The Evolution of Arnis Competitions: From Local Duels to World Championships

Q: Was Arnis included in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games?

Yes. Arnis debuted at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines with sparring and forms divisions, significantly raising regional visibility.

Q: How do Arnis competition rulesets differ?

WEKAF commonly uses continuous sparring with points for clean strikes. Modern Arnis/IMAF often uses point-stop formats and may score disarms or takedowns. National events can blend formats and include forms (anyo).

Q: What safety gear is used in modern Arnis competition?

Typical equipment includes a helmet with grill, torso armor, padded gloves, forearm and groin protection, and a mouthguard, enabling full-speed rattan stick contact with reduced injury risk.

Q: How are points typically scored?

Points are awarded for clean, decisive strikes to valid target areas. Some rulesets also award for disarms, takedowns, or control. Forms are judged on precision, timing, power, and expression of Arnis principles.

Q: What weapons or divisions are common?

Single stick is most common. Many events include double stick, stick-and-knife (training blade), and self-defense or open-hand demonstrations, with youth and adult brackets and weight/skill classes for sparring.

Q: How do young athletes typically enter the sport pathway?

School programs and the Palarong Pambansa in the Philippines are the main entry points, progressing to regional and national selections and then to international teams.

Q: Can Arnis become an Olympic sport?

Potentially over the long term. The sport would need broader international participation, unified global rules and governance, and repeated inclusion in multi-sport games to build a qualifying track record.

Arnis competitions have grown from village exhibitions and duels into national tournaments, world championships, and even the 2019 SEA Games. This article explores how the Filipino martial art evolved into a global sport.

When you think of Arnis — the Filipino art of sticks, blades, and empty hands — the image that comes to mind is usually a pair of fighters moving fast, sticks clacking in a blur. But Arnis isn’t just practiced in training halls or backyard circles anymore. Over the past few decades, it’s stepped into the arena of sport, with referees, rulebooks, and championship medals on the line.

This transformation from folk tradition to competitive circuit is one of the great stories in Filipino martial arts. And it matters, not just for Arnis, but for anyone who cares about how ancient practices survive in the modern world.

From Tradition to Tournament

Arnis began as a practical battlefield art, taught informally and passed down in villages. For centuries, it showed up in duels to settle disputes or in exhibitions at town fiestas (Scott, Barangay: Sixteenth-Century Philippine Culture and Society, 1994). These matches were raw and unregulated — sometimes playful, sometimes deadly serious.

The modern sporting turn came in the 20th century. As judo, taekwondo, and karate carved out space in gyms and Olympic halls, Filipino martial artists realized Arnis needed its own codified competition rules if it was going to thrive. By the late 1980s, organizations were experimenting with standardized matches, protective gear, and national tournaments.

🇵🇭 National Competitions in the Philippines

The Philippines remains the nerve center of Arnis competitions.

Palarong Pambansa (2010–present):
In 2010, Arnis was officially included in the Palarong Pambansa, the annual student games run by the Department of Education (DepEd, 2010). Today, thousands of high school athletes compete in both full-contact sparring and anyo (forms) divisions, making this the largest youth Arnis tournament in the world.
PEKAF Nationals:
The Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (PEKAF), recognized by the Philippine Sports Commission, runs annual national championships. These events often double as qualifiers for international competition.
Other Circuits:
Independent federations such as Arnis Philippines (ARPI) and Modern Arnis groups also host their own competitions. While the rulesets differ slightly, they all share one goal: to legitimize Arnis as a sport while honoring its cultural roots.

Arnis on the World Stage

The international story of Arnis starts with the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF), founded in Cebu in 1989.

World Championships (1992–present):
WEKAF launched its first world championship in 1992. Since then, the Worlds have been held biennially, rotating between the Philippines, the U.S., and Europe (WEKAF, official site). Over a dozen tournaments have been staged, with competitors from more than 30 countries.
IMAF and Modern Arnis:
Parallel to WEKAF, the International Modern Arnis Federation (IMAF) organizes international gatherings and tournaments, especially in Europe and North America.

This expansion has meant that Arnis is no longer just a Filipino treasure — it’s now a global martial sport, with clubs and teams representing nations far beyond the islands.

The 2019 Southeast Asian Games

One of the proudest moments in modern Arnis history came in 2019, when the Philippines hosted the 30th Southeast Asian Games and included Arnis as a medal event (Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee, 2019).

