Arnis, also known as eskrima and kali, is a Filipino martial art that originated from weapons fighting techniques developed by indigenous Filipino tribes using weapons like swords, daggers and spears. During the 20th century, more written references to arnis emerged in Filipino literature. It was studied by independence figures as a means to defend against European swordsmanship. In modern times, there has been a resurgence of arnis alongside growing Filipino nationalism. The spread of books and videos on arnis has also increased its popularity among Westerners who recognize it as an effective fighting style.

2. - Arnis is also known as eskrima and
kali, known as a national sport and
martial arts in the Philippines.

3. It was originally developed by the people native to the
islands using simple impact and edged weapons such
as kampilans, rattan, swords, daggers, spears and other
assorted weaponry for combat and self defense. These
weapons were also sometimes used as farm
implements.

4. - Written references became more numerous during
the twentieth century. Balagtas, the great Tagalog
poet, mentions arnis in his epic, Florante at Laura. Jose
Rizal, Antonio Luna, Juan Luna, Marcelo H. del Pilar
and other Filipino exiles worling in Spain for
Philippine independence studied arnis. It was still a
century of personal duels and the Filipinos needed an
art that could stand against European swordsmanship.

5.  During the last fifty years there had been an explosion
of books about arnis. Filipinos are passing through a
resurgent nationalism that makes them proud of their
heritage, and that includes arnis. The discovery by
Westerners that arnis is an effective fighting art has
also produced a demand for books and video tapes
about the art.

6.  During the last fifty years there had been an explosion
of books about arnis. Filipinos are passing through a
resurgent nationalism that makes them proud of their
heritage, and that includes arnis. The discovery by
Westerners that arnis is an effective fighting art has
also produced a demand for books and video tapes
about the art.

7.  Before the coming of the Spaniards, arnis was probably
an art of war taught to warriors to use in the unending
tribal wars of the period.
 The colonization of the Phillipines by the Spaniards
radically changed the practice of arnis.

8.  The reason for mass practice, the use of arnis in
war, had disappeared. The elite preferred to learn
European swordsmanship. Near urban center,
European saber fencing heavily influenced some
arnis styles, among them the Cinco Tiros
(Five Blows) style and Balintawak (Butterfly) style.

9.  - When the Spanish priests introduced the
moro-moro as public entertainment during
town fiestas, arnis was once more
transformed.

10. -After the Second World War, arnis again
entered into the doldrums.

11. - Remy Presas incorporated the wide
stances, the straight line katas and the
colored belt rankings into the Balintawak
(butterfly) style of arnis that he had learned.
He called his version Modern Arnis.

12.  Presas wrote a book on Modern Arnis and
vigorously promoted his style. He and his followers
taught the police and members of the armed
forces, instructed in a national school for teachers,
and sponsored tournaments. They organized the
National Arnis Association of the Philippines
(NARAPHIL), with Gen. Fabian .

13.  The internationalization of arnis
began. In the 1980's after decades of
Japanese, Chinese, Burmese, and Thai
martial arts, the Westerners
discovered arnis.

14. - Arnis once again became a mass instruction
from being an individual coaching.