12 Striking Techniques in Arnis #1 – Left side of the head attack or strike to left temple. #2 – Right side of the head attack or strike to right temple. #3 – Left side of the body or torso, to the left arm or elbow. #4 – Right side of the body or torso, to the left arm or elbow. #5 – Thrust to the stomach or abdomen. #6 – Left chest stab #7 – Right chest stab #8 – Left lower leg #9 - Right lower leg #10 - Left eye poke #11 - Right eye poke #12 - Strike to the crown/top of head Basic Skills: 12 Striking Techniques in Arnis ● 1. Left side of the head attack. A diagonal downward forehand swing to the left temple. From the position, the warrior will hold the stick with one hand at 1 o’clock moving his stick in slashing motion while his free hand on his chest. ● 2. Right side of the head attack. A diagonal downward backhand swing striking to the right temple. Assuming a fighting stance like the left temple strike, the warrior this time held his stick at 11o'clock with his free hand kept on his chest. ● 3. Left side of the body or torso, to the left arm or elbow. The 3rd striking technique allows the practitioner to extend his weapon hand making it easier for him to strike any part of the opponent between its shoulder and hips. The stick will be draw in a diagonal forehand slashing swing making it easier to deliver a damage. Basic Skills: 12 Striking Techniques in Arnis ● 4. Right side of the body or torso, to the left arm or elbow. Same as the 3rd strike but this time the practitioner will extend the weapon hand to strike any part of the body between the shoulder and the hips in a backhand slashing swing located on the right side ● 5. Thrust to the stomach. In this strike, the practitioner will thrust the weapon hand to the stomach and is followed by an upward motion that will cut through his opponent's body. ● 6. Left chest stab. In this strike, the weapon hand is then extended to the front with the palm facing outward and the elbow kept up where this strike can cause damage to the rib cage. Basic Skills: 12 Striking Techniques in Arnis ● 7. Right chest stab. In this stance, the practitioner will practice the scooping action. The weapon hand is then extended forward with the palm facing outward. To deliver the strike properly, the elbow should be kept up puncturing the opponent’s right lung. ● 8. Left lower leg. In this technique, the practitioner will deliver a powerful strike to the opponent’s lower leg, mainly the knee, the angle or the ankle which throws off the opponent’s balance and immobilize him. By doing this, the warrior is supposed to lower his body (extending the weapon arm). Holding his palm upward and hit any part of the opponent’s lower leg. ● 9. Right lower leg. Again, like the 8th strike, the main target here is the right lower leg which immobilize the opponent. By doing this, the palm should face downward. Basic Skills: 12 Striking Techniques in Arnis ● 10. Left eye poke. The target here is the left eye socket. In order to execute it properly, the practitioner should assume fighting stance then extend the weapon hand forward with the palm facing outward with its elbow kept down. ● 11. Right eye poke. Same as the 10th strike technique. To execute it properly the practitioner will have to hold his elbow down poking the right eye of the opponent. ● 12. Strike to the crown/top of head. The last strike will be a straight downward overhead swing directed towards the crown of the head which could throw off the opponent’s mobility and balance. Stances is a “way of standing or being placed”. For martial artists, it is not only a way of standing or being place, stances are a way of remaining standing and maintaining balance while moving or on a steady position By knowing the correct stance, the body weight or center of gravity is perfectly placed to either the front leg (as in the case of forward stances), back leg (as in the case of back stances) or in the middle (as in the case of straddle stances). Stances enables the martial artist to maintain stability and balance when doing a particular technique or a sequence of techniques. Through consistent practice of the techniques with a proper stance, the martial artist will be able to switch the body weight dynamically thereby avoiding being outbalanced by the opponent. Another Purpose of Stances is for Maneuverability. ● Maneuvering or going from one position to another is achieved through a sequence of steps or proper foot placement - that is basically a sequence of stances. ● In martial arts, there are many kinds of maneuvers or footwork that includes “striking maneuvers”, “blocking maneuvers” and “evasive maneuvers” just to name a few. But regardless