Running Head: INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS

Assignment in Individual/Dual/Combative Sports - PHED 10032

History of Arnis
Equipment and Facilities
Basic Rules in Arnis
Fundamental Skills
Official and Officiating

VERGARA, QUEEN ERNNA F.

BSA 2-1

A.Y. 2019 – 2020

Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Main

Monday - 8:30 – 10:30 A.M.

July 08, 2019

INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

History of Arnis ......................................................................................................................3

Prehistoric to Spanish Period................................................................................................ 3
American to Modern Period.................................................................................................. 4

Equipment and Facilities.........................................................................................................7

Full Contact Event.................................................................................................................7
Arnis Anyo Event..................................................................................................................8

Basic Rules..............................................................................................................................10

Fundamental Skills................................................................................................................ 11

Officials and Officiating........................................................................................................ 12

Tournament Officials.......................................................................................................... 12
Official Calls and Hand Signals.......................................................................................... 12
Timer’s Signal..................................................................................................................... 16

Bibliography........................................................................................................................... 17
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 3

HISTORY OF ARNIS

I. Prehistoric to Spanish Period

As Arnis was an art usually practised by the poor or commoner class (as opposed
to nobility or warrior classes), most practitioners lacked the scholarly education to create any
kind of written record. While the same can be said of many martial arts, this is especially true for
Arnis because almost all of its history is anecdotal, oral or promotional. The origin of Arnis can
be traced back to native fighting techniques during conflicts among the various Prehispanic
Filipino tribes or kingdoms, though the current form has Spanish influence from
old fencing which originated in Spain in the 15th century. It has other influences as well, as
settlers and traders travelling through the Malay Archipelago brought the influence of silat as
well as Chinese, Arab, and Indian martial arts. Some of the population still practise localized
Chinese fighting methods known as kuntaw.

It has also been theorized that the Filipino art of Arnis may have roots in India and came to the
Philippines via people who traveled through Indonesia and Malaysia to the Philippine
islands. Silambam, a stick/staff-based ancient martial art of India influenced many martial arts in
Asia like Silat. As such, Arnis may share ancestry with these systems – some Arnis moves are
similar to the short stick (kali or kaji) and other weapon based fighting styles of Silambam.

When the Spaniards first arrived in the Philippines, they already observed weapons-based martial
arts practised by the natives, which may or may not be related to present-day Arnis. The earliest
written records of Filipino culture and life, including martial arts, come from the first Spanish
explorers. Some early expeditions fought native tribesmen armed with sticks and knives. In
1521, Ferdinand Magellan was killed in Cebu at the Battle of Mactan by the forces
of Datu Lapu-Lapu, the chief of Mactan. Some Arnisadors hold that Lapu-Lapu's men killed
Magellan in a sword-fight, though historical evidence proves otherwise. The only eyewitness
account of the battle by chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta, tells that Magellan was stabbed in the face
and the arm with spears and overwhelmed by multiple warriors who hacked and stabbed at him.

Opinions differ on the degree to which Spanish rule in the Philippines affected Arnis. The fact
that a large number of techniques and the names of the arts themselves such as arnis/arnes,
eskrima/esgrima, garrote, estoque, etc., have Spanish names suggest an influence. Some argue
though that Spanish names in the martial art simply reflect the fact that Spanish was the lingua
franca of the Philippines until the early 20th century, and that actual Spanish martial influence
was limited. What is certain is that the Spaniards brought with them and used their bladed
weapon arts, including the system of Destreza developed by Carranza, when they started
colonizing the archipelago in the 16th century. What is also known is that the Spaniards recruited
soldiers from Mexico and Peru and sent them to fortify the Philippines and they had also trained
mercenaries and warriors from local people like
the Pangasinenses, Kapampangans, Tagalogs, Ilonggos, Cebuanos and Warays to pacify regions
and put down revolts.

