““Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

”
– Nelson Mandela”
Chapter 3. INTRODUCTION AND LEGAL BASIS
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this chapter, the students are expected to:
1. show understanding on the legal mandates of Arnis as “National Sport and Martial Art of
the Philippines”;
2. demonstrate appreciation on the rich history of Arnis;
3. discuss the benefits of Arnis as physical activity; and
4. execute the proper pugay in Arnis as show of respect.

OVERVIEW

In this chapter, you will discover the rich history of Kali, Eskrima, or Arnis since pre-
hispanic period. Further, it will provide discussion on the legal mandates declaring Arnis as
national martial art and sport. You will also understand the benefits of arnis, six cardinal
principles or Anris, essential equipment, and proper courtesy or pugay.

COURSE MATERIALS
Legal Mandates
THE LEGAL MANDATE OF ARNIS IS CONTAINED IN REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9850
ALSO KNOWN AS AN ACT DECLARING ARNIS AS THE NATIONAL MARTIAL ART AND
SPORT OF THE PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. It is the policy of the State to inculcate patriotism, nationalism and

appreciation of the role of national heroes and symbols in the historical development of the
country. Furthermore, the State must give priority to education, science and technology, arts
and culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and
promote total human liberation and development.

SEC. 2. Definition of Amis. - Arnis, also known as Eskrima, Kali, Garrote and other
names in various regional languages, such as Pananandata in Tagalog; Pagkalikali, Ibanag;
Kabaraon and Kalirongan, Pangasinan; Kaliradman, Bisaya; and Didja, Ilokano, is an
indigenous Filipino martial art and sport characterized by the use of swinging and twirling
movements, accompanied by striking, thrusting and parrying techniques for defense and
offense. This is usually done with the use of one (1) or two (2) sticks or any similar implements
or with bare hands and feet also used for striking, blocking, locking and grappling, with the use
of the same principle as that with the canes.

SEC. 3. Arnis is hereby declared as the Philippine National Martial Art and Sport. The
official adoption of arnis as the national martial art and sport shall be promulgated by inscribing
the symbol of arnis in the official seal of the Philippine Sports Commission and by making it as
the first sport competition to be played by participating teams on the first day in the annual
Palarong Pambansa. The Philippine Sports Commission shall be the lead agency to implement
the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 4. The Department of Education, the National Commission for Culture and the
Arts, and the Philippine Sports Commission shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.

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 SEC. 5. Any provision of law, decree, executive order, rule or regulation in conflict or
inconsistent with the provisions and/or purposes of this Act is hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Historical background
Presas E. (1996) and Presas R. (2009)

Arnis can be traced from the ancestors of the Philippines' aboriginal inhabitants -the
Negritos or Aeta who came from the Asian mainland, crossing shallow seas and land bridges.
Arnis evolved from a bladed weapon into its present systematic martial arts which for span a
history of over a thousand years. The scarcity of written records and the archipelagic nature of
our country caused the art’s fragmented development across the ages, making it difficult for the
researchers to establish its chronological line of descent to the modern times. This art was
practiced primarily for self-defense by the pre-Spanish Filipinos who were noted for their friendly
nature and legendary hospitality.

Arnis used to be known as “Kali”, an ancient Malayan word which implies a large
bladed weapon longer than knife, Kali must have been derived from Tjakalele which is a native
fencing in Indonesia. But it must be noted that fighting is inherent to man since one of the
purposes of life is its preservation. Men fight against beast with club or with their bare hands,
until man fights against man. This form of fighting developed into a method of fighting until it
became an art.

Sources tell us that the Philippines once had link with the Asian countries like China and
Japan which led to cultural penetration. However their influence on Filipino life was mainly
economic and there were no traces that the art of Arnis originated from them.

