Terminology
- Abang: to wait defensively
Abanico: fan; also spelled “abaniko”
Abanico sa Itaas: upper flywheel
Abecedario: “ABC’s”; the basics
Abierta: open position
Agaw: to grab, seize, disarm or take away
Agaw-Sandata: disarming & retrieval of the weapon
Aldabis: diagonal cut, strike or uppercut
Alpabeto: alphabet; the basics
Anim: six
Anino: shadow
Antas: level or degree
Antaw: long range
Apat: four
Araw: sun or day
Arnis: harness; northern philippine martial art
Arnisador: stick fighter
Arnis de Mano: “Armor of the Hand”; system
Atras: retreat or backward
Avante: forward
- Babag: worry; trouble
Bago: new or before
Bagong-Pasok: entry level student
Bagsak: to drop; overhead strike with down weighing
Baguhan: beginner
Bahi: a Philipine hardwood used for sticks
Baitang: level or stages
Bakbakan: a rumble or free-for-all fight
Balaraw: dagger
Baligtad: reverse or inside out
Bali: break
Balik: return or retreat
Balisong: “butterfly knife”
Balitok: tumble
Banatan: full-contact fighting
Bansay-bansay: training or drills
Bantay: guard or watch
Bantay-Kamay: support or “alive” hand
Bara-bara: wild or formless technique
Baraw: dagger
Bartikal: vertical cut/strike
Basag: broken
Baston: stick
Bati-Bati: using the butt of the stick
Batikan: noteworthy; certified expert
Baywang: the hip
Bigay: to give
Bigay-bali: lock release technique
Bigay-galang: salutation
Bihasa: expert
Binahagi: cut into parts
Binali: break or reverse
Bisig: the arm
Bothan: Martial Arts school
Braso: the arm
Buah: combination of footwork and form; application of technique
Buhat: from or lift
Buhat Araw: an overhead strike
Bukas: open position
Buklis: upward figure 8
Bulusok: powerful overhead or diagonal strike
Buno: takedown or throws
Bunot: to draw a sword; to pluck out
Bunot Kaluban: an upward slash followed by a downward slash; a drawing and slashing technique
- Caballero: techniques from Grandmaster Caballero
Carera: cycling movement or spin
Cadena de Mano: chain of hands
Centro: center
Centro Baston: holding the stick in the middle
Cerrada: close; closed fighting position
Cinco: five
Cinco Teros: “5 strikes”
Contra: counter
Contrada: opposite or counter
Corto: close range
Cruzada: cross-block and strike
Crossada: to cross
Cuatro: four
- Daga: dagger or short stick
Dakop: to catch
Dakot: to scoop
Dalawa: two
Dalawampu: twenty
Dalawampu’t Isa: twenty-one
Dalawang: double
Dakip: capture
Dakip-Diwa: mind-set
Damdam: feel or sensitivity
Damdam-Diwa: sensitivity; being aware
de Cadena: “the chain”
de Cuerdas: “to chord”; system
Defundo: stationary
Delikado: dangerous
Depensa: defense; person taking defensive role in training
Dib-dib: the chest
Diin: to put pressure on
Dikitan: very close or close quarters
Diwa: mind
Djuru: form
Doble: double
Doble Baston: double stick training
Doblete: double or repeat
Doce Pares: “12 pairs or 12 strikes”; system
Dos: two
Dos Labahas: two blades
Dos Manos: two hands
Dos Manos Largos: two hands with long stick
Dukop: to catch
Dukot: to snatch or seize unexpectedly, to reach out
Dulo: the tip of the stick
Dumog: filipino grappling art
Dungab: to strike with the fist
Dungab: “heaven” or “hammer” grip
Duslak: thrust
- Elastico: “rubber band art”; system
Enganyo: fake or feint
Entrada: entry
Equis: “X” or “X” shaped strike
Eskrima: “skirmish”; filipino martial art
Eskrimador: stick fighter
Espada: sword or long stick
Espada y Daga: sword & dagger or long & short stick
Estrilla: star
- Galang: respect
Galing: skillfull
Gantihan: exchange of blows
Garote: stick; usually flat to simulate a blade
Garote’ng: itak flat stick
Gitna: center
Gunting: “scissors” or passing block with a limb destruction
Guro: teacher
- Habang: while; in the meantime
Hagad-Hubad: strikes & counters
Hagis: to throw; a throwing technique
Hagibis: whirlwind; throwing & grappling techniques
Hakbang: to step; footwork
Hakbang-Paiwas: full side step/step to avoid strike
Halo-Halo: combination; free flow sparring
Hanay: row or line
Han-ay: form
Handa: “Get ready !”
