Immersion education Midtown West : Martial arts comparison series
Immersion education Midtown West : In martial arts, there are many disciplines to explore. The world has many fighting styles, so regions develop their methods. You may not be familiar with Arnis, so here we take a look to see how it compares to karate.
Arnis
The national martial art of the Philippines is Arnis, or Escrima or Kali. The three terms are interchangeable when it comes to describing fighting styles in the region. Arnis uses open hand techniques and also weapons such as sticks and knives.
As a martial art, Arnis uses the main techniques of:
- Joint locks
- Hand-to-hand combat
- Grappling
- Weapon disarming
Dating to the conflicts between Filipino tribes and invading kingdoms, the style has different influences throughout the years. A substantial Spanish fencing element is prevalent in the sport. Chinese, Arab, and Malay styles also form the rich tapestry of Arnis.
Blades are commonplace in the Philippines because many people use them as tools. Farmers and street vendors use their blades daily, so it naturally forms part of the Arnis fighting techniques.
Arnis has an informal training style, so a belt ranking system is something that is a modern addition. With the introduction of a belt system, it makes the form become more accessible. Arnis becomes part of martial arts training in the US in the 1920s. The sport has seen an increase in interest due to the practice in repelling a knife attack.
Karate or Arnis?
If you are looking for kids martial arts training, you may be wondering which is best. Arnis has a useful self-defense element, but it is not as accessible as karate. Due to the worldwide recognition and popularity of karate, dojo numbers are continually increasing.
As a top kid’s karate program, Karate City helps your child learn the techniques of this ancient martial art. Training helps gain fitness but also has many other benefits. Students of karate will notice an increase in focus and self-confidence. Immersion education Midtown West