History of Eskrima Kali Arnis

By Grandmaster Dionisio A. Cañete


Arnis, the only known traditional Filipino Martial Arts, has its roots deep in the culture and history of the Filipino people. The exact date of its origin, however, remains unclear. Traces of historical evidence reveal that this manly art of self defense involving the use of a single stick, two sticks, a long and a short stick, a dagger, or some other blunt instruments no doubt existed long before the arrival of the first Spanish colonizers in the country. The first known Filipino hero, Lapulapu, was believed to be one of the foremost masters of Arnis, which was known during that time in the native dialect as pangamut. In fact, Lapulapu had vigorously trained and prepared his men for "showdown" fights against his enemies long before his historic battle with Ferdinand Magellan on April 27, 1521, in Mactan Island. It was no surprise then, that when the first circumnavigator of the world tried to subdue the recalcitrant Lapulapu, who refused to come and meet him in Cebu, Magellan and his men were met not with a hail of bullets but with wooden instruments, spears, and bolos. It was ironic that when the smoke of the epic battle cleared, the Spanish conquistadors more "modern" weapons were no match for the crude wooden arms of Lapulapu and his warriors. Magellan lost his life in that battle.



In the book DeLos Delitos, printed in 1800 by Don Baltazar Gonzales in Madrid, Spain, the author tells that it may have been Datu Mangal, the father of Lapulapu, who brought the stickfighting to Mactan Island, and Sri Batugong and his son Sri Bantug Lumay who brought the art to the neighboring island of Sugbu (Cebu). Bantug Lumay was the father of Sri Humabon or Rajah Humabon. Humabon was the chieftain of Sugbu at the time when Magellan arrived in 1521.

The tribes of Lapulapu and Humabon were part of Sri Visayan Empire in the 14th century. After the Empire was defeated by the Maja Pahit Empire of ancient Sumatra and Borneo, the tribes became part of a group who fled and eventually settled in the islands of the Visayas Central Philippines. Another group of those Sri Vasayans, that included the tribes of Datu Puti and Datu Sumakwel, went out and settled in Panay Island. 

Lapulapu, even before his momentous meeting with Magellan, had been training his men because of his bitter rivalry with Rajah Humabon, whom he accused of having grabbed a portion of his father's land, particularly the sea area between the Mactan Island and Cebu. The feud between these two local chieftains contributed significantly to the early development of the "old" Arnis. The showdown between Lapulapu and Humabon, however, was never realized. Rather, it was in the battle of Mactan where the native martial art was put to a real test against the modern weapons of the foreign invaders. The rest is history. 

When Miguel Lopez de Legaspi landed in the Philippines and established the first settlement in 1565, he and his men noted that the Filipinos were a class by themselves in the art of stickfighting and blade or sword fighting. He had his first glimpse of the natives
exceptional skill and ability during his landing in Leyte in 1564 when he was entertained with an Arnis demonstration by the warriors of Chieftain Malitik. Similar demonstrations were
made upon his visits in Limasawa, Camiguin, Cebu and other places. 

Arnis was then the favorite sport of the royalties that every time a demonstration or competition was held, people usually came in droves to watch. Its popularity spanned well up to the Spanish times. However, when the Spaniards gained substantial control of the country it discouraged the practice of Arnis. Fearful of the Filipinos exceptional skill, they imposed a total ban in the practice of the art.  Although the reason given was the unusual long hours spent by the natives in the practice and training, hence, neglecting their work it was obvious the authorities were fearful of the threat to their lives at the hands of the very skillful and well trained people. Hence, the Filipinos put aside their  training devices and
abandoned the practice of Arnis. 

It was not until the 19th century that Arnis began to surface again into popularity among the natives. The rapid growth was attributed to the introduction of the Moro moro plays and dances which became popular among the Filipinos and gave them the opportunity to circumvent the rule which prohibited the display and carrying of bladed weapons. It was believed that the Moro-Moro plays and dances were invented to primarily give the Filipinos
an excuse or a cover to resume the practice and training of Arnis. As a result, the people concentrated in mastering the art known as "oway". Through some kinds of subterfuge behind the disguise of performing stage plays and dances or dance movements, the
Filipinos were able to practice and continue their Arnis training with the use of bladed weapons known as "kali". "Kali" is a type of broad sword still popular among the Filipinos particularly those in the southern part of the country including the Muslim provinces. 

Due to the Spanish influence this Filipino Martial Art came to be known as "Arnis de Mano" - derived from the Spanish word "arnes",  meaning trappings or defensive armor. It also acquired namesakes such as "estokada", "estoque", "fraile", "arnes de mano", or simply "arnis".  Among the tagalogs, it is known as "pananandata", the Pangasinan natives, "kalirongan", the Ilocanos "didya" or "kabaraon", the Ibanags "pagkalikali", the Pampanguenos "sinawali" and the Visayans "Kaliradman" or "pagaradman" , later "esgrima" or "eskrima".

