FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS.
By Bong Abenir

Arnis, Escrima , Kali and Kalis

Are Martial Arts which have its origins in the Philippines. The practitioners of these arts emphasize the use of blunt, projectile, hand to hand and bladed weapons. Projectile weapons may refer to spears, bow and arrow, blow guns and knives. (It does not include plates, glass, spoon, fork and other kitchen wares which Filipina wives throw at their husbands during marital warfare.)

Arnis de mano is the term commonly used to refer to the Filipino Martial Art. It is a corruption of the Spanish word “Arnes” that refers to the various means by which armor was strapped on.

Escrima is also from the Spanish word “Esgrima” which means “Fencing”, it is a sword fighting art through which the older masters of the blade-based Filipino Martial Art prefer to call it.

Kali is a modern term used to refer to the Filipino Martial Art which probably may refer to the term “Pagkali-kali” in describing the locked talon-jousts of eagles in mid-air. Others have given their explanations as to the origin of the term. However this new term is not familiar to most of the Filipino Masters here in the Philippines although it is widely used in foreign countries.

Kalis is a term which means sword. A preferred term used by one of the factions between the Ilustrisimo groups. “Kalis Ilustrisimo” headed by Master Antonio Diego says that the term is more appropriate for Antonio Ilustrisimo’s art due to its blade based orientation.

All these are now interchangeable terms which describe blade, stick and empty hand way of the Filipino Martial Art or FMA.




History of Arnis

Nobody really knows the true origin of Arnis (But we Filipinos know more about the legend of the banana tree!) since there were no written treatises on the art before the twentieth century. And this is probably due to the fact that most of the written documents our ancestors had were burned by the Spaniards and also since it was outlawed by their officials that the practice of the art went underground and its masters and practitioners reduced to doing roles as fight choreographers and actors on theatrical performances during Moro-Moro stage plays which depicts combat between Christians and Muslims. Although for sure we had a martial art which was being used by our ancestors in order to protect each other either from other tribes or warring clans and from foreign invaders. That is why we have the story between the fight from the army of Magellan and the legendary Lapu-Lapu and his warriors. Nobody knows exactly what kind of martial arts they were using or if they even had a name for it……but it’s quite clear that they knew how to fight well. As for the claim of others that Kali is the term used before Arnis and Escrima, it is still a matter of debate and thus needs further investigation.

However there were references to the art by the likes of Jose Rizal when he studied Arnis as a young lad and even included it on his school curriculum when he set up one during his exile in Dapitan. We also have other well known historical figures such as Juan and Antonio Luna and Marcelo H. del Pilar who were known to have studied and practiced the art. An epic called Florante at Laura by Balagtas also mentions the term Arnis as a form of martial art.



Today we have seen the Filipino Martial Art featured on both local and international films such as Kamagong, Mano-Mano, Bourne Sequels, Mission Impossible 3, and the Hunted. There are also a lot of instructional videos and numerous reading materials found in the internet and books written about it. It has now become one of the most in-demand and popular Martial Art in the United States and Europe. Thanks to the likes of Dan Inosanto, Romy Macapagal, Antonio Diego, Mark Wiley, The Dog Brothers, Leo Gaje, Bobby Taboada, Edgar Sulite, Christopher Ricketts and others who had popularized the art by exposing it to the public thru seminars, instructional videos, magazines and books.

History or rather stories by many of its masters and practitioners are often made up or not always trustworthy since most of their claims regarding the origin of their art are often shrouded in mysteries such as masters who dreamt of being taught by enchanted spirits, and others who traveled many treacherous mountains and learned their skills either through a beautiful blind princess or a hermit. (I am dying to hear stories of those who learned Arnis from a very ugly princess without arms and legs or those who dreamt of learning from an enchanted frog…..iyan ang usapang lasing o mga kwentong barbero, hehehe)

Thanks to authors like Mark Wiley who have made a thorough investigation of the history of the Filipino Martial Art that we have now a scholarly study of the subject. His book “Filipino Martial Culture” is a good reading material. We also have other good sources which come from Filipino authors like Rey Galang and Edgar Sulite.







