ARNIS

PARTS OF THE ARNIS STICKS AND

ITS USES
We will now examine the parts of an Arnis stick and compare it with its
bladed counterparts such as bolo, parangs or long bladed swords. Aside
from the bladed weapons being pointed at the tip and has sharp edges,
there is not much of a difference on how the both long bladed weapons
and sticks can be used. In fact, I always tell my students to visualize the
stick as a bladed weapon when practicing both striking and blocking
techniques. Knowing where the cutting side and blunt side of a weapon
and applying it to the stick as if it was a bladed weapon will also
contribute to develop proper striking and blocking form.

1. Arnis Stick Head- the head can be

used for thrusting and striking. Like
blades that has a pointed head that can
pierce through, the sticks
concentrates the force of the thrust to a
small area giving it the same piercing
effect although it does not really pierce
through.
The stick head is also the ideal part that
is used for striking, due to the law of
potential energy, when a strike is
delivered most of the potential energy is
concentrated at the end of the stick
(which is the head of the stick) therefore
impact is
greater as opposed to hitting with the body of the stick.

2. Arnis Stick Body- for bladed weapons, the body of the sword will be
either the edged side, blunt side or flat side. The stick does not possess
this kind of characteristics as it is round and blunt. However, the stick
body has many uses this includes blocking. The body is used to block a
strike or counter either by clashing against the strike or by deflecting the
strike. The body of the stick can also be used for locking the hands, the
elbow and the shoulder, locking using the stick mostly effective when it is
leveraged against a joint or a pressure area.
Another use of the stick body is chocking. Chocking with the
stick
can be more effective than chocking with the forehand, this is
because the forehand still has a fleshy part while the stick is a
hard material that can immediately induce pain when pressed
against the neck area.

Other uses of the stick body can be for

throwing and clinching the
opponent.

3. Arnis Stick Butt - the butt of

an Arnis stick is an interesting
part of the stick, because as
small as it is, it can do damage
when used effectively. I
recommend utmost 2 inches
distance from the tip of the butt
to the tip of the hands, anymore
length will get in the way and
lessen your reach.

The butt of the stick can be used

in butt strikes which are usually
done to eye and face area on
the head area, while on the
body, the butt strike is delivered in the ribs and solar plexus
area. In the lower body area, butting is usually done to the
groin area. Other uses of the stick butt is to parry or clearing
tool, as grabbing or pulling tool, for disarming and to apply
pressure to a vital pressure point.

On part 3 of this series, we will be

discussing the types of Arnis sticks
that can be used for stretching and
power generation, for drills
and techniques development, and
for demonstration and
competition.
 The Benefits of Filipino Martial Arts –
ARNIS , KALI & ESKRIMA
1. Burns Calories and Keeps You
in Good Shape

Eskrima stretching exercise and warming up before formal

practice.
Eskrima is one of the best ways to lose or burn calories without
your realizing it. It has a conducive exercise program that
develops and enhances various fitness components, primarily the
aerobic which improves your cardio. Eskrimadors are aware of the
demand on cardio when performing Sinawali and Redonda
nonstop for several minutes.

Experts state that it’d take two hours of exercise to burn

approximately 1,000 calories. In order to relate calorie burning to
weight loss, the simple equation is this – 3,600 calories is equal to a
pound of fat. Therefore, burning such amount of calories indicates
removing one pound of body fat.

2. Learn Practical
Self- Defense
Esrkima prepares you to defend
yourself from attackers by giving
you the reflexes and muscle
memory to react quickly against
compromising situations. What
you learn from training can
easilybe applicable to real life.
 3. Develop more Confidence
executing the follow-through strikes

Knowing that you can defend yourself against an attacker or even

multiple attackers, gives you the confidence to deal with unforeseen
attacks. The fear comes from not knowing what to do during an attack,
especially one that is fatal. So martial arts also gives you the courage to
face any challenge.

Training in Filipino Martial Arts, you’ll inevitably go through sparring

sessions or even competitions. The pressure ones go through during
competition or sparring is immense. But with training comes self-
confidence and such confidence will build up once you go through
sparring or competition.

Win or lose you’ve walked through the path towards building confidence –
conquering your fears and working through pressure. And the more you
train and challenge yourself, the more confident you will feel.

4. Inherit Mental Discipline and Focus

Practicing Double Stick Sinawali to develop body coordination and focus

When you train in Eskrima, you are constantly put to the test. As
frustrating as it may seem, we are forced to push ourselves when we are
at our weakest. To excel in Eskrima, the practitioner must ensure that the
drills and exercises are given the required effort and time.

80% of Eskrima competition – of attacking or defending against an

opponent – is mental. Thus, training in Filipino martial arts schools
involves conquering your fears against an opponent, staying calm in a
stressful situation, and the repetition and development of technique.

