Lesson 3: Striking and Blocking Techniques

• 12 Vital Striking Points of the Body

  1. Left Temple
  2. Right Temple
  3. Left Shoulder
  4. Right Shoulder
  5. Stomach or Thrust
  6. Left Chest Thrust or Stab
  7. Right Chest Thrust or Stab
  8. Left Knee or Shin
  9. Right Knee or Shin
  10. Left Eye Poke
  11. Right Eye Poke
  12. Head or Crown
• 1. Left Temple

  • Do forward (fighting) stance position.
  • Make a slashing or hitting action in one o’clock position.
  • Free hand at chest.
• 2. Right Temple

  ✔ Do forward (fighting) stance position.

  ✔ Make a slashing or hitting action eleven o’clock position.

  ✔ Free hand at chest.
• 3. Left Shoulder

  ✔ Extend weapon

  ✔ Strike or slashing action of left shoulder
• 4. Right Shoulder

  ✔ Extend weapon

  ✔ Strike or slashing action to right shoulder
• 5. Thrust/Stomach

  ✔ Thrust weapon, hands towards the target point.

  ✔ Follow through with upward movement.
• 6. Left Chest

  ✔ Do the fighting stance.

  ✔ Extend weapon, hand forward, palm facing outward.

  ✔ Keep elbow up.
• 7. Right Chest

  ✔ Do the fighting stance.

  ✔ Scooping action hand forward, palm facing outward.

  ✔ Keep elbow down.
• 8. Left Leg/Knee

  ✔ Lower the body.

  ✔ Extend weapon.

  ✔ Hit the lower left leg/Knee

  ✔ Palm upward.
• 9. Right Leg/Knee

  ✔ Lower the body.

  ✔ Extend weapon.

  ✔ Hit the lower right leg/knee

  ✔ Palm downward.
• 10. Left Eye Poke

  ✔ Fighting Stance.

  ✔ Extend weapon, hand forward, palm facing outward.

  ✔ Elbow down.
• 11. Right Eye Poke

  ✔ Fighting Stance.

  ✔ Extend weapon, hand forward, palm facing outward.

  ✔ Elbow up.
• 12. Crown/Head

  ✔ Attack against the top of the head.
• Striking Techniques

  • The proper way to strike is hitting the vital points. It varies with the different techniques. The different strikes give knowledge or information and guide about what vital points may knock down the opponent in case of danger.
• Importance of Learning Striking Techniques:

  • Learning the techniques can make the player conscious about the vital points. The effectivity of each strike heavily relies on mobility, which is why you must have a strong command of the basic stances before learning the 12 basic striking techniques.
• Blocking Techniques

  • Blocking is a way to defend your body from the opponent’s attack. It varies with the different techniques. This blocking technique used to stop certain strikes to provide a protection from all directions.
• Blocking Techniques

  1. Inside/Inward Block

  2. Outside or Outward Block

  3. Downward Inward Block

  4. Downwards Outward or Reverse Downward Block

  5. Raising Block
• Inside or Inward Block

  • Position the freehand on the stick.
  • The striking stick of the sparring mate is parried to the left.
  • This block is applied when blocking left temple strikes, left shoulder strike and left chest thrust.
• Outside or Outward Block

  • Freehand rotates cane downward.
  • The striking stick of the opponent is paired to the right.
  • This block is effective when blocking the right temple strike, right shoulder strike, and right chest thrust.
• Downward Inward Block

  • From fighting stance, move to back stance.
  • Lower the body and extend the weapon hand with palm up.
  • This block is good when blocking the left knee strike.
• Downward Outward or Reverse Downward Block

  • From fighting stance, move to back stance.
  • Lower the body and extend the weapon hand with palm up.
  • This block is good when blocking the left knee strike.
• Raising Block

  • Hold the cane parallel to the ground in waist level then push the cane or stick upward.
  • This block is executed in a rising upward position.
  • This block is good when blocking the crown or head.
• • An enthusiastic inexperienced Arnis practitioner and a sturdy baton represent the fastest route to the emergency room.
• • If you are able to protect your body or the top of your head, you are more likely going to finish your training with a concussion, broken ribs or blurry vision.
• • Learning these blocking techniques will definitely take your Arnis game to a whole new level.
• Inside or Inward Block

  
• Outside or Outward Block

  
• Downward Inward Block

  
• Downward Outward or Reverse Downward Block

  
• Raising Block