One of the more prominent features of Arnis that point to possible Spanish influence is
the Espada y Daga method, Spanish for "sword and dagger", a term also used in Spanish fencing.
Filipino espada y daga differs somewhat from European rapier and dagger techniques; the
stances are different as weapons used in Arnis are typically shorter than European swords.
According to Grandmaster Federico Lazo, unlike in European historical fencing, there is no
lunging in the Northern Ilocano Kabaroan style of Arnis – it is more of an evasive art. On the
other hand, it is present in some Visayan styles documented by FMA researchers Celestino
Macachor and Ned Nepangue such as Yasay Sable Estocada from Bago City. Having done
comparative studies, Kalis Ilustrisimo archivist Romeo Macapagal also estimates that 40% of the
blade-oriented style of Antonio "Tatang" Ilustrisimo† (1904–1997) descends from European
styles, brought by the Spanish.

After the Spanish colonized the Philippines, a decree was set that prohibited civilians from
carrying full-sized swords (such as the Kris and the Kampilan). Despite this, the practitioners
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 4

found ways to maintain and keep the arts alive, using sticks made out of rattan rather than swords,
as well as small knives wielded like swords. Some of the arts were passed down from one
generation to the other. Sometimes the art took the form choreographed dances such as
the Sakuting stick dance or during mock battles at Moro-moro(Moros y Cristianos) stage plays.
Also as a result, a unique and complex stick-based technique evolved in
the Visayas and Luzon regions. The southern Mindanao retains almost exclusively
blade-oriented techniques, as the Spaniards and Americans never fully conquered the southern
parts of this island.

Although Arnis combines native fighting techniques with old Spanish fencing and other
influences, a degree of systematization was achieved over time, resulting in a distinguishable
Philippine martial art. With time, a system for the teaching of the basics also evolved. However,
with the exception of a few older and more established systems, it was previously common to
pass the art from generation to generation in an informal approach. This has made attempts to
trace the lineage of a practitioner difficult. For example, aside from learning from their family
members like his uncle Regino Ilustrisimo, Antonio Ilustrisimo seemed to have learned to fight
while sailing around the Philippines, while his cousin and student Floro Villabrille claimed to
have been also taught by a blind Moro princess in the mountains; a claim later refuted by the
older Ilustrisimo. Both have since died.

II. American to Modern Period

Generally, the Philippines has what is known as a blade culture. Unlike in the West
where Medieval and Renaissance combative and self-defense blade arts have gone almost
extinct, blade fighting in the Philippines is a living art. Local folk in the Philippines are much
more likely to carry knives than guns. They are commonly carried as tools by farmers, used by
street vendors to prepare coconuts, pineapples, watermelons, other fruits and meats,
and balisongs are cheap to procure in the streets as well as being easily concealed. In fact, in
some areas in the countryside, carrying a farming knife like the itak or bolo was a sign that one
was making a living because of the nature of work in those areas. In the country of Palau, the
local term for Filipino is chad ra oles, which literally means "people of the knife" because of
Filipinos' reputation for carrying knives and using them in fights. Contrary to the view of some
modern historians that it was only guns that won the Philippine revolutionaries against the
Spaniards, blades also played a large part. The Mauser rifle, too, in hard work is found to be a
mistake. It has a case of five cartridges, which have to be all used before any others can be
inserted. That is, to say, if a soldier has occasion to fire three cartridges he must go on and waste
the other two, or else leave himself to meet a possible sudden rush with only two rounds in his
rifle. Perhaps it may be the fault of the men, or their misfortune in being undrilled, but they are
often knifed while in the act of reloading their rifles. Whatever be the explanation there is
something wrong in troops with rifles and bayonets being driven steadily back by natives armed
with knives. The insurgents have some guns, but most of the wounded Spanish soldiers seen in
the streets have knife wounds.

Americans were first exposed to Arnis during the Philippine–American War in events such as
the Balangiga massacre where most of an American company was hacked to death or seriously
injured by bolo-wielding guerillas in Balangiga, Eastern Samar – and in battles in Mindanao,
where an American serviceman was decapitated by a Moro warrior even after he emptied his .38
Long Colt caliber revolver into his opponent. That and similar events led to the request and the
development of the Colt M1911 pistol and the .45 ACP cartridge by Col. John T.
Thompson, Louis La Garde and John Browning which had more stopping power.

