Thunderbolt Arnis Martial Arts Association – HONGKONG

In my life, I have never dreamed that I could go to the beautiful places in HONGKONG because of Eskrima. Then one day the founder and leader of the Thunderbolt Arnis Martial Arts Association Guru Eman Pamulag approached me after our Arnis martial arts exhibition in SM city Iloilo to tell that she will sponsor me to go to HK to help her in sharpening the Eskrima skills of her students there.

When I arrived in HK, I was cordially welcomed by some of the Philippine heroines- the Pinay overseas Filipino workers who are working in HK for several years already. Their newly organized martial arts group called Thunderbolt Arnis Martial Arts association is now affiliated to CASASAI. As a founder and president of CASASAI, I was inspired by their dedication and commitment to practice the Filipino martial arts. In the midst of the busy life style in HK, they still find time to gather together to fellowship with one another and practice the exotic Filipino Martial Arts called Eskrima or Arnis. It became part of their lifestyle to gather from time to time to practice Arnis. For them, practicing martial arts is a good form of exercise as well as to be able to learn self-defense techniques and it was a great honor and privilege of having the opportunity to share my knowledge and skills in Arnis to them. I am looking forward to be there again soon.

Shown in the pictures below are the members of Thunderbolt Arnis Martial Arts Association during the Filipino Martial Arts seminar in Happy Valley HK.

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The Striking Door Technique Explained

The striking door technique or in Hiligaynon (an Ilongo dialect) is called Hanot-puerta. Hanot means strike and puerta means door. This unique system of striking was developed by Grand Master Gregorio “Awas” Soldevilla, a resident of Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines. He is now 81 years old. GM Awas has taught arnis for many years. He has students from all walks of life: priests, doctors, military men, lawyers and many ordinary people who want to know his unique style of Eskrima. He has also experienced teaching Arnis in Guam. In fact all his children practice Arnis even his son who is now a Roman Catholic priest serving in the province of Antique in Western Visayas, Philippines.

When he taught us his style, I was really amazed by the simplicity and effectiveness of the striking door technique. He really mastered his style! We in CASASAI are really blessed to know him and letting us to learn his skills and for giving us the authority to continue sharing his knowledge and skills in Arnis.

The striking door technique is a technique patterned from the movement of the door. So the practitioner should imagine the cane as the door. GM Awas is an experienced fighter. He has tested his skills in real fight and he never shunned challenges. One time GM Awas was attacked by sixteen people when he tried to settle the two groups who were fighting during their Barangay fiesta. In Hiligaynon (native dialect of Iloilo), “Awas” means missing the target. He has earned that nickname maybe because he is hard to hit. He just simply used his Arnis skills to rout his opponents. Most of his attackers during that incident landed in the hospital. GM Awas has a very strong grip too. At the age of 81 though he is not in good physical condition anymore he can make u kneel down or make you lie flat on the floor if he applies his empty hand locking techniques.

His refined striking techniques are composed of only three strikes. The Sera or closing the door strike, the trangka, or locking the door strike and the bwelta or bouncing the door strike. These three strikes can be applied as blocking or striking techniques. It can be used against any angle of strikes. The initial position of the baston or cane is in the abierta or open door position. The sera is an inward strike usually done horizontally but it can also be delivered diagonally downward or upward. The trangka is delivered from a close door position in a downward circular vertical motion aimed to the centerline of the opponent. The bwelta is delivered from an open door position. The motion is like a bouncing door. It begins and ends as an open door. The strike is actually a reverse diagonal circular strike and can be aimed to any part of the body of the opponent.

In the first picture above is Grand Master Gregorio “Awas” Soldevilla (right) with the Author Master Guru Mel O. Balberde. In the second picture, Grand Master Gregorio received a plaque of recognition as one of the Grand Masters of Eskrima in Panay during the CASASAI launching program held in SM City, Iloilo.

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The Secrets Behind the Arnis Sinawali Movement

Sinawali is the art of double stick striking of Arnis. It is called Sinawali because of its intricate movements that resemble the weaving pattern of the sawali – the bamboo splits woven for walling and matting which is very common in the islands of Panay which is believed by other historians to be the origin of Escrima or Arnis de mano because the ten Boronean datus landed and settled in Panay in the 13th century.

