"IMPORTANCE OF ARNIS AND ITS BASIC TECHNIQUES"

Importance of Arnis

    As an arnisador (practitioner of arnis), it gives me joy to see other people getting interested in the Philippines’ National Martial Art and Sport, as declared by Republic Act No. 9850. Not because they have joined me in the bandwagon but because we are now one in the desire to practice and propagate arnis. As a form of self-defense, we all want to make ourselves prepared against attack and aggression. As a means of maintaining good health, arnis forms part of our physical fitness regimen.With regular training, an arnisador refines his skills and techniques. These, coupled with the desire to maintain peace inside and outside his home, give him the intelligence to determine imminent danger and the courage to confront attack and abuse.

12 Striking Techniques in Arnis – Basic

#1 - Left side of the head attack

• From the fighting stance, the warrior will hold the stick with one hand at 1 o’clock.
• He will then move the stick in a slashing action while keeping the free hand on the chest.
• This is a diagonal downward forehand swing to the left temple.

#2 - Right side of the head attack

• Like the left temple strike the warrior assumes fighting stance, this time with the stick held at 11 o’clock and the free hand kept on the chest.
• The strike to the right temple is then done in a diagonal downward backhand swing.First & Second Strikes strike towards the temple of a persons head

#3 - Left side of the body or torso

• In this strike, the practitioner will extend the weapon hand.
• Then he will proceed to strike any part of the trunk located between the shoulder and the hips. The stick will be held in a diagonal forehand slashing swing.
• This is the way to deliver the maximum amount of damage.

#4 - Right side of the body or torso

• Again the practitioner will extend the weapon hand to strike any part of the body located on the right side between the shoulder and the hips.
• The weapon of choice will be moved in a backhand slashing swing.

#5 - Thrust To The Stomach

• This is a strong thrust to the solar plexus or the stomach and can cause fatal damage to the vital organs in the abdomen.
• In this strike, the practitioner will thrust the weapon hand to the target point, which is the solar plexus.
• It is then followed by an upward motion that will cut through the opponent’s body.

#6 - Left Chest Stab

• In this strike, the practitioner will assume the fighting stance with the weapon of choice in his hands.
• The weapon hand is then extended to the front with the palm facing outward and the elbow kept up. This strike can cause real damage to the rib cage.
• A weapon like a knife, spear or sword will end your opponent’s life immediately as it punctures the lungs and the heart.

#7 - Right Chest Stab

• After assuming fighting stance, the practitioner will practice the scooping action.
• The weapon hand is then extended forward with the palm facing outward.
• The elbow should be kept up in order to deliver an efficient strike to the right lung that will puncture it and end your opponent’s life immediately.

#8 - Left Lower Leg

• A practitioner here will try to deliver a powerful strike to the lower leg, targeting the knee, the shin or the ankle.
• The aim of the strike is to throw your opponent off balance and immobilize him.
• Using the right weapon, you might be able to break a bone or even cut a limb.
• The warrior is supposed to lower his body while extending the weapon arm.
• He should hold the palm upward and hit any part of the lower leg.

#9 - Right Lower Leg

• This strike is just like the previous one.
• The practitioner will extend the weapon hand and lower his body to hit the knee, the shin or the ankle.
• This time the palm should face downward.

#10 - Left Eye Poke

• A targeted thrust to the eye socket will not just blind your opponent, but will also deliver real damage to the brain.
• Using a sharp weapon like a sibat or the right baston can end your opponent’s life right there.
• The practitioner should assume fighting stance then extend the weapon hand forward with the palm facing outward and the elbow kept down.

#11 - Right Eye Poke

This thrust is similar to the previous one except that the practitioner will have to hold his elbow down.

This will allow him to hit the eye precisely with the right weapon penetrating all the way through to the brain.

#12 - Strike to the crown/top of head.

• This is a straight downward overhead swing directed towards the crown of the head.
• Hitting the top of the head can immobilize your opponent, deliver damage to the brain and throw him off balance.
• Using a real sharp or powerful weapon can even shatter the skull bones ending the fight to your favor in a matter of seconds.

12 Basic Strikes of Arnis