Then what? . . .

Since they made arnis or eskrima as the Philippine "national sport," what had transpired since then?

Is there any radical improvement we can now see as the result? Well, none really.

Thit is because there is no back-up plan available. Is is like plucking the feathers odfthe chicken but failed to slaughter it, yo make it juicy fried chicken.

They just love to make new laws but that's all. They don't take it seriously bacause if they did, there would have been improvements altready.

Making it into a Law is just the first step; it is not the end in itself.

I am not sure if I understand this, since this is already a habit . . . but let me say this anyway, Happy New Year to you all there. I've been hibernating for sometime now. So here's my first piece for this year, 2010.
Good eskrimadores still have their complete set of fingers by now. Here in the Philippines where playing with stupid toys, like the firecrackers, is a New Year thing . . . many people lost their fingers about this time. The government seems against it, but they don't ban it. The priests say, "Go in peace." but don't forewarned against this. But whose fault is this, anyway? If you lose a few digits last night, that is your fault. Amen.
So what's the connection between playing firecrackers and eskrima? Well, it is the risk of losing fingers and the handling the olisi (the stick). If one cannot hold it properly and keep it, then doing eskrima is almost impossible. The thumb is the most important part of to consider. especially for the handling hand. The rest of the fingers have no finger to appose with, when a thumb is no longer there in its place, meaning holding a stick is already tedious.

When hitting a hard target, for example, there will be reverberation of sort, and if the thumb is not there, the eskrimador will just disarm himself alone. Very embarrassing. If you loss the first index finger then it is not easy to hyperextend the striking hand also.

Losing a finger is not always after the explosion. Majority of the loss happened in the Emrgency Room where the doctors (actually madical interns working like slaves) save the rest of the anatomy from infection by disarticulating/ amputating the finger. Disarticulation is making a finger shorter by severing the portion distal from its phalangeal joint. A kinda painful process because the tiny joint is exposed, the minute blood vessels there are carefully clamped one by one, the tendons and lubricals are then cut. The skin is incise like a "fish mouth" to make closing the wound easy.

Since your visit at about two or three in the morning annoys the sleepy staff with your foolishness (you've been warned many times over the radio television), you are likely given an expiry local anesthetics and since you are likely alcohol-saturated as well. The doctor is enjoying the fun. I know this because I did this sadistic thing year agoin my; I also showed no mercy, esp. to those adults who acted like toddlers and cannot outgrow the playing of firecrackers. "I did my best to make you satisfied" silently grin and sang.

Now, we are talking about the finger, what about when the blast ate the more proximal part? The wrist, the forearm, the arm? Well, it is more challenging thing, and you better ask somebody to get blood for you just in case you go straight to the operating room. They are more scalpel-happy there.

But even if that is a minor case, there is still one thing before you go home happy or full of regret. You need to take anti-tetanus injection (sorry no tablet or suppository for this). After that, some insensitive ones meet and greet you a "Happy New Year." You naturally, like Mr Scrooge, with tears in you eyes, silently say, "whatever." Happy New Year dude and see next year for the remaing fingers.

Eskrima's Main Weapon

It is said that the stick is simply the extension of the hand. If this weapon is simply an extension, then what is the mean weapon? Is it the hand carrying the weapon? No . . . nobody can see the weapon. The main weapon is the mind.

In Dhammapada (a Buddhist text), it is said that the historical Buddha (Siddhattha Gotama) taught that;

Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā
manoseṭṭhā manomayā
Manasā ce paduṭṭhena bhāsati vā karoti vā
Tato naṃ dukkhamanveti cakkaṃ'va vahato padaṃ.

(All that we are is the result of what we have thought:
it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.
If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him,
as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.)

Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā
manoseṭṭhā manomayā
Manasā ce pasannena bhāsati vā karoti vā
Tato naṃ sukhamanveti chāyā'va anapāyinī.

(All that we are is the result of what we have thought:
it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts.
If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him,
like a shadow that never leaves him.)

Since any physical action starts in the mind then the mind is our main weapon.

Clattered mind brings misguided hands, misguided hands bring imprecise and inaccurate olisi strikes.

But who commands the mind?

Balagtas and Arnis

A poet like Francisco "Balagtas" Baltazar (April 2, 1788 – February 20, 1862) was meticulous about words. Long before Yambao and Mirafuente came out with their book on arnis in 1957, Balagtas had already mentioned the words arnés (arnis) and cáliz (kalis) in his work,"Florante at Laura".

My point is this; Why chose the word arnis, instead of kali? And why wrote the word kalis and failed to use kali?