The Alamat ni Maragtas

Source: http://www.mts.net/~pmorrow/marag_f.htm

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 Another historical record, although legendary is the Legend of Maragtas. The writing
contains two parts. The first part deals with the culture, tradition, and organization of Aetas in
Panay. While the second part tells about the ten Bornean Datus. Indonesia was once, in
ancient times a part of Sri Vishayan and Majapajit empires whose spheres influence reached
the Philippines. It is possible that ten Bornean Datus with their families and armies with the
tyranny of Datu Makatunaw purchased the island of Panay in the 13th century. During that
period Kali was taught in a school called Bothoan as part of their education.

Soon, Filipinos became expert in the use of bladed weapons and daggers. This is
especially true of the Muslims in Mindanao and Sulu who have a special inclination for these
weapons. A testimony of the Muslim’s love for the bladed weapon is the great variety of their
knives which include the Kris, Kalis, Laring, Barong, Gunong, Kampilan, Gayang, and Panabas.

Circumstantial evidence infers that Lapu-lapu was a kali expert on April 27, 1521, Lapu-
lapu felled the great Spanish navigator and warrior Pigafetta Magellan, with a bladed weapon
(Kampilan) thus marking the Filipino’s first victorious stand against foreign invader.

In 1564, another conquistador, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi with his men landed in Abuyog,
Leyte. They were treated to a feast and shown a sample of the early Filipino’s skill in combat
with Kali.

Kali became so popular during the early days that it was known as the sport of kings and
of the members of the royal blood. Kali declined in popularity as early as 1596 when the
Spanish authorities discouraged, and eventually banned the practiced of the art in 1764. They
said that Filipinos were so engrossed in the art that they left their lands untilled. The Spaniards
also stated that the practice of the art also led to serious physical injuries and even death.

In 1673, the friars introduced the moro-moro, socio religious play dramatizing the
triumph on the Christian Spaniards over the Muslim.

The play called for the use of fighting techniques using a sword and the Filipinos again
had a chance to practice the art. Interest in Kali was revived. In the said play, the Spanish
soldiers were supposed to wear Arnes, a Spanish word for the English Harness. From
the word Arnes came the present ARNIS-- a tagalong orthographic translation of the Spanish
Arnes. However some regions retain the word Kali. When the American took control of the
Philippines, they organized sports and introduced physical activities. The practice of the art of
Arnis was neglected because Filipinos were so engrossed with the western sport.

Before Arnis would die a natural death, oriental fighting arts attracted the attention of the
world. The propagation of oriental fighting arts in the world contributed to the resurgence of the
art of Arnis. Modification of Arnis techniques was also made for utmost effectivity until a new
way of arnis fighting was introduced which is now called the “Modern Arnis” or “Presas Arnis”

Modern Arnis is the system of Filipino martial arts founded by the late Remy Presas as
a self-defense system. His goal was to create an injury-free training method as well as an
effective self-defense system in order to preserve the older Arnis systems. The term Modern
Arnis was used by Remy Presas' younger brother Ernesto Presas to describe his style of
Filipino martial arts.

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 Equipment

Plain Rattan Sticks

· Ideal for Arnis forms (Anyo) training and Competition
· Size: 28”inches long for College Level

10 Benefits of Arnis as Physical Activity

1. Total body workout: Martial arts are a high-aerobic workout that uses every muscle
group in the body. Your stamina, muscle tone, flexibility, balance and strength will all
improve through martial arts.

2. Healthy lifestyle: Due to the total-body nature of a martial arts workout, tons of
calories are burned during every class. However, you’ll also find that your natural
eating signals become better regulated, so food cravings will disappear and you’ll eat
less as a result.

3. Self confidence: Due to the goal setting, positive encouragement and respect for
values that are part of all martial arts programs, the greatest benefit usually reported
by martial arts students is greater self-confidence. You become more comfortable in
all situations – whether you’re in danger or simply doing a task that takes you beyond
your comfort zone — and you’ll discover you can accomplish anything you set your
mind to.

4. Improved cardiovascular health: Research has found that the only real way to
improve the status of the cardiovascular system is by participating in activities that
stress the heart, such as martial arts.

