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NAVIGATION
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In
the Philippines, one need not become a brown or black belt to
study the classical weapons. On the contrary, the weapons take
precedence over the unarmed methods, hence Kali, the generic name
of all the Philippine martial arts, signifies a blade. The
conquering Spaniards (circa 1746) banned the practice of any form
of Kali, and thus were responsible in naming it "Harnes de Mano"
in the north, while "Escrima" in the central islands. But the
weapons could not be banned. To deprive the Filipinos of their
sharp bolos meant little harvest, which the Spaniards expected as
taxes to the Spanish monarch. And even with the sharp blades
confiscated, the natives could still crack a skull or two of their
helmeted conquerors. Being situated in the tropics, the islands
were blessed with hardwoods, that could smash metal. Only when
surprised, or disarmed, would a Filipino fighter resort to bare
hand and foot fighting.
Not until the sixties, that non-Filipinos were allowed to witness
and learn the Filipino combative arts. It was normally passed
down within a family, or on a strict student-to-student basis. |
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By Maestro Joe Jimenez |
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Arnis de Mano cannot be verbally
described to get a true sense of it's dynamics. It must be
experienced. Like a song, it requires a sense of rhythm and
flow. If you can't communicate the rhythm and melody, one
cannot relate to the music.
Arnis de Mano (harness or armor of the hand) movements are
angular and circular. Motion is continuous, that is those
who have acquired or mastered the flow. Maestro JoJo Abueg
has the most remarkable flow that I have witnessed.
Don't look for crashing boisterous movement or sound. Arnis
de Mano is more surgically applied thus the old Filipino adage
"de-fanging the snake".
Although noted for its weaponry, Arnis de Mano is more. If
you can understand the concepts of the use of a weapon, then
you can relate the same principles to empty hand or "kun tao"
(way of the hand). In its full curriculum of training it has
footwork, weaponry, empty hands, power, flow, rhythm, and
dance.
This article attempts to describe this art, but as I said,
one has to experience this art. Not all schools have the
motion or flow nor do all Arnis de Mano practitioners. Some
practitioners of Cepeda-Abueg Martial Arts do have it.
Experience it at the next seminar or demonstration. |
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Please take the opportunity to view video clips
from studio |
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© 2003
Cepeda-Abueg Martial Arts. All rights reserved. Do not use
pictures without permission. |
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