History of arnis

Modern Arnis History

Arnis, as a martial art, was spawned in Philippine soil. It was known in ancient Philippines as kali, an
ancient Malayan word that implies a large bladed weapon longer than a knife. This art was practiced
primarily for self-defense by the pre-Spanish Filipinos who were noted for their friendly nature and
legendary hospitality.

The art of hand-to-hand combat has always been an integral part of the Filipino in his long, turbulent,
and bloody history. By force of necessity and self-preservation he became an expert in fighting with his
hands, either bare or with a stick and a bladed weapon. Even before the introduction of the bladed
weapon, the early Filipinos were already a fighting people using the bow and arrow or the longbow. The
primitive Negritos, coming from Central Asia during prehistoric times, were experts in these weapons.

Arnis de mano is the best known and the most systematic fighting art in the Philippines. It is a perfected
art after a long historical development from the kali systems designed to train the student to defend
himself against armed or unarmed attacks. Arnis, as it is commonly called, has also been known in other
dialects as estacada among the Tagalog provinces and estoque or fraile in other regions.

As a fighting art, Arnis has three forms of play. They are the espada y daga ("sword and dagger") in which
a long wooden sword and a short wooden dagger is used; the solo baston (single stick) in a single long
muton or baston (wooden stick or rattan cane hardened by drying or heating) is used; and the sinawali, a
native term applied because the intricate movements of the two muton resemble the weave of a sawali
(criss-cross fashion), the bamboo splits weave pattern used in walling and matting.

The lives of Filipino heroes are linked with the awesome power of the martial art of Arnis. They
triumphantly waged their heroic battles for freedom and liberty as a testimony of the power and
effectiveness of Arnis. Their successful stand against their superiorly armed adversaries in mortal combat
in the arena of battle is now held in immortal inviolability by history of the 16th century. Kali (Arnis)
became so popular during the early days that it was known as the sport of kings and of the members of
the royal blood. The first and foremost experts of the art were the rajah and maharlika of the Visayas
and Tagalog regions, Amandakwa in Pangasinan, and Baruwang of the Cagayan Valley region.

The art was not confined to the elite alone. Ordinary Filipinos practiced kali not only for self-defense but
also for entertainment. It was the most awaited entertainment feature in fiestas and other gatherings.
Kali was a standard fighting technique in hand-to-hand combat of the Filipinos when they revolted
against Spain. Using the itak or bolo the Katipuneros engaged the Spanish soldiers in savage skirmishes.
History states that Bonifacio brandished a bolo, a standard weapon in kali in his famous "Cry of
Balintawak." However, kali declined in popularity as early as 1596 when the Spanish authorities
discouraged the practice of the art (it was eventually banned in 1764). The Spaniards must have
considered the art lethal or dangerous since they decreed that natives found practicing kali would be
considered Tulisanes or outlaws.

In 1637, the friars introduced the moro-moro, a socio-religious play dramatizing the triumph of the
Christian Spaniards over the Muslim Moors of Granada, Spain. The play called for the use of fighting
techniques using a sword or similar bladed weapon. With the introduction of the moro-moro, the
Filipinos again had a chance to practice their art, thus interest in kali was revived. In the play, Spanish
soldiers fighting for Christianity were supposed to wear arnes, a Spanish word for the English harness,
the colorful trappings worn by medieval soldiers. From the word arnes came the present Arnis. In 1853,
the word kali was completely replaced by Arnis.

Arnis today has experienced changes in the weapons used. Although the art still makes use of the itak or
bolo now and then, it has relied considerably on the use of the cane as a self-defense weapon. This is not
because the cane is less deadly than bladed weapons but mainly because in later years, Arnis is engaged
in more as a sport. Much of the antiquated techniques of the old Arnis have been modernized to avoid
injury to students. More importantly, discipline and other moral values are impressed upon the students
to strengthen not only the body but the spirit as well.

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT OF ARNIS

The game is played by using prescribed padded stick in delivering artistic and legal blows, strikes, thrusts,
and disarming the opponent to gain score.

COMPITATION AREA

Shall refers to the area by which the conduct of the competition shall be set or held including the free
zone around it.

DIMENSIONS

The playing area is a square measuring 8.0 meters by 8.0 meters with a two (2) meters minimum free
zone around it, and a clear space without any obstruction up to a height not less than 5 meters from the
playing surface.
LINE OF THE PLAYING AREA

All line of the playing surface are 5.08 cm.

(2 inches) and must be of the floor and other lines previously drawn for other purposes.

BOUNDARY LINE

Four lines mark the boundary of the playing area. The free zone distance measuring 2.0 meters are
drawn outside of the playing area.

