A Filipino martial art and combat sport built around stick, blade, and improvised weapon techniques drilled at fighting speed.
Origin and rules
Eskrima, also called Arnis or Kali, evolved from pre-colonial Filipino weapon arts and was preserved through Spanish rule by being practised in dances. The Philippines named Arnis its national sport in 2009.
How it plays
Modern sport eskrima is fought with rattan sticks under padded armour. Bouts are decided by clean strikes to scoring zones, with disarms, locks, and takedowns also rewarded. Solo anyo forms competitions parallel kata in other martial arts.
Competition
The WEKAF World Championships are the leading event, with the Philippines, the United States, and Germany among the top performers. Eskrima also features in the Southeast Asian Games and various open martial arts circuits.
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Eskrima starts with E and ends with A. Browse other sports along the same letter.
Sports that contain a letter from "Eskrima":