of the maneuver that will be done, there will always be an initial stance from whence the maneuver will come from and an ending stance where the maneuver will stop. Seven (7) Most Common Used Stances When You are Standing at Ease. Ready Stance ● Stand with your feet apart parallel to the shoulder with both toes pointing forward. ● The knees should be straight, the waist and the body facing forward. ● Hands are on waist level and the hands should hold the sticks on both sides. ● The ready stance is commonly used when standing at ease during training or tournaments. Seven (7) Most Common Used Stances When You are Standing Ease. TO ARNIS SIMILAR at SPORTS 2. Attention Stance ● Stand with your feet forming a 45 degrees angle. ● Heels should be close to each other, knees should be straight, the waist and body facing forward. ● Shoulders are dropped to the side and both hands are at waist level. ● The attention stance is commonly used in preparation for courtesy or “bowing” at commencement of sparring. Seven (7) Most Common Used Stances When You are Standing Ease. TO ARNIS SIMILAR at SPORTS 3. Forward Stance ● Starting with the ready stance, move one foot forward until the knee and the toe are in line to each other. ● Both toes are pointing in front, the waist and the body is facing forward. ● The body should not be too low or the lead foot too extended otherwise it will be hard to maneuver. ● Distribute the weight or center of gravity to both legs. ● Forward stances can be right foot lead, which is the Right Foot Forward Stance or it can be left foot lead which is Left Foot Forward Stance. ● Forward Stance is commonly used with frontal striking or blocking Seven (7) Most Common Used Stances When You are Standing Ease. TO ARNIS SIMILAR at SPORTS 4. Oblique Stance ● Starting with the ready stance, move one foot forward 45 degrees away from the body until the knee and the toe are in line to each other. ● Move on the same direction as the lead foot (ex: for right foot lead, move 45 degrees forward to the right). ● Both toes are pointing in front, the waist and the body is facing forward. ● The body should not be too low or the lead foot too extended otherwise it will be hard to maneuver. ● Distribute the weight or center of gravity to both legs. ● Oblique stances can be right foot lead, which is the Right Foot Oblique Stance or it can be left foot lead which is Left Foot Oblique Stance. ● Oblique Stances are commonly used for forward blocking and evasion techniques. Seven (7) Most Common Used Stances When You are Standing Ease. TO ARNIS SIMILAR at SPORTS 5. Straddle Stance ● Starting with the ready stance, move one foot about two feet (2’) to the left or the right direction until both lower legs are almost perpendicular to the ground. ● Both toes are pointing in front, the waist and the body is facing forward. ● The body should not be too low or extended otherwise it will be hard to maneuver. ● Distribute the weight or center of gravity to both legs. ● Straddle stance are also called Horseback Riding Stance since it mimics position when riding on a horse back. ● Straddle stances are commonly used for blocking the strikes of the side of the body. Seven (7) Most Common Used Stances When You are Standing Ease. TO ARNIS SIMILAR at SPORTS 6. Side Stance ● Starting with the ready stance, move one foot about two feet (2’) to the left or right direction. ● Moving foot will be perpendicular to the ground while the other leg is extended thereby creating a position like that of a side kick. ● Both toes are pointing in front, the waist and the body is facing forward. ● The body should not be too low or extended otherwise it will be hard to maneuver. ● Distribute the weight or center of gravity to both legs. ● If the left foot moves to the side it becomes Left Foot Side Stance, if the right foot moves to the side it becomes Left Foot Side Stance, if the right foot moves to the side it becomes Right Foot Side Stance. ● Side Stances are commonly used for strike deflection and evasion techniques. Seven (7) Most Common Used Stances When You are Standing Ease. TO ARNIS SIMILAR at SPORTS 7. Back Stance ● Starting with the ready stance, move one foot backward 45 degrees away from the body. ● The heels of the foot should form an imaginary “L” shape while the legs are in a straddle position. ● The body should not be too low or extended otherwise it will be hard to maneuver. ● Distribute the weight or center of gravity to both legs. ● Back stances can be right foot lead, which is the Right Foot Back Stance or it can be left foot lead which is Left Foot Back Stance. ● Back stances are used for blocking and backward evasion techniques.