During World War II, many Filipinos fought the Japanese hand to hand with their blades as
guerilla fighters or as military units under the USAFFE like the Bolo Battalion (now known as
the Tabak Division). Some of the grandmasters who are known to have used their skills in World
War II are Antonio Ilustrisimo, Benjamin Luna-Lema, Leo Giron, Teodoro "Doring"
Saavedra,brothers Eulogio and Cacoy Cañete, Timoteo "Timor" Maranga, Sr, Jesus
Bayas and Balbino Tortal Bonganciso. The guerrilla warfare practised by the Arnisadors was so
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 5

effective, the Japanese Empire managed to control only 12 out of 48 provinces of the
Philippines.

The arts had no traditional belting or grading systems as they were taught informally. It was said
that to proclaim a student a "master" was considered ridiculous and a virtual death warrant as the
individual would become challenged left and right to potentially lethal duels by other
Arnisadores looking to make names for themselves. Belt ranking was a recent addition adopted
from Japanese arts such as Karate and Judo, which had become more popular with Filipinos.
They were added to give structure to the systems, and to be able to compete for the attention of
students.

With regards to its spread outside the Philippines, Arnis was brought to Hawaii and California as
far back as the 1920s by Filipino migrant workers. Its teaching was kept strictly within Filipino
communities until the late 1960s when masters such as Angel Cabales began teaching it to others.
Even then, instructors teaching Arnis in the 1960s and 70s were often reprimanded by their
elders for publicly teaching a part of their culture that had been preserved through secrecy. The
spread of Arnis was helped in Australia through Terry Lim, founder of Loong Fu Pai martial arts
academy, who also holds a 4th Dan in International Philippine Martial Arts Federation. He ran
seminars with the help of other masters such as Maurice Novoa Ruiz.

In recent years, there has been increased interest in Arnis for its usefulness when defending
against knives in street encounters. As a result, many systems of Arnis have been modified in
varying degrees to make them more marketable to a worldwide audience. Usually this involves
increased emphasis on locking, controls, and disarms, focusing mainly on aspects of self-defense.
However, most styles follow the philosophy that the best defense is a good offense. Modern
training methods tend to de-emphasize careful footwork and low stances, stressing the learning
of techniques in favor of more direct (and often lethal) tactics designed to instantly end an
encounter.

In the Philippines, the spread is more significant due to the efforts of Richardson "Richard"
Gialogo and Aniano "Jon" Lota, Jr. through the Department of Education (DepEd) Task Force on
School Sports (TFSS). Arnis was first introduced in 1969 to some public and private school
teachers when Remy Presas taught his personal style of Arnis which he called "Modern Arnis".
He taught his own style to the students of the National College of Physical Education (NCPE)
when he was given the chance to teach there. The style "Modern Arnis" is not synonymous with
the concept of modern or contemporary Arnis, where it has become a full blown sport embraced
by the Department of Education, although there are some similarities. There was no formal
program for Arnis from 1970s to 1980s. Although some schools taught Arnis, these were not
official nor prescribed. The earliest historical record was the DECS Memorandum No. 294
Series of 1995 which entailed the Arnis Development Program Phase I. This was a joint effort of
the Department of Education, Culture and Sports or DECS and the Office of then Senator
Orlando "Orly" Mercado who awarded a budget from his pork barrel for the implementation of a
national Arnis program. The Office of Senator Mercado was given the authority to designate the
Arnis instructors for the said program.

The next stage was the Arnis Development Program Phase II. It was just a continuation of Phase
I through DECS Memorandum No. 302 series of 1997. The same group conducted the seminars;
known as the Arnis Association International (AAI). The Arnis instructors designated by Senator
Mercado were informally called the "Mercado boys". They were Mr. Jeremias V. Dela Cruz,
Rodel Dagooc and others who were direct students of Mr. Remy Presas of the Modern Arnis
style. In this memorandum, there were two seminars conducted: October 6–11, 1997 in Baguio
City and November 10–15, 1997 in General Santos City. The Arnis Module Development
however did not push through. It was also during this time when the first Arnis instructional
video was developed by the Bureau of Physical Education and School Sports (BPESS) entitled
"Dynamic Arnis". This video featured the Gialogo Brothers: Richardson and Ryan Gialogo,
direct students of Jeremias V. Dela Cruz.
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 6

