‘Arnis’ popular abroad, not known here

Why does a policeman usually use a gun instead of a baton or nightstick in subduing an unruly but unarmed law violator?

Because he’s not armed with a baton or nightstick.

A baton or nightstick is part of the police uniform in other countries, but not here.

But of what use is a baton or nightstick if its wielder is not well versed in arnis or eskrima?

Arnis or eskrima, the art of fighting with single or double sticks, is an original Filipino martial art.

It is said that a person who is an expert in arnis or eskrima can beat multiple armed opponents.

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In the 1950s and 1960s, uniformed policemen were issued nightsticks along with pistols.

Since they carried nightsticks on patrol, they were probably taught arnis or eskrima during their training at the police academy.

Back then, cops on patrol arrested law violators without drawing their pistols.

They arrested law offenders who resisted by clubbing them on the knees or other vital parts of the body.

Now, policemen just shoot an unruly but unarmed drunk who doesn’t want to go with them to the precinct.

Needless to say, the use of a gun to control a violent but unarmed law offender is patently illegal.

This should be drilled into every policeman’s head.

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A policeman can only use his pistol if a crime suspect is also armed and is shooting at him.

Otherwise, an unarmed suspect who resists arrest can be clubbed on the knees or applied with a judo hold to immobilize him.

Each uniformed cop on beat patrol should be issued a baton or nightstick, in addition to his pistol, for his weapon.

Every policeman should be taught the use of baton or nightstick through arnis or eskrima.

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How ironic that in this country, where arnis or eskrima originated, only very few people appreciate the Filipino martial art.

In the United States and Europe, arnis is a craze among policemen, members of military special forces and the world of martial arts.

Arnis stands shoulder to shoulder with karate, aikido, jiujitsu and kung fu in popularity.

So popular is arnis or eskrima in the United States as a defensive and offensive martial art that the blockbuster “300” and “Bourne Identity” movies were choreographed by Filipino arnis teachers.

The unpopularity of arnis in the country showed in last Sunday’s arnis competition held at Quezon City Memorial Circle in Diliman, which was sponsored by the Pacindo Arnis Club. There were only a few participants.

I didn’t see a single policeman among the participants.

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Republic Act No. 9850, a law declaring arnis as the country’s national martial art and sport, has not made the original Filipino martial art popular.

The law was authored by former Sen. Miguel Zubiri, himself an arnis enthusiast who won a number of awards in many international competitions.

Under the Zubiri law, the Department of Education, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Philippine Sports Commission are directed to promote arnis as a national sport.

It seems the law has become a dead letter.

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An adjunct to arnis or eskrima is knife-fighting.

Most arnis masters are experts in knife-fighting.

An arnis practitioner is also taught disarming techniques or how to wrest a weapon from an opponent.

Even without his stick, an arnis expert is a formidable opponent because he applies the principle that a stick is just an extension of the hand.