Arnis Sparring (Filipino and English Essay)

Arnis Sparring

Sa loob ng higit na 40 taon na pagsasanay ko sa arnis/escrima, naparaming kasama ang nakalaro, nakasali sa mga palaro ng NARAPHIL at Arphi; hanggang ngayon ay marami pa rin ang pagtatalo kung paanong paraan ba dapat ang isang sparring sa arnis.

Ilang national sport association na rin ng arnis ang dumaan, at may kanya kanya silang format ng pagsasagawa ng palaro o tournament nito. Nandiyan ang palaro na ang mga audience ay namamangha sa galaw ng mga manlalaro, mayroon din confused kung paano ba nanalo ang isang manlalaro, ito ba’y sa paramihan ng palo o palakasan ng hataw?

Ang sanaysay na ito ay isang pag-alala sa aking nakagisnan kung paano ang arnis ay naging sports; ang mga naging pagbabago nito mula noon hanggang sa ngayon. Pasintabi po, ito ay batay lamang sa aking karanasan, paniniwala, at lohika.

Si Joel Anajao at Ariel Ramos sa kanilang bolo sparring, Laban Laro sa QC

Arnis bilang Laro

Nagsimula akong mamulat sa arnis/escrima nang ang aking mga kapatid ay nakita kong nagsasanay ng boxing at paraan ng pakikipaglaban gamit ang pamalo. Ito’y natutunan nila mula sa aking yumaong ama, na isang dating gerilya sa Leyte noong panahon ng world war II. At pormal akong natuto nito sa paghihikayat ng dating GM Ernesto A. Presas na kabarkada ng kapatid ko.

Ang una kong nakitang sparring noon (late 1970s) sa ARJUKEN (Arnis-Jujitsu-Kendo Karate Association) ni GM Ernie ay ang paggamit ng kendo bogu, at ang gamit na sandata ay rattan stick. Pero lubhang masakit para sa manlalaro kapag tumama ito sa bandang bogu ng mukha na manipis ang saplot, o dili kaya’y sa walang armor na bahagi, at sayang din ang bogu pagnasira dahil sa palo; nang mga panahon na iyon ay di ganun kadali magkaroon nito, di tulad ngayon online pde na bumili. Mabuti na lang at mahilig din si GM sa kendo.

Dahil sa ganitong kalagayan, bihira ang mga sparring sa arnis, kadalasan ay mga pre-arranged sparring or flow drills. Yun na ang nagsisisilbing sparring sa mga practitioners. Mayroon din paminsan minsan patournament pero experimental pa ang mga rules, ang nakilala dito ay ang rapid sparring or mass point system ng Doce Pares.

Isang tipikal na eksena sa Rapid Arnis Sparring

Mga dekada ng 80’s bago pa ang pagkakatatag ng Arnis Philippines bilang kapalit ng NARAPhil, (lahat kasi ng remnants ng Marcos Administration ay pinalitan gayun din sa mga NSA sa Philippine Olympic Committee); ang ArjuKen ay nagsimulang gumamit ng padded stick, isang manipis na rattan stick na binalutan ng rubber tube na ginagamit sa air-conditioning, at mga improvised na armour. Minsan ang ginagamit ay niroll na newspaper na manipis lang para di gaanong masakit.

Hanggang sa pagdating ng 90s may mga masasabi ng standard na armour at padded sticks maliban sa format ng Doce Pares na rapid sparring. Ang Arphi ay gumamit ng padded stick sparring, de color, may bughaw at pula, ang armor ay simple lang tulad groin protector, shin pad, gloves, at optional na body vest sa lalaki. Ang pagpuntos ay depende, maaring first clean hit or last clean hit.

Ang Modern Arnis na grupo ay nagkaroon din ng format na tag system, clean hit and stop, saka bibigyan ng score ang nakagawa nito. Ito ay draft ni GM Rene Tongson ng magsimula ang grupo ng sariling mga palaro sa kanyang maraming members sa ibat ibang lugar at paaralan.

