Life, learning and the Filipino martial arts | Felipe Jocano Jr. | TEDxDiliman

Summary

The speaker shares a personal journey into martial arts, focusing on the Filipino art of Arnis. Initially inspired by a desire for self-defense, the speaker explored various forms of martial arts, eventually connecting with Arnis through cultural roots and its historical significance in Filipino resistance. The speaker highlights Arnis as not just a martial art, but a way of embodying warrior values such as courage, honor, and humility. Through practicing and teaching Arnis, the speaker finds deeper meaning in Filipino identity, community, and the importance of cultural heritage.

Takeaways

• 🥋 Martial arts became a personal journey for the speaker after being bullied and looking for ways to defend themselves.
• 📚 The discovery of Filipino martial arts, particularly through the book by Daniel Sanka, deeply influenced the speaker's understanding of their culture.
• 🗡️ Filipino martial arts, or Arnis, uses weapons like sticks, knives, and swords, and is based on indigenous practices mixed with Spanish combat methods.
• 🇵🇭 Practicing Arnis helped the speaker connect with their Filipino identity and history, which is often underappreciated.
• ⚔️ Arnis played a significant role in resistance movements during World War II, and local fighters used it effectively against invaders.
• 💪 The practice of Arnis goes beyond physical skills, embodying values like courage, honor, respect, and humility.
• 🌍 The speaker highlights similarities between Filipino warrior values and those of other cultures, like Japan's Bushido or Europe's knightly code, while emphasizing their uniqueness.
• 👥 A core aspect of Filipino martial arts is community focus, as warriors are meant to protect and serve others, not just themselves.
• 👩‍🦰 Filipino mythology also includes stories of female warriors, exemplifying bravery and strength in defending their communities.
• 🔄 The speaker reflects on how Filipino martial arts can be used to challenge cultural perceptions and transform local spaces through advocacy.

Q & A

What prompted the speaker to explore martial arts, and how did their journey begin?

The speaker was motivated to explore martial arts after experiences of bullying and a personal journey to defend themselves. Their journey began in college, when they decided to try martial arts, initially practicing a form of self-defense with a pillow.

How did the book on Filipino martial arts influence the speaker’s perspective?

The book on Filipino martial arts, brought home by the speaker’s father from Singapore, opened the speaker’s eyes to the uniqueness of their own culture. It inspired the speaker to learn more about Filipino martial arts, marking a turning point in their understanding of Filipino identity.

What was the significance of Filipino martial arts in the context of global martial arts choreography?

Filipino martial arts played a significant role in global action choreography. The speaker mentions that students of Filipino martial arts were responsible for choreographing action scenes in popular movies like 'The Bourne Identity' and '300.' This highlights the international influence of Filipino martial arts.

What challenges did the speaker face in finding a teacher for Filipino martial arts?

The speaker faced difficulties in finding a teacher for Filipino martial arts because it often required a personal referral. They eventually found one through a law school classmate, which led them to study judo and other martial arts.

What is the meaning of the term 'Arnis' in Filipino martial arts?

The term 'Arnis' comes from the Spanish word 'arnés,' meaning armor or arts. In Filipino martial arts, it refers to an indigenous martial art that emphasizes the use of weapons such as sticks, knives, and empty-hand applications.

How did Filipino martial arts evolve historically?

Filipino martial arts evolved from a combination of indigenous combat techniques and Spanish sword methods, which were taught to the local militia during the Spanish occupation. This fusion led to the contemporary form of Arnis.

How did practicing Filipino martial arts help the speaker connect with their Filipino identity?

Practicing Filipino martial arts allowed the speaker to connect with their Filipino heritage by learning about a warrior ethos deeply rooted in Filipino history and mythology. It became an important part of their understanding of what it means to be Filipino.

What qualities are important for a 'magani' or warrior in Filipino culture?

A 'magani' or warrior must embody several key qualities, including courage, strength, honor, respect for others, humility, helpfulness to the community, and a deep connection to protecting and defending their people.

What role do warrior values play in Filipino culture, according to the speaker?

