National Arnis Kali Eskrima Association of the Philippines

The National Arnis Kali Eskrima Association of the Philippines or NARAPHIL is a non-stock; non-profit organization and was organized on January 1975 with the merging of the four major arnis association in the country and one of them is the Maharlika Arnis Sikaran Association. Its main objective is to revive and propagate the practice of arnis, the ancient Philippine martial art, both as a sport and as a means of self-defense. In August of the same year, all the arnis clubs in the country became unified under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Fabian C. Ver, its founding president.
Its initial project was the presentation of “The Festival of Asian Martial Arts” which was held at the Folk Arts Theatre in August of that year. Eleven top martial arts club of the country took part in this undertaking and was a major success with Arnis as the highlight of the event. The presentation of arnis by NARAPHIL to the martial arts practitioners in the country was geared toward as the leading advocator of arnis propagation and promotion of the Filipino martial art. The oldest arnis club of Cebu - Doce Pares, Modern Arnis of the Presas brothers, Lightning Scientific Int’l of Grandmaster Ben Lema and other arnis clubs and grandmasters joined hands under the umbrella of NARAPHIL for one cause - Arnis promotion.
NARAPHIL’s initial efforts consisted
*· The promotion of arnis awareness and practice in schools and universities.
*· Training of the Law Enforcers and Military personnel.
*· Summer Arnis Trainers Course for physical education instructors in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports.
*· Trainers Course also started at the Philippine Military Academy, the Philippine Army Training Command, the Philippine Constabulary Training Command and the Integrated National Police Command.
In 1977-1986, the efforts of the NARAPHIL were focused in training members of the Barangay Tanod Brigade all over the country. The Kabataang Barangay (KB), a youth movement in the late 70’s, has adopted arnis as part of its physical fitness program. Together, these projects have helped create among citizenry recognition of arnis as a practical and systematic method of physical conditioning and as a martial art worthy of the worlds best.
It has also conducted annual national tournaments and quarterly Grandmasters Cup tournaments in honor of the living legacy of arnis - Cacoy Cañete, Ben Lema, Nonoy Mena and Tony Ilustrisimo. Most of these tourneys are held in Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Nayong Pilipino and affiliated clubs.
Today, arnis is practiced in almost all parts of the country and is well received in the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, India, Spain, Portugal, South Africa and Mexico.
NARAPHIL's Vision, Mission and Strategies
*NARAPHIL's vision is to upgrade the quality of arnis practice not only as a practical alternative art of self-defense but as a good physical conditioning art as well; preserve the sanctity and integrity of the arnis Grandmasters legacy to the next generation. Preserve their own style as our living cultural heritage; and, promote and develop arnis into a national sport.
*NARAPHIL's mission is to start arnis program in the grassroots level and inculcate the rich cultural importance and practices that is embodied in the spirit of arnis. For that, arnis is the kindling spirit of our cultural heritage and practices. Use it as a vehicle towards development of good moral character and personality through self-discipline. Lastly, arnis awareness and become responsible citizens of our country.
OBJECTIVES:
*1. To put NARAPHIL back to the limelight as pioneering in arnis activities.
*2. To create the Philippine Martial Arts Troupe (Generation II)
*3. Coordinate with other agencies in promotion and regulation in practice of the art.
PLANS:
*1. Annual sponsorship of the NARAPHIL Interschool Arnis Championship; National Team Championship; Grandmasters Cup and National Open.
*2. Annual NARAPHIL Convention and Biennial election for Board of Directors.
*3. Annual Solomon Manzanilla Summer Workshop/Seminar for P.E. Teachers.
"1st NARAPHIL Inter-Club"
Arnis Exhibition/Competition
Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Gymnastics Gym
(July 1980)
=="1st NARAPHIL Inter-Club"==
In September 1979, the “1st Arnis Grandmasters Tournament” was held at the Philippine Normal College gymnasium along Taft corner Ayala Avenue, Manila. It was participated by 8 grandmasters and eventually won by SGM Ciriaco “Tiyo Cacoy” Cañete (Doce Pares - Cebu). The 1st Runner-up was Florentino “Tino” Pecate of YMCA Manila and the 2nd Runner-up trophy went to . It was a hotly contested fight because the name of their group was at stake but one thing came out from the grandmasters personality, their true of being a gentleman and an arnisador. It was their followers who were more of the problem than the GM's. That was the very first full contact ever sponsored by the NARAPHIL and probably the last for that category since it did not really achieve the goals intended for the tournament. It further enhanced the rift and differences of the different followers instead of uniting them and bringing them closer together under the umbrella of the organization. So the organization concentrated for the meantime on the non-contact type of tournament like the one pioneered by the PHILMAT.
The PHILMAT pioneered the very first non-contact type of arnis tournament dubbed as the “1st NARAPHIL Inter-Club Arnis Exhibition/Competition” on July 1980 at the NARAPHIL Central Office at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Eight groups participated in that event namely: Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trade (DHVCAT Pampanga), Makati Polytechnic Community College (MPCC), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Esteban Abada High School of Manila, Nayong Pilipino Arnis Club, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Arnis Club, Araullo High School and Emilio Aguinaldo High School. PUP Arnis Club won the very first championship trophy. Two more succeeding tournaments were held before finally changing the format into a full contact type when Nayong Pilipino Arnis Club took over the sponsorship from NARAPHIL. The "3rd NARAPHIL Inter-Club Arnis Exhibition/Competition" was held at the PUP Sta. Mesa Gymnasium on August 1983 and was participated by 26 arnis clubs affiliated with NARAPHIL, four of which came from nearby provinces - Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna.
The succeeding 4th-9th NARAPHIL National Team Tournament was held in Nayong Pilipino. The 4th and 5th was an experimentation on the use of padded sticks but came out unimpressive due to the impact of its softness. Since they don't feel any pain when they are beaten, players become callous and the art looses its form. So the Rules Committee decided to use the real stick for the players to be more cautious when they get hit because of the pain. This is the same method used to this date with the advent of safer proctective devices developed.
Branches
* Philippine National Police
* Armed Forces of the Philippines
* Philippine Army
* various martial arts schools
* various universities such as San Beda College
See also
*Eskrimadors

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