Eskrima entails that the practitioner to have an analytical mind in both

sparring and solo practice. This can be seen when the practitioner looks
for an opening and weakness in his or her opponent during a fight or
when he or she is looking for ways or mixing the various attack angles.
5. Promotes Improvement

performing defense and counter drill in transition.

With each training, day come new challenges. This compels us to

step up to our game and improve ourselves. This enables us to turn
bad habits into good ones and brings us closer towards our goals.

In the martial arts of Eskrima, improvement can be fast because of

the proactive approach to learning. You learn by applying the
technique. Courses are compartmentalized into different levels and
each student has to master the techniques in the lower levels before
they can learn techniques in the higher levels.

Many of the Filipino Martial Arts schools adopt the belting system
wherein a student acquires a coloured belt after gaining proficiency
at a certain level and passing an evaluation. This system promotes
improvement as the students strive to master every level through
consistent training.
6. Forget the Warrior Spirit within You
Sports Arnis sparring competition (labanan)
Each time we spar or test our skills with a partner or opponent, we
grow a little bit stronger and become more confident. This forges the
warrior spirit within us to accept whatever challenges that may come
our way.

Filipino Martial Arts training can push your body to its limits. This
ability to endure hardship and beat the odds forces the indomitable
warrior spirit within you. Sparring sessions and competitions help
you to conquer your self- doubt and engage with a sparring partner
or competitor.

Thus, you do not shy away from challenges and battles but welcome
it as an opportunity to prove yourself. You are forging the warrior
spirit every time you prepare for anything that may come in your
way together with the determination to face it when it comes.

7. Relieves Stress
Balintawak master with foreign student drilling at sunset.

Martial arts like Eskrima is one of the best ways to relieve stress and
there’s nothing like the clash of arnis sticks and a series of drills to
release those endorphins.

Eskrima training promotes consistency in training such that the

practitioner has to forget about his troubles and worries and focus
on the training. Schools like the APO- Balintawak Self-Defense
System and the Darwa Pangalima Eskrima, among others, perform
meditation and breathing exercises to help prepare the student
mentally for training.

Filipino stick fighting is a mental game as much as It is a physical

game. It requires patience to learn and master all the different
techniques of the art. Developing such patience helps relieves
whatever stress you may feel at the moment.
8. Build strong Bonds
Eskrima Grandmasters judging and Eskrima Sports
Competition.

Aside from the master-student relationship, you will be surrounded

by fellow martial artists with the same passion and interest in every
training session, a sense of brotherhood and comradery follows. In
Filipino Martial Arts training, practitioners drill with different partners
to expose themselves to different personalities.

Training with different partners enables you to learn more about

other people’s styles, biases, and attitudes. Thus, a deep sensitivity
and bond develop among practitioners who withstood training
together. There’s nothing like bonding with people who are
motivated by the same things you are.
Cardinal Rules or Principles in Arnis
By nature man is never violent. Unless otherwise affected by some physical or
psychological affliction, or forced by outside reasons or provocations, no man will harm a
fellow human being (or animal for that matter) let alone feast on their physical sufferings.
Man is an "institution" of love and kindess.
However, history is replete which stories of man's brutalities to his fellowman. Wars were
waged and lives were laid in battlefield after battlefields. This is a sad commentary on
man's true nature, or an irony of his being.
But it must be remembered that this violent quality of man is forced upon him by the
vicissitudes of time and circumstance. Outside forces edged him out of his human
resistance which inevitably led him to react in order to preserve himself. Thus the truism of
the "survival of the fittest". The vagaries of a cruel life led man to violence.
This need forced man to devise arts and implements for fighting. From the first caveman to
the present spaceman, tools for fighting were made and improved until sophisticated
machines and implements of warfare have become dreadful realities.
Thus, the caveman had his stone clubs, the Europeans their epees and foils, the Chinese
their Kung-Fu and the Japanese, their Kendo and Karate, and many other with their forms
of martial arts. The Filipinos are not spared of this need. The Filipinos were also forced to
devise their own Arnis, the martial art of a cane which had its beginnings even before the
coming of the Spaniards.
Present trends, however, converted these martial arts into forms of sport. Although they
are taught as defensive and offensive weapons, their concentration is now as a form of
sport indulged in friendly competitions like all other wholesome sports. These arts have
"Cardinal Rules and Principles" to be observed and followed. Arnis has its own principles
that have to be inculcated in the student.
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 a dignity as you have and worthy of respect. Also do not under rate his fighting ability
overconfidence would be costly, if not fatal, therefore never underestimate the ability of an
opponent. Sportsmanship on the other hand is the measure of a fighter or player. The
laurels of victory should never be worn with superiority but with humility. Victory is not a
stamp of invulnerability but rather a reason for magnanimity.
Besides these cardinal principles, there are other principles in Arnis that the students, must
remember these are: Character, sincerity, discipline, self-control, etiquette and student's
loyalty to his tutor.
a) 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. It is what a man is that counts
not the number of trophies he won. In spite of the abetted fallacies of values of the present
world, it is who you are that will matter in the end.
b)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. The
martial art of Arnis, it should be remembered, is a good medium of development man's
sense of dedication in all his everyday endeavor and involvement. Sincerity, is the mother
of trust and trust makes an institution of what has been shattered by doubts. A man who is
not sincere will never have a true friend.
c)Discipline - Arnis is a molder of discipline. Proper behavior in the sport and in life itself
will be the gauge of success. Personal discipline is important. 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.
d) Self-control - losing one's head means defeat. One should learn to control his temper if
he 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 a 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.
Provocation is dishonorable but hasty reaction to it is just as dishonorable if not
despicable.
e) Etiquette - etiquette is allied to the main cardinal rules in arnis. 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. The pacific waters of human understanding will stay unruffled if
exercise of proper etiquette and respect whether it be in sporty competition or in life itself is
observed.
f) 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 important, a student should be loyal to his teacher. Everything one has learned is
owned by him to his teacher. Personal whims should never cause one to be ungrateful to
where he owes everything he knows. Even if the ultimate aim of the art is already achieved
by a student that he can now manage on his own, he should never forget the teacher who
labored for him. In the skirmishes of things, the student should be always loyal to him.
Life has shown us many treacheries committed in the name of greed and personal
gratification. This has no place in the art of Arnis or in sports for that matter. A true
sportman is always loyal to his art and to the prime movers of the art. He sees with
gratitude in everything and everybody from whom he had owed everything he knows. In
this world of muck and mire only those who look back with gratitude shall succeed. Loyalty
to the fundamental basis of his achievements weighs for a greater measure in the merits of
man. Ingratitude is treachery and a traitor has no place in the forum of honorable men.
 The Basic Stance and Salutation in Arnis
Handa

