art developed by early Filipinos
that uses both bladed and unbladed weapons,
and unarmed combat.
• It was used by early Filipinos as a means of self
defense
• The word kali may have been derived from
tjakalele, an Indonesian art of swordfighting.
• It was attributed to have been brought to the
Philippines by the 10 chieftains or datus that came
from the Malayan empires of Madjapahit and
Vishayan of the 1300.
• Was taught in an early age in a school called a
bothoan.
• The Malays that came to our islands on 200 B.C.
brought the long dagger that was integrated in the
art.
• Lapu-lapu was attributed as a person skilled in
the art of Kali. Accordig to Pigafetta’s journal
on April 27, 1521stated that Lapu-lapu killed
Magellan witth a dagger and most of the
natives are using wooden sticks called bastons.
• 1564, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came to
Philippine islands and was greeted with
festivities wherein the natives showed him their
prowess in the art
• It was lost during 1596 when the Spaniards asked
to stop practicing it and banned it during 1764.
they claimed that it was the cause of Filipino
slotheness.
• Soon, anyone who practiced the art was labeled
as bandidos or pirates by the Spaniards.
• During 1637, the moro-moro was introduced by the
friars which portrays swordsmanship used in war
which paved the way for Filipinos to once again
practice the art.
• The play required the soldiers to wear Arnes,
armor used by soldiers of old. It was here that the
word ARNIS was derived from.
• Arnis de mano, commonly known as ARNIS is an
art taken from the old Kali systems and was
further develop to be used as a means of self
defense either armed or unarmed.
• It has three forms, espada y daga which uses a
wooden sword and dagger, solo baston which
uses a single wooden stick hardened through
sunlight, and sinawali that uses two sticks whos
movements are similar to a sawali, a type of
woven material used as roofing.
• The main weaponry used in ARNIS is piece of
wood made from yantok, is cylindrical in shape
and has a diameter of ¾ to one inch and a
length of 28-30 inches.
• Costume includes red shirt and trousers and
belts of different colors that signify rank.
• Its weaponry also includes other bladed
weapons such as punyal, itak, kris, bolo, etc. but
is not used in sparring and competitions to
prevent unnecesary accidents or deaths.
• It is important to know how to properly handle
the stick since it is in the grip that dictates
control of the stick and strength of the blow.
• Proper gripping is to hold the stick one inch
from one en of the stick, the thumb pressing
against the index finger.
• A strong grip is necessary in order to deliver a
strong blow. Loosen the grip after striking and
tighten only when you strike, bock, or parry.
• First position – closed feet, stick hel with both
hands near the waist.
• Second Position – step right foot sideward, bow
at the opponent.
• Third position – return to first position

• note- this is not the only method of giving

respect. There are several variants used by
different schools of ARNIS.
• Humanism
• Honesty
• Discipline
• Self-control
• Good Manners
• Self Confidence
• Left temple – death or internal bleeding of the brain
• Right Temple – same as above
• Left shoulder – exterme pain and/or breaking of shoulder
• Right shoulder – same as above
• Stomach - crippling pain and death
• Left chsest – may be fatal
• Right chest – may be fatal
• Left knee – dislocation or breaking
• Right knee – same as above
• Left eye – extreme damage to the eyes
• Right eye – same as above
• Crown – death
• Nose – extreme pain and breaking of nose
• Nape – death
• Neck – death
• Adam’ s Apple – death
• Breastbone – Extreme pain and/or death
• Side below the floating ribs – breakage of the rib and exteme
pain
• Crotch – can cause crippling
• Balls – death
• Shin – extreme pain and numbness