History of Arnis

St.
Dominic College of Asia

Department of Arts and Sciences
(Individual/Dual
Sports/History of
Arnis)
(Alejo C. Lupac GPE 103)
Professor, Course Name
GPE 103 Individual/Dual Sports
BASIC ARNIS
1st Semester, School Year 2024-2025
BRIEF HISTORY OF ARNIS

ARNIS DE MANO, the native art of stick fighting, antedates
recorded Philippine history in origin and development. For
when the Spaniards came in the 16th century, they found the
art flourishing in various parts of the Philippine archipelago
which is composed of some 7,000 islands. It was then called
KALI a system of fighting with bladed weapons among the
Maharlikas or nobility.
But more than ever and unknown to many, ARNIS or stick fighting which
known in some parts of the world as Kali, has been known to exist and
have been said to be in use since hundred of years ago in the Philippines
and has been very popular not only among the Maharlika or royal blood
but also to the layman or common people and these facts should make
every arnis buff and enthusiast proud that even during the time of Lapu-
lapu, one of the national heroes of the Filipinos, Arnis has been actively
in use and that was in 1521 when Portuguese adventurer Ferdinand
Magellan set sail and landed in Mactan island in Cebu in Southern
Philippines. Not only that, some of the internationally known Filipino
heroes have been involved in this discipline. Dr. Jose P. Rizal, who is
known worldwide, is a typical example. He’s known to practice ARNIS.
So was Gen. Gregorio del Pilar, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Andres Bonifacio, Fr.
Gregorio Aglipay and many other.
The onset of the twentieth century brought about the decline of arnis in
the country and the world. With the coming of the Americans, the Filipinos
were awed with the new culture, that most indigenous culture forms were
relegated almost into oblivion. Arnis disappeared from use in the urban
areas and were preserved only in the provinces.
In 1975, the National Arnis Association of the Philippines was formed, led
by Maj. Gen. Favian C. Ver . NARAPHIL acted as the national organization
for Arnis. Its existence faded after the change in government in 1986.
On July 11,1986, noted sportsman Raymond Soriano Velayo, a young civic-
minded and energetic sportsman, convened a group of men truly devoted
to the art at the Sulu Restaurant in Cubao, Quezon City. These men - Roland
Dantes, Dewy Sahagun, Rene Tongson, Mario Malicsi and Gerry dela Cruz
brainstormed with Velayo and formed the Philippine Arnis Federation, later
known as Arnis Philippines (ARPI). Succeeding meeting saw the joining of
more distinguished men who were bent on making Arnis a pillar in the
world of martial arts. Velayo became its first and current president. Its
founding came about right after the historic People Power Revolution that
catapulted the government of Corazon C. Aquino. Taking advantage of the
preferred democratic space and the renewed enthusiasm of the society,
these founders decided to bring together and assemblage of various arnis
clubs and styles to strengthen and unify them. This was preceded by
their observation that ARNIS, which was fast becoming a dying art in the
country, should be revived and promoted. Owing it to being indigenous
to the Philippines only bid to the international sports world. Thus, with
the firm objectives of PROMOTING, PROPAGATING, and PRESERVING, the
Philippines Arnis Federation was born and on August 20, 1986, the
organization was formally recognized as Arnis Philippines,
ncorporated or ARPI, which became its official name. In a quick span of
I
time, Arnis Philippines received immediate recognition from the official

sports bodies in the Philippines. It is now the solely accredited Arnis arm
in the Philippine Olympic Committee and has now been accepted as the
33rd member, feat unmatched by any Arnis group in the past. With the
membership, Arnis Philippines had the sole right to officially supervise all
arnis affairs in the country, in the event of its inclusion as an international
sports event.

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History of Arnis

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St.

Dominic College of Asia

BRIEF HISTORY OF ARNIS

time, Arnis Philippines received immediate recognition from the official

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