Martial Arts Styles
KOMBATAN ARNIS
Arnis is a very unique Martial Art that originated in the Philippines over 1000 years ago. Filipino Arnis is a combination of various classical and modern fighting systems of the Philippines. The student of Kombatan is introduced to the various systems in the full range of fighting. An emphasis is placed on drills to train the student to react instinctively. Students are encouraged to develop their own "style" of techniques within the Kombatan framework.
Most other Asian martial arts are taught today in a framework of fixed-position techniques. While this does provide the beginner with a simple structure to learn, it requires many years of practice to become proficient at using these structures in a free-form situation where the opponent or assailant may attack at almost any angle.
In contrast to many other oriental martial arts, the Filipino Arnis student first learns how to handle and defend against weapons. This philosophy is to a large degree culturally bound, but also has a practical application. The Philippines has traditionally been a blade-oriented society. Even today, in many rural areas both men and women use swords and knives in their daily work. Self-defence using a weapon is the preferred method. In a practical sense, it is safer for a student with weapons first and then later with hands and feet. Training cane to cane is safer than taking repetitive punches and kicks to the body, plus if you can defend against a weapon then fighting against punches and kicks will come easily because training with canes conditions one to avoid errors in judgement.
Filipino Arnis is a complete system of hand to hand and weapon combat incorporating empty hand moves based upon the same motions used in weapon fighting. The weapon is just an extension of the hand. This modern system embodies all the different martial arts, emphasizing to react instinctively and encouraging you to develop your own style of techniques. It is called "an art within an art".
Filipino Arnis incorporates the aspects of Judo, Ju-Jitsu, Karate, Kendo, Wing Chun, Muay Thai and Kick Boxing. It supplements most other styles by learning to understand "the flow".
Martial artists studying other systems, such as Karate or Tae Kwon Do will be able to learn how to make their systems flow using the principles. The flow is where the body and weapon movement blend to achieve one's most natural individual fighting style. Students of Kombatan learn very quickly how to defend themselves through the full-range of fighting, kicking, punching, trapping and grappling ranges.
The system is based around 12 angles of attack on the human body and 12 basic ways of dealing with each angle by hand, foot or weapon. In order to do so, you will learn a variety of strikes, kicks and blocks; a number of locks, holds, sweeps, throws and takedowns covering many martial art styles. Weapon training including blocks, counters and disarms; unarmed combat, armed combat, unarmed versus armed and armed versus unarmed; evasive footwork; single and double stick fighting drills and strikes; and sparring techniques and combinations including single and double stick.
Filipino Arnis has proven methods of defensive tactics used by Filipino Police Officers and citizens themselves to protect their homelands. This style is based more on self-defence techniques and practicality, utilizing cane or weapons just as extensions of your hands, applying the same principles using an umbrella, walking stick, a pen or just your bare hands for the same very effective self-defence manoeuvres.
If you are looking for a combative martial art, then you have found it. Filipino Arnis is not a sport art, but rather an effective 3 Dimensional street art.
Filipino Arnis training is fun, very real and suits both men and women equally due to the flowing techniques that teaches us how to "Flow like water" not fighting force with force.