However, the national Arnis program of Senator Orly Mercado and DECS died a natural death. It
was only after nine years that Arnis found its way back into the Department of Education
(formerly known as Department of Education, Culture and Sports or DECS). On February 5,
2004, the Task Force on School Sports (TFSS) of the Department of Education (DepEd), the new
agency after the defunct BPESS, met with the National Sports Association (NSA) for Arnis in a
Senate hearing. The Head of the TFSS was National Coordinator Mr. Feliciano N. Toledo II,
considered the "Father of Arnis" in the Department of Education. He met with the top NSA
officials at that time; however, nothing happened.

It was only in 2006 when the Task Force on School Sports had a new program for Arnis. The
"National Training of Trainors in Arnis and Dance Sports", sponsored by the Task Force on
School Sports, Department of Education (DepEd), was held at Teacher's Camp, Baguio City on
March 13–17, 2006 and was conducted by two top-caliber figures in the Arnis community: Mr.
Aniano Lota, Jr. and Mr. Richardson Gialogo, then Secretary-General and Vice-President
respectively of the National Sports Association for Arnis. And this was the start of the modern,
contemporary and prevailing Arnis in the Department of Education. In just two months, Arnis
became part of the Palarong Pambansa (National Games) as a demonstration sport. The 2006
Palarong Pambansa was held in Naga City, Bicol Region with nine out of the seventeen regions
of the Philippines participating. National, regional and provincial Arnis Seminars were
conducted by the tandem of Mr. Aniano Lota, Jr. and Mr. Richardson Gialogo from 2006 to 2007
in coordination with the TFSS National Coordinator, Mr. Feliciano "Len" Toledo, and with the
financial and logistical backing of the Department of Education. In 2007, Arnis was already a
regular event in the Palarong Pambansa with all seventeen regions participating. Five weight
divisions in the Full-contact Event and four categories in the Anyo (Forms) Event were played
and became part of the official medal tally of the participants. This was held in Coronadal in
Mindanao.

Arnis Seminars were continued in national, regional and provincial levels. These were all
conducted by the tandem of Mr. Aniano Lota, Jr. and Mr. Richardson Gialogo, now both Arnis
Consultants and official Lecturers of the Task Force on School Sports of the Department of
Education. In 2008, Arnis was played in the Palarong Pambansa and again, with all seventeen
regions participating. All nine events were played. This was held in Puerto Princesa City,
Palawan. Aside from Sports Officiating and Accreditation seminars, Coaching and skill training
seminars continued in national, regional and provincial levels. Requests from cities and even
districts were also welcomed. The "evangelization" of Arnis was continued and both Gialogo and
Lota were careful not to teach their personal styles. Both taught in "generic" form and focused on
the rules of sports as promulgated by the Department of Education.

In 2009, Secondary Girls (High School Girls) were finally included in Palarong Pambansa and
again, all seventeen regions participated. From the original five member teams, the number
doubled with the inclusion of the girls. The medal tally also doubled from nine to eighteen. The
2009 Palarong Pambansa was held in Tacloban, Leyte in the Visayas. In 2009, the "Writeshop of
the Revision of the Physical Fitness Test and the Development of Learning Competencies in
Arnis and Archery" was held in Teacher's Camp, Baguio City in October 5–8, 2009. Phase I of
the National Curriculum for Arnis was finished and the curriculum writers were Mr. Richardson
Gialogo and Mr. Aniano Lota, Jr.

The 2010 Palarong Pambansa was held in Tarlac, In Luzon. Again, both secondary boys and
girls competed in the eighteen categories. It was here that the Department of Education Arnis
Association Philippines or DEAAP had its first national elections. In the 2011 Palarong
Pambansa, Elementary students joined.
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 7

EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

I. FULL CONTACT EVENT

a) Facilities
Shall refer to the area by which the conduct of the competition shall be set or held
including the free zone around it.
i. Dimensions - The playing area is a square measuring 8.0 meters by 8.0 meters with a
one (1) meter free zone around it, and a clear space without any obstruction up to a
height of not less than 5 meters from the playing surface.
ii. Lines of the Playing Area - All lines of the playing surface are 5.08 cm. (2 inches) and
must be of different color from that of the floor and other lines previously drawn for
other purposes.
iii. Outside Lines - Four lines mark the outside line of the playing area. The free zone
distance measuring one meter in each side are drawn outside of the playing area.
iv. Match Lines - Two lines of 1.0 meter long and 2.0 meters apart the center mark the
horizontal match line.
1. The horizontal match lines are drawn 3 meters from the outside lines
2. The horizontal match line left is red and the opposite hori zontal match line is blue
to mark the respective line of each player.
v. Referee Line - A straight line of 1.0 meter long is drawn 2.0 meters from the center of
the two players.
vi. Warning Lines - A broken straight line is drawn one (1) meter before the outside line to
serve as a warning to the players.
vii. Playing Surface
1. The surface must be flat and smooth and must not be elevated from the ground.
2. The playing surface must be clean and free from foreign objects that may endanger
or cause injury to the players. Other surfaces must have the approval of i-ARNIS.
viii. Neutral Corner - The corner of the playing area between the two (2) judges within the
free zone shall be designated as the neutral corner. This shall be the consultation area
for the referee and judges.
ix. Temperature - The temperature for the competition shall not be higher than 30 degrees
Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and not lower than 16 degrees (60.8 degrees
Fahrenheit).
x. Lighting - Lighting apparatus is located above free space. It must not cause any
reflection to the surface and must not affect the vision of the players.
xi. Position of Players - Before the game starts, players must be positioned in the playing
area so that the red-coded player is at the right side of the referee and the blue-coded
player is on his left side.

b) Equipment
Shall mean the materials and accessories that are used in the conduct of the competition,
all of which shall conform to the standards set and approved by i-ARNIS only.
i. Weapon
1. The padded stick shall be the official weapon of the player. the specifications of
which shall be in accordance with the i-ARNIS standard. No other similar material
will be allowed to be used in any local, national or international competitions.
2. Each padded stick shall be properly foam-cushioned and shall have a maximum
grip diameter of not more than 3.81 cm. (1 1/2 inch) and length of 76.20 cm (30
inches for men and women). The length of padded stick shall be cm (27 inches for
boys and girls).
3. Both padded stick shall be color-coded, one red and the other blue.
ii. Head Protector
1. Refers to a pair of protective head gear to include an impact-worthy face mask, the
specifications of which shall be in accordance with the i-ARNIS standard.
2. Both head gears must be color-coded, one red and the other blue, to match the
padded stick of the player.
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 8

iii. Body Protector

1. Refers to a pair of protective body vest, properly cushioned , the specifications of
which shall be in accordance with the i-ARNIS standard.
2. Male and female player must wear both body vest and groin guard. Body vest and
groin guards specifications shall be in accordance with the i-ARNIS standard. Both
body vests must be color coded to match the color of the player.
3. Forearm and shin guards are compulsory. The specifications shall be in accordance
with i-ARNIS standard. Both shin & forearms guards must be color coded to match
the color of the player.
iv. Scoreboards
1. A pair of scoreboards, either manually or electronically operated, the specifications
of which shall be in accordance with the i-ARNIS standards.
2. Two score boards per contest area shall be placed at diagonally opposite corners
outside the playing area, inside the competition area within the free zone, right
where the judges are positioned.
v. Flags
1. Two sets of red and blue flags, the size of which is 30 cm by 25 cm, are used by the
judges in declaring decisions or asking for consultations.