Hapos: strike or slash
Hapsanay: free sparring
Hatak: to pull
Hataw: a full power strike
Hawak: to hold
Hawak-Gitna: holding the stick in the middle
Hawak-Pakal: reverse or ice-pick grip
Hawak-Punyo: regular hold on weapon with punyo
Hawak-Sagad: regular grip with no punyo
Hawak-Saksak: regular or hammer grip
Hawak-Sandata: methods of holding a weapon
Hawak-Susi: reverse grip; holding at tip of stick
Higot: to tie
Hindi: no or negative
Hintay: wait or pause
Hiwa: to slash or cut
Hubad: to untie or undress; name of a flow drill
Hulagpos: to escape from capture or restraint
- Ibaba: down or below
Ibabaw: above or on-top
Ikot: turn or about-face
Ikot-Hantaw: spinning strike
Ilag: to evade
Ilalim: under or underneath
Ilustrisimo: techniques from Grandmaster Anotio Ilustrisimo
Insayo’ng: training
Ipit: to lock, trap or jam
Ipit-Hagis: a sacrifice throwing technique
Isang: single
Itaas: above, upper or to the front
Itak: long sword or bolo
Isa: one
Isa-pa: once more; again; one more time
Iwas: to avoid, dodge or duck
- Juego Todo: anything goes or free-for-all fight
- Kaayusan: order or organization
Kabakas: partner or assistant
Kadena: chain or series of movements
Kadyot: a shallow, snap thrust
Kalahati: half
Kalas: disengage, release or disarm
Kalas-Sandata: disarming technique
Kalasag: to shield
Kali: a southern Philippine martial art
Kalis: oldest of the Philippino style kris swords; wavey back half, straight front half
Kaliwa: left side
Kamagoong: Philipine iron wood
Kamay: the hand
Kamayan: empty-hand training
Kamot: to punch; hand
Kanan: right side
Kapatid: brother
Kasa: to cock or chamber; to accept a challenge
Kasama: companion/friends
Karunungan: knowledge
Katapatan: loyalty
Katawan: body or torso
Katipunan: organization, association or brotherhood
Kenkoy: derogatory term used for unrealistic or impractical styles of fighting
Kilat: “Lightning Blow”
Kilos: movement
Kilos-Paa: footwork
Kina-Iya: natural
Kris: serpentine blade knife or sword
Kunsi: grappling techniques
Kuntao: “fist way”; system
- Labaha: blade
Labahas: blades
Laban: to fight
Laban-Handa: ready-stance
Laban-Laro: combat drills or “play fights”
Labanang: to fight
Labanang-Dikitan: close quarters combat
Labanang-Malapitan: medium range combat
Labanang-Malayuan: long range combat
Laban-Paluan: free-fighting
Laban-Sanay: combat-skills training
Labas: the outside
Labing-Isa: eleven
Labo-labo: anything-goes fight
La Contra: to meet a strike
Lakan: an instructor rank equivalent to black belt
Langka: footwork
Lansi: to confuse or misdirect
Lansing-Tadyak: spinning thrust kick
Lansing-Sikad: spinning snap kick
Largo: long
Largo Mano: long range
Largos: long
Laro: to play
Laro-laro: give and take drills or training
Larong: to play
La Seguida: to follow a strike
Laslas: to cut to shreds
Lastiko: a style of arnis that emphasizes bobbing & weaving toavoid strikes
Lengua de Fuego: a fast series of thrust & slash techniques
Lihim: secret
Lihis: to the side or side-step
Likos: twirl
Lima: five
Liyad: to lean away
Lock & Block: training drill from Serrada Eskrima
Loob: the inside
Lubud: to blend
Luma: old
Lusob: attack or partner taking offensive role in the training
Lutangto: float; the unique forward and backward footwork of the Ilustrisimo system
- Mabilis: fast or speedy
Magaling: highly skilled
Magisa: alone
Mag-Olisi: one who practices stick-fighting
Magulang: parents; shrewd or sly
Mahina: weak or of poor skills
Maharlika: noble or nobility
Mahusay: skillful
Malakas: strong, powerful or influential
Malapitan: near or close
Malayuan: far or distant
Mandirigma: warrior
Mano: hand
Mano y Mano: hand to hand
Marami: many or numerous
Maraming Salamat Po: “Many thanks”
Marunong: knowledgeable
Masipag: earnest or hard working
Masugid: dedicated or loyal
Matibay: strong, durable or lasting