People were amazed when they witnessed our exhibition using doble-baston or double stick because its movements are very entertaining.  When I began teaching Arnis in the school where I was employed as secondary school teacher, I observed that my students are very interested in learning the Sinawali form of striking.  Then I realized that this is a better way to begin our training.  Later on I was able to discover and learn many variations of Sinawali striking and adapted twenty four patterns in our system of training.  I also found out that there are hidden techniques beneath the intricate movements of the two sticks.

Now I would like to share this knowledge to all the people who are interested to learn the Filipino Martial arts. Here are the advantages of learning the Sinawali or the art of double-stick  striking.

 Advantages of learning and practicing the art of sinawali:

1. Sinawali is good form of aerobic exercise therefore it promotes good health.
2. Double –sticks coordination exercises are good aerobic exercise.  This can be practiced with a background of music. Its rhythm consist of 4/4, 2/4, ¾ time signature.  It is also to use ethnic music as a back ground.  You can even choreograph movements to create an Arnis dance. Practicing Sinawali with or without a partner is indeed interesting and calorie-burning form of exercise.
3. It develops dexterity to the practitioner.  In the world of martial arts, it is good to use proficiently your both hands whether in defensive or offensive movements. It will develop good hand coordination.  Training with weapons in your hands facilitate good hand coordination and timing.
4. It also helps strengthen the arms and legs.  Sinawali practice is coupled with footwork thus strengthening the legs also.
5. Sinawali offers variety of empty hand fighting techniques.  There are hidden empty hand techniques found in the sinawali movements.  An arnis expert should know how to interpret, practice and apply them in an empty hand encounters.

In our system we practice four, six, eight, and ten counts Sinawali patterns. We begin by practicing simple movements then progress to more complex patterns. When a student has already learnt the more complex patterns he is taught to apply the movements as both defensively and offensively.  In this stage of his training he or she must know already how to choreograph sinawali movements to compose a creative anyo or form using doble- baston or double sticks.

Sinawali patterns offer a variety of empty hand techniques. In fact, if you analyze the movements of the hands in the tapi-tapi system of empty hand training, you will notice that the same movements in the sinawali patterns are used in the tapi-tapi drills.  And by using your imagination and creativity you can integrate elbow strikes, knee kicks, head butts and locking techniques in your tapi-tapi drills. This is the basic principle in the Arnis system.  The stick is just an extension of your hand without it you can still use your hand as weapon by applying the movements you have learnt from the patterns of the Sinawali.

* For those who are interested to learn the different patterns of the Sinawali used by CASAS just email to: mel57_balberde@yahoo.com

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The Way of the Cross

The Cross(Krus) Striking is an advance form of striking techniques which consist of two rapid strikes in one count. This was commonly used by the traditional Arnis masters before and was tested by them in an actual combat encounters. If you can master the cross strike combinations you can strikes very rapidly just like firing an automatic gun. Its motions are very fluid and flowing. Every Arnis practitioner should know and practice the cross combinations. The cross strike is one among the deadly techniques from the Arnis arsenal.

The Eight Variations of cross striking:
The descriptions of these forms are based on a right handed person. It presumed then that the Arnis stick is in your right hand.

1. The inward downward cross. This is done by delivering an inward horizontal strike followed by a looping vertical downward strike.
2. The outward upward cross. This is performed by delivering a horizontal outward backhand strike towards your right and immediately followed by a looping uppercut strike crossing your first line of attack or strike.
3. The downward inward cross. This is performed by delivering a downward vertical strike followed by a looping horizontal inward strike crossing your first line of attack.
4. The Outward downward cross. This is done by delivering an outward horizontal strike followed by looping downward vertical strike.
5. The upward inward cross. This is done by delivering an upward vertical blow or uppercut followed by a looping inward horizontal strike.
6. The upward outward cross. This is done by delivering an upward blow from serada or close positon of the stick followed by a looping horizontal blow towards your right.
7. The Downward outward cross. This is done by delivering a downward vertical strike followed by a looping outward horizontal strike.
8. Inward upward cross. This done by delivering an inward horizontal strike followed by a looping upward backhand strike.

These forms of striking can be combined together and the three- strike combination can form a double-cross figures. And if you will do the four-strike combination you can form a quadro-cross figure.

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