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Source: Arnis in the Philippines

Arnis is a Filipino martial art and is the legally recognized national sport in the Philippines.
The precise origin of Arnis is unknown due to a lack of proper documentation.
It is speculated that it arose from native Filipinos in Luzon and the Visayas to circumvent a weapons ban imposed by the Spaniards during the Spanish colonial era. They utilize sticks and disguised the martial art as folk dance. Dionisio Cañete, supreme grandmaster, says that Filipino martial arts is already in the archipelago prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century who banned the practice due to it being unproductive activity but Cañete insist it is due to fear of the art being used against the colonizers. Arnis or Kali would be influenced by the Europeans as well, incorporating old Fencing terms in Spanish.
Alternatively it could date back in the pre-Spanish era, influenced by the neighboring Srivijaya and Majapahit empires based on linguistics analysis of the various other names of Arnis.

The Eulogio and Cacoy Cañete would learn about the discipline from escrimadors in the early 1900s, the early part of the American colonial era in the Philippines. The Cañetes in 1918 moved to Cebu City to study under the Saavedra family, led by Lorenzo and Teodoro. The first Arnis club the Labangon Fencing Club would be formed. It was disbanded years after.

Eulogio Cañete with 12 founders would organize the Doce Pares in this place. Practionwrs would be hired as bodyguards of politicians and some would engage in Juego Todos or street brawls. Some masters would get killed after the 1952 national elections. Arnis clubs would splinter off from Doce Pares; Balintawak Arnis of Anciong Bacon five months later and Lapunti Arnis in 1960.
An international sports body, the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation would be in the country in August 11, 1989, after a convention was held at the Sacred Heart Center in Cebu City. Dionisio Cañete was elected as their charter president. Cañete would formalize rules and regulations to professionalized the sport of Arnis.