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