Events included full-contact stick fighting and traditional forms (anyo).
The Philippines dominated, winning 14 gold medals, but athletes from Vietnam, Myanmar, and Indonesia also reached the podium.

For the first time, Arnis was placed alongside Olympic sports, with international broadcast coverage. While it hasn’t returned to the SEA Games since, that 2019 inclusion showed what Arnis could look like on the big stage.

Rules, Gear, and the Authenticity Debate

If you’ve ever seen a WEKAF match, the first thing you’ll notice is the gear. Fighters wear heavy headgear, body armor, and gloves. This is what allows for full-speed, full-power strikes with rattan sticks. The trade-off is that some argue it reduces realism (Eusebio, Arnis: History and Development, 2011).

The rules also differ across organizations:

WEKAF: Continuous sparring, points for clean hits.
IMAF/Modern Arnis: Stop-point systems, often with more emphasis on disarms and takedowns.
Philippine Nationals: Blended systems, with divisions for forms and weapon work.

This lack of standardization has been one of the barriers to Olympic recognition. International sports bodies want clear, universal rules — and Arnis isn’t there yet.

Champions and Human Stories

Behind every medal tally are the people:

Filipino athletes who grew up training in school programs and rose to international titles.
European and American competitors who adopted Arnis and carried it back home.
Rivals who met across continents, forging both friendships and legendary matches.

Unfortunately, much of this history is scattered — buried in local news reports, federation newsletters, or passed on orally. Documenting these champions is the next step for building Arnis as a respected international sport.

Where Does Arnis Go Next?

The trajectory is clear: Arnis is no longer confined to backyards or fiestas.

Olympic Hopes: Advocates continue lobbying for inclusion in larger games. The hurdles: unifying rules, expanding international participation, and meeting governance standards (International Olympic Committee guidelines).
Digital Reach: Live-streamed tournaments and virtual competitions could dramatically boost visibility, especially among the Filipino diaspora.
Dual Identity: The healthiest path may be events that highlight both sport competition and traditional demonstrations, preserving authenticity while embracing growth.

Key Takeaways

Arnis competitions evolved from informal duels into national student games and world championships.
The Philippines leads the way, especially through Palarong Pambansa and PEKAF Nationals.
WEKAF and other groups have made Arnis a global sport.
The 2019 SEA Games debut was historic for visibility.
Future growth hinges on standardization, digital exposure, and international lobbying.

Sources

Scott, W.H. Barangay: Sixteenth-Century Philippine Culture and Society. Ateneo de Manila Press, 1994.
Philippine Department of Education (DepEd). “Arnis in the Palarong Pambansa.” Official DepEd Release, 2010.
World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF). “World Championships.” Official Website. Accessed 2025.
Eusebio, R. Arnis: History and Development. Rex Bookstore, 2011.
Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee. “30th SEA Games Official Results.” 2019.

Arnis Competitions: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the major Arnis competitions beyond the local level?

National championships in the Philippines (e.g., PEKAF Nationals), the student pipeline via Palarong Pambansa, and international events such as WEKAF World Championships and Modern Arnis/IMAF tournaments.

Was Arnis included in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games?

Yes—Arnis debuted at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines with sparring and forms (anyo) events, which boosted visibility across the region.

How do Arnis competition rulesets differ?

WEKAF typically uses continuous sparring with points for clean strikes; Modern Arnis/IMAF often uses point-stop formats and may emphasize disarms and takedowns. National events can blend formats and include forms divisions.

What safety gear is used in modern Arnis competition?

Common gear includes helmets with grills, body/torso armor, padded gloves, groin and forearm protection, and mouthguards—allowing full-speed rattan stick contact with reduced injury risk.

How are points typically scored?

Clean, decisive strikes to valid target areas earn points. Some rulesets include bonuses for disarms, takedowns, or control. Forms (anyo) are judged on precision, timing, power, and expression of Arnis principles.

What weapons or divisions are common?

Single stick is most common; many events also offer double stick, stick-and-knife (training blade), and open-hand/self-defense demonstrations. Youth and adult brackets are common, with weight or skill classes for sparring.

How do young athletes typically enter the sport pathway?

School programs and Palarong Pambansa serve as the main pipeline in the Philippines, feeding athletes into regional, national, and eventually international competitions.

Can Arnis become an Olympic sport?

It’s possible long-term. Key steps include broader international participation, unified global rules and governance, and inclusion in more multi-sport games to build a track record.