WELCOME

Is a Filipino martial art that can be

performed idividually or with a partner
using a single stick or pair of sticks for
striking and blocking; can also be used
for self-defence.
It was founded by Remy Presas and he
used it as a self-defence system.
The history of Arnis dates back before
the colonization of the Spaniards,
during those periods it was called “Kali”
and the techniques of the art is focused
on bladed weapons fighting. Kali was
widely practiced throughout the
archipelago; both noble man and
commoners were enthusiast and
practitioners of the said art.
 On the dawn of April 27, 1521 the
Portuguese navigator and warrior named
Ferdinand Magellan was defeated by a
native warrior chief named Lapu-Lapu this
was the recorded incident which was used
against foreign invaders. Forty years after
that event, on April of 1564 another warrior
navigator from Spain named San Miguel De
Legaspi landed in Abuyog Leyte Philippines.
He was aware of the unfortunate fate of
Magellan so took a non-hostile approach to
avoid battle with the native.
 He befriend the warrior chief Malitik, it is
at this point he witnessed the deadly
fighting skills of the natives through demo
to entertain them. Afterwards he traveled
to the nearby island of Sugbo and met
another warrior chief named Tupas, he
took a non-hostile approach again avoid
confrontation. For the second time he
witnessed the formidable fighting
technique of the natives through demo.
 Years have passed by Spain was able to
colonize the Archipelago thru the use of
religion and what was then regarded as
modern weapons as Muskets and
Cannons.
 The Spaniards claimed the Archipelago
and named it “Philippines” in honour of
the King Philip of Spain. This was the
start of the dark age of Kali,
 Year 1764, the Spanish overload banned
the practiced of Kali to the natives.
Using the alibi that the natives were
wasting their time practicing it instead
of tilling fields. However the natives
knew too well that their colonizers were
just afraid that such skills would be used
in revolution against them because due
to oppression the revolutionaries were
gaining support from the natives.
 Due to some cultural influence of the
Spaniards the term Escrima, Estoque,
Fraile, and Kaliradman were used to regard
the native fighting system. It was also
during these period when the natives were
able to develop the stick fighting
techniques of the art, which was proven to
be as versatile as the bladed weapons
technique. Even the Moro-Moro stage play
to entertain the colonizers was utilized as
an excuse to practice the fighting system.
 In 1873 the fighting system was renamed
“Arnis” derived from the word ARNES
which means colourful trapping on
defensive armour used on the Moro-Moro
plays. Some of the heroes of the Philippine
revolution were also practitioners of Arnis
namely Andres Bonifacio, the spouses Diego
and Gabriela Silang, and the young General
Gregorio Del Pilar. The National Hero Jose
Rizal was also reported to practice the
fighting system. As well as the founder of
Aglipayan Church Rev. Gregorio Aglipay was
also recorded as a practitioner of the art.
 After hundreds of years with Spanish
colonization the Japanese invaders too
their place to invade the Philippines
during World War II, again experts of the
native fighting arte were called upon to
fight for the country’s freedom. Kali,
Escrima or Arnis whichever term the
individual prefer to use once again
employed on the battlefield. It’s
efficiently was put to a test again but
this tome against the Japanese invaders.
 After the war ended the peace took it’s path
in 1975 Major Favian Ver. also noted
enthusiast and practitioners of Arnis formed
the National Arnis Association of the
Philippines (NARAPHIL) with the objective to
unite all Arnis group in the Philippines, but
unfortunately according to records the
General effort was futile, some claimed that
the association that the General led tends
to favour one group and ignored the
request for recognition of the majority of
the existing Arnis Clubs.
 After the Historical EDSA revolution
General Favian Ver was exiloed and
NARAPHIL as a dominant Arnis grouped
ceased, eventually another
brotherhood of Arnis was formed by a
group of great Mastes on Arnis.
 July of 1986 Arnis Philippines (ARPHI)
was establised with the same