PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

INTRAMUROS 1002 MANILA, PHILIPPHINES

1. History of Arnis
1. Tribal Era – Arnis, also known as Kali or Escrima/Eskrima, is the national
martial art of the Philippines. The three terms are roughly interchangeable generic
terms for the traditional Filipino martial arts (“Filipino Martial Arts” or FMA),
which emphasize “open hands” and weaponized combat using the stick, sword,
blade weapons, and a variety of handmade weapons. Weaponless technology.
Arnis was developed by the indigenous Filipinos who used a variety of weapons
for combat and self-defense. Arniers, which include both simple striking and
bladed weapons, traditionally included rattan, sword, dagger, and spear.
2. Spanish Era – The origins of Arnis can be traced back to the local "pintados" and
later "tintadus" fighting techniques during conflicts between various pre-Spain
Filipino tribes or kingdoms, but its present form draws from Spanish influences in
old swordsmanship originating in Spain received in the 15th century.
3. American Era – As American martial arts become familiar with modern Arnis
principles, many of their unique styles of movement, blocking, and attacks can be
seen as variations of the application of Arnis' weapons technology to the empty
hands. This consciousness can lead to a completely different concept of your own
art. The ferocious effects of these Filipino styles have been witnessed not only in
Magellan and the Spanish invaders but also in modern times. The US Marine
Corps fighting in the Philippines had serious problems protecting themselves from
variations in Filipino martial arts. As so many U.S. soldiers were killed in the slits
in their throats, leather collars were developed to surround the neck and protect
Marines from knife attacks. Therefore, the nickname for the ocean is
"leatherneck".
4. Modern-Era – Modern Arnis is a Filipino martial arts system founded by Remy
Presas as a self-defense system. His goal was to create an injury-free training
method and an effective self-defense system to preserve the old Arnis system.
2. Terms in Arnis
1. Eskrima – These martial arts style often uses the Philippines language of Tagalog
and some Spanish. For other martial arts words & commands, please visit the
main Martial Arts Terminology section.
2. Dagger – Daga (sword and dagger) is a system that simulates the use of one Long
and one short weapon as well as shield and weapon combinations and is unique.
3. Distance (Long Range) – Largo the principle of largo mano is to strike from a
distance with one – to two blows and maneuver out of the opponents
attacking line in order to prevent being countered, thus the need to put a lot of
work in developing the physical capabilities to augment the feature of the style
and its principle.
4. Distance (Medium Range) – Medio Distance (Short Range)
5. Corto Kurbada - Close range sparring applying kurbada strikes & counter-attacks
6. Abanico - lit. “fan,” lateral (side to side) motions performed with a straightened
arm as a blocking maneuver,
7. Arko - Series of circular strikes, also referred to as sirkulo
8. Banda - y Banda Back & Forth. side to side slashes or strikes.
9. Baston Stick or baton used in FMA
10. Bolo - A type of machete (usually with a leaf-shaped blade) used throughout the
Philippines.
11. Cardena - Lit. “chaining,” linking one technique with another in rapid succession.
12. Crossada - “Crossing”; maneuver used to block an incoming attack by forming an
X- pattern with one’s baton, arms, or bladed weapon.
13. Doce Pares - Twelve Pairs
14. Dos-ekis - 2 reverse butterflies
15. Dulo- Dulo Palm stick (dulo), spoken twice to indicate style of fighting with said
weapon.
16. Dumog - “Grappling,” either in a clinch or on the ground. Escrima – (alt. eskrima)
– synonymous with arnis (above).
17. Espada y Daga Sword (espada) and dagger (daga) used together. Sometimes also
connotes the use of baton and knife in tandem.
18. Flywheel - Series of backhand arkos
19. Garrote - Another name for olisi
20. Kuntaw - (alt. Kuntao) (Chinese) “fist way,” a system of Kung- Fu adopted by
Filipinos and shared in common with Indonesia.
21. Kurbada - Curving strikes such as pronating or supinating strikes
22. Labai - Cross arm throw
23. Langka - “Footwork”
24. Olisi y baraw - Is another term for espada y daga or punta y daga
25. Pangagaw - Referring to disarming techniques
26. Pangandam - On guard or ready. Handa in Tagalog.
27. Panukad - Stance. Tayo in Tagalog.
28. Plancha - Back & forward horizontal strikes to midsection
29. Puk-pok or punyo - Applying butt strikes
30. Punyo - “Pommel” of a sword, knife, or baton.
31. Redonda - Continuous drill employing two batons continuously.
32. Rompida - And upward and downward slash or strike delivered in an x pattern.
33. Serrada - Close quarters combat executed at corto (close) range. Also, a style of
escrima, popularized in the U.S. by Angel Cabales.
34. Sikaran - Generally “sticking with the legs.”
35. Sinulog - Form or dance, traditionally dedicated to the Infant Jesus.
36. Sirkulo - Series of curving strikes such as witik, abanico, media, arko, bartikal
redouble etc.