II. ARNIS ANYO EVENT

a) Facilities
Shall refer to the area by which the conduct of the competition shall be set or held
including the free zone around it.(12 meters by 12meters) in size.
i. Dimensions - The playing area is a square measuring 10 meters by 10 meters with a one
meter minimum free zone around it, and a clear space without any obstruction up to a
height of not less than 5 meters from the playing surface.
ii. Lines of the Playing Area - All lines of the playing surface are 5.08 cm. (2 inches) and
must be of a different color from that of the floor and other lines previously drawn for
other purposes.
iii. Outside Lines - Four lines mark the outside line of the playing area. The free zone
distance measuring one meter are drawn outside of the playing area .
iv. Entry Lines - The entry line is the farthest line parallel to the position of the judges.
v. Playing Surface
1. The surface must be flat and smooth and must not be elevated from the ground.
2. The playing surface must be clean and free f r o m foreign objects that may
endanger or cause injury to the players. Other surfaces must have the approval of
i-ARNIS.
vi. Temperature - The minimum temperature for an outdoor competition shall not be below
25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit). For the indoor competition, the temperature shall
not be higher than 25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit) and lower than 16 degrees Celsius
(61 Fahrenheit).
vii. Lighting - Lighting apparatus is located above the free space, It must not cause any
reflection to the surface and must not affect the vision of the performer/s.
viii. Entrance of Players - Before the game starts, players must enter thru the entry lines.

b) Equipment
Shall mean the materials and accessories that are used in the conduct of the competition.
i. Weapon - Players are required to use any of the following options.
1. Wooden Stick - The wooden stick shall measure not less than 60 cm and not more
than 90 cm in length with a diameter of not less than 1.3 cm and not more than 3.8
cm. It must not have sharp edges or pointed ends.
2. Wooden Replica of a Bladed Weapon - The wooden replica shall measure not less
than 60 cm and not more than 90 cm in full length and should be Ethnic Asian in
origin. It must not have sharp edges or pointed ends.
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 9

3. Metallic Blunt Replica of a Bladed Weapon - The metallic replica shall measure not
less than 60 cm and not more than 90 cm in full length and should be ethnic Asian
in origin. It must not have sharp edges or pointed ends.
4. Wooden Replica of a Dagger or Knife - The wooden replica shall measure not more
than 60 cm in full length and should be ethnic Asian in origin. It must not have
sharp edges or pointed ends.
ii. Score Card - Judges will use score card to indicate the score given to a player or a team.
The score card shall measure 12 x 8 inches (30.48 cm x 20.32 cm ). See Diagram 5.
iii. Tabulation Sheet - The scores and violations shall be reflected on the Tabulation Sheet
iv. Flags
1. Yellow flag shall be used by the timer to declare the start and the end of
performance.
2. Blue flag shall be raised by the official to indicate looses control of the weapon/s.
3. Red flag shall be raised by the official to indicate stepping outside of the playing
area.
4. Both flags shall be raised by the official to indicate violation of standard salutation
simultaneously whistling to call the attention of the performer/s.
v. Other Equipment
1. Stop clock or stopwatch to keep track of the time of the performance.
2. A gong and mallet or other similar audible substitutes such as whistle, bell or
buzzer shall be provided for the timer to indicate the start and end of the
performance.

Competition Area of Competition Area of Score Card of Full Contact

Full Contact Full Contact

Score Card of Anyo Arnis Tabulation Sheet of Anyo Arnis

INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 10

BASIC RULES

I. General Rules
i. Competitors are required to bring their own stick.
ii. There Is No Age Limit for Arnis Stick Fighting Competitors.
iii. If there are less than 2 competitors in an age group, the judges reserve the right to
combine age groups.
iv. Mandatory Safety Equipment: helmet with face protector, gloves, chest padding, and
groin protector for men.
v. Divisions: Male division and Female division; not categorized by weight.
vi. If there are less than 2 competitors in an age group, the judges reserve the right to
combine age groups.
vii. Competitor who is disarmed or drops his/her stick 3 times in one round automatically
loses.
viii. Competitors have 5 seconds to execute a disarm. A competitor who is disarmed loses
one point automatically.
ix. No punching, kicking, or takedowns permitted. No contact to the back.
x. The format of arnis stick fighting is continuous. Referee stops and restarts the fight if
one or both competitors fall on the ground, one or both weapons fall on the ground, or
one competitor grabs the handle and takes away the opponent’s weapon.

II. Duration of Bout

i. Each bout is 3 rounds; each round is 60 seconds with 30 seconds break between each
round.

III. Point Scoring

i. Scoring is a 10 points system.
ii. The winner of a round scores 10 points, while the loser of a round is scored 7-9 points.

