| The Philippine Martial Arts have somewhat of | | | | Spanish-American war. During this long period |
| a controversial history. The following are | | | | of colonization, the Spanish had some |
| from history, research, and also knowledge | | | | important effects on the Filipino culture. |
| passed on from experienced eskrimadors. Do | | | | Firstly, most of the population was converted |
| your own research and come to your own | | | | to Roman Catholicism except for the Muslim |
| conclusions.Eskrima- the art of fencing; | | | | Moros of the Sulu archipelago. Spanish |
| fighting with swords in a skilled.Arnis- | | | | fencing also had a direct effect on the |
| Filipino sword fighting martial art.The | | | | fighting arts of the Philippines, with the |
| Philippines warrior arts are deeply rooted in | | | | introduction of angles of attack, and the use |
| the history | | | | of Espada y daga (sword and dagger). When the |
| | | | Spanish imposed a ban on the practice of all |
| and culture of the Filipino people. They are | | | | native fighting arts and the carrying of |
| the products of a highly developed | | | | bladed weapons during their occupation of the |
| | | | islands, the Filipinos were forced to |
| civilization which flourished long before | | | | substitute the use of the sword with that of |
| the arrival of the West upon its | | | | the rattan. In the beginning the rattan was |
| | | | used to deliver strikes in the same manner as |
| shores, and of centuries of warfare against | | | | the blade i.e. slashing and thrusting, and |
| a variety of oppressors. Both these | | | | the knife (or short stick) was still held in |
| | | | reserve as a back up weapon in case the |
| factors are responsible for the highly | | | | opponent closed the distance, typical of it's |
| technical and pragmatic outlook of the | | | | use by the Spanish. Hardly ever was it used |
| | | | to block or parry an oncoming strike. However |
| Filipino Martial Arts.The History of the | | | | through time the Filipinos began to realise |
| Philippines is a long one, with records | | | | that because the stick had different handling |
| stretching back to as far as 900AD. | | | | qualities, certain lines of attack were open |
| | | | to them that were not available with the |
| In the case of the Filipino martial arts, | | | | swords, curved and snapping strikes. Once |
| when examining the history of the Philippines | | | | they began to appreciate the combat |
| as a nation, it is clear that fighting arts | | | | effectiveness of the stick the use of the |
| have always been an integral part of the | | | | knife also changed and began to be used more |
| Filipino society. The fighting arts of the | | | | aggressively in terms of blocking, parrying, |
| Philippines, like in many other places, were | | | | checking, scooping, thrusting and slashing. |
| influenced by many different cultures and | | | | This in turn led to the creation of Olisi y |
| made uniquely Filipino by the Filipinos and | | | | baraw (stick and dagger).I have heard that |
| there weapon systems and surroundings. | | | | the term eskrima was derived from the spanish |
| | | | word esgrima, or possibly from the word |
| Spanish rule in the Philippines lasted until | | | | skirmish(a short unexpected fight). |
| 1898 when Spain was defeated in the | | | | |