The word "eskrima" is derived from the Spanish word "esgrima" which means "a game between two combatants with the use of blunt instruments". The name of the stick which could either be rattan or a piece of hardwood used in "eskrima" is called either "olisi", "baston" or "garote". The word "eskrima" became popular in the early years of the American regime, when the first Arnis club organized in Cebu City, Central Philippines in 1920, the Labangon Fencing Club used the term in their practice of the art. Although this group was dissolved in later years due to serious political conflicts among it officers. In 1932, Doce Pares Association, with all the well known grandmasters based in Cebu as a nucleus, came into being. This organization in years to come became very popular that its name was almost synonymous with martial art of Arnis and it was to its credit that Arnis was widely practiced as sort of a competitive sport. Its rule on sparring matches had received broad acceptance, that in early 1970, was generally accepted by all the arnis clubs, schools and organizations in the country. In fact, the present tournament rules adopted by the World Eskrima Arnis Federation (WEKAF) had been substantially lifted from this old rules of Doce Pares. The development of the Filipino stickfighting art, more widely known as Arnis or Eskrima, has grown to spectacular proportion, making it today one of the most popular martial arts in the world. Major events held in the Philippines as well as in the USA, England, Australia, Germany and other countries in the world more than confirmed the universal acceptance of Arnis as a popular sporting event.

http://www.docepares.net/ekarnishistory.html

really i didn't know that malaysians look upon us your flip brothers let alone our pride heroes

what about Emilio Aguinaldo???? he is also a good filipino hero! :genius:

Ok i am confused. Rajah is an indian title for King etc. And wasnt Rajah Lapu-Lapu a teacher of the Kali Martial art which is said to have originated in india by way of Indonesia?

also i have read that, Rajah Humabon of Cebu (who was Rajah Lapu-Lapu's rival) was said to be son of Sri-Vijaya royalty.

So at this time when magellan sailed and met the visayans in 1521, were the people of Visayas Muslims or Hindu/Buddhists?
were the Luzon and Visayan islanders under indian spears of influence while the Mindanao and Sulu islanders were under the muslim spears of influence?

I read that when Magellan sailed to the philippines in 1521 his men stated that the Visayans did not have a form of writing.

but when the spaniard returned in 1567, they reported the flourishing Indic Baybayin script in the Visayan and Luzon areas only.

and that the Indic writing script is completely absent in Mindanao island.

so would that mean the Visayans were native chiefs but then about 50 years later they had adopted indian culture? becausewhy would the visayans be writing using an indic script if they were muslims, shouldn't the be using arabic script?

I also read that Rajah Sulieman of Manila of 1571 was a Muslim...

so how is that?

haha this is confusing me ARRRGHh who knows..... who knows.......

lapu-lapu practiced animalism and praised Bathala.

lapu-lapu practiced animalism and praised Bathala.

I doubt that he worshipped Bathala that god is known as a tagalog diety.

i thought northern luzon tribes have worshipped Bathala as well?

my opinion: does it matter whethere Lapu Lapu was Muslim, Jew, Christian, Agnostic, animist, shamanist, or Jehovah's Witness? what he stood for is waht's more important.

i thought northern luzon tribes have worshipped Bathala as well?

my opinion: does it matter whethere Lapu Lapu was Muslim, Jew, Christian, Agnostic, animist, shamanist, or Jehovah's Witness? what he stood for is waht's more important.

Northern tribes do not worship Bathala, the Ilocanos and Cordillerans (Igorots) worship Kabunian. The Zambals worship Akasi. While the Bikolanos worship Gugusang. The Visayans worship Lauon. So maybe Lapu-lapu and his men prayed to Lauon before their battle against the Spanish.

but what i meant to say was that, "bathala" as in the deity worshipped as the one high god above all else. i've read about Cordillerans worship of a one high god, and the book referred to it as "bathala". ie Ifugao or one Igolot tribe. like in God who is also Allah, Jehovah, Adonai, El Shaddai, El Elyon etc.

what wikipedia says is not always true.

Lapu-Lapu and the battle of Mactan
The battle of Mactan should be commemorated every year and our Muslim brothers should be proud that the first hero of the Filipino people is a Muslim – a Tausug – the famous fierce defender of freedom and sovereignty.
http://www.bangsamoro.info/

As what in the Wikepedia says he was called Kaliph Pulaka, then he must be an Islam religous leader.