IV. Warning
i. If the competitor disregards the orders and instructions of the referee and the judges.
ii. Disrespecting the referee, judges, or the opponent.
iii. Attacking with excessive force.
iv. Using violent actions.
v. Using the techniques of kicking, punching, and takedowns.
vi. If the competitor continues to attack his/her opponent after the opponent’s weapon falls
down on the ground.
vii. Using performance-enhancing drugs prior or during the bout.
viii. The referee has the right to disqualify a competitor from the bout or competition if:
a) The competitor receives 3 or more warnings from the referee.
b) The competitor engages in unsportsmanlike conducts.
c) The competitor injures his/her opponent using prohibited techniques or attacks to
the no contact area, depending on the seriousness of the injury.
ix. The referee has the right to stop the contest if:
a) There is a big gap in the skill level between the 2 competitors. The competitor with
the skill advantage wins the bout.
b) A competitor is injured as a result of a legal maneuver, depending on the
seriousness of the injury. The opponent wins the bout.
x. Courtesy Rule: Salute to the judges first and then competitors salute to each other before
the bout begins. After the bout finishes, salute to the judges again and then competitors
salute to each other.
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 11

FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS

I. Grip - Proper Hold of the Stick - Hold the stick one fist away from the punyo (butt) of the
stick. Close the grip with the thumb.
II. Handa - Basic Stance and Salutation - Feet are positioned shoulder width apart. - Stick is
held in front of the body.
III. Pugay - Basic Stance and Salutation- Place the weapon hand across the chest. - Bow by
bending at the waist
IV. Handa sa Paglaban/Fighting Stance - One foot in the front (foot the same as the weapon
hand), the other foot on the rear. - Keep feet apart, distance of one foot. - Both knees slightly
bent. - Toes facing forward. - Weight evenly distributed on both feet.
V. Forward Stance - Distance of 5 steps between the feet. - Back leg kept straight, rear foot is
held at a 45 degree angle. - Keep the front knee bent. - Weight is evenly distributed on both
feet.
VI. Backward Stance - Distance of 4 steps between the feet. - Both knees are slightly bent. -
Rear foot held at a 90 degree angle. - 70% of the body weight on the rear foot while 30% is
placed on the front foot.
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 12

OFFICIALS AND OFFICIATING

I. Tournament Officials
the official body who shall implement the rules and regulations and shall have the sole
authority in the administration of the tournament proper. The tournament officials are certified
by the i-ARNIS.
a) Tournament Director - The over all administrator and chairperson who shall directly
ensure the proper implementation of all procedures.
b) Screening Committee - This committee is composed of three (3) members who shall
enforce the requirements as stipulated in Rule 4, Chapter Two. This committee shall
include the Tournament officials and a Physician as members.
c) Referees and Judges - These are officials who enforce the conduct of all tournament in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the game. All Referees & Judges should
have taken and passed the accreditation and licensure seminar of iARNIS and must be
in good standing. Refreshers Course is required for all Referees and Judges who have
not officiated in any tournament for at least one (1) year. They are the officiating
officials of the tournament whose decisions are FINAL .
d) Timer - Shall keep time during the actual match. A gong , whistle or bell shall be
provided for his/her use in announcing the start and the end of the game and other calls.
e) Recorder - Shall be tasked with recording the results of the actual games. A record sheet
shall be provided for his/her use in recording results.
f) Tabulators - Shall composed of the Chairman of the Judges, Recorder and Timer. They
shall be tasked in recording the scores, violations, and the time of the actual
performance/s. They shall give the final results to the official’s table.
g) Flag Officials - These are the officials who will declare the violation/s of the
performer/s by raising the corresponding flag/s.
h) Matcher - Shall arrange the matches prior to the tournament and

II. Official Calls and Hand Signals

a) Full Contact Event
H A N D A, L A B A N (Ready, Start) - Hand with thumb up,
placed between the two players and simultaneously drawn
upward.

H I N T O (Stop) is said with the stop sign outstretched arm

forward, palm facing front with fingers pointing upward, to stop
a fight or call for timeout.

H I W A L A Y (Separate / Break) Arms are extended forward,

then spread out laterally, simultaneously saying the command.
Done in instances when the competitors are in close body
contact after a period of 3 seconds, provided that there is no foul
committed.