5. Weight loss: A one hour session of moderate intensity martial arts can burn up to
500 calories.

6. Improved reflexes: Research has found that by participating in martial arts, you not
only improve your reflexes while performing the activity, but actually experience
faster reaction times during all activities of your life. This is very important in a
number of daily activities, such as driving.

7. Focus and stillness: As Bruce Lee pointed out, behind the punches, kicks and
knees, a true martial artist learns to sit with himself and see where his weaknesses
are. As a martial artist, your will learn what it is to be still, challenged and focused.

8. Teaches great morals and values: Martial arts wisdom has it that after consistent
practice, one becomes less impulsive and aggressive towards others. The Shaolin
moral code for example comprises 12 ethics, 10 forbidden acts and 10 obligations.
Patience, insight and calmness are considered pre-requisites of good Kung Fu. This
reminds students of the right attitude, frame of mind and virtues to strive for
inside and outside the studio.

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 9. Muscle tone: By participating in martial arts, you can greatly improve the amount of
muscle mass you have in your body. The higher your muscle mass, the higher your
metabolic demands will be, and subsequently the more calories you will burn each
day, thereby helping prevent obesity and promote weight loss. High levels of muscle
mass also lead to increased agility, thereby preventing falls as you age.

10. Better mood: Researchers have found that participating in a regular exercise routine
is one of the best ways to improve your mood. Performing martial arts is not only a
good way to relieve stress and frustration, but may actually help to make you happier.
The endorphins released by physical activity appear to be active in your body for as
many as four hours after exercise.

Six Cardinal Rules in Arnis

(Remy Presas, 1974)

The cardinal principle in Arnis is respect for one's opponent as a person and as a fighter,
and as a sportsman. It should always be remembered that an opponent is a human being with a
dignity as you have and worthy of respect. Also do not under rate his fighting ability
overconfidence would be costly, if not fatal, therefore never underestimate the ability of an
opponent. Sportsmanship on the other hand is the measure of a fighter or player. The laurels of
victory should never be worn with superiority but with humility. Victory is not a stamp of
invulnerability but rather a reason for magnanimity.

Besides these cardinal principles, there are other principles in Arnis that the students,
must remember these are: Character, sincerity, discipline, self-control, etiquette and student's
loyalty to his tutor.

1. Character - a violent person has no place in Arnis. Refinement in character is important.

A student must be taught the moral (and religious) values of everything. It is an
obligation of the teacher of Arnis to mold the character of the student in such a way that
his behavioral structure would be motivated by righteous desire. It is what a man is that
counts not the number of trophies he won. In spite of the abetted fallacies of values of
the present world, it is who you are that will matter in the end.

2. Sincerity - sincerity for victory's sake is not the all--consuming end of an Arnis player. It
is the sincerity in him to his fellowman and to his art that makes him shine in the array of
men. The will to win maybe inculcated, but such tutelage should never end after the tick
of the ultimate second in the game but beyond the canvass and the arena of
competition. The martial art of Arnis, it should be remembered, is a good medium of
development man's sense of dedication in all his everyday endeavor and involvement.
Sincerity, is the mother of trust and trust makes an institution of what has been shattered
by doubts. A man who is not sincere will never have a true friend.

3. Discipline - Arnis is a molder of discipline. Proper behavior in the sport and in life itself
will be the gauge of success. Personal discipline is important. The kaleidoscopic
invitations and temptations of life should never undermine man in his obligation to his
art, to himself and his fellowman. A student should learn to control himself in the
pursuance of his goal, not only to his art but also to life in general.

4. Self-control - losing one's head means defeat. One should learn to control his temper if
he hopes to achieve success in every endeavor. In Arnis, self-control is important for
without it, life and the good health of another may be lost. The possession of an ability to

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 kill or main a person should be handled with extreme caution and prudence. Man's clear
perception of things is anchored on his ability to control the outbursts of his inner self.
Provocation is dishonorable but hasty reaction to it is just as dishonorable if not
despicable.

