BASIC CONCEPTS

ON WEAPONS
AND ARNIS
DEFINATION OF WEAPON
● Any instrument or device for use in attack or defense in
combat, fighting, or war, as a sword, rifle, or cannon.
● Anything used against an opponent, adversary, or
victim: the deadly weapon of satire.
● Zoology. Any part or organ serving for attack or
defense, as claws, horns, teeth, or stings.
● To supply or equip with a weapon or weapons: to
weapon aircraft with heat-seeking missiles.

PHILIPINE WEAPONS
NORTHERN PHILPPINE BLADES
katipunan
 The people that used this type of blade were called
Katipunero. They were part of the brotherhood KKK, pioneered
by the KKK (Kataastaasan at Kagalang-galangang Katipunan
ng mga Anak ng Bayan or Katipunan for short) who armed
themselves with only bolos and fight the Spanish occupation,
used this popular design because apparently, this sword can
deliver a deadly chop due to it’s heavy belly while still being
able to follow up with deadly thrusts due to the perfectly
designed point this sword has.
ESPADA Y DAGA
 The Espada Y Daga (Sword & Knife set) is a system or of
sword fighting techniques that were developed and perfected
in the Philippines. The focus of this method of fighting is to be
able to go in and out of long, middle and close ranges to trap
up the enemy and kill. Though it has European influence, it is
now a fighting method indigenous to the Philippines, one of the
inspirations for its evolution is said to be European fencing,
mostly Spanish; as you can see by the Spanish name of
“Espada Y Daga!”
NORTHERN SANSIBAR
 It is thought to have arrived in the Northern
Philippines because officers and fighting Filipino
guerrillas from the north who participated in the
rebelling against the Spanish occupation. When
they came back home to the Northern Philippines
some brought back the Sansibar swords that they
saw in the Cebu and Leyte area. That has
influenced this particular designed Sansibar
sword of the Northern Philippines.
 PHILIPPINE WEAPON
VISAYAN BLADES
Ginunting
 Ginunting – Perfect for long range as well as
close quarter attacks, the Ginuntings are shaped
like a beak as the tip of these swords are curved
downward, similar to Kukris of the Gurkhas.
Ginuntings are the official swords of the
Philippine Marines. The Ginunting is easier to use
as a utility tool, as jungle bolos, for clearing
brush, slaughter tools for hunting, chopping small
pieces of wood for fire and a perfect weapon to
carry.
TALIBONG
 The “Talibon” or “Talibong” sword’s exaggerated
belly indicates its uniqueness. This sword was
seen in Southern Luzon, but mostly in the
Visayan region of the Philippines during the later
part of the Spanish era into the early American
regime. The Talibong was used mostly for
combat purposes but occasionally doubled as a
tool when needed for hunting and cutting up
meat.
PANAY TENEGRE
 The Panay Tenegre is a new addition to our
arsenal of blades originating from Panay Island in
the Visayan region of the Central Philippines.
With its wide belly and downward pitch to the
angle of the blade, this razor sharp bolo-like
weapon hits hard, but is quick and manueverable
 PHILIPPINE WEAPON
 MORO BLADES
 Maguindanao kris
 blade
 The Kris is the most common Moro sword found
in Sulu & Mindanao. The Kris sword is
extensively used by the Tausug, Samal and
Yakan warriors. The waves of each Kris denotes
a flame or a serpent (depending on who has
made it and for what purpose). The Kris with the
most wave will always be carried by someone
with the authority and believed to give the
deepest thrust and could even go through the
enemy’s body.
BARONG
 The Barong (sometimes spelled Borung or
Barung) is a leaf shaped bolos that are
popularized by the Muslims, especially the
Tausug tribes of the Southern Philippines. This
later on reached the Mangyan Tribes of Mindoro
and Tagalogs of the Eastern Luzon Provinces.
The unique leaf-shaped blade makes the Barong
distinguishable from other Filipino weaponry.
PANABAS
 The Panabas is a chopping weapon favored by
the Moro tribes of Mindanao, which soon gained
its place as a weapon of war similar to the
western battle axe reputation and with just as
deadly results! This interesting 19th century Moro
sword is an unusual and very hard to find weapon
these days. The Panabas is not only used as a
weapon but is also believed to be an agricultural
tool. Because of its effectiveness at chopping
through meat, the Panabas was favored for use in
executions.
KNIVES AND DAGGERS
BALISONG KNIFE
Balisong knife is mistakenly called the “butterfly knife” outside of
the Philippines. No one really knows where the term, “Butterfly
Knife” came from but we all assume it is from the beauty of the
way it is opened and how one can switch hands with it so