Ang sports karatedo ay nagbigay sa amin ng inspiration na gayahin ang mga magagandang katangian nito, tulad ng formal na kasuotan kaya naging barong ang suot ng mga referees at judges, flag system na may corresponding gesture ayon sa point o violation ng players. Dito ang concept ng ‘to hit and not to be hit’ ay aming ginamit.

Ang strike o counter sa mukha na di na-counter ay 3 puntos, 2 puntos sa katawan, at 1 puntos sa limb. Ito ay binase sa ippon, nihon, sambon scoring ng sports karate. Active kasi kami ni GM Bambit noon sa Philippine Karatedo Federation bilang regional judge and referee. Hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay ginagamit pa rin ito ng mga kasama sa Modern Arnis.

Nang napalitan ng Philippine Eskrima-Kali-Arnis Federation (PEKAF) ang Arphi, ang rapid sparring format ng Doce Pares at ang padded stick sparring ng modern arnis ay isinama, kaso naging unahan na lang ang concept kung sino mananalo. Nang tinanong ko ang isang kasama kung bakit naging ganuon at di ginamit ang original na 3-2-1 scoring system, ang sabi na lang ay yun daw kasi ang gusto ng Council of Elders ng PEKAF.

Sparring Format

Sa kasalukuyan, maraming format ng sparring ang makikita sa bawat grupo ng arnis. Sa Pilipinas ito angg mga sumusunod ang format:

1. Unahan or First to Hit – kung saan ang manlalaro na makakaunang makastrike sa kalaban nya ay makakapuntos, kahit sya ay tamaan ng after blow. Ang mga athlete nito ay sadyang mabibilis dahil sa linear execution ng attacks or counter-attacks.

Padded stick sparring, eksena sa isang "first-to-hit" na format

2. Rapid Sparring – ito ang format ng Doce Pares na mas maraming dayuhan ang gumagamit, dito ay may malaking chance na manalo ang manlalaro na bihasa sa rapid striking plus ang kanyang maneuvering control sa laro.

3. To hit and not to be hit – ang manlalaro na makakatama sa kalaban na hindi siya natamaan ay makakapuntos. May isang kasama na ginawan ng bagong brand ito, ang No counter hit. Ito ang matagal na naming gustong ipalaganap noong pang 90s, sa pangunguna ng International Modern Arnis Federation. Ito ay katulad din ng concept ng duel-sparring ng Historical European Martial Arts o HEMA.

May iba pang mga format ng sparring, na makikita sa ibang bansa tulad ng:

Dog Brothers Sparring – kung saan ay kahawig nito ang ‘todo juego’ o full contact sparring kung saan ang layunin ng laro ay di ang manalo sa pag-ipon ng score, kundi ang maging superior sa loob ng full-contact na laro gamit di lamang ang pamalo kundi kasama ang punches, kicks, at grappling.

Isang eksena sa Dog Brothers Arnis sparring

Sa format na ito ay mahalaga ang tatag ng katawan at kaisipan, at handang protektahan ang sarili sa lahat ng saglit sa laro.

Marami pang format ang naiisip ng mga Pinoy, tulad ng format ni Jun Abaya at Garitony Nicolas na “pang-oran” o stick-kickboxing format na may minimal na protection ang mga manlalaro. Mayroon din “todo juego” octagon-cage format, kung saan ang manlalaro ay gagamit ng karunungan sa pagpalo, kickboxing, habang ang protection lang ay ang bulky na head gear. Mayroon din nagpapauso na tila bagang “sinaunang” paraan daw may kalasag na yari sa foam at padded stick.

Isang magandang halimbawa rin ng mga sparring format sa arnis/escrima ay ang ginawa ng mga dumadalong arnisador sa mga monthly gathering na pinangunahan ng ating kaibigang si Elrik Jundis sa kanyang “Laban-Laro,” dito ay may mga arnisador mula sa iba’t ibang grupo at styles ng arnis na nais makipagsparring sa ibang arnisador mula sa ibang grupo o styles na ang layunin ay masubok ang kanilang skills at styles sa isang friendly atmosphere, na walang ego, bagkus ay makipaglaro at maging kaibigan ang mga dumalong arnisador. Isang healthy sparring venue para sa mga open-minded na practitioners.

