ARNIS – Group 1 BSA2A of self-defenses. has changed its form into a combative sport which has its own set of rule and regulations for a competition. The game is played by two individuals who are paired or matched by divisions or weight categories, in a court measuring eight square meters. Players use the prescribed cane or stick in delivering artistic and legal blows, strike, thrusts and by disarming the opponent to gain a point or score. A player wins the round is: 1. he gains five points ahead 2. disarm the opponent TWICE 3. his opponent commits three fouls The winner of the match is decided by the best of three rounds. Each round lasts for two minutes Arnis de Mano – Spanish term meaning “harness of the hand” Originally derived from Spanish words: “arnes” – decorative trappings “harness” – worn on the hands of the Moro-moro actors “de mano” – hands *misconception that arnis was brought to the Philippines by the Spanish invaders HISTORY OF ARNIS 1564 - Spanish Conquistador Don Miguel Lopez de Legaspi - Kali stick fighting Katipuneros – Itak / Gulok (bolos) General Bonifacio waved a Gulok in his “Cry of Balintawak” (Sigaw ng Balintawak) Conquered by Spain - Kali was thereafter known as Esgrima. However, unable to pronounce certain Sspanish sounds, the Filipinos changed the name to Eskrima Kali became Arnis - when Kali was outlawed by Spanish rule as one of the precautionary measures taken to discourage an enslaved people fro-revolt against the Spanish oppressors - Kali was practiced in secret or disguised as ceremonial dances 1896 - Dr. Jose de Azas set up a school for the study of Arnis and fencing 1972 - Philippine government includes Arnis in “Palarong Pambansa” or National Sports - Ministry of Education, Culture ad Sports included Arnis as part of Physical Education curriculum for the high school and college students - with the founder of Modern Arnis by Professor Remy Presas as well as Arnis Philippines and IMAFP January 12, 1987 - effectivity of Arnis Philippines as a member of the Philippine Olympic Committee July 27, 2009 - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9850 into law, declaring Arnis as the Philippine National Martial Art and Sport. Today - Arnis is included in PE programs of many schools and universities in the Philippines - being practiced for self-defense and physical exercise - on its way to becoming the national sport of the Philippines - popularly played with the use of cane being less deadly than bladed weapon As a fighting art form, Arnis is commonly classified into five forms of play 1. Espada Y Daga (Sword and dagger) or the long wooden sword and short wooden dagger 2. Solo Baston (single stick) in which a single long wooden stock or rattan cane is used 3. Sinawali (two sticks) doble baston. Intricate movements of two baston used in criss-cross manner 4. Pinga or long bamboo stick 5. Mano-mano, Buno or Dumog In teaching Arnis, (olden times) three traditional training methods are used: 1. Meustration or Pandalag – which teaches the art of Aldabis (striking) for defense and offense through consistent practice 2. Larga Muton or Labanang Totohanan – where two practitioners engage in free practice of contest for testing fighting skills 3. Sanga at Patama or Sombra Tabak – which teaches striking, thrusting and blocking parrying in a pre-arranged manner. Striking methods: 5 strike (Cinco Tiros) 12 strike (Doce Tiros) 13 strike (Trese Tiros) With basic form of stances (Pagtayo) in order to practice the long-range (Malayuan) and close-quarter (Malapitan) training methods of Arnis In addition to the cane, sword and dagger, empty-hand (Mano-Mano), hand foot kicking techniques (Sikaran) are used to supplement the Arnis training.
