Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral, created by Alejandro “Andy” Abrian,  is a kontrapelo¹ (counter-system) style of Filipino Martial Arts.  Kontrapelo was intended to run “counter to what all other styles do, thus putting most other stylists off their game.”² Some FMA systems may emphasize double-stick drills, sports competition, or practiced partner flows, Abrian’s system was designed to be combat-focused to end an encounter with speed, efficiency, and force. “Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral does not include a large number of training drills.  Rather, fighting attributes are developed as fighting skills are learned and practiced.  The key is to develop the ability to effectively block, redirect, or avoid an opponent’s strike and to then counter with speed and precision.”^{3 4}

The name of the system reflects its regional roots and combat philosophy. When asked “Why did you name your system of arnis Moro Moro Orabes Heneral?” Abrian responded, “Moro Moro because my personal style was modified after that of a Moro escrimador whom I saw perform in our province [Samar] and the strikes are very unconventional.  In our province, low strikes are called Orabes by the older escrimadors and high strikes are called Heneral, which refers to the highest position in the military.”⁵

“Although Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral includes training in stick and dagger and double sticks at its advanced levels for practical self-defense purposes the art’s focus is on single stick, single knife, and empty-hand training.”^{6 7}   Orabes Heneral signifies a system where practitioners seamlessly execute high and low strikes interchangeably and continuously to overwhelm an opponent’s defense.

“From the outset students are taught to block, counter-strike, and lock the opponent’s attacking arm right away.  And since there is no way to determine how an opponent will attack, and with which foot forward, Moro Moro Orabes Heneral does not train students in pre-set counters to specific attacks.  Automatic movement and counters using the art’s dynamic footwork and body shifting is the essence.”^{8 9}   Abrian believed that pre-arranged drills are highly limiting and cause students to focus on memorizing patterns rather than developing real combat timing. He also believed that sport sparring with body armor and padded weapons was a dangerous trap that could build a false sense of security.  Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral practitioners trained through spontaneous, random block-and-counter drills without armor.^{10 11} “Before being permitted to spar, which is all-out, anything goes, students must first have spent five years in basic training of techniques and principles, and show mastery thereof.”^{12 13}

Moro Moro Orabes Heneral’s core combat principles and mechanics include: 

Primary Fighting Strategy.  “…to preempt an opponent’s movements, strike first, and strike hard.  And if you can’t strike first, then counter right away, be it with a stick, knife, empty hand strike, or joint lock.”^{14 15}

Tip-Down Guard. “When facing an opponent, practitioners hold their stick with the tip pointing down…The fighting strategy here is to show your position to your opponent, wait for his strike, and then maneuver to his weak side and strike his newly opened targets.  Thus, giving the opponent that first move in which he will give up his guarded position and offer an opening through which the fight can be ended.”^{16 17}

Limb Control.  “When swinging the stick, practitioners use their empty hand (left, if you are right-handed) to propel the wrist of the weapon-holding arm to help generate power and speed.  Moreover, while striking the foot moves with the strike at the same time.  Shuffling backward, forward, and sideways in low stances is the norm.” ^18 19 These YouTube video may be examples of propelling the wrist of the weapon-holding arm:

• RRK Orabes Heneral Subsystem partner drills, @GuroGani, YouTube, August 20, 2025. 
• Trapping Techniques from Rapido Realismo Kali (RRK) / Moro Moro Orabes Heneral, Elefant Kali, YouTube, June 16, 2020.

Abrian described how this feature is different from other FMA styles. “Other styles use mostly “tapi-tapi” or they tend to parry away the opponent’s arm.  In my case, I prefer to direct and control the opponent’s arm and subdue him at once.  This will avoid giving the opponent a chance to redirect his attack from another angle.”²⁰

Low, crouch stance. Another characteristic of Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral is its low, crouching stance. Agile, low-level shuffling backward, forward, and sideways is utilized to slip under attacks and maneuver to the opponent’s blind side.  “Of primary importance to effecting the art’s technique is fast and dynamic footwork. Indeed, among the various styles of arnis and escrima, the footwork of Moro-Moro Orabes General is quite different.  Footwork, and the techniques themselves, are done from a low, crouching position, wherein quick steps and shuffling maneuvers to the side and back of an opponent are performed while slipping under his attacks.  Footwork is trained by itself in a dance-like fashion, with the practitioner moving in any number of directions to avoid imaginary attacks and to develop agility and stamina.”^{21 22}

Empty-Hand and Disarming Arts. “The art seeks and employs nerve strikes and pressure-point manipulation while holding, disarming, and throwing an opponent.  Jointlocking is a mainstay of the style, as are disarming techniques.” ^{23 24}

Moro Moro Orabes Heneral’s Techniques and Drills include: 

The Prayle de Kubli.  “One distinguishing feature of Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral is the backwards strike to the head, which Abrian calls the Prayle de Kubli (Abrian, 2007).  While strikes in other styles are executed in a forward manner, practitioners of Moro Moro Orabes Heneral step forward and to the side of the opponent and swiftly execute a backwards strike to the back of the opponent’s head (Laurena, 2007).”²⁵