Forms of Arnis, Escrima and Kali/s

Solo Baston or single stick is a form which an arnisador uses a stick measuring about twenty to thirty inches long, with a diameter of an inch. The free hand is used for parrying, striking and snatching the weapon from the enemy.

Doble Baston is using two sticks with equal length and is wielded with skill. Another term for the movements used for wielding two sticks is called sinawali.

Espada y Daga is a form which uses a sword and a dagger and got its influence from Spanish sword play using such weapons.

Kutsilyo or Baraw is the form of using a knife in which the skills used by the Filipinos in wielding this weapon is highly regarded as a very practical and functional way of fighting with a knife. It also employs the handling of two knives.

Mano-Mano is the empty hand form which employs the use of punches, elbows, knees, kicks and grappling skills. Many do not know that this particular phase of Arnis, Escrima and Kali/s is included in the curriculum. Thinking that the art is purely weapons oriented, but the truth is that it is a complete fighting system where empty hand and weapons training are emphasized to become a well-rounded martial artist.


There are also fighting systems which is indigenous in the Philippines that does not emphasize the use of sticks or bladed weapons such as Sikaran, Yaw-Yan, Dumog and others that are based on empty hand combat. Although they do have some training in weaponry, it is not their main focus. (We also have what we call “Sayo na tsi” which is basically a running art wherein you give your slippers to your opponent and run!-“Sayo na Tsinelas Ko!” hahaha Duwag!)




Why train with such primitive weapons?

We are in a world where guns are used in order to do the job of either using it for self-defense or for committing crimes effectively and for keeping law and order as well. All it takes is a well aimed shot and a good squeeze to trigger the bullet inside the ammo, and that’s it! The problem is, not all could afford to buy himself one and keep it around his person anywhere, all the time. You also need to go through a psychological test before you get a clearance and a license to buy a gun if you happen to have the money for it. Maybe you could settle to buy low quality ammo made from danao (just make sure that the bullet fires at the direction of your assailant and not you!) So leave these to those who could afford to buy and who really need to use it, such as law enforcers and law breakers? Hehehe.

A well trained Arnisador is not limited to using sticks and knives as a means for fighting. He is able to pick up anything such as pens, books, keys, umbrellas, stones, pipes, magazines, trash cans, pool cue (save the pillow fights for kids) or whatever is available and effectively turn it into a weapon provided that he has trained himself to use these things. The weapon an Arnisador holds could be used effectively to defend himself provided that he knows the limitations of whatever weapon is at hand. (Well with some exception of course. Don’t expect an Arnisador to hold a banana and fight someone with a knife! Tsk, tsk,tsk delikado ka iho.)

Training with weapons helps one develop the necessary attributes such as Coordination, speed, strength and power. It also helps in reducing ones fear when faced with a bladed weapon such as the bolo or knife or when up against someone holding a baseball bat or a lead pipe or a broken glass, ice pick, or a light saber?. It equips you with the necessary skills and courage to help you deal with these kinds of situation wherein you have to defend someone or yourself for that matter. And a weapons oriented person is likely to survive than someone without knowledge on handling a weapon when it comes to combat. (But always remember that the best thing to do whenever confronted with an armed assailant is to find a way to get out of his way and run like hell!)








Belting System in the Filipino Martial Arts

Pedro Reyes one of my teachers in Arnis, told me that the only thing a belt does is to hold your pants up (what color that maybe.) Well…..that’s probably true when we’re talking about what we usually practice here in our country, where we don’t normally issue belts to our students but rather we just let our students keep on practicing until he or she becomes proficient in the art and finds himself an apprentice to pass on the art. Or if a student suddenly realizes that he has been hanging around with him for too long then that’s his time to go his on way.

But of course there are others such as Modern Arnis who adopted the beltings system which could also be very helpful when it comes to student evaluation whether he or she has been learning the art properly and in accordance to the principles, guidelines and techniques found within the system or style.

