ARNIS STANCES

Ready Stances
• In this stance you need to stand with your toes
pointing forward and your feet parallel to your
shoulders. Standing with your feet apart gives you
balance so that you can move to the next position
and attack your opponent.
• You need to keep your knees straight and your
whole body facing forward.
• Your hands should be on the waist level either you
are holding two batons or one with another weapon.
Attentions Stance
• This stance is different from the ready stance, since you stand
with your feet forming a 45 degrees angle. Your torso and the
legs should be facing forward while keeping the knees straight.
In this stance, you will stand with the heels close to each other
and the shoulders dropped to the sides. Both hands should be
kept at the waist level.
Forward Stance

you will have to move one foot to the front.

You will have to do this until your toes and your knee are
in line with each other.
Your toes, torso and waist will be facing forward, hence the
name of the stance. Make sure that your foot is not too
much extended or the body is too low, otherwise it will be
hard to maneuver or attack from this position.
Oblique Stance
• The foot is moved forward away
from the body to reach the right
position.
• You will have to move your body
in the same direction of the lead
foot. The waist and the torso are
kept moving to the front along with
the toes.
• It is essential not to extend your
feet too much to the front or lower
your body too much otherwise it
will be hard to move and
maneuver.
Straddle Stances

You should start from the ready stance then move either the left
or right foot for a distance of 2 feet to the left or right direction.
This is done until both lower legs are now perpendicular to the
ground.
The whole body, the legs and the toes should be facing forward
to make sure that this stance is a success.
Side Stance

• . Side Stance
• This is very close to the straddle stance as you again
start from the steady stance then move your feet
either to the right or the left.
• However, in this position the moving foot will be
kept perpendicular to the ground while the other leg
would be extended.
• This Arnis stances somehow looks as if you are
about to engage in a side kick. Again, the torso, the
legs and the toes should be kept pointing forward.
• Also, it is very important to make sure that the body
is not too low by extending your foot too far to the
side. You can engage in a right side stance or a left
side stance depending on the foot you choose to
move.