Ano ang Mangyayari ?

Anuman ang mga nakikitang format at maipapauso pang format ng sparring ay inaasahan dahil sa likot ng isip ng mga arnis practitioners at promoters.

Maraming pagtatalo hinggil sa kung ano ang mas maiging format. May nagsasabi na ang rapid sparring at first to hit ay walang katotohanan sa totoong labanan, mayroon din na nagsasabi na may halaga ito.

Sa punto de vista ng isang audience, mahalaga na nakakaentertain ito at madaling mainitidihan kung paano ba nagkakascore at mananalo ang players sa anumang format ng sparring.

Sa punto de vista naman ng isang physical educator, ang sparring sa arnis ay dapat di lamang entertaining, kundi nakakatulong sa manlalaro na magkaroon sya ng holistic development, tulad ng physical fitness, pagkakaroon ng life and social skills, madevelop ang kanyang psycho-social ang aspeto.

Ang kaligtasan din ng mga manlalaro ay di dapat mawala, kaya may mga sparring format na hindi puede sa mga student-athletes dahil sa peligroso ito.

Hindi rin dapat mawala, ang punto de vista na ang sparring format dapat ay matuturuan ang mga manlalaro na maging mas level up ang kanilang tactical na aspeto.

Natatandaan ko noon ng maypalaro ng arnis ang isang grupo at ito’y Nakita ng isang matandang Grandmaster, sinabi nya “hindi ganyan ang arnis!”. Teka, ano ba ang pananaw nya at karanasan sa pakikpaglaro ng arnis noon.

Kaya mahalaga din na muling balikan kung ano ba ang mga format ng pagsasanay noon na may sparring o kung paano nagduelo noong uso pa ito. Mahalaga rin na muli itong saliksikin upang maaring muling mabuhay ang ganitong format sa mga arnis tournament o kaya’y ang mga bahagi nito ay maaring maging lead-up activities lalu na sa physical education. Ang pagtuturo ng arnis sa mga paaralan ay di dapat nakakahon sa sinawali, disarming, anyo na tipong karatedo format. Mahalagang isama ang mga makatotohanang karanasan at historical na practices ng arnis/escrima. Hindi rin dapat sa mga kasinungalingang ginawa noon tungkol sa arnis.

Ang mga tradisyon ng arnis sa Paete at iba pang lugar sa kabisayaan ay maaring saliksikin at iayon sa isang ligtas na paraan ng sparring. Ngunit dapat isaalang-alang ang kanilang kapakaan ay maiwasan din ang mga indibidwal na oportunista sa komunidad ng FMA na gagamitin ang karunungan ng mga matatanda o ng komunidad hinggil sa arnis/escrima para sa pansariling kasikatan at pagkakakitaan.

Isang tipikal na eksena ng tradisyunal na arnis sa Paete Laguna, Arnis sa Bangko

Minsan kasi ang sparring format ay depende sa trip ng nagpapalaro. Kumbaga ay kanya-kayang trip ito bro.

Anyway, ang arnis/escrima ay isang buhay na tradisyon at martial art ng mga Filipino, ito’y patuloy sa kanyang evolution at pagdami ng anyo ng pasasanay nito.

Joel D. Anajao

09/09/2023

Indang, Cavite

Talasanggunian:

Anajao, J. D. (2018). Arnis, Philippine National Martial Art and Sport, A Guide for

Teachers and Students. Casa Duende Publishing, Quezon City, Philippines

Anajao, J. D. & Ramos, A.B., (2004). An Introduction to Sports Arnis. Intramuros,

Manila : Amateur Sports Arnis Pilipinas, Inc.

