Why Eskrima?

Of all the martial arts currently available in the market, why do we choose the Filipino martial art of eskrima or arnis? What's so special about it?

Practically, there are three basic reasons why we are into eskrima. And these same reasons are also basically the three major classification of eskrima or arnis.

We are into eskrima because we want to be stickfighters or at least know what is Filipino stickfighting.

We are into the practice of eskrima because we want to learn the use of the blades.

We are into the practice of eskrima or arnis because we want to understand body mechanics as applied to fighting or self defense.


Now, eskrima or arnis styles are also categorized according these primary reasons, whether some agree or not.

In fact, some arnis or eskrima are purely into the use of sticks. Some are obviously designed for the blades. And a minority, are actually training for barehanded fighting.

This is the reason as to why there are many contradictory concepts in eskrima or arnis, say, some schools advocate blocking while other do not? Some discourage the use of too much force, while others discourage the same.

If your eskrima style are more on the use of blades like sundang, then likely your teacher won't encourage blocking the incoming strikes, depending more instead on evasive body displacement. And of course, the use of a minimal force, since your style also orients you on blades not on impact weapon like the stick. You are often reminded to be very careful about handling your weapon because that is suppose to be a blade.