Combat Arnis

The Combat Arnis system could be characterized as “the art within your art.” – Guro Dave Birdphilippine combat arnis logo

Stick and blade fighting is an excellent template for the development of a vast array of martial arts skills.  Combat Arnis contains elements of hard and soft style martial arts as well as some great locking and controlling techniques.

The Simplicity of 6

One great attribute of the Combat Arnis system is the focus on only 6 angles of attack.  This serves to hone the awareness and help students identify the source or origin of the strike.  Disarms, locks and counterstrikes then become more “self-evident” based on the angle of the engagement.  This simple approach is not for lack of technique or creativity, but a refreshing focus.  Many Filipino Martial Arts systems tend to become overly complex and ornate due to the inherent adaptability of the tools employed for training.

Using the Left Hand

Most martial arts are right hand dominant fighting styles.  Combat Arnis uses the “alive hand” (left hand) to disrupt, pass, intercept or pre-empt the opponent’s line of attack.  Over time, this type of training increases coordination and accuracy of the “weak side.”

Using the left hand also helps to underscore the importance of proper hand position in every situation.  Placing the left hand on the chest rather than on the hip (like in karate) or under the chin (like in boxing) allows for more ambidextrous deployment of blocking and counterstriking.

Locking & Controlling

In weapons fighting, locking and/or controlling the attacker’s weapon is very important.  In Combat Arnis, training focuses on three main steps in every situation:

  1. Block
  2. Counter Strike
  3. Disarm, lock, trap, immobilize, etc.

The training is not about making movements intricate and technical, but about making them as effective and direct as possible.