Arnis as Part of PNTC Curriculum

By JOHN DALLORAN
IF Japan has karate and Korea has taekwondo, the Philippines has its own martial arts called arnis.

Arnis, also known as kali or eskrima, refers to a category of Filipino martial arts that “emphasizes the use of weapons, whether it be fighting sticks, blades or improvised weapons.”

In arnis, the weapons are regarded extension of the body.

Arnis mentor and faculty member Mr. Benedict Cruz said that he is glad that PNTC Colleges decided to include arnis in its sports curriculum.

“Learning arnis is not that easy. It needs your mind to be focused, and most importantly,  you should be physically fit to obtain the right execution of the sport,” Cruz said in an interview.

Arnis is just like other martial arts that is not only for self-defense. It is also promoted and encouraged by the Department of Education and the Higher Education Commission as part of the Physical Education programs.

It should be noted that in 2010, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9850 or the law declaring arnis as the national martial art and sport; mandating that an arnis competition is the first to be played at the annual national games.

Today, PNTC students are enjoying the benefit of this art. They are also willing to share their knowledge in this sport that every Filipino should always be proud of.

Arnis is played in three basic forms: the Single Cane or Solo Baston, the Double cane or Double Baston and the Unique Spada y Daga, literally translated to sword and dagger.

Players can basically participate in two types of arnis sports, the anyo or form, and the laban, or full combat competitions.

Sequences of movements using two batons include the anyo. Competition will be judged based on the execution of the anyo and the creativity of overall choreography of the performance.

Gracefulness combined with strength and force is needed to execute these forms properly.

Meanwhile, in the full combat competition, players are required to strike their opponents’ different body parts with one baton. Any attack using bare hands or feet is considered a foul.

Scores depend on the number of strikes each player could deliver. Agility and quick thinking combined is required to have a high score in this type of competition.

However, some competitions allow full contact between players. Competitors could grapple, disarm, and block their opponents.