Learning About The Martial Art Form From The Philippines Known as Arnis

Arnis, the Philippines' national sport, traces its roots from sword- and stick-based fighting styles. Today's practitioners utilize it as a form of self-defense or a combative art for contests. Because Arnis mainly focuses on disarming the opponent, it is commonly used in the West for self-defense where assaults involve knives and other weapons.

In a similar way to Brazilian Capoeira, the Arnis martial art style evolved out of oppressive need. During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the local people were already practicing a weapon-based martial art style, called "eskrima" from the Spanish word for fencing. The Spaniards passed a decree that made it unlawful for the locals to carry full-length sword. As a result, the natives who practiced eskrima created a new fighting style wherein they swapped out the blades with sticks. This style evolved into the Arnis martial art, named after the Spanish word for armor, specifically in reference to how armored actors in Moro-Moro plays fought each other by using wooden swords. Guard Yourself Using Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Will Help You Be Prepared To Defend Yourself It was Remy Presas who invented Modern Arnis during the 1960s. For Modern Arnis, Presas took classic features of the Arnis and mixed it with the Japanese martial art styles Judo and Shotokan Karate. In 1974, he migrated to the US and began teaching his new martial art style. Presas passed away in 2001, but a number of organizations in the United States, including the World Modern Arnis Alliance, continue to teach his martial art form. 

Modern Arnis holds beliefs that are found in other martial arts, including discipline and self-control. The cardinal guidelines as defined by Presas in 1974 stress the notion that violence is born out of self-preservation and is not natural. Thus, Modern Arnis emphasizes guardedness and respect for the opponent. The style advocates disarming the enemy, a principle called "defanging the snake".

Students of Modern Arnis normally begin using the rattan sticks at the beginning of the curriculum, but training involves bare-hands defense. To disarm the enemy, Modern Arnis students use blocks, counter attacks, throws, and locks. While they train, students direct their attacks at the rattan sticks held by their opponent. In a real life fight situation, though, the strikes need to be aimed towards the hands bearing the weapons to totally disarm the opponent. You Will Be All Set To Defend Yourself With Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Modern Arnis, just like other martial arts, utilizes the belt system to rank the proficiency of its practitioners. The first 6 belt color levels are called "Likas" and there are 10 black belt levels called "Lakan", leading up to the grandmaster level. The training and practice prerequisites for acquiring belts start from three months for the beginning levels to 20-30 years for the senior master levels. The higher Lakan levels require a lifetime of training.

There are several schools of Modern Arnis in the US. You'll find unofficial Modern Arnis schools and clubs that teach variations of the style. Nonetheless, the quality of training differs among institutions. The Modern Arnis Remy P. Presas International Organization (MARPPIO) gives permits to schools to teach Modern Arnis in keeping with Presas' instructions. Official groups and schools of Modern Arnis are found across the United States, including Royal Palm Beach, Florida; San Pablo, California, Davenport, Iowa; Midwest, Iowa, Vineland, New Jersey, and Sterling Heights, Michigan. Annual Modern Arnis summer camps, seminars, training, and events are also planned by the MARPPIO.