Arnis, an ancient martial art, can help law enforcers in pacifying petty criminals armed with wood or any hard object that can inflict injuries. Aside from self-defense, the martial art can also be an exercise suitable for most ages.
Arnis can help keep peace, order
“POLICEMEN’s mission is to protect the innocent and uphold law and order.”
It is a generic mission uttered in “Robocop,” a Hollywood blockbuster about how policemen perform their duties.
However, there are times a bewildered man or just a drunk toughie goes berserk and sows terror using a knife or any material that can inflict injury.
This scenario doesn’t require any policeman or policewoman to fire his or her gun or use force to arrest or pacify this man.
In these instances a martial art technique–arnis–is highly recommended so that anybody, not just policemen, can subdue anyone who intends to inflict injury.
What is arnis? Is it now a thing of the past, a mumbo jumbo in the time of AI and Chatgpt? Or still a very useful, bucolic technique overshadowed by modern technologies?
Arnis, also known as kali or eskrima, is the national martial arts of the Philippines.
This ancient technique emphasises weapon-based fighting with sticks, knives, bladed weapons and various improvised weapons, as well as “open hand” techniques without weapons.
The origin of arnis can be traced back to native pintados’ fighting techniques in the early 1500s during conflicts among the various prehistoric Filipino settlements.
Call it by any name, this technique is very helpful because it doesn’t require a gun to pacify any trouble maker or ambulant toughie through the use of sticks.
The Northern Police District (NPD) realises the importance of this technique that’s why it is the only police district that utilises it to increase the means of policemen in fighting criminality.
“This will lessen the use of guns when dealing with petty criminals who are armed with just “dos por dos” or any hard object,” said Police Brig. Gen. Rizalito Gapas, the NPD director.
All the more than 3,200 policemen assigned at NPD will undergo basic arnis training, according to the official.
“Lahat will undergo unti-unti nga lang,” he emphasised.
As early as October 2023, policemen from Valenzuela City were already undergoing basic arnis training.
The training is four-hour per week and all policemen in the city are required to train.
“Regular monthly namin ‘yan during my time,” said Police Col. Salvador Destura Jr., then the city’s chief of police and now the 4th highest official at the Manila Police District, the Philippines’ toughest and most elite cop unit.
Although there are limitations up to what extent the martial arts can be used, observers said it is very helpful because the aggressor can be pacified or suppressed without the need to be shot.
The police general said the martial art can be used if the opponent has no gun.
“This training would not only enhance their anti-crime fighting ability, but this will provide health benefits as well.
The techniques and fundamental skills would help them perform their duties with or without firearms,” Gen. Gapas added. By ED VELASCO