Warrior values in Filipino culture are not just for individual benefit but are meant to serve the community. The values help warriors live in harmony with others and come together in times of crisis to protect and support their communities.

How does the speaker relate their personal growth through martial arts to broader societal changes?

The speaker reflects that martial arts taught them to think beyond small, limited ideas about themselves and the Philippines. They believe these lessons have shaped their advocacy for using Filipino martial arts to challenge cultural norms and transform the spaces in which they live and work.

Outlines

00:00

🥋 Personal Journey into Filipino Martial Arts

The speaker reflects on their journey into martial arts, starting with a desire for self-defense and being influenced by popular media like 'The Karate Kid.' They eventually found inspiration in a book on Filipino martial arts, which connected them to their cultural roots. This journey highlights how foreign influences can paradoxically lead to a deeper understanding of one's native culture. The speaker also references how Filipino martial arts have influenced famous action movies like 'The Bourne Identity' and '300,' while discussing their personal quest to find a teacher.

05:00

🛡️ Unique Aspects of Filipino Martial Arts and Warrior Culture

The speaker explores how Filipino martial arts (Arnis) are distinct from other martial arts like Japan's Bushido or China's Wulin due to unique historical and cultural factors. They delve into Filipino mythology and warrior epics, such as the stories of Laon and Lavap, to show how the warrior ethos is deeply rooted in Filipino identity. This connection between culture and martial practice has helped the speaker understand the warrior's role in history, while also emphasizing the ongoing relevance of these stories in contemporary settings.

10:02

🤝 Community-Centered Warrior Values

The speaker discusses the core values of the Filipino warrior, known as 'magani,' including courage, strength, honor, humility, and community service. These values are not just individual traits but are meant to benefit the community. The speaker highlights the importance of humility, explaining how arrogance can lead to challenges from others. They also recount a favorite story of a female warrior, Matibuka, who exemplifies these virtues in her heroic actions. The speaker draws parallels between ancient warrior traditions and the importance of serving and protecting one's community today.

15:21

💪 Expanding Beyond Small-Mindedness

In this paragraph, the speaker reflects on their personal growth from the 1960s to the 1980s, highlighting how Filipino history often focused on defeat and smallness. Through martial arts, the speaker learned that there is no place for 'small thinking' and that growth requires challenging limiting ideas. They emphasize the value of passing on knowledge and using Filipino martial arts as a tool to challenge cultural ideas and transform local spaces. The speaker also notes that martial arts is not just about combat but about expanding one's mind and contributing to the community.

Keywords

💡Martial Arts

Martial arts refer to various systems of combat training practiced for self-defense, competition, and physical fitness. In the video, the speaker discusses his personal journey with martial arts, beginning with an interest in self-defense and later discovering the unique attributes of Filipino martial arts, which shaped his cultural identity.

💡Filipino Martial Arts (Arnis)

Filipino Martial Arts, particularly Arnis, is an indigenous combat style focusing on weaponry such as sticks, swords, and knives, as well as empty-hand techniques. The speaker describes Arnis as a martial art rooted in both indigenous Filipino traditions and Spanish influence, emphasizing its historical significance in resisting foreign invaders and as a symbol of Filipino identity.

💡Cultural Identity

Cultural identity refers to the shared characteristics, values, and practices that define a particular group or nation. The speaker connects his practice of Filipino martial arts with his exploration of what it means to be Filipino, expressing how Arnis allowed him to understand and embrace his cultural heritage.

💡Warrior Values

Warrior values are the moral and ethical principles that guide a warrior's conduct, such as courage, strength, honor, humility, and service to the community. The speaker outlines eight warrior values that define the essence of a 'Magani' (warrior) in Filipino culture, emphasizing that these values are not just for personal growth but also for serving and protecting the community.

💡Magani

Magani refers to a warrior in Filipino culture, embodying virtues like courage, strength, and honor. The speaker uses this term to describe the ideal practitioner of martial arts, one who acts with integrity and humility, defending their community. It represents an aspirational figure rooted in both history and mythology.

