Did you know that Arnis, also known as kali, escrima, baston, etc. is a complete martial art system, encompassing weapons training and empty-hand self-defense is part of the Pinoy Culture.?

Did you know that "Arnis", also known as kali, escrima, baston, etc. is a complete martial art system, encompassing weapons training and empty-hand self-defense is part of the Philippine Culture.?

Arnis includes training in single stick techniques (solo baston), double stick techniques (doble baston), stick and knife or dagger techniques (espada y daga) and knife techniques (daga).

Some styles may include staff and spear (sibat) training in their curriculum.

Others will include the practice of medium to long bladed weapons (bolo) in their repertoire.

Many styles have some form of empty hand combat, encompassing striking, kicking, locking, throwing and even choking methods.

These are usually taught when the practitioner has demonstrated a reasonable degree of proficiency with the weapons of his style of arnis.

Different arnis styles, from different parts of the country, may emphasize different areas of the training methods noted above.

The term arnis is believed to be a Tagalog corruption of the Spanish term arnes, or harness, a reference to the decorations worn by the early Filipinos.

Kali is another term used to refer to the same kind of martial arts. Different provinces may have different names for arnis, such as baston and kaliradman (Ilonggo, Bisaya), pagkalikali (Ibanag) and kalirongan (Pangasinan).

These are only a few examples of the terms already recorded in different sources.

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