Matira: to be left or to be the last
Matira Matibay: Survival of the Fittest
Matulis: sharply pointed; a style of bolo
Mayto: have
May-Alam: to posses the seeds of knowledge
Medio: medium range
Meteorica: meteoric strike from Grandmaster Caballero
Mukha: the face
Muli: again or one more time
- Nakahanda: ready
Naka-Upo: seated
Nakaw: to steal
Ng: of
- Olisi: stick
Olisi-hay: sparring with sticks
Opo: respectful form of saying “yes”
Oracion: a prayer for protection
Ordabis: backhand strike
- Paa: foot
Paayon: going with the force
Paawas: to parry
Pababa: downward
Pag-Galang: salutation or show of respect
Pagsasanay: training
Pagsilang: birth or sunrise
Pagsisisi: atonement or repentance
Pahimsug: exercises or calisthenics
Pahisa: a slashing motion
Paikot: rotate, circular strike
Paiwas: to avoid
Pakal: “ice pick” grip
Palad: palm of the hand
Palakas: strengthening
Palakas-Pulso: wrist-strengthening exercises
Palis: sweep or sweeping parry
Palis-Patid: a sweeping throw
Palisut: to scoop
Palisut-sut: skipping strike
Palit: change or exchange
Palit-Kamay: change or exchange grip
Palitan: alternating
Palo: to strike
Paluan: exchange of strikes
Palusut: to pass through; technique of evading and passing through
Pama-a: footwork
Panabas: ax style weapon
Pananandata: study of the weapons of the Philippines
Panastas: to slash
Panata: a devotion
Pangamot: empty-hand defense
Pangandam: on-guard or ready position
Pang-Ikyas: evasion or dodge
Pangilog: disarming
Pang-Olisi: stick fighting
Pang-Ubot: hold or grip
Panibago: new or a revival
Pani-il: footwork
Panimban: balance
Panipis: to skim or cut thinly
Panukad: fighting stance
Parusa: punishment
Pasada de Contra: pass and hit
Pasok: to enter, inside or on target
Pasulong: forward
Pasungkit: to thrust upward
Pataas: upward
Patalim: dagger or blade weapon
Patalon: jumping or multi-level strikes
Patibong: to trap
Patid: to trip
Patusok: in a thrusting motion
Paulit-ulit: repetitive
Pa-upo: half side step/sitting down
Pauyon: go-with-the force technique
Payong: umbrella
Payong sa Itaas: upper umbrella block
Pekiti: close range
Piga: to squeeze or wring
Piglas: to struggle or resist
Pikon: one who is easily upset
Piktos: a snap strike
Pilay: sprain or dislocation; lame or crippled at the legs
Pinahandog: diagonal downward strike
Pinatag: horizontal strike
Pinasaka: diagonal upward strike
Pinasaka Tuhod: rising knee strike
Pinatindog: vertical downward strike
Pingga: a long staff fighting system
Pinid: closed position
Pintok: a wrist snap strike
Pinuti: long Visayan sword
Pito: seven
Planchada: a horizontal strike
Plansada: horizontal cut/strike
Pluma: pen
Po: a suffix denoting respect
Prakcion: to react faster than the opponent
Pukpok: to hammer or pummel
Pulso: pulse or wrist
Puluhan: handle or butt
Punong Guro: head teacher & founder of system
Punyo: butt of stick or any weapon
- Redonda: continuous double stick technique
Redondo: circular power strike
Retirada: to retreat
Rompida: an upward and downward slash
Ronda: circular movement of the hands or weapon
Ropillon: a double stick technique or movement
- Sa: to or of
Sabayan: Simultaneous; to attack or counter at the same time
Sablay: Incomplete or imperfect; a low right to left horizontal…..blow
Saboy: to throw or scatter; an upward right to left diagonal strike
Sadang: reverse position
Sagang: defense
Sagasa: to charge or to overrun
Sakay: to ride or go with the force
Sakay-Salag: eskrima sticky hands; to follow the motion of the blocked/ checked weapon or attack
Sakong: heel
Sakong-Palad: palm-heel
Saksak: to thrust
Sasak Hatak: a technique using fast withdrawal and twisting of the weapon to inflict a cut on the opponents checking or blocking hand
Salag: block or parry
Salagba: downward block
Salagbas: outside dodging and parrying
Salag-Bisig: forearm block