💡Colonial Influence

Colonial influence refers to the cultural, social, and political impacts of colonization on a society. The speaker discusses how Spanish colonization affected Filipino martial arts, blending indigenous techniques with Spanish swordsmanship. This fusion symbolizes both the subjugation and the resilience of the Filipino people in preserving their culture.

💡Community

Community in the video refers to the collective group that benefits from the warrior's service and protection. The speaker highlights that Filipino martial arts are not practiced in isolation; they emphasize unity, mutual respect, and helping others. These values foster a sense of belonging and responsibility within the community.

💡Ethnography

Ethnography is the scientific study of cultures through observation and interaction. The speaker, an anthropologist, mentions how reviewing ethnographic research on Filipino communities helped him piece together the historical and cultural significance of martial arts, reinforcing the connection between Arnis and Filipino heritage.

💡Mythology and Folklore

Mythology and folklore refer to traditional stories passed down through generations that explain cultural values, beliefs, and practices. The speaker references Filipino warrior epics and heroes like LaVon and Lam-Ang, illustrating how these stories embody the values of Filipino martial arts and connect practitioners to their ancestral roots.

💡Resilience

Resilience in the video refers to the capacity to withstand adversity and recover from challenges, a key theme in Filipino martial arts and history. The speaker highlights how the local fighters during World War II used their traditional martial skills to resist foreign invaders, demonstrating the enduring strength and resourcefulness of the Filipino people.

Highlights

The speaker shares their journey of defending themselves and how martial arts became a significant part of their personal development.

They initially explored martial arts through popular culture, like 'The Karate Kid,' but later sought something that resonated with their Filipino identity.

The discovery of Filipino martial arts, specifically through a book by Filipino-American guru Daniel Sanka, marked a turning point in understanding their culture.

The speaker reflects on how foreign practitioners promoted Filipino martial arts abroad, while it was difficult to find teachers locally in the Philippines.

Filipino martial arts, also known as Arnis, combines indigenous fighting techniques with Spanish sword-fighting methods passed on during colonial times.

The speaker learned how this martial art played a role in the Filipino resistance during World War II, as fighters used it to defend their communities.

The art of Arnis stands out not just for self-defense, but as a deeper connection to Filipino culture and history.

Arnis reflects a warrior ethos similar to other martial traditions around the world, but with its own unique Filipino context and values.

The speaker highlights various Filipino mythological heroes like Labaw Donggon and explains how their stories shaped the warrior ethos in Arnis.

They delve into the characteristics of a 'Magani,' a warrior, which include courage, strength, honor, respect, humility, and community-oriented values.

Humility is particularly emphasized, as martial artists must balance pride with respect for others, avoiding arrogance.

The importance of community is highlighted, as warriors not only defend themselves but also serve and protect their communities.

The speaker shares the story of Matibagka, a female warrior from mythology, showcasing the role of women in Filipino warrior culture.

Through their academic study of ethnography and discussions with scholars, the speaker links Filipino martial arts to larger cultural values.

The speaker concludes that practicing Arnis helps foster unity and mutual respect in contemporary society, demonstrating how martial arts transcend physical skill.

Transcripts

why are these among all of the I think

that this has to do with a personal

journey like everyone or most of us who

have experiences sometimes people who

want to do stuff to us we get bullied

and the diamond you know one of the

first things that I walked in with how

do I defend myself and when I got to

college and decided I'd like to try

martial arts and the first part I Drive

was a pillow Shopify Telecom oh that

worked well enough although I never had

the chance to use it

thank you I wouldn't know what happened

although yes the Karate Kid was popular

and the early Persian hat and for those

of you who are about my age you know who

was starring there now there was

something lacking now because it was

without due respect to the originators

of carotenoid it was something not

within the scope of what I understand my

culture to me and I still was learning

much about what this being Filipino was

all about and things began to shift a

bit and my father brought home from

Singapore a book called the Filipino

martial arts by our well-known

Philippine Americans guru or teacher in

Daniel Sanka and that really blew me

away I said I gotta find some way to

learn here and you know this is the

supreme