‘Arnis’: exercising the right to say no through disciplined self-defense

As an arnisador (practitioner of arnis), it gives me joy to see other people getting interested in the Philippines’ National Martial Art and Sport, as declared by Republic Act No. 9850. Not because they have joined me in the bandwagon but because we are now one in the desire to practice and propagate arnis. As a form of self-defense, we all want to make ourselves prepared against attack and aggression. As a means of maintaining good health, arnis forms part of our physical fitness regimen.

With the permission of their parents, my university students are now members of my SanDaTa (’Sang Daluhong na Tapang) Arnis Club. They know that trainings are free of charge and are conducted only after classes. I let them borrow some of my sticks, if they have none. It is very interesting to note that they are not the prominent students in the campus. They are not athletic, muscular or tall. But they have one thing in common: They are aware of the dangers that they may encounter every day. Many of them told me that they have already experienced threat and intimidation on the streets. One of them has been held up and her wallet and cellular phones were forcibly taken from her. I told her, together with her fellow members, that learning arnis or any other form of martial art does not give her the go-signal to always resist and fight an attacker. It is very important to first assess the situation, as fast as possible. It means that the victim must determine, as early as possible, whether the aggressor only intends to take her belongings or really desires to take even her life. Although one may be a well-trained practitioner, she must not put her life at risk just because she does not want to lose her material belongings. What is important is to preserve life. Hence, arnis and other martial arts are known as forms of self-defense. They are not used to bully or intimidate innocent and weak people.

With regular training, an arnisador refines his skills and techniques. These, coupled with the desire to maintain peace inside and outside his home, give him the intelligence to determine imminent danger and the courage to confront attack and abuse. A practitioner says, “There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well-prepared to meet an enemy.” And I say: “All people have the right to say no to abuse and intimidation through self-defense techniques.”

—JEEZER A. REYES,
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