Below are the excerpt of the work in its original Tagalog orthography (circa 1700s)and the contemporary Tagalog version of the same. (Notice how different the Tagalog was written in the earlier years as compared to the current usage.)

223

Minulán ang galí sa pagsasayauan
ayon sa música,t, auit na saliuan,
laróng bunó,t, arnés na quinaquitaan
nang cani-caniyang licsi,t, carunungan.

Contemporary Tagalog . . .

223
"Minulan ang gali sa pagsasayawan,
ayon sa musika't awit na saliwan;
larong buno't arnis na kinakitaan
ng kani-kaniyang liksi't karunungan."

Then Tarrosa Subido's translation . . .

223

The merry round was ushered swifts
With dance and song, with lilt and lift;
Wrestling and fencing in many a shift,
Proclaiming every skill and gift.

Another verse in its original orthography . . .

Bucód dito,i, madláng digmâ nang ca-auay
ang sunód-sunód cong pinag-tagumpayán
ano pa,t, sa aquing cáliz na matapang
labing-pitóng hari ang nan͠gag-sigalang.

Modern orthography . . .

"Bukod dito'y madlang digma ng kaaway
ang sunud-sunod kong pinagtagumpayan;
anupa't sa aking kalis na matapang,
labimpitong hari ang nangagsigalang."

From above excerpts, we can say that is is very probable that in the time of Balagtas, the word kali was non-existent, thus, the great Balagtas opted to write arnis. Whilst the word kalis was already an accepted word.

Also note that arnes or arnis here is translated as fencing, meaning , an activity involving swords. So it is clear that arnis was also into bladed weapons. If this is so, assuming that the translation is correct, the question follows, "Why use the term arnis instead of kali?"

The counter-argument would be that Balagtas was writing fictitious events that happened in a foreign land of Persia, and he was not describing, in any way, an indigenous Filipino martial art.

Yes this is very logical argument, but then Balagtas, was writing this for his contemporaries, and wanted people to appreciate his "Florante at Laura". It was simply unwise for this poet to use unfamiliar words, right?.

Kalistas, you're losing argument . . . What can you say about this, eh?

Lito Gabuya and his Combative Kinematics

He grabbed Christian's forearm from behind, immobilized him and simultaneously positioned the training knife in the Frenchman's neck. "So you are dead huh?

"Okay, you take my place . . . Let's us exchange roles," as he let go of the arm and assumes the same position, "So what do you think? Am dead huh? You're sure huh?

"So if I moved this way you slash my neck. If I attempt to counter you, poke the knife to my neck. So I am dead huh? Are you sure?"

"You're dead meat," the white man murmurs.

Then suddenly from that seemingly impossible position, he escaped.

"Many, are into defense against knife thrusts, in a duel-like scenario. But here we put you in a situation where the blade is already attached to your skin, in a very closed distance . . . and what can you do about it."

I realized that here is a person who is attempting to raise Filipino knife science a bit higher. That is beyond scooping from one side to another. Bringing us closer to reality of knife threat in the street, inside a very confined space. I have to learn this.

His name is Lito Gabuya, originator of the so-called Combative Kinematics (ComKin). He is the student of Dakila Hsuan of the Sarimanok Subsystem (of Go P.U.S.A). Gabuya had proved that his method is doable and applicable in many situations while working abroad.

"Now, what will you do if the attacker is heavier, bigger, taller, faster than you? Can you escape from conditions like these? You should make use of the Gokosha and apply its 'body-stepping-footwork' concept in these life-threatening conditions."

So I asked, "How can we know when to apply the technique, we cannot see but only feel the tip of the knife?"

Lito answered, "You must develop sensitivity. I developed my sensitivity after attending the ten-day Vipassana Retreat in 2005. Sensitivity is very important in this method."

Unfortunately he is planning to go back to Dubai, and I have little time to mentally process what he was showing us.

Eskrima as Your Passion

How strong is a passion?

Just imagine young school children excited to out from school and go straight to an Internet kiosk to ply their favorite online games. See their faces as they manipulate the keyboards. Can you perceive their energies?

That's passion! The same impulse, animates the eskrimadores in their passion for eskrima. Yes, it is like a cancer consuming their mortal lives and making them "earthbound" when they die.

Your Spouse Versus Your Eskrima

If you find a very good martial art (or eskrima for that matter) then you are lucky. Now, if you happen to find a spouse who is supportive to your practice of martial art then we can say that you are truly lucky.

You see, to be involved in a martial art or make it one's passion in life, is like having drinking spree with the barkada, you all need a pulutan. Drinking (esp. hard liquor) without pulutan will destroy your health earlier, guaranteed. This is also true with having martial art as your passion without the support of your spouse (wife or husband) will eventually destroy the relationship, then your life.