Escrima refers to a class
of Filipino martial arts that emphasize weapon-based
fighting with the stick, staff or knife. Alternative
terms which have entered into common usage include kali
and Arnis. Escrima and Arnis are the most common among
the many names often used in the Philippines today to
refer to these arts.
The teaching of the basic skills in
Escrima are traditionally simplified. With limited time
to teach intricate moves, only techniques that were
proven effective in battle and could easily be taught en
masse were used. This allowed villagers, generally not
professional soldiers, a measure of protection against
other villages, as well as foreign invaders. This
philosophy of simplicity is still used today and is the
underlying base of Escrima. Because of this approach,
Escrima and the Filipino martial arts in general are
often mistakenly considered to be "simple". However,
this refers only to its systematization, not
effectiveness. To the contrary, beyond the basic skills
lies a very complex structure and a refined skill set
that takes years to master.