The Philippine government`s declaration of Arnis as a national sport codified a clear culture of martial art. This should begin to develop an accessible history of Filipino cultural heritage that can grasp the outside world, as Japan did during the Edo period (1603-1868) and as China`s postcultural revolution did with Wushu. In Kick-Ass (2010), the eponymous character fights crime with aris sticks, while his Hit-Girl uses Filipino Balisong knives. In Taken (2008), Liam Neeson uses a combination of Arnis, Wing Chun and Silat to save his daughter from her French kidnappers. James Bond also defeats a knife-wielding assassin with Filipino martial arts in Quantum of Solace, the 2008 episode of the James Bond franchise. The Philippines has a so-called blade culture. [49] [50] Unlike the West, where the fighting and self-defense arts of the Middle Ages and Renaissance almost disappeared (after developing into sports fencing with the advent of firearms),[51] blade fighting in the Philippines is a living art. People in the Philippines are much more likely to carry knives than weapons. They are often worn by farmers as tools, used by street vendors to prepare coconuts, pineapples, watermelons, other fruits and meats, and Balisongs are cheap to get on the streets and easy to hide. In some areas of the countryside, carrying an agricultural knife such as Itak or Bolo was a sign that one was making a living because of the nature of work in these areas. [52] In Palau country, the local term for Filipino is chad ra oles, which literally means « knife people » because Filipinos have a reputation for carrying knives and using them in battles. [53] One of the most important features of arnis, indicating possible Spanish influence, is the Espada y Daga method (Spanish for « sword and dagger »), a term also used in Spanish fencing. Philippine espada y daga is somewhat different from European rap and dagging techniques; The postures are different, as the weapons used in arnis are generally shorter than European swords.
[44] According to Grandmaster Federico Lazo† (1938-2010), unlike historical European fencing in Arnis` northern Ilocano-Kabaroen style, there is no lanyard – rather, it is an evasive art. On the other hand, it is present in some Visayas styles documented by FMA researchers Celestino Macachor and Ned Nepangue such as Yasay Sable Estocada of Bago City. [45] According to comparative studies, the archivist of Kalis Ilustrisimo, Romeo Macapagal, also estimates that 40% of the blade-oriented style of Antonio « Tatang » Ilustrisimo† (1904-1997) descends from European styles brought by the Spanish. [46] The words Arnis, Kali and Eskrima were quite confusing for many people who want to understand what the differences between these martial arts are. Arnis was developed by the indigenous population of the Philippines, who used a range of weapons for combat and self-defense. Arnis included both simple and sharp weapons and traditionally included rattan, swords, daggers and spears. Practitioners of the arts are called arnisador (male, plural arnisadores) and arnisadora (feminine, plural arnisadoras) for those who call their arnis, eskrimador (male, plural eskrimadores) or eskrimadora (female, plural eskrimadoras) for those who call their art eskrima, and kalista or mangangali for those who practice kali. There have been campaigns for arnis, which, along with other Filipino martial arts, have been included in UNESCO`s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In 2018, UNESCO included nine intangible assets related to martial arts. [4] Competitive Arnis usually takes one of two forms: the performance-based Anyo model or the combative Leban. Anyo competitions are judged based on the overall choreography of the performances, including grace, strength, and power. Meanwhile, the Lebanese form tests the agility and reaction of the participants, as competitions are judged based on the number of blows inflicted.
Although most Lebanese competitions exclude physical contact such as grappling, blocking and disarming an opponent with their hands or feet, there are a few exceptions where full contact is allowed. Opinions differ as to the extent to which Spanish rule in the Philippines influenced Arnis. The fact that a large number of techniques and the names of the arts themselves (Arnis/Arnes, Eskrima/Esgrima, Garrote, Estoque, etc.) have Spanish names suggests an influence. However, some argue that Spanish names in martial arts simply reflect the fact that Spanish was the lingua franca of the Philippines until the early 20th century, and that the actual influence of Spanish fighting was limited. Later, the term was shortened to what we know today as Arnis. In the northern region of the Philippines; Luzon, Arnis was the most commonly used word. As a martial art, Arnis has three forms of play. These are the espada y daga (« sword and dagger »), in which a long wooden sword and a short wooden dagger are used; The solo baston (single stick) is used in a single long muton or baston (wooden stick or rattan tube hardened by drying or heating); and Sinawali, an indigenous term used because the complex movements of the two mutons resemble the fabric of a Sawali (criss-cross), the bamboo split fabric pattern used in walls and mats. More than 4,200 students and athletes performed Arnis at the Cebu City Sports Center during the Batang Pinoy 2015 Closing Ceremony to set a record for the world`s largest Arnis class for Guinness World Records. [82] Sinawali refers to the « weaving » activity used by Eskrima as part of a series of two-weapon exercises for two people.