CHAPTER 2

FORMS
AND
TECHNIQUES

11
LESSON 1

STRKING AND BLOCKING

TECHNIQUES
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Demonstrate the Striking and Blocking techniques in Arnis.

2. Simulate an ethical behavior, discipline and camaraderie with other

practitioners of the sport while executing the Striking and Blocking Techniques.

3. Distinguish and critique the performance of others to improve one’s skill level
in terms of the Striking and Blocking Techniques.

4. Appreciate the value of Arnis in the Filipino Culture Heritage by performing

the Striking and Blocking Techniques.

OVERVIEW
Arnis is a weapon-based martial art that focuses on striking and blocking
elements (Amon, 2013). In this lesson, you will learn about the basics of striking and
blocking. This will be your foundations for more complicated drills and activities on
stick fighting. Targeting the vital points of the body is the key concept of these various
techniques, by means of slashing, stabbing, thrusting, poking and defending as well
against your opponent.

PRE-ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY: Engage yourself in a whole-body workout and incorporate the following
static stretching exercises;
(via live demonstration or FB page submission)

1. Wrist stretch
2. Finger stretch
3. Overhead stretch
4. Chest stretch
5. Arm stretch
6. Leg stretch
7. Feet stretch
READ AND LEARN
In the previous discussion, you have learned about the different fundamentals
when it comes to Arnis, specifically the standard salutation. This lesson will let you
venture the different striking and blocking techniques.

12 Basic Striking Techniques (Source: Striking Techniques, Mercado, 2016)

1. Strike Left Side Temple (opponents’ side)

- Laban Stance or Fighting Position
- Baston held in the position of 1 o-clock, freehand on the chest.
2. Strike Right Side Temple (opponents’ side)
- Stick held in the clock position of 11 o-clock, freehand on the chest.

3. Strike Left Side of the Trunk (opponents’ side)

- Slashing action in the left outer area of the trunk or body

4. Strike Right Side of the Trunk (opponents’ side)

- Slashing action in the right outer area of the trunk or body

5. Thrust the Stomach or Core

- Thrust the opponent in the stomach area and continue with an ascending
motion for the follow-through.

6. Left Chest Stab (opponents’ side)

- Stab by extending weapon-hand further, palm facing outside and manage
elbow up.

7. Right Chest Stab (opponents’ side)

- Scooping Action
- Stab by extending weapon-hand further, palm facing outside and manage
elbow down.

8. Strike Right Side of the Leg (opponents’ side)

- Extend weapon hand, hit lower leg (knee, shin, ankle) and palm facing
downward.

9. Strike Left Side of the Leg (opponents’ side)

- Extend weapon hand, hit lower leg (knee, shin, ankle) and palm facing
upward.

10. Left Eye Poke (opponents’ side)

- Poke by extending weapon-hand further (eye level), palm facing outside,
manage elbow up.
11. Right Eye Poke (opponents’ side)
- Scooping Action
- Poke by extending weapon-hand further (eye level), palm facing outside,
manage elbow down.

12. Strike the Center of the Head or Crown

- Strike against the top of the head.

Below are figures 3, 4 and 5 of actual demonstrations for guidance in

performing the different Striking and Blocking Techniques. (Credits: Mr. Jayson
Gayoso and Ms. Novette Madera, 2020)

Figure 3: 1-6 Striking Techniques

Figure 4: 7-12 Striking Techniques

6 Basic Blocking Techniques (Source: Blocking Techniques, Valencia, 2019)

1. Inward Block
- Place freehand on the stick, move body slantwise and inward.
2. Outward Block
- Freehand turns the stick, move body slantwise on opposing side and block
the attack outward.
3. Ascending
- Manage the stick in a horizontal position, level of the waist and press the
stick in an upward motion beyond the head.
4. Falling
- Manage the baston in a horizontal position and press the stick downward
from head to the waist level.
5. Downward Inside Block
- From fighting stance, twist body from inside and extend low your weapon.
- Palm facing up and parry to inside.
6. Downward Outside Block
- From fighting stance, twist body from outside and extend low your weapon.
- Palm facing down and parry to outside.