5. Etiquette - etiquette is allied to the main cardinal rules in arnis. One's norm and
standard should never be imposed upon others. One should learn how to respect others.
Giving credence to the standard and ability of another person should or will best prepare
anybody in any endeavor. The pacific waters of human understanding will stay unruffled
if exercise of proper etiquette and respect whether it be in sporty competition or in life
itself is observed.

6. Student's loyalty - loyalty should be emphasized to the student, loyalty to the art, to a
fellow player, and to his teacher. Ingratitude to one is ingratitude to the other. A student
should be loyal to a fellow player because any disloyalty to him is disloyalty to the art
itself. More important, a student should be loyal to his teacher. Everything one has
learned is owned by him to his teacher. Personal whims should never cause one to be
ungrateful to where he owes everything he knows. Even if the ultimate aim of the art is
already achieved by a student that he can now manage on his own, he should never
forget the teacher who labored for him. In the skirmishes of things, the student should be
always loyal to him.

Life has shown us many treacheries committed in the name of greed and personal
gratification. This has no place in the art of Arnis or in sports for that matter. A true sportman is
always loyal to his art and to the prime movers of the art. He sees with gratitude in everything
and everybody from whom he had owed everything he knows. In this world of muck and mire
only those who look back with gratitude shall succeed. Loyalty to the fundamental basis of his
achievements weighs for a greater measure in the merits of man. Ingratitude is treachery and a
traitor has no place in the forum of honorable men.

The Stick
1. Parts
2. Uses
3. Proper Grip

Proper Grip
The grip is considered the foundation of all fighting
techniques in Arnis. Proper grip is the secret to control the cane.
It develops proper timing, improves power, and speed in every
execution that is delivered.
The proper grip is made by holding the cane one fist
distance from the butting part and tightening one’s your fingers
around it with your thumb compressed against your fore finger.
Hold firmly when striking and the wrist must be pliable. Keeping
the wrist in this condition will assure that each execution will be
delivered with force and speed

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 Pugay

Being courteous or giving pugay at all times is one of the means of training in any kind of
martial arts. It is important that common courtesy is displayed between opponents. Remember
that we do not demand respect, but rather earn it. Courtesy means behavior marked
by polished manners or respect for one’s opponent and for the fundamental rules and principles
of sportsmanship.

In Arnis, courtesy or “pugay” is executed in this manner: From starting position (open
stance) bring your left foot close to your right aiming 45 degrees angle, heels closed, and hands
at one fist distance from the butting part of the cane. Simultaneously bring the right cane in
vertical position to your left chest, bow your head slightly towards your opponent, and then back
to natural stance. Courtesy can be executed with two canes, by extending left arm at side,
shoulder level.

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Suggested Media at Home
Arnis | Local Legends
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZKQloCKhao
I-Witness: Arnis athlete, ikinuwento ang aral na itinuro sa kanya ng Filipino martial art
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD8ekJcP084

Master of Kali | Local Legends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GOFfw0jMHU

Kali Dokumentation (Englisch)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGNxRZOK8qE

REFERENCES
Good benefits of arnis
http://mynewbenefitsofarnis.blogspot.com/
Camarador, R.A (2013) PE 032- Arnis Manual for Students and Faculty. Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba,
Philippines
Cardinal Rules or Principles in Arnis
https://www.facebook.com/notes/arnis-malaysia/cardinal-rules-or-principles-in-arnis/1896583337240270/
Presas, E. (1996) Arnis presas style and balisong). Pasay Manila. Ernesto Presas.
Presas, R. (2009) Modern arnis. “philippine style of stick fighting”., Philippines: National Bookstore
Soteco, A. (1997) A practical introduction to arnis in 12 easy lessons. Revised Edition. Philippines: Mary Jo
Publishing House, Inc. Quiapo Manila

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