P A Y O (Consultation with the judges)- from out-stretched

arms, bring both arms a bit close together at hip level. The
referee turns around to face and point to the neutral corner
signaling the judges for a consultation.
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 13

H A T O L (Decision) - right arm raised above the head with

palm facing the left.

P A N A L O (Declaring the Winner)-One arm is raised

obliquely at approximately 45 degrees to the direction of the
winning contestant from the chest. Right arm for the red and left
arm for the blue player

L A G L A G (Disarming) - One foot forward and arm pointing

downward at30 degrees

P A G L A B A G (Foul) - Raises one arm horizontally, with

palm facing down and simultaneously gesture the kind of foul /
violation committed.

P A G L A B A G (Foul) - points to the offender and gesture the

kind of foul committed.

M A G - A Y O S (Adjusting or Fixing) - both arms are crossed

over in front with palms facing in at waist level.

P A G W A S T O (Correction of Mistake) - Swaying of arms

and palm above the head, gesturing an erasing movement.

S I N A D Y A N G P A G L A B A G (Intentional Foul) -
Swaying of the hand from side to side at hip level.
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 14

PARUSA (Penalty) Going in front of the offender and

simultaneously pointing him/her

PI N S A L A (Injury) - one arm raised above the head and the

other arm raised horizontally at shoulder level, palm facing
down.

M ALING GAWI (Wrong Action) - both arms are crossed in

front of the chest, palms facing in.

WALANG L A B A N A N (Non-Combativeness) - circling of

both forearms back and forth with hand closed.

P A G T U L A K (Pushing) - right arm gestures an outward

pushing.

P A G H A W A K (Grabbing) - Grab left wrist with right hand.

P A G T U H O D (Kneeing) - lift one knee up simultaneously

tapping the knee.

P A G S I P A (Kicking) - lift one knee up simultaneously

extending the foot forward that gestures the act of kicking.

P A G S A L A G (Blocking with the use of the arm) - lift left

arms overhead to block the right arm from hitting the head.
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 15

P A G S I K O (Elbowing) - lifting elbow on chest level, with

other arm holding the elbow.

P A G S U N T O K (Punching) - right hand gestures punching

left hand close to the chest.

KNOCK OUT Right arm raised above the head spontaneously

bend in front of the body on chest level palm facing down.

DECLARING A WINNER Raises the flag whose color

corresponds to the winning player above the head.

P A Y O CONSULTATION/ REQUESTING for TIME - OUT

Crosses the flags above the head.

L A B A S (Outside) - left to right swaying of the flag parallel to

the line of the playing area concerned using the color of the
player.

DECLARING A DRAW Raises both flags above the head.

L O O B (Inside) - a flag parallel to the line of the area

concerned using the color of the player
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 16

b) Arnis Anyo
Declaring Scores—Each judge shall give scores by raising the
score card above their heads simultaneously with the other
judges

Declaring a Violation the flag official shall raise the flag/s

above their heads per violation committed, the Recorder is
responsible in recording the penalties/ deduction raised by the
flag officials .

Violation of Standard Salutation The flag officials shall call the

attention of the performer/s by blowing the whistle and raising
the two flags above their heads simultaneously.

Declaring a knock out Both flags raises, Spontaneously

horizontal above the head for the knock out player.

III. Timer’s Signal

The timer strikes the gong for the following signals:
a) START - sound the alarm once.
b) FINISH - sound the alarm prolong once.
c) TIME-OUT - raise yellow flag on top of the table.
d) CONTINUE - yellow flag is placed down.
INDIVIDUAL/DUAL/COMBATIVE SPORTS 17

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Arnis. (n.d.). Retrieved July 07, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnis

D. (2017). PE Fundamental Skills in Arnis. Retrieved July 7, 2019, from

https://quizlet.com/218063440/pe-fundamental-skills-in-arnis-flash-cards/

Rules for Arnis Stick Fighting. (2019). Retrieved July 07, 2019, from
https://www.wfmaf.org/en/championship/competition-rules/arnis-stick-fighting/

Rules in Sports Arnis. (2015). Retrieved July 07, 2019, from

http://www.arnisphilippines.com/Downloads/iARNIS_Rules-2015-v03.pdf