A R N I S

"Arnis" is an umbrella term used in the names of many different styles of Filipino martial arts, which can also be referred to as "escrima" or "kali." All of these terms refer to arts of swordsmanship and stick-fighting from the Philippines. Because there are so many different styles of Arnis, there is no single body of techniques. Each art has its own methods.

Instructions:

* Hold a wooden eskrima stick in your right hand. Grasp the stick approximately four inches from the bottom. Practice delivering an angle-1 strike to an imaginary opponent. Pretend your opponent is facing you and standing three feet in front of you. Raise the stick above your right shoulder and deliver a quick, powerful blow to the opponent's left collar bone. Concentrate on hitting with the side of the stick.

* Hold the stick to the right side of your body to practice an angle-3 strike. Swing the stick horizontally toward the left side of your opponent's body. Focus on striking the ribs or left elbow.

* Bring your right arm across the front of your body and hold the stick to your left side. Horizontally deliver the angle-4 strike at your opponent's ribs or right elbow. Hit your targets as if you are striking through them. Do not retract the stick after striking.

If you want to learn how to fight with a stick, then study the martial arts of the Philippines. Fighting styles such as eskrima, arnis and kali teach you how to use a stick as a weapon. These martial arts teach strikes, blocks, disarms, takedowns and grappling maneuvers with a stick. These moves are also typically performed with a knife. Stick fighters are often called "eskrimadors." Beginning eskrimadors learn basic striking and blocking techniques.