FMA: An Overview

Filipino martial arts (FMA) is an umbrella term encompassing a wide variety of fighting systems of the Philippines.

It is also known by other names such as Arnis, Eskrima, and Kali. 

Key aspects of FMA includes:

• Emphasis on Weapons.
  • FMA is often characterized by its focus on weapon-based combat, particularly sticks and blades.  Many styles emphasize stick fighting and its application to bladed weapons and empty hands.
• Historical Roots.
  • The origins of FMA are ancient, possibly introduced to Filipinos by ancient fighters crossing land bridges from the Asian mainland with influences believed to have come from India.
• Variety of Styles and Systems.
  • There is a vast history to FMA, with countless practitioners leading to the evolution and redefinition of the arts over the years. There are many styles as there are islands in the Philippines with similarities in training methods.  Filipino styles can be classified in various ways, including location/provincial styles, personal styles, styles defined by technical characteristics or fighting range, composite systems, eclectic styles, empty hand systems, and etc. 
• Training Methods and Techniques
  • Training often progresses from stick techniques to knife techniques, as longer weapons are seen as having more range and power.
  • The concept of “combate general” – embracing all parameters of personal combat against single or multiple opponents with or without weapons is common. 
  • Training can also involve empty hand fighting (“Mano-Mano” or “Pakamut”).  
  • Some systems also incorporate grappling (“Dumog”) and kicking techniques (“Sikaran”). 
• Cultural Significance.
  • The creativity and resourcefulness of Filipinos in fashioning weapons form simple objects are highlighted as unique aspects.
• Combat Tested
  • FMA’s origins lie in the pre-colonial Philippines where indigenous tribes developed fighting systems for warfare and self-defense.
  • Philippine’s has had its share of conflicts (Spanish colonization, Philippine-American War, World War II) where FMA was utilized and refined.