PHILIPPINE MARTIAL ARTS CULTURE
In addition to the three Japanese martial arts we offer, Aikido, Judo, and Karate, we have Arnis at Shoshinkan martial arts as well. Shoshinkan means the beginner’s mind, therefore, students are encouraged to train not only the three Japanese martial arts but other arts. Arnis, also known as Eskrima, Kali, or Garrote, is a form of traditional martial arts in the Philippines which is used for self-defense. Besides Kubodo and AikiWeapons, it is another weapons art that is added to our curriculum, however, it emphasizes starting weapons first before delving into the hand-to-hand aspect of the art. Furthermore, Arnis is strictly a combat-oriented system instead of a sport-focused style – a fighting system that focuses on edged, impact, and improvised weapons, not limiting oneself to knives, swords, or machete.
Armed or weapon fighting is mastered first before learning empty-hand fighting. The idea behind it is that armed combat is difficult and important to master. Once mastered, weapons-based principles can easily transfer to empty-hands fighting. Both systems emphasize the same stances – a way of remaining to stand and maintaining balance while moving, the lateral motion of a straight arm with never a break in the rhythm of the practitioner.
As art or sports-form, it is performed individually or with a partner. Developing expertise emphasize the skillful, powerful, and swift use of sticks, knives, bladed weapons as well as “open-hand” techniques – a form of fighting without weapons like Karate, characterized by the use of rapid, non-stop swinging and twisting movements, accompanied by striking, thrusting and parrying techniques for defense and offense or disarming techniques for resolving conflict such as in Aikido.
By learning Aikido, Judo, and Karate with Arnis, the Arnis learned from Shoshinkan will differ from any other Martial arts or even another Arnis form of fighting. The Shoshinkan student will truly be a well-rounded fighter.