Salagsok: inside dodging and parrying
Salagtas: upward block
Salakay: to charge or attack
Salamat: to thank
Salamin: mirror or reaction drill
Salisi: opposing or opposite direction
Salok: an upward strike with the edge or point
Saltik: a snap strike
Salubong: to meet head-on
Sama: to join or go with
Sambut: combination of footwork & form; application of technique
Sampu: ten
Sanay: training or exposure
Sandata: weapon
Sangga: to block
Saplet: quick disarm
Sawali: interwoven slats of wood use for walls
Serada: closed
Serrada: close quarters or “closing”
Sibat: staff
Sibog: retreat or backward
Sikad: side kick
Sikad-Gilid: side snap kick
Sikad-Hataw: snap roundhouse kick
Sikad-Sungkite: snap hook kick
Sikad-Tusok: front snap kick
Sikaran: a Philippine martial art emphasizing kicking skills
Siklod: to kiss the hand of an elder; a wrist lock
Siklod Bangga: a wrist lock that uses the shoulder as a leverage point
Sikmura: solar plexus
Siko: the elbow
Sikot: push kick
Sikwat: to pry; an upward strike with the punyo
Sikwat-Siko: a come-along lock with the elbow as the primary lock or center of pressure
Silat: to outmaneuver or overpower; an Indonesian martial art
Silak: open-hand system used against a blade (Sayoc Kali)
Sinawalli: to weave; a continuous double stick technique
Sinigurato: make doubly sure; a follow-up trapping or jamming technique (Lameco Eskrima)
Sipa: to kick; also a game
Sipalit: a training drill for alternating kicks
Sipang-Hataw: roundhouse kick
Siyam: nine
Sogo: finger-tip thrust
Solo: single
Songab: finger jab
Songkiti: a hooking movement used to parry or thrust
Suklian: an exchange of strikes
Suko: to surrender or give-up
Sulod: to enter
Sulong: to go forward or go ahead
Suliwa: pass or deflect
Sumbalik: counter
Sumbrada: upper umbrella block; name of a flow drill
Sumpa: a vow or oath
Sungkite: a technique that emphasizes thrusts
Sundot: a jab or quick thrust
Suntok: to punch
Suplete: quick disarm
Suwag: head-butt
Suyop: a go with the force technique
- Tabas Talahib: a horizontal strike
Tabak-Toyok: nunchaku
Tadtad: full of or multiples of
Tadyak: thrust kick
Tadyak-Gilid: side thrust kick
Tadyak-Sakong: back thrust kick
Tadyak-Tusok: front thrust kick
Taga: to strike or cut
Tagang Alanganin: an outwards horizontal strike aimed at the upper torso region
Tagang Buhat Araw: an overhead strike aimed at the top of the head
Tagang Pasumala: primarily a parry, a sweeping upward diagonal strike used to deflect a weapon
Tagang San Miguel: a diagonal downward and inward strike aimed at the upper torso
Tagapagsanay: trainer or assistant instructor
Tagapagturo: senior assistant instructor
Tala: star
Talang Bartikal: vertical block
Talas: sharp or to sharpen
Talas Damdam: sensitivity training
Tapa: to step on the foot
Tapi: to parry or deflect
Tapik: to nudge, defelct or parry
Tapi-on: to block, parry, defelct or check
Tapi-Tapi: checking; a series of parries & blocks
Tapos: finished or the end
Tatlo: three
Tatlumpu: thirty
Tatlumpu’t Isa: thirty one
Tatsulok: triangle
Taub: facing downward
Tayo: stance
Teka: wait, halt or pause
Tiempo: timing
Tigil: stop or cease
Tigpas: a horizontal strike directed at the knees
Tihaya: facing upward
Tiniklink: footwork drill
Tisod: to stumble
Totsada: to thrust
Totsar: to thrust
Trancada: to lock or locks
Tuhod: the knee
Tulisan: the knife-fighting art of Kali Illustrisimo
Tuloy-tuloy: continuous
Tunga-tunga: medium range
Tuo: to the right
Tusok: to thrust
Tuyok: cycling movement or to spin
- Ulo: the head
Upo: seat
- Wala: to the left; nothing; lost
Walis: to sweep
Walo: eight
Warwok: a weapon hand capture that rebounds the weapon into the attackers body
Witik: wrist snap strike
- Yabag: the sound of footsteps
Yabang: show-off
Yakap: hug, hold, embrace or clinch
Yantoc: rattan stick
Yukbo: salutation
Yuko: to duck or bow