What Are The Filipino Martial Arts?

All martial arts supposedly indigenous to the Philippines automatically became Filipino when Filipinos became Filipinos. 

Historical Perspective

The Origin of Martial Arts 

I guess it's safe to say that even the predecessors of Modern Man (Homo Sapiens Sapiens) already knew how to fight each other albeit crudely. Restraining another manually in whatever way must have led to sophisticated grappling. Hitting another with the limbs must have led to systematic hitting arts. (And biting led to biting still.)

As in one Tarzan film where the young hero discovered a knife, Man would naturally discover and make use of the ability to handle tools such as blunt or sharp weapons. What we call as 'strike number one' or 'buhat-araw' in Eskrima may have been the basic first armed skill. Then warriors discovered that stabbing is more efficient at killing than hacking, so we have 'strike number five'. 

Human physiology and kinesiology are basically the same everywhere. Similarities, even indistinguisable likeness, in fighting movements between two or more cultures unlikely to have had prior contact can develop independently. There is a concept called 'natural human style' I first heared from GM Epifanio 'Yuli' Romo (founder of Bahad Zubu). Armed or unarmed, it is everything that humans can possibly do.

While most stories trace the origin of classical martial arts to particular masters, organized combat training may have instinctively started among early humans out of necessity. In small ancient settlements or villages, stories of successful usage would naturally be accompanied by the exhibition of fighting methods. These would then lead to mock combat and, for mutual defense, the training of village protectors. Settlements with trained fighters would then be able to defend themselves better and/or subjugate others.

Geographic Cultural Dissemination

Many early human settlements or tribes grew larger, voluntarily or otherwise, grew into kingdoms and, eventually, into empires. This means having formidable armies, and such armies must have had legendary warriors.

In this part of the world (South-East Asia), there have been such kingdoms and empires. Preceding the Islamic conquests, there was the thassalocratic or maritime empires of Srivijaya and Majapahit.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srivijaya

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majapahit

Migrants from these kingdoms and empires, either because of war or simply by choice, included warriors. Many, usually en masse, settled in what is now the Philippines. For a while the islands were Indianized. Then Islam came later.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_Philippines

So, even before the coming of Islam and more so the Spaniards, what is now the Philippines already had kingdoms. Certainly, that early, many martial arts were already established though, perhaps, unnamed. (Not just strike number one.)  

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultanate_of_Sulu

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultanate_of_Maguindanao

      https://opinion.inquirer.net/49671/how-maguindanao-and-cotabato-rulers-helped-sulu-win-sabah

(I may edit this blog later to mention relevant data about warriors from other parts of the country.)

Republic Act 9850 a.k.a. The Arnis Law

https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2009/ra_9850_2009.html

The Law states: 

"Section 2. Definition of Arnis. - Arnis, also known as Eskrima, Kali, Garrote and other names in various regional languages, such as Pananandata in Tagalog; Pagkalikali, Ibanag; Kabaraon and Kalirongan, Pangasinan; Kaliradman, Bisaya; and Didja, Ilokano, is an indigenous Filipino martial art and sport characterized by the use of swinging and twirling movements, accompanied by striking, thrusting and parrying techniques for defense and offense. This is usually done with the use of one (1) or two (2) sticks or any similar implements or with bare hands and feet also used for striking, blocking, locking and grappling, with the use of the same principle as that with the canes. "

This description of arnis involves what some other martial arts do too, right? Well, in my opinion, how an arnisador or eskrimador moves is the distinguishing factor. It cannot be explained by words.

Here is an example of sport arnis point system fighting. Some call it "hit-and-run".

Then here is an example of what I would call an "overdaring" style of sport arnis.

And, finally, the more realistic "broken-rhythm" arnis style.

I don't like contests where the initial round is dominated by the better arnisador, and the next round is dominated by the better grappler or MMAer. That's very unrealistic. In a real fight with sharp blades and no protective gear, one can't grapple or kick-box when his limbs are already "defanged". More so if hit by a fatal strike. 

Ancient Filipino Martial Culture

While it is undeniable that Spanish fencing influenced contemporary FMA, there is a distinctive Pre-Hispanic feature that makes it stand out. The movements of GM Jaime Quizana, founder of Palasan Eagle Daite Ilustrisimo Eskrima, exemplifies this feature.

Contemporary Filipino Martial Arts

As a young boy in the 1960's (Jaro, Leyte), I thought hacking or stabbing each other to death wasn't part of an art but mere violence. I thought boxing and grappling were the only ways to fight decently then.

In the early 1970's, I began seeing movies that featured karate. Local movies also began featuring other Japanese martial arts. Then Chinese kung fu films came, eventually dominated by Bruce Lee. 

Nowadays, especially in urban centers, it's hard to find an arnisador or eskrimador who is not also well-versed in other Asian martial arts. The late GM Remy Presas, founder of Modern Arnis, was himself an expert of various Japanese martial arts.

This article, however,  cannot fully answer the "what". The art is best appreciated by actually "being there and doing that". The "how" and the rest may change your life.

Promise.

Keep visiting!

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