37. Sungkiti - Hooking thrust.
 38. Sinawalim - Lit. “to weave,” connoting the continuous weaving motion that one
uses with two batons, knives, or hands to couple simultaneous strikes and,blocks.
Also, like redonda or hubud- lubud, a drill pattern.
39. Sumbrada - An upward, oblique “umbrella” block.
40. Tapi - Parry; deflect
41. Tapi-tapi-on Series of parries and blocks. Tigbas powerful horizontal strike to
body or head, apply forehand or backhand
42. Tigbas - powerful horizontal strike to body or head, apply forehand or backhand
43. Tunga-tunga - medium range. Medio in other systems.
44. Tuyok - Spinning movement.
45. Witik - Short curving snap strike from the wrist that creates a whip-like motion
46. Yukbo - Salutation. Saludo in other systems.
47. Arnis - Lit. “harnass,” terms used in the Northern Phillipines for FMA,
synonymous with the middle- Phiilipines term, “escrima,” or the southern term,
“kali”
48. Ekis - X- strikes
49. Pangagaw - Referring to disarming techniques
50. Machete – Bolo a large cutting tool of Filipino origin similar to the machete.
3. Cardinal Rules of Arnis
a. Respect - The cardinal principle in Arnis is respect for one's opponent as
a person and as a fighter, and as a sportsman. It should always be
remembered that an opponent is a human being with dignity as you have
and worthy of respect. Also do not underrate his fighting ability
overconfidence would be costly, if not fatal, therefore never
underestimate the ability of an opponent. Victory is not a stamp of
invulnerability but rather a reason for magnanimity
b. Character - A ruffian has no place in Arnis let alone in sports.
Refinement in character is important. A student must be taught the moral
(and religious) values of everything. It is an obligation of the teacher of
Arnis to mold the character of the student in such a way that his
behavioral structure would be motivated by righteous desire.
c. Sincerity - Sincerity for victory's sake is not the all-consuming end of
an Arnis player. It is the sincerity in him to his fellowman and to his art
that makes him shine in the array of men. The will to win maybe
inculcated, but such tutelage should never end after the tick of the
ultimate second in the game but beyond the canvass and the arena of
competition.
d. Discipline - Arnis is a molder of discipline. The kaleidoscopic
invitations and temptations of life should never undermine man in his
obligation to his art, to himself and his fellowman. A student should
learn to control himself in the pursuance of his goal, not only to his art
but also to life in general.
e. Self-control - Losing one's head means defeat. One should learn to
control his temper if one hopes to achieve success in every endeavor. In
 Arnis, self-control is important for without it, life and the good health of
another may be lost. The possession of an ability to kill or main person
should be handled with extreme caution and prudence. Man's clear
perception of things is anchored on his ability to control the outbursts of
his inner self. Provocations dishonorable but hasty reaction to it is just as
dishonorable if not despicable.
f. Etiquette - One’s norm and standard should never be imposed upon
others. One should learn how to respect others. Giving credence to the
standard and ability of another person should or will best prepare
anybody in any endeavor.
g. Student's loyalty - Loyalty should be emphasized to the student, loyalty
to the art, to a fellow player, and to his teacher. Ingratitude to one is
ingratitude to the other. A student should be loyal to a fellow player
because any disloyalty to him is disloyalty to the art itself. More
importantly, a student should be loyal to his teacher. Everything one has
learned is owed by him to his teacher. Personal whims should never
cause one to be ungrateful to where he owes everything he knows
4. Benefits of practicing Arnis (5 of each subcategory)
1. Physical Benefits –
 Burns calories and keeps you in good shape.
 It helps you to improve your cardiovascular health.
 It helps you to improve your stamina, muscle tone, flexibility, balance and
strength.
 It makes our body stronger as we will move a lot.
 It improves reflexes.
2. Mental Benefits –
 Arnis teaches us discipline and control.
 It helps you to be focused on your goals.
 It also gives usability to think fast
 It helps you to make good strategies.
 It can make you conquer your fears and work through pressure
3. Emotional Benefits –
 It improves your social skills as you meet a lot of people.
 It helps you gain friends with the same passion and interest.
 It teaches us to be respectful with our opponents.
 As you build strong bonds with your teacher and fellow students, you feel
like you belong to a community.
 Training with different partners enables you to learn more about other
people’s styles, biases, and attitudes.
4. Social Benefits –
 It helps you to have a better mood because you are participating in
exercise.
 It improves your emotional health.
 It gives you the courage to face any challenge.
 It relieves your stress.
  It boosts your self-confidence.
5. Spiritual Benefits –
 It increases your sense of purpose in life.
 It helps you to understand what you are capable of.
 Through meditation, it can help us to find our own identities,
 It serves as the bridge for which offers better communication between the
mind and the body.