We Filipinos can claim ‘arnis’ as our own

A few days from now, we will be celebrating the 116th anniversary of our Independence Day. It does not mean we don’t need others to live. Instead, it means we need to live with others and give them reasons to respect and recognize us.

Republic Act No. 9850 declares “arnis” as the “National Martial Art and Sport of the Philippines.” It was approved on Dec. 11, 2009. I started to have actual training in arnis in September 2007. I am not saying that Filipinos should only play arnis and get rid of other martial arts and sports. I am just like any other Filipino. I enjoy playing basketball, chess and mixed martial arts. These games come from foreign lands but are now part of our culture.

What pains me is the almost total neglect, by people in key positions, to create government or nongovernment sports programs meant for self-defense trainings, psychosocial therapy, or any other similar objectives.

We do not need to spend much in arnis. What we basically need is a pair of arnis sticks made from rattan. Arnis, contrary to the impression of people who may not be familiar with it yet, is safe to play. If training is facilitated by an authorized and certified instructor, injuries are avoided because safety is always an utmost concern.

Arnis is a very effective form of self-defense. It is not true that if an arnisador (one who plays arnis) is not holding sticks, he would be defenseless. The sticks are only the extensions of the hands. The more training he has, the more he appreciates the stick, dagger and empty-hand defense techniques. The more he learns, the more he sees objects around him—umbrella, writing instrument, cane and so on—as substitutes for the sticks. In fact, because of its efficiency, many foreigners are coming to the country to get formal arnis training with certified arnis grandmasters.

I do not mean to restrict people into playing arnis only. In fact, arnis may lead us to liking other martial arts and sports like jujitsu, yaw-yan, aikido, karate, boxing, kung fu, wrestling, taekwondo and fencing. An arnisador keeps his body fit, his mind sharp, and his character refined. Equally important, arnis unifies us as

Filipinos. Love arnis because we can claim it as our very own.

—JEEZER A. REYES,

reyesja78@gmail.com