Rapelon. “A mutli-directional drill was created by Abrian to train against two or more opponents.  The Rapelon is a dance-light fighting form, created for shadowboxing when facing multiple opponents.  Its purpose is to train in a continuous motion; to attack and defend from different directions in one smooth flow of action.  The Rapelon trains one to evade and coordinate footwork and adjusting to the proper distance between you and your opponent while in motion.”²⁶  Abrian described the Rapelon as “a drill used when you are faced with multiple opponents.  This training is a multi-directional drill against two or more opponents.  You will learn to evade and coordinated your footwork and be able to adjust the proper distance while in motion.”²⁷

YouTube Videos:

• Mark Tarin & Alex Tiongson demonstrating Moro Moro Orabes Heneral Eskrima Techniques, TheKaliFighter, YouTube, October 4, 2012. 
• Moro Moro orabes Heneral – Disarm Clip, Tambuli Media, YouTube, September 17, 2014. 
• Moro-moro Orabes Heneral, Praktikali, YouTube, November 19, 2015. 
• Kali Arnis Eskrima – Light Study Spar with Guro Ipe (RRK Orabes Heneral Module), Guro Gani – PaggiranTV, YouTube, December 19, 2023. 
• Reviewing Orabes Heneral RRK Subsystem, Guro Gani – PaggiranTV, YouTube, June 8, 2025. 

Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral’s disarms are mentioned in Mark V. Wiley’s book Mastering Eskrima Disarms, published in 2013.

---

1. The word “contrapelo” is Spanish in origin and means “against the grain” per Google translate, viewed on September 6, 2026. ↩︎
2. Alejandro Abrian and Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral, Nepomuceno,Mara, Filipino Martial Arts Digest, Special Edition 2008, p. 6. ↩︎
3. Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral by Mark V. Wiley, Filipino Martial Arts Magazine, January 2001, p. 8. ↩︎
4. Filipino Fighting Arts: Theory and Practice, Wiley, Mark V., Unique Publications, 2000, p. 222-224. ↩︎
5. Moro Moro Orabes Heneral Arnis: An Interview with Arnis Master Andrew Abrian, Dy,Edwin, Rapid Journal, Vol. 5 No. 4, 2001, p. 3. ↩︎
6. Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral by Mark V. Wiley, Filipino Martial Arts Magazine, January 2001, p. 8. ↩︎
7. Filipino Fighting Arts: Theory and Practice, Wiley, Mark V., Unique Publications, 2000, p. 221. ↩︎
8. Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral by Mark V. Wiley, Filipino Martial Arts Magazine, January 2001, p. 8. ↩︎
9. Filipino Fighting Arts: Theory and Practice, Wiley, Mark V., Unique Publications, 2000, p. 222. ↩︎
10. Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral by Mark V. Wiley, Filipino Martial Arts Magazine, January 2001, p. 10. ↩︎
11. Filipino Fighting Arts: Theory and Practice, Wiley, Mark V., Unique Publications, 2000, p. 225. ↩︎
12. Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral by Mark V. Wiley, Filipino Martial Arts Magazine, January 2001, p. 12. ↩︎
13. Filipino Fighting Arts: Theory and Practice, Wiley, Mark V., Unique Publications, 2000, p. 229. ↩︎
14. Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral by Mark V. Wiley, Filipino Martial Arts Magazine, January 2001, p. 11. ↩︎
15. Filipino Fighting Arts: Theory and Practice, Wiley, Mark V., Unique Publications, 2000, p. 226. ↩︎
16. Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral by Mark V. Wiley, Filipino Martial Arts Magazine, January 2001, p. 11. ↩︎
17. Filipino Fighting Arts: Theory and Practice, Wiley, Mark V., Unique Publications, 2000, p. 226. ↩︎
18. Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral by Mark V. Wiley, Filipino Martial Arts Magazine, January 2001, p. 8. ↩︎
19. Filipino Fighting Arts: Theory and Practice, Wiley, Mark V., Unique Publications, 2000, p. 222. ↩︎
20. Moro Moro Orabes Heneral Arnis: An Interview with Arnis Master Andrew Abrian, Dy,Edwin, Rapid Journal, Vol. 5 No. 4, 2001, p. 4. ↩︎
21. Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral by Mark V. Wiley, Filipino Martial Arts Magazine, January 2001, p. 10. ↩︎
22. Filipino Fighting Arts: Theory and Practice, Wiley, Mark V., Unique Publications, 2000, p. 224. ↩︎
23. Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral by Mark V. Wiley, Filipino Martial Arts Magazine, January 2001, p. 8. ↩︎
24. Filipino Fighting Arts: Theory and Practice, Wiley, Mark V., Unique Publications, 2000, p. 222. ↩︎
25. Alejandro Abrian and Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral, Nepomuceno,Mara, Filipino Martial Arts Digest, Special Edition 2008, p. 8. ↩︎
26. Alejandro Abrian and Moro-Moro Orabes Heneral, Nepomuceno,Mara, Filipino Martial Arts Digest, Special Edition 2008, p. 8. ↩︎
27. Moro Moro Orabes Heneral Arnis: An Interview with Arnis Master Andrew Abrian, Dy,Edwin, Rapid Journal, Vol. 5 No. 4, 2001, p. 4. ↩︎