Modern Arnis

Comprising over 7,000 tropical islands, the Republic of the Philippines is roughly twice the size of the state of Florida (U.S.A.). The inhabitants of its earthquake-prone, mountainous and volcanic islands have developed a number of stick-fighting styles. A simple territorial classification divides these styles into Kali, Escrima, and Arnis. Here is some historical background, and a brief discussion of Modern Arnis.

Located in the South Pacific, the Philippines archipelago attracted since ancient times people from India, China, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia. As a result, and over hundreds of years, highly refined methods of combat with sticks and blades evolved.

Indonesian fencing, or Tjakalele, became in time, Kali, considered by many to be the mother of all Filipino martial arts. The Malaysian contribution was Silat Melayu. From China came Kuntao. By the fourteenth century, bladed weapons were used in styles combining the best from these traditions.

Later, in the sixteenth century, Spain conquered the archipelago and retained control for some 330 years. As is often the case, those in power outlawed the weapons of the people they ruled, and attempted to put an end to the native fighting arts. And as is also often the case, this made the masters of these martial arts go underground, and refine their art even further. The forms were preserved out of sight in secret practices, and in broad daylight through ritual dances containing mock battles.

The Spanish techniques of sword and dagger were carefully studied and adapted by the Filipino martial artists. That influence is present today, as evidenced in the use of Spanish by some teachers, and the numbering from one to twelve, of the fundamental angles of attack. The very word Arnis comes from the Spanish Arnés, the name of the medieval harnesses worn for armor.

Centuries later, Remy Armando Presas synthesized much of the best from the different Filipino stick-fighting styles, and also incorporated elements from other martial arts, such as Judo and Karate. In doing so, he created Modern Arnis.

This elegant martial art leaves much room for self-expression and self-exploration. It centers on the flow, Professor Presas' name for the state in which the techniques become natural and most effective. The art, in this way, adapts itself to the practitioner, in that each person has a unique body and temperament, and so applies executes the techniques differently.

In Modern Arnis, each technique can be applied with sticks or blades, both long and short, and even with empty hands. The flowing movements and practice in disarming the opponent can be applied with or without weapons. Practicing these techniques is a remarkable experience, in which the fluid repetitions of single- and double-hand sinawali can produce an almost hypnotic effect, and induce a state of dynamic concentration, a kind of meditation, focused on the reality of the moment.

The web site of Remy Amado Presas Modern Arnis is the source for anyone seeking to learn more about this elegant and effective martial art. Other sites covering this and related styles include the American Modern Arnis Associates, the Independent Escrima/Arnis Associates (see update). There is a list of links at Ray Terry's web site The Martial Arts Resource. There is even information available on Pencak Silat, from Guy Chase's Multi-Culture Martial Arts Academy web site.

Updates

According to Dr. Barber, of the Independent Escrima/Arnis Associates, their new web site is in the works. Stay tuned.
(2002-10-17)