History of Filipino Martial Arts
From Karate, Kungfu, Wrestling, Mixed Fighting Information Source
History of Filipino Martial Arts
--Philjendo 14:45, 6 July 2008 (GMT)
Arnis is a skill that belongs to the art of Self-Defense. It is an art that we can truly be proud of being called a Filipino Martial Art since it originated and was developed here in the Philippines.
Much of the techniques of this exotic art of edged weaponry are actually indigenous to the Philippines. Many sources all over the islands denote the roots of this stick/blade fighting art. Most of them imply that the history of Arnis dates back before the Spanish set to shore. Among them is when “Arnis” then was called Kali, by the people from Panay Island in the Philippine Visayas. They teach their children the art in schools called “bothoan” as part of their education. The word “Kali” came from the word “Kalis” which refers to an edged weapon used by the locals. The art spread out and came to be called with different names like Pagaradman, Pananandata, Kalironang, Kaliradnan and Kabaron. In the Northern part of the Philippines they also have their own bladed fighting art known as Buneng which they perform as part of their tribal rituals, especially before setting out in campaigns.
It came to be known as “Arnis” during the early 1850s. At this time the Spanish have already taken over much of the Philippines. The ruling Spanish authorities banned the carrying of bladed implements thinking the Filipinos would use them against their civil guards. The Filipinos did plan to fight against the Spaniards but they trained themselves using short hardened sticks instead, and they trained in secret, teaching only their families or close friends before reaching out to other comrades. Some of the Filipinos justified the practice of this stick fencing so they can showcase them in stage plays. Among these is the Moro-Moro which was introduced by the friars in 1637, a stage presentation that features the battle between the Spanish and the Moors in medieval times. The Filipinos took this chance to once again learn their fighting arts. The word “Arnis” actually came from the Spanish word Arnes which refers to the colorful paraphernalia attached to a soldier’s armor and weapons featured in this play.
In the late 1800s, the practice of Arnis became so widespread that one, Don Jose De Azas opened a school for the Art of Weapons Fighting at Salas Street in Manila. Some of the early elements of formal Arnis education were formed in this school. Many key personalities in Philippine history at this time are said to have practiced the art. More Filipinos continued to practice Arnis until the Revolt and fall of the Spanish rule in 1898.
Arnis became very well known in the 1960s through the efforts of some cultural societies and martial arts associations. These groups made the pride and honor of the Filipino as their calling. They propagated the art all throughout the distant provinces. This is the time when the Asian martial arts flourished in the West. Some of the individuals who have mastered the art also traveled to other countries. There they had the chance to write books and teach the Art of Arnis to foreigners. Some of the countries these masters visited even adapted Arnis as part of the training program for their troops and soldiers.
Today, Arnis is widely taught in schools as part of the physical education curriculum. Some colleges and universities offer seminars and training camps to professors and future instructors.
Arnis is now an institution in the martial arts world and it carries with it, with head held up high, the dignity of the Filipino nation. Arnis is one answer in the search for what is truly a Global Filipino Identity.
However, it is a common mistake for many Filipino and foreign Filipino martial arts (FMA) practitioners to tag Stick-fighting or Weapons Fighting as the only Filipino martial art exists here in the Philippines.
The truth is that, in the Philippines there are numerous number of other system of Filipino martial arts that exist alongside with Arnis and several of these have already been making names in the international scene.
Among these arts are the Dumog, the Yawyan, the famous Sikaran of Baras, Rizal who had already conducted several international competitions, seminars and clinics outside the Philippines for so many years and the Tracma that had already been featured in several movies like the Red Belt Master'
In other regions, there are other arts that are also known but silently exist spreading inside and outside the Philippines like the Bakbakan, Kuntaw, the Taisan, the Tapondo, the Takadi, the Alamid Mongoose and in Mandaluyong City, there is the Jendo martial arts which was included in the November 29th to December 4th, 2007 1st Asian Martial Arts Games held at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Manila and then recently voted and accepted as member of the 42 member countries of the International Martial Arts Games Committee (IMGC) during its demonstration at the 3rd International Martial Arts Games held April 12 to 19, 2008 at the Asian Games Village, in Bangkok, Thailand.