MATCH LINES

Two lines of 1.0 meter long and 2.0 meters apart mark the horizontal match line. The horizontal match
line are drawn 3 meters from the boundary lines that

run perpendicularly to the official’s table, and 3.5 meters from the boundary line that run parallel to the
official’s table.

WEAPON

The padded stick shall be the official weapon of the player.

The specification of which shall be in accordance with the i-ARNIS standard.

No other similar material will be allowed to be used in any local, national or international competition.

Each padded stick shall be properly foam-cushioned and shall have a maximum grip diameter of not
more than 3.81cm.

(1 ½ inch) and length of 76.20cm (30 inches for men and women).The length of padded stick shall be 27
inches for boys and girls.
Both padded stick shall be color-coded, one red and the other blue.

HEAD PROTECTOR

Refers to a pair of protective head gear to include an impact worthy face mask, the specifications of
which shall be in accordance with the i-ARNIS standard. Both headgears must be color-coded, one red
the other blue, to match the padded stick of the player.

BODY PROTECTOR

Refers to a pair of protective body protector, properly cushioned, the specifications of which shall be in
accordance with the i-ARNIS standard. Male and female player must both wear body protector and groin
protector. Body protector and groin protectors specifications shall be in accordance with the i-ARNIS
standard. Both body protectors and groin protectors shall be color coded to match the color of the
player. Forearm and shin guards are compulsory. The specifications shall be in accordance with i-ANIS
standard. Both shin & forearm guards must be color of the player.

Scoreboards

A pair of scoreboard, either manually or electronically operated, the specifications of which shall be in
accordance with the i-ARNIS standard.

Two score boards per contest area shall be placed at diagonally opposite at diagonally opposite corners
outside the playing area, inside the competition area within the free zone, right where the judges are
positioned.

FLAGS

Two sets of red and blue flags, the size of which is 30 cm by 25 cm, are used by the judges in declaring
decisions or asking for consultations.

One yellow flag, size 30 cm by 25 cm.

a time-out and resumption of the game.

OTHER EQUIPMENT

Stopwatch is use to keep the two-minutes per round. This include interruptions such as injury, changing
of broken stick. A gong and mallet or other similar audible substitutes such as whistle, bell or buzzer shall
be provided for the timer to indicate the start and end of the round. A table shall be provided for the
TIMER and RECORDER which shall be situated one (1) meter in front of the playing area so that time
signals are audible enough to both players and referee.

Rules for Arnis Stick Fighting

General Rules

Competitors are required to bring their own stick.

There Is No Age Limit for Arnis Stick Fighting Competitors.

If there are less than 2 competitors in an age group, the judges reserve the right to combine age groups.

Mandatory Safety Equipments: helmet with face protector, gloves, chest padding, and groin protector for
men.

Divisions: Male division and Female division; not categorized by weight.

If there are less than 2 competitors in an age group, the judges reserve the right to combine age groups.

Competitor who is disarmed or drops his/her stick 3 times in one round automatically loses.

Competitors have 5 seconds to execute a disarm. A competitor who is disarmed loses one point
automatically.

No punching, kicking, or takedowns permitted. No contact to the back.

The format of arnis stick fighting is continuous. Referee stops and restarts the fight if one or both
competitors fall on the ground, one or both weapons fall on the ground, or one competitor grabs the
handle and takes away the opponent’s weapon.

Duration of Bout

Each bout is 3 rounds; each round is 60 seconds with 30 seconds break between each round.

Point Scoring
Scoring is a 10 points system.

The winner of a round scores 10 points, while the loser of a round is scored 7-9 points.

Warning

If the competitor disregards the orders and instructions of the referee and the judges.

Disrespecting the referee, judges, or the opponent.

Attacking with excessive force.

Using violent actions.

Using the techniques of kicking, punching, and takedowns.

If the competitor continues to attack his/her opponent after the opponent’s weapon falls down on the
ground.

Using performance-enhancing drugs prior or during the bout.

The referee has the right to disqualify a competitor from the bout or competition if:

The competitor receives 3 or more warnings from the referee.

The competitor engages in unsportsmanlike conducts.

The competitor injures his/her opponent using prohibited techniques or attacks to the no contact area,
depending on the seriousness of the injury.

The referee has the right to stop the contest if:

There is a big gap in the skill level between the 2 competitors. The competitor with the skill advantage
wins the bout.

A competitor is injured as a result of a legal maneuver, depending on the seriousness of the injury. The
opponent wins the bout.

Courtesy Rule: Salute to the judges first and then competitors salute to each other before the bout
begins. After the bout finishes, salute to the judges again and then competitors salute to each other.

Officials and Officiating

The officiating officials in arnis are:

timer

screening comittee

referees and judges

recorder

tabulators

flag officials