Figure 5: 1-6 Blocking Techniques

WATCH AND LEARN
INSTRUCTIONS: Visit the links below. Watch and analyze the movements of the
demonstrator. Follow the step by step tutorial of the Modern Arnis Basic Strikes and
Blocks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16myQqtAnJc - 12 Basic Strikes of Modern

Arnis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjz8TklajEo - Basic Blocks of Modern Arnis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-uUkyFn26E - Basic Blocks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vejU6MMNc-8 - ARNIS TUTORIAL ( 6 blocking

technique) by Leo Valencia, 2019.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McrdNm4IYcg&list=PLPHJuDNf8jsMjixya9rMqu3
8z8SqZhRaI&index=21 - Basic Arnis Footwork and Blocks | Usapang Arnis Ep. 16
LESSON 2

TRADITIONAL FORMS AND

TECHNIQUES
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Demonstrate the Traditional Forms and Techniques in Arnis.

2. Simulate an ethical behavior, discipline and camaraderie with other

practitioners of the sport when doing the Traditional Forms and Techniques of
Arnis.

3. Distinguish and critique the performance of others to improve one’s skill level
of executing the Traditional Forms and Techniques in Arnis

4. Appreciate the value of Arnis in the Filipino Culture Heritage by performing

the Traditional Forms and Techniques in Arnis

5. Create and Perform an own choreography of Arnis Anyo Routine using the
Traditional Forms and Techniques in Arnis.

OVERVIEW
Arnis was the earliest form of martial arts that Filipinos were able to practice.
Indio’s utilize bastons throughout their exercises of bladed weapons as a disguised of
traditional folk dance (Windee, 2015). In 1980’s, the martial art mesmerizes and
caught the attention of more Pinoy’s (slang term for Filipinos) and even foreign
countries. In this lesson, you will learn about the historical approaches of our ancestor
that has been pass from generation to generation up until now. Developed to a more
concrete and refined forms and techniques utilized in self-defense and artistry.

PRE-ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY: Demonstration Review on the 12 Basic Strikes and 6 Basic Blocks (via
live demonstration or Facebook page submission).
READ AND LEARN
Traditional Forms and Techniques (Source: Bernas & Palecpec, 2019) (Lim,
2018)

1. Ekis
- Involves two diagonal downward strikes, when combine makes the motions
of drawing a giant “x”. Target points are head and shoulders.

2. Banda y banda
- Two horizontal movement strikes from right to left and vice versa. Target
points are the trunk of the body, and shoulders.

3. Ocho
- Involves two diagonal upward strikes, opposite on an “ekis” and can be used
to target the neck and the chin.

4. Doblete
- These strikes follow the similar pattern of “ekis” but each of the strikes are
doubled. The diagonal downward strikes are followed up by a circular motion strike
using the forearm and wrist.

5. Abanico
- A Spanish term for “fan”, a strike that is carried out through flipping the wrist
in a hundred and eighty (180) degrees in fan shaped movement. This is both for
striking and blocking.

6. Redonda
- A Spanish term for “round”, a nonstop circular motion of downward-striking,
double stick twirling element.

7. Baba-taas
- Strike vertically down at the center top of the head, then followed by a thrust
to the solar plexus or core.
WATCH AND LEARN
INSTRUCTIONS: Visit the links below. Watch and analyze the movements of the
demonstrator. Try and follow the step-by-step tutorial of the Traditional Forms and
Techniques to improve your skills for the Anyo Routine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UtLStoyBYk - 5 Basic Strikes (Traditional

Form)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6HIa-
3DCD4&list=PLPHJuDNf8jsMjixya9rMqu38z8SqZhRaI&index=17 - Basic Arnis
Strikes with Sticks | Usapang Arnis Ep. 15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA_sUB6CKxo - ARNIS BASICS by Daniel

Bernas, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDCVjNibSNs - Arnis in a Minute Redonda by

Waikato Filipino Martial Arts Club, 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WF0ukoD_LU - Bruce Chiu Modern Arnis

Forehand Side Abanico Stick Drills, 2012