Probably the craziest thing adopted by some systems is by using the terms used by tribal ethnic groups such as datu or village chieftain to signify their ranks on their system. I won’t be surprised if one day the term alkalde, konsehal and senador would be used as well….susmaryosep!

As for me it’s not what color of your belt that counts, but what you can give when it comes to sparring or fighting. You may have a black belt wrapped around your person but if you can’t fight, then that’s just what it is, a thing to hold your pants up.





Stick fighting and knife fight are two different things

I have heard a lot of old-timers in Filipino Martial Art Circle says that learning how to use the stick will automatically give you the ability to translate it’s techniques into knife work or whatever impact or edged weapon you are using. I do believe that there are similarities with the movements being used for each weapon but then again it also has its differences. And by knowing this simple fact would give you an understanding of up to what point a certain weapon is effective and where its limitations lie. (It could even save your life!)

Knowing how to wield a stick does not mean that you know how to wield a knife effectively. First of all a stick is an impact weapon, and the way you generate force in order to use it effectively as a weapon is very much different from a knife which is designed to cut, thrust or hack that requires a different kind of timing and handling compared to the stick or any kind of impact and edged weapon for that matter. No amount of stick fighting would prepare a student for knife work not unless he trains in the use of such weapons. So the assumption that learning how to use a stick could be easily translated into knife work or vise versa is not true. Although they might argue that the angles are the same and movement are the same is true but the law of physics when it comes to the use of different kinds weapons says it isn’t. Try wielding a stick and a bolo or a jungle knife and you’ll know what I mean.





Defanging the snake (Weapons disarming techniques)

This particular skill which is used to help the students learn how to eject a weapon out of the opponent’s hand or to use nerve destructions is easier said and done during practice drills than actually doing it during sparring and real fighting. Although this may be a good tool to add variety to your training. But to spend and focus much of your time practicing these techniques is not very practical. Even old timers in these business would tell you that it is very difficult to pull off during sparring much less during an actual fight due to it’s complex nature, I think it is better to focus more on practicing effective altercation moves in order to finish it off as soon as possible or to create an opening where you could safely get out of that dangerous situation. Don’t think much of how to eject that knife out of the assailants hand but rather think of the fastest way out or if that is not possible then get a hold of something and I mean anything that could help you equalize things or to be of an advantage by having a more effective weapon is turning the odds into your favor. Imagine the shock of your assailant who points a Rambo type knife in front of you when you suddenly pulled out a grenade! (hehehe exaggerated but I hope you get my point)





Aliveness

An old martial arts teacher told me that sparring is of no real value in actual combat because it has nothing much to do what a thug or criminal would do in a real situation and he continues to say blah blah blah and all sorts of lame excuses to justify his belief regarding the matter. Well I never believed him and continued too be an advocate of what I refer to as “aliveness” which means that you go duke it out with your sparring partner and see what works and what fails during a quasi combat encounter with your fellow martial artist. That means that you get hit and he gets hit and both suddenly realize that you sometimes go home with a bruise here and there and it feels good. Although I believe that it is not the only tool you could use for practicing your skills but I really believe it to be an essential part of martial arts training. Sparring teaches you a lot about timing, being able to read your opponent’s mind and countering his attack, when and how to attack effectively, knowing and exploiting your opponent’s strength and weaknesses and knowing yours as well. It also helps you to understand and feel pain when you get hit and what it means to fight under pressure!

I was once in U.P. Diliman with my student and we were there to demonstrate what my system was all about. Of course there were other groups too who were invited to demonstrate. I got so tired of seeing techniques being done over and over in a pre arranged setting while everybody was intently watching these people. I really had nothing against them and I do respect their arts but when it comes to demonstrating what my system is all about then I would have to really show it. So after a few words of introduction I then instructed my student to go live! Well we did stick sparring, knife fighting and hand to hand without any armor or protective gear and I got hit, my student got hit and everybody was silent. That’s ALIVENESS folks!