Tags: Martial Arts
By Anna Valmero
MUNTINLUPA CITY, METRO MANILA – Filmmaker Jay Philip Ignacio believes Filipinos have a lot to be proud of when it comes to martial arts.
Ignacio produced and directed the The Bladed Hand, a documentary film about arnis and how it became one the country’s greatest cultural exports, significantly making an impact in Hollywood and even in military systems abroad.
“It is my hope that this will act as a window for people to have a better appreciation and understanding of Filipino culture and identity,” said Ignacio.
According to him, kali, eskrima and arnis are three distinct forms of Filipino martial arts but collectively represent Filipino martial arts (or FMA).
I personally think it is just ironic that most Filipinos had to learn and appreciate other martial arts from other countries like wushu or karate when we already have eskrima, also known as kali or arnis. According to some historical accounts, arnis, which uses a pair of wooden kamagong sticks, was practiced since the Spanish times.
Unlike the Chinese kung fu, for example, which was popularized by Bruce Lee, which tends to mimic nature with the movements patterned after animals, FMA is weapon-based. “Its foundation (for combat movements) is the use of the blade for the movements for the sticks and empty-hands,” Ignacio said.
In terms of footwork, he said arnis is “no less sophisticated than the Afro-Brazilian’s capoeira.”
In fact, he said the documentary will also feature how arnis has been “exported” and how it influenced other styles of martial arts abroad because of its inherent effectiveness can be effectively combined with other martial arts.
“In Oakland, California, there is a kung fu instructor named SiFu Bill Owens who learned arnis from the late Remy Presas, the founder of modern arnis. In his effort to reconnect with his African roots, he also mastered African stick fighting, war dances and capoeira, and he effectively combined all these styles in kusema vijiti (or “talking sticks”),” he said.
Challenges in filming the documentary included the lack of unity among “Grand Masters” regarding the history and origins of our homegrown martial arts. Also, the intense rivalry among FMA groups made documentation and promotion difficult.
“Overcoming these obstacles is not my goal but to promote kali, eskrima and arnis. I am doing this as a labor of love so we can celebrate our very own art, regardless of style or personalities.”
Scheduled for release this September, The Bladed Hand was filmed in Cebu, Baguio, Bacolod, Batangas and in Honolulu, Moscow, Oakland, Los Angeles and San Diego.
According to the film’s photographer Kent Vives, their aim is not to make money but promote the Philippines’ greatest cultural export.
“It is a sad fact that many of our FMA luminaries go unnoticed and unappreciated. With this documentary, we can change all of that. Through this film we honor the FMA communities, practitioners and the Filipino people,” he said.
Ignacio, meanwhile, simply said: “This is my contribution to my country.”
(Photos provided by Mr. Kent Vives)
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Cool…
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