ARNIS

• Arnis


  The native Filipino martial art, also known as Kali or Escrima
• Arnis was called Kali and focused on bladed weapons fighting


  Before Spanish colonization
• Kali was widely practiced throughout the Philippine archipelago by both nobles and commoners</b>
• Kali was taught in schools called Bothoan, along with military tactics, native alphabet, and herbal medicines
• Kali was used against foreign invaders when native warrior chief Lapu-Lapu defeated Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan


  April 27, 1521
• Spanish navigator Miguel De Legaspi witnessed the fighting skills of native warrior chiefs Malitik and Tupas


  April 1564
• Spain colonized the Philippines through religion and modern weapons like muskets and cannons
• Spanish authorities banned the practice of Kali by natives

  1764
• Natives secretly continued practicing Kali, using terms like Escrima, Estoque, Fraile, and Kaliradman
• The fighting system was renamed "Arnis" derived from the word "Arnes" meaning colorful trapping on defensive armors


  1873
• Heroes of the Philippine revolution like Andres Bonifacio, Diego and Gabriela Silang, and Gregorio Del Pilar were Arnis practitioners
• National hero Jose Rizal and the founder of Aglipayan Church Rev. Gregorio Aglipay were also Arnis practitioners
• Arnis experts fought against the Japanese invaders during World War II
• Major Favian Ver formed the National Arnis Association of the Philippines (NARAPHIL)


  1975
• NARAPHIL was criticized for favoring only one group and ignoring other existing Arnis clubs
• Arnis Philippines (ARPHI) was established with the same objective as NARAPHIL


  July 1986
• Currently, the government-sanctioned groups NARAPHIL and ARPHI exist along with the non-governmental organization PIGSAI, all working to promote and preserve Arnis
• Despite Arnis' popularity globally, it is less popular in the Philippines, its birthplace, due to colonial mentality or negligence
• WEDO's view on the origin of the term "Arnis"

  It may have derived from the Spanish word "Arnes" meaning colorful trapping on defensive armors, rather than originating from the Filipino people
• WEDO's view on the term "Kali"


  It may have originated from the word "Kalis" referring to the Kampilan sword used by Lapu-Lapu against Magellan, rather than being the original Filipino term
• According to WEDO's research, there is no conclusive evidence on the true origin of the term "Arnis"
• WEDO's view on what "Arnis" refers to

  Arnis refers to the hands, not the rattan or other objects used, which are called Baston or Tungkod (sticks)
• WEDO states that the term "Arnisador" refers to a person with inherent knowledge and skill, whether they use a stick or not
• Arnis


  The native Filipino martial art, also known as Kali or Escrima
• Arnis was called Kali and focused on bladed weapons fighting


  Before the Spanish colonization
• Kali was widely practiced throughout the Philippine archipelago by both nobles and commoners</b>
• Kali was taught in school-like training grounds called Bothoan, along with military tactics, native alphabet, and herbal medicines
• Lapu-Lapu defeated Ferdinand Magellan, using Kali


  April 27, 1521
• Miguel de Legaspi witnessed the fighting skills of native warriors in the Philippines


  April 1564
• Spain colonized the Philippines through the use of religion and modern weapons like muskets and cannons
• The Spanish banned the practice of Kali by the natives


  1764
• The natives practiced Kali secretly, using terms like Escrima, Estoque, Fraile, and Kaliradman
• The natives developed stick fighting techniques during the Spanish colonial period
• The fighting system was renamed "Arnis", derived from the word "Arnes"


  1873
• Some heroes of the Philippine revolution were practitioners of Arnis, including Andres Bonifacio, Diego and Gabriela Silang, and Gregorio del Pilar
• The National Hero Jose Rizal and the founder of the Aglipayan Church, Gregorio Aglipay, were also practitioners of Arnis
• During World War II, Arnis experts fought against the Japanese invaders
• Filipino "Guerillas" who were skilled in Arnis were often used as front-line fighters and for reconnaissance missions against the Japanese
• Major Favian Ver formed the National Arnis Association of the Philippines (NARAPHIL)


  1975
• NARAPHIL's efforts to unite all Arnis groups were unsuccessful, as the association was seen as favoring only one group