Caliph (Halifa) is an Arabic religious title

Narrated Abu Huraira: "Allah's Apostle said, 'The evil eye is a fact,' and he forbade tattooing. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Dress, Volume 7, Book 72, Number 827)"

Narrated 'Aun bin Abu Juhaifa: "My father bought a slave who practiced the profession of cupping. (My father broke the slave's instruments of cupping). I asked my father why he had done so. He replied, 'The Prophet forbade the acceptance of the price of a dog or blood, and also forbade the profession of tattooing, getting tattooed and receiving or giving Riba, (usury), and cursed the picture-makers.' (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Sales and Trade, Volume 3, Book 34, Number 299)"

Narrated 'Abdullah: "Allah has cursed those women who practise tattooing and those who get themselves tattooed, and those who remove their face hairs, and those who create a space between their teeth artificially to look beautiful, and such women as change the features created by Allah. Why then should I not curse those whom the Prophet has cursed? And that is in Allah's Book. i.e. His Saying: 'And what the Apostle gives you take it and what he forbids you abstain (from it).' (59.7) (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Dress, Volume 7, Book 72, Number 815)

The tribes of Lapulapu and Humabon were part of Sri Visayan Empire in the 14th century. After the Empire was defeated by the Maja Pahit Empire of ancient Sumatra and Borneo, the tribes became part of a group who fled and eventually settled in the islands of the Visayas Central Philippines. Another group of those Sri Vasayans, that included the tribes of Datu Puti and Datu Sumakwel, went out and settled in Panay Island.

Although the Majapahit rulers extended their power over other islands and destroyed neighboring kingdoms, their focus seems to have been on controlling and gaining a larger share of the commercial trade that passed through the archipelago. About the time Majapahit was founded, Muslim traders and proselytizers began entering the area.

lapu-lapu practiced animalism and praised Bathala.

the visayan never became muslim, i'm a visayan, i'm from the philippines. i live here. i study its history. listen to the tales of our people. and our ancestors' oral history and practices clearly states that.. from our brothers in the south we flee because we wanted to preserve our ancestors' way, for what disgrace and insult it would be, to leave behind our ancestors' legacy.

lapulapu was not muslim. do you know the reason why he fought magellan? it is because he wanted to preserve the ways of our ancestors. and that is exactly why he was willing to face the cannons of the spaniards. and that was the same reason why his ancestors' before him had to flee to the north. it was to preserve the ancient ways of our ancestors, their religion and their practices. the natives of the visayas from the accounts of the spaniards supported that by saying that the natives had colorful tattoos all over their body. and they worshipped the anitos (ancestral deities). tattoos are prohibited in islam.
sulu may have an oral history that claims that lapulapu is a muslim but that was only a claim, when lapulapu successfully killed magellan and drive the spaniards away,, his achievement became known and he became famous througout the archipelago. and soon many are already claiming kinship to the man who was hailed as hero of his time.

Dude Lapu Lapu was Muslim.....majority of Visayas was muslim...its so obvious.
U ever wonder why Manny Pacquiao is so admired by Muslim rebels??? because they think he has Moro blood running in his vains because they believe that all visayans were once Muslim.
If Spanish never came Philippines would be like Indonesia (IMG:style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)

Lapu-lapu is a Muslim his undocumented name is Calip Kulapu

Correct, before Islam came to the Archipelago via Tawi-Tawi in the 14th century there was a Hindu influence among the natives where you can find titles like Raja (ruler) and Datu (chieftain).....

Lapu-Lapu is a Tausug. It is said that his skin are red or tanned (Pula-pula), some legends suggest scaly like the fish Lapu-Lapu. Raja Solaiman is a subordinate of the Sultan of Sulu, therefore, when the Spanish came in 1521 some parts of the islands are already converted to Islam....so....it is not correct that some native Muslims at that time has no form of writing since the Arab missionaries (Abu Bakr/ Shariful Hashim) already brought the Holy Qur'an and influence the natives of the Agama Islam (religion). As early as the 15th century the Sultans of Sulu are bearing seals with Arabic inscriptions.

By the way, in ancient times the Visaya is a word used by Tausug meaning slaves. When slaves escaped during that time they usually settled on the Islands what we now called Visayas.

The first foreigner to describe a native of the Philippines was Antonio Pigafetta, the chronicler who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his voyage, and in 1521 found himself in what we know as the Vasayas. He described the people as pintados, the painted ones, because their bodies instead of being covered with clothing was largely covered with tattoos. All men were tattooed from ankle to chest, warriors on the breast and back as well, with the bravest and boldest bearing still more designs from chin to ear to eye. Some were bearded while others had no facial hair. They were well-built, as tall as the Spaniards, and though most were naked they wore small palm-leaf hats. Their long black hair reached to their waist and was tied at the back. Some wore G-strings beneath which their skin showed lighter and was without tattoo.

Women had tattoos only on the hands, either one or both hands decorated in designs executed with exceedingly fine lines reminiscent of damask or embroidery. They, too, were mostly naked, although some wore a narrow strip of bark cloth thin as paper to cover their privies. They were good-looking, delicately formed with exceedingly black hair worn loose, hanging quite down to the ground. The women were lighter of skin than the men because while the men worked outdoors, the women spent their time indoors weaving mats, baskets and other household items from palm leaves.

http://www.geocities.com/rolborr/lapulapu.html

according to research lapulapu is a waray. he is Kali Pulaku (the Red Sword) or BagaSumbol (like the feathered ornament/symbol of victory) but whether waray or sugbuanon, one thing is sure he is a visayan whose ancestors came from the south and established an independent kingdom in the visayas.

http://mvphilippines.hypermart.net/filipinos.htm