Our very own arnis

By Pepper Marcelo

When it comes to martial arts, there are several styles of fighting which are
recognized all over the world. From Asia, these include Japan’s Karate, Korea’s
Taekwando, China’s Wushu and Thailand’s Muay Thai. Filipino martial arts have been
growing steadily in popularity in recent years. Starting with a minor, underground cult
appeal, it is poised to break out as a sports phenomenon not just in its full-contact
incarnation, but as an exhibition and display of Pinoy culture as well.

Known by many names, styles and formats, including eskrima (as it’s known in
Cebu and parts of the Visayas) or the more controversial moniker of kali, its official
practitioners have preferred the name arnis, short for “arnis de mano,” which is derived
from the Spanish phrase “harness of the hand.” Arnis has become the de facto umbrella
term. Referring, but not limited to stick fighting, arnis consists of weapons training utilizing
a rattan stick, also called a baston, which is approximately 28 inches in length. It also
encompasses empty-hand self-defense, including punching (suntukan), kicking (sikaran),
locks and submissions (dumog). Besides the baston, a variety of impact and bladed
weapons are also used, the latter of which Pinoys are considered the best in the world. A
milestone in the fighting style was marked last December when President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law declaring arnis as the country’s official martial art and
sport. Republic Act 9850 requires it to be a Physical Education course in all schools in
the country as mandated by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Previously, the unofficial sport was sipa or sepak takraw. “Arnis is one sport which
truly originated in our country, a part of our rich culture and tradition,” says Raymond
Velayo, president of Arnis Philippines Inc. (ARPI). “First and foremost, I’m very elated at
the developments because we’ve worked for so long for this.” ARPI had persistently
lobbied for the bill in both Houses of Congress since 1995, garnering support from a
number of politicians, including then Senator Orly Mercado, the late Senator Robert
Barbers, and then Congressman and now Senator Miguel Zubiri in 2001. “We had to
stress to lawmakers that the Philippines had not declared a national sport,” adds
Velayo. Sipa was unofficial. If you look at the history books, sipa doesn’t exist, but arnis
is part of our history.” Before the Spaniards colonized the country, many indigenous tribes
practiced and exhibited some form or variant of the technique, and using it to fend off
invaders. With the colonization of the country, first by the Spaniards and then the
Americans, Filipino martial arts and arnis slowly diminished in status.
In the 1970s, with the rise in popularity of foreign martial arts, spearheaded by Kung-Fu
and ninja movies, there became a renewed interest in arnis and in its history and cultural
significance.

In recent years, Filipino martial arts have been appropriated by a number of

Hollywood action films. Tom Cruise (Mission Impossible 2), Angelina Jolie (Tomb Raider:
Cradle of Life) and Matt Damon (Bourne series) utilized the Pinoy fighting form or one of
its many variants. Considered the greatest martial arts action star of all time, Bruce Lee
hinted at the impending greatness of arnis in his last movie before his untimely death.
“In Game of Death, he was using two stick against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, instead of
the nunchaku,” notes Velayo.

According to Velayo, one of the significant problems of re-introducing arnis to the

general population is that there is not one technique or school in Filipino martial arts. It is
as varied as, some observers say, as the archipelago’s 7,100 islands. “There was
resistance from groups that felt threatened that the umbrella group ARPI would change
their system,” he says. “Filipinos are clannish. We have different dialects and a ‘mine-is-
better-than-yours’ mentality. We don’t want these various styles to disappear, all styles
must co-exist and be preserved.” He emphasizes that ARPI’s goal is to provide strong
leadership in order to hold together and consolidate the different schools and to wholly
preserve their heritage and culture. Without a strong and consistent hand, he says, the
Filipino martial arts’ 400-year-old history will fade away. Amid the division, bickering and
politicking, arnis’ sheer number and variety can be maximized to their fullest. Aside from
its inclusion as a distinct event in the annual national amateur sports
competition Palarong Pambansa – where before it was only an exhibition event – arnis is
also featured in half a dozen local and international events, showcasing the myriad styles,
forms and strains from regions and clubs all over the country.

Most significant of these events is the National Encounter, which is divided into
two categories – the full contact competition and the exhibition or creative portion.
“The Ano or Kata – it’s so lovely and colorful,” says Velayo. “The natives wear costumes
to show off their styles and movements.” There is even a program that caters to those in
wheelchairs so the disabled can participate. ARPI had successfully lobbied for its
inclusion in the 1991 and 2005 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. The goal now is to have
arnis included in other major international sporting events, culminating in the Olympics.
There are hurdles and prejudices to overcome before this can become a reality.
“Medyo barbaricpa tayo, some people don’t want to think of this as a sport,” Velayo
laments. “Remember, the Olympics were formed during a time of peace, because they
wanted activities of friendship and camaraderie instead of war. Our approach as well is
the same. We want to perpetuate its existence by turning it into a sport.” Velayo points
out that there is already an official arnis handbook of rules and regulations, and a
specialized scoring system and scoreboard. Also, safety has been prioritized, with
competitors not only donning protective head and body gear, but also using padded sticks
that break instantly if excessive force was used, to prevent serious injury. “Noong araw,
they said it would not be played in the Olympics because it’s so deadly. But as a sport,
we invented equipment for safety; it’s become one of the safer sports. It’s safer than
boxing,” says Velayo.

With arnis now the official sport, there is greater awareness and recognition of its
uses and benefits. More importantly, it gives the country ownership of a martial art that is
destined to be a popular sport around the world in the near future. “The new law gives
confirmation that it’s ours. Arnis is our very own. If there comes a time when it becomes
popular outside the country, people will know it comes from the Philippines. Whatever
you say – it’s Filipino. We have to be proud of it and support its propagation around the
world. Arnis is yet to come,” asserts Velayo.

http://planetphilippines.com/sports/our-very-own-arnis/
Reaction Paper

Arnis is one of the martial arts that we have and it is known to be the national sport
here in the Philippines. Arnis, also called kali, escrima or baston is a self-defense
technique that we can use towards an attacker or for the bad people that wants to hurt
us. In having the skills or idea of arnis even you do not have the so called “baston” or the
stick or you are empty-handed you can use arnis as a technique in defensing yourself
towards your opponent. Arnis is the combination of your skills both elbows and hands or
the arms to have force in attacking your opponent. If Korea has taekwondo and Japan
has karate, here in the Philippines we have arnis as one of the top sports that performed
by most of the Filipinos and it is being studied and executed by the students in the different
schools here in the Philippines both secondary and tertiary level and even now it is taught
in elementary level. Arnis is also popular in the international field, it is also performed and
being taught in other countries around the globe. It is also a form of art that can enhance
or it shows how rich the culture of the Philippines has. In this journal I found out that there
is no specific or exact origin of arnis here in the Philippines and it is now known as our
own and how come that no one can determine or no one knows on how it came to us and
how it is created or simply where it is originated. If it is truly belonging to the Philippines
and it is claimed as our own martial arts, one must validate it and do some researches for
the benefit of our country and for us students or the Filipinos would be aware where it
came from and it must be presented in the government first for clarification and validation
and for the approval of it.