smoothly, it takes on the looks of a butterfly when you watch the
nimble-fingered dexterity of an expert user of a Balisong knife.
 The Balisong, being a smaller knife than many others in the
Philippines makes it easy to carry. Being able to open a
concealed Balisong with one hand is a big advantage in a self
defense situation
BARAW
 The “Baraw” in Cebuano dialect translates as,
”Dagger.” Normally it is has a double edge with
cultural influence drawn from many areas of the
Philippines and beyond. The TFW Baraw is
designed for comfort and ease of use in close
quarters combat, with a pointed pommel which is
strong enough to break car windows for rescue,
and both ends can be used for combat purposes.
KARAMBIT
Karambit is pronounced kha-rhom-bit. The Karambit
(sometimes spelled as “Korambit”), in some places in the
Philippines, it is called the Sanggot, is an all
purpose/utility knife that was carried by the Indonesians
since the 11th century, and can still be seen in some
provinces throughout their islands.
 Although this type of knife was introduced in the art of
Indonesian Pencak Silat, only a few people knows that
it’s roots can also be traced in the Martial Arts of
Malaysian Bersilat, and Filipino Kali.
HISTORY OF ARNIS
ARNIS IS A NATIVE Filipino martial art practiced by Filipino warriors before the
Philippines was colonized by different countries. This martial arts is also uses
different types of weapons and armaments like, bolo, machete, staffs, knives,
kampilan, nunchakus, solo baton or single stick, double baston or double stick,
espada y daga combination stick and knife including or sword and many others
not mentioned herein.
The history of Arnis is considered as the oldest Filipino martial arts even before
the Spaniards colonized the Philippines. The term “Arnis” is taken from old
Spanish word harness or armor. Before the Spaniards ceme to the Philippines,
Arnis already existed and was practice by the ancient Filipino warriors. The proof
of this was that when Portuguese navigator lead by Ferdinand Mageland came
to colonize the country, they were defeated by the Filipino warriors lead by a
very courageous man a native of Cebu known as Lapu-lapu.
They have different terms for this Filipino Martial
Arts. In Luzon, it is commonly known as Arnis, in
the Visayas it is called Escrima and in Mindanao it
is called kali but they have the same style of
fighting and techniques.
 Arnis, also known as Kali or Eskrima/Escrima, is
the national martial art of the Philippines. The
three are roughly interchangeable umbrella terms
for the traditional martial arts of the
Philippines, ...
ARNIS
ARNIS IS A CLOSE-COMBAT AFFAIR, THUS SKILL IN
PARRYING AND STRIKING MUST BE DEVELOPED WITH
UTMOST DEXTERITY. THE EXPERT USE OF THE LEG AND
THE LEG-HIP FULCRUM MANEUVER TO OUTBALANCE AND
THROW AN OPPONENT MUST BE PERFECT. UNLIKE OTHER
MARTIAL ARTS WHICH: MAKE USE OF COMPLEX BODY
MANEUVERS. ARNIS AS IT WAS THEN AND AS IT IS NOW IN
ITS MODERN FORM, PUTS EMPHASIS ON THE USE OF THE
STICK AND THE HAND-ARM MOVEMENTS.
ARNIS TODAY
THREE TRADITIONAL TRAINING METHODS:
MUESTRASION OR PANDLAG - WHICH TEACHES THE
ARTISTIC EXECUTION OF THE SWINGING MOVEMENTS AND
STROKING FOR OFFENSE AND DEFENSE IN REPETITIVE
DRILLS.
SANGGA OR PATAMA OR SOMBRA TABAK - WHEREIN
STRIKING, THRUSTING AND PARRYING IN A PREARRANGE
MANNER IS TAUGHT.
LARGA MUTON OR LABANANG TOTOHANAN - IN WHICH TWO
TRAINEES ENGAGE IN A FREE PRACTICE TRYING TO
OUTMANEUVER EACH OTHER USING ALL THEIR SKILLS.
Cardinal Principles of Arnis

RESPECT
SPORTMANSHIP
CHARACTER
SINCERITY
DISCIPLINE
SELF CONTROL
ETIQUETE
STUDENTS LOYALTY
Code of Ethics
1. Arnis is an event that aims to bond and develop friendship and
brotherhood.
2. It is never a sport to hurt and defeat the opponent but to improve the skills
of the players.
3. It aims to develop the mind, the physique and the character of the player.
4. Arnis is played to develop the social aspect that will lead to the close
bonding of all practitioners.
5. All the practitioners respect each other. They salute each other when they
meet and from a meeting before they depart. The juniors must salute first
and maintain the position until the seniors answer their salute.
6. The juniors do not have the right to challenge to fight the seniors unless in
the program set by their association to fulfill an objective.
7.All the practitioners continue to move on as there is room for improvement or
advancement.
8.Each practitioner must share with other beginners or practitioners the
advancement attained.
9.Practitioners must desire to strengthen the Arnis family he belongs to by
sharing love, knowledge and understanding.
10.Practitioners must remember that Arnis is not a means to fight people but to
bond with them for life improvement.
END