 Feet are positioned shoulder width apart.

 Stick is held in the front of the body.

Pugay

 Place the weapon hand across the check.

 Bow by bending the waist.

Handa sa Paglaban o Fighting Stance

 One foot in the front, the other foot on the rear.

 Keep feet apart. Distance on one foot.
 Both knees slightly bent.
 Toes facing forward.
 Weight evenly distributed on both feet.
The 12 Striking Techniques

1-Left side of the head attack.

A diagonal downward forehand swing to the left temple. From the position, the warrior
will hold the stick with one hand at 1 o’clock moving his stick in slashing motion while
his free hand on his chest.

2–Right side of the head attack.

A diagonal downward backhand swing striking to the right temple. Assuming a fighting
stance like the left temple strike, the warrior this time held his stick at 11o'clock with his
free hand kept on his chest.

3–Left side of the body or torso, to the left arm or elbow.

The 3rd striking technique allows the practitioner to extend his weapon hand making it
easier for him to strike any part of the opponent between its shoulder and hips. The stick
will be draw in a diagonal forehand slashing swing making it easier to deliver a damage.

4–Right side of the body or torso, to the left arm or elbow.

Same as the 3rd strike but this time the practitioner will extend the weapon hand to strike
any part of the body between the shoulder and the hips in a backhand slashing swing
located on the right side
5–Thrust to the stomach.
In this strike, the practitioner will thrust the weapon hand to the stomach and is followed
by an upward motion that will cut through his opponent's body.

6–Left chest stab.

In this strike, the weapon hand is then extended to the front with the palm facing outward
and the elbow kept up where this strike can cause damage to the rib cage.

7–Right chest stab.

In this stance, the practitioner will practice the scooping action. The weapon hand is then
extended forward with the palm facing outward. To deliver the strike properly, the elbow
should be kept up puncturing the opponents right lung.

8–Left lower leg.

In this technique, the practitioner will deliver a powerful strike to the opponents lower
leg, mainly the knee, the angle or the ankel which throws off the opponents balance and
immobilize him. By doing this, the warrior is supposed to lower his body(extending the
weapon arm). Holding his palm upward and hit any part of the opponents lower leg.

9–Right lower leg.

Again, like the 8th strike, the main target here is the right lower leg which immobilize the
opponent. By doing this, the palm should face downward.

10–Left eye poke.

The target here is the left eye socket. In order to execute it properly, the practitioner
should assume fighting stance then extend the weapon hand forward with the palm facing
outward with its elbow kept down.

11– Right eye poke.

Same as the 10th strike technique. To execute it properly the practitioner will have to
hold his elbow down poking the right eye of the oponent.

12–Strike to the crown/top of head.

The last strike will be a straight downward overhead swing directed towards the crown of
the head which could throw off the opponents mobility and balance.

Remember that this is good for defending yourself towards bad people and you can use
any available materials within reach your hand.