Godhania, K. (2001). Combative vs. Competitive Eskrima. Arnis: Reflections on

the History and Development of the Filipino Martial Arts. Boston: Tuttle

Publishing. pp 145-148.

Jocano, F. P. Jr. (1997). A Question of Origin, RAPID Journal, vol. 2 no. 4, pp. 15-17,

1997

Nepangue, N. (Dr.) (2001). Questioning the Origins of Eskrima. Arnis: Reflections

on the History Development of the Filipino Martial Arts. Boston: Tuttle

Publishing. pp 9-14.

Presas, R. A. (1994). The Practical Art of Eskrima (2nd Edition). Quezon City,

Philippines: National Book Store, Inc.

Presas, E. A. (1988). Arnis: Presas Style and Balisong. Quiapo, Philippines: Author.

Presas, R. A. (1983). Modern Arnis: Filipino Art of Stick Fighting. Burbank, Calif.:

Ohara Publications.

Presas, R. A. (1974). Modern Arnis: Philippine Martial Arts. Manila: Modern Arni

Wiley, M. V. (1997). Filipino Martial Culture. Boston: Tuttle Publishing.

Wiley, M.V. (1994). Classical Eskrima, The Evolution and Etymology of Filipino

Fencing Form, Journal of Asian Martial Arts, vol. 3. No. 2, 1994, p. 72-89

(English Version)

Arnis Sparring

In my over 40 years of training in arnis/escrima, I have played with many practitioners and participated in NARAPHIL and Arphi tournaments. To this day there is still much debate as to how arnis sparring should be done.

Several national sports associations of arnis have also passed by, and they have their own format for conducting the game or tournament. There is a game where the audience is amazed by the players' moves, there are also people who are confused as to how a player wins, is it because of the number of hits or the strength of hitting?

This essay is a recollection of my experience of how arnis became a sports; and how it has changed since then. This is just based on my experience, beliefs, and logic.

Arnis as Game

I started to become aware of arnis/escrima when I saw my brothers practicing boxing and stick fighting. They learned this from my late father, who was a former guerrilla in Leyte during World War II. And I learned it formally with the encouragement of former GM Ernesto A. Presas who is my brother's friend.

The first sparring I saw back then (late 1970s) in GM Ernie's ARJUKEN (Arnis-Jujitsu-Kendo Karate Association) was using the kendo bogu, and the weapon used was a rattan stick. But it is very painful for the player when it hits the bogu side of the face that is thin or rather the unarmored part, and it is also a waste of the bogu when it gets damaged due to the club; in those days it was not that easy to have it, unlike today you can buy online. Fortunately, GM also loves kendo.

Because of this situation, sparring in arnis is rare, usually pre-arranged sparring or flow drills. That's the one that serves sparring with the practitioners. There is also an occasional tournament but the rules are still experimental, what is known is the rapid sparring or mass point system of Doce Pares.

Decades of the 80's before the establishment of Arnis Philippines as a replacement for NARAPhil, (all the remnants of the Marcos administration were replaced); the ArjuKen began using a padded stick, a thin rattan stick covered with a rubber tube used in airconditioning, and improvised armors. Sometimes what is used is rolled newspaper that is thin enough to make it less painful.

Until the arrival of the 90s, there were standard armor and padded sticks aside from the Doce Pares format of rapid sparring. Arphi used padded stick sparring, colored, with blue and red, the armor was simply a groin protector, shin pad, gloves, and optional body vest for men. Scoring depends, maybe the first clean hit or the last clean hit.

The Modern Arnis group also had a tag system format, clean hit and stop, then a score would be given to the one who did it. It was drafted by GM Rene Tongson when the group started its own games with its many members in different places and schools.

Sports karatedo has given us the inspiration to imitate its good qualities, such as formal clothing so the referees and judges wear barong, a flag system with corresponding gestures according to the point or violation of the players. Here we used the concept of 'to hit and not or be hit'.

