Introduction

Structure of syllabus

Introduction

Arnis or Filipino knife and stick fighting (also known as Escrima) is probably the most effective and practical system of combat developed using these weapons. A person trained in Arnis has the advantage over an unarmed attacker and can obviously face even an armed attacker with greater confidence. Of course, the stick or knife is a complement to unarmed skills and the full range of strikes, kicks, projections, throws and locks can all be used in conjuction with a stick and/or a knife. Arnis incorporates 3 methods: espada y daga (sword and dagger), solo baston (single stick) and sinawali (to weave) which uses two sticks as per the photo at the left.

The Wu-Wei Dao Arnis system is a composite of various Filipino systems, principally those taught by renowned masters Rene Latosa and Remy Presas.

Arnis is the first weapons system taught in the Wu-Wei Dao syllabus as it is the simplest, easiest to learn and is capable of being made effective at a very early stage of training. Arnis has supplanted the Chinese/Japanese knife and stick fighting methods taught in the Academy prior to 1985 as it is generally acknowledged in the martial arts world that the Filipino knife and stick fighting system is the most practical and effective. Note that Arnis is not structured as an "art" but is intended purely for combat.

Structure of the syllabus

The Arnis syllabus taught in the Academy under the Wu-Wei Dao system is structured as follows:

1st Level

2 sticks: Sinawali Standard Drill
Knife 6 angles attacks and defenses
1 stick: 12 angles attacks and defenses
1 stick: Stick 5 Angle sweep

2nd Level

2 sticks: Sinawali Heaven and Earth Drills
1 stick: Box Pattern 1  (download pdf here - members only)

3rd Level

1 stick: Box Pattern 1-3
2 sticks: Sinawali 8 point drill
Knife & Stick: 7 count drill

4th Level

1 stick: Box Pattern 1-3 Interflow
2 sticks: Redonda

Knife & Stick: 8 point drill

5th Level
Dexterity drill
Meet and Follow drill

6th Level

Combat Drill
Disarms for 12 angles

7th Level

18 Strike Drills: 1-5
Espada i daga: 1-5

Sinawali drills: 1-7

8th Level

18 Strike Drills: 6-10
Espada i daga: 6-10
Sinawali drills: 8-14

9th Level

18 Strike Drills: 11-15
Espada i daga: 11-15
Sinawali drills: 15-20

Shihan Dan and Sempai Marie-Therese demonstrate 12 angles in 1997 (members only)

Shihan Dan and Sempai Marie-Therese demonstrate Box Pattern Interflow in 1997 (members only)

Greg Seymour demonstrates Redonda in 1989