Akshay Kumar in Eskrima

ESKRIMA

Eskrima, or escrima, refers to a class of martial arts indigenous to the Philippines that emphasize stick and sword fighting. The term and the art most likely originates from the Spanish word "esgrima" which is the term for fencing. Other terms which have entered into common usage include "Kali" and "Arnis de Máno" ("harness of the hand"). Eskrima and Arnis are among the many names primarily used in the Philippines today to refer to these arts.

It is believed to have evolved from Chinese, Malaysian and Indonesian martial arts forms brought to the islands by South China Sea traders around the 2nd century. It was later introduced to the non-Filipino world in 1521, when Spanish explorers led by Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the South China Sea to stake their claim on the Philippine islands. Soon after the invasion, Magellan himself was killed on the small island of Mactan by native resisters armed with hardened sticks and led by the island’s chief, Lapu-Lapu.

Spain eventually gained control of the Philippines and outlawed all indigenous martial arts. However, over the next several centuries, the practice went underground by disguising Eskrima techniques within ceremonial dance-like rituals. The ban was lifted after 1898, when the United States won control of the Philippines from Spain, but an air of secrecy remained around Eskrima and its practitioners. During World War II, Filipino fighters used the stick-and-sword techniques to resist Japanese invaders, compensating for a lack of firearms with powerful, swift movements of their sticks and knives.

By the 1970s, organizations had managed to turn Eskrima from a martial art used primarily for killing into a sport with organized competitions and generally sanctioned rules and regulations.

Eskrima is a mostly weapons-based fighting style that combines punches, kicks, takedowns, and joint lock techniques with stick and sword or knife fighting techniques. Unlike other martial arts, each strike in Eskrima is designed to be used three different ways: empty-handed; with a knife; or with a baston, or stick often made of a lightweight bamboo-like wood called rattan.

The teaching of the basic skills in Filipino Martial Arts are traditionally simplified in order to teach effective battle techniques. This philosophy of simplicity is still used today and is the underlying base of these arts. However, the simplicity refers only to the systematization and not the effectiveness. Beyond the basic skills lies a very complex structure and a refined skillset that takes years to master.

Filipino Martial Arts have seen an increase in prominence due to several Hollywood movies and the teachings of modern masters such as Dan Inosanto. Matt Damon utilized kali fighting techniques in the Jason Bourne series of movies including "The Bourne Identity."

Eskrima techniques are additionally still employed by the Filipino army today.