A strike or counter to the face that is not countered is 3 points, 2 points to the body, and 1 point to the limb. It is based on the ippon, nihon, and sanbon scoring of sports karate. Because GM Bambit and I were active in the Philippine Karatedo Federation as regional judges and referees. To this day it is still used by Modern Arnis associates.

When the Philippine Eskrima-Arnis-Kali Federation (PEKAF) replaced the Arphi, the rapid sparring format of Doce Pares and the padded stick sparring of modern arnis were included, but it is not in the format of “to hit and not to be hit” but rather the first hit to get the point. When I asked a colleague why they did that and did not use the original 3-2-1 scoring system, they said it was because that is what the Council of Elders of PEKAF wanted.

Sparring Format

Currently, many sparring formats can be found in each arnis group. In the Philippines, the formats are:

1. First to Hit – where the player who can strike his opponent first will score, even if he is hit by an afterblow. Its athletes are deliberately fast because of the linear execution of attacks or counter-attacks.

2. Rapid Sparring – this is the Doce Pares format, here, there is a big chance for the player who is good at rapid striking and his maneuvering control in the game to win.

3. To hit and not to be hit – the player who hits the opponent without being hit scores. There's a fellow who made it brand new, the No counter hit. This is what we wanted to spread for a long time in the 90s, led by the International Modern Arnis Federation. It is also similar to the concept of duel-sparring of Historical European Martial Arts or HEMA.

There are other formats of sparring, which can be found in other countries such as:

Dog Brother Sparring –it resembles 'todo juego' or full contact sparring where the goal of the game is not to win and accumulate a score, but to be superior within the full-contact game using not only the stick but including punches, strikes, and grappling.

In this format, it is important to be mentally and physically fit, and ready to protect yourself at all times during the game.

There are many other formats Filipinos can think of, such as Jun Abaya and Garitony Nicolas' "pang-oran" format or stick-kickboxing format where the players have minimal protection. There is also a “todo juego” octagon-cage format, where the player will use the skills of arnis, and kickboxing, while the only protection is the bulky headgear. There is also a format that seems to be an "ancient" method with a foam and padded stick shield.

A good example of sparring formats in arnis/escrima is what the arnisadors used in the monthly gatherings led by our friend Elrik Jundis in his "Laban-Laro", here there are arnisadors from different groups and styles of arnis who want to play with other arnisadors from other groups or styles whose goal is to test their skills and styles in a friendly atmosphere, without ego, but to play and become friends with the arnisadors who attended. A healthy sparring venue for open-minded practitioners.

What will happen?

Regardless of the visible and new formats of sparring, it is expected because of the creativity of arnis practitioners and promoters.

There is much debate as to what is the better format. Some say rapid sparring and first-to-hit are unrealistic in real combat, some say it has value.

From an audience's point of view, it is important that it is entertaining and it is easy to observe how the players score and win in any sparring format.

From the point of view of a physical educator, sparring in arnis should not only be entertaining but also help the player to have holistic development, such as physical fitness, developing social skills, and developing his psycho-social aspect.

The safety of the players should not be neglected, so there are sparring formats that are not suitable for student-athletes because of this risk.

It is also necessary, the point of view that the sparring format should teach the players to be more level up in their tactical aspect.

I remember before, an old arnis grandmaster commented with regards to the arnis tournament he observed, he said "arnis is not like that!". Wait, what was his perspective and experience in playing arnis back then?

It's also important to revisit what the training formats were back then with sparring or how dueling was conducted. It is also important to research it again so that this format can be revived in arnis tournaments or parts of it can be lead-up activities, especially in physical education. The teaching of arnis in schools should not be boxed in just simple striking, blocking, disarming, and forms. It is important to include realistic experiences and historical practices of arnis/escrima.

The traditions of arnis in Paete and other places in Visayas can be researched and adapted to a safe way of sparring. But their welfare must be taken into account to prevent individual opportunists in the FMA community who will use the knowledge of the elders or the community regarding arnis/escrima for personal fame and profit.

Arnis/escrima is a living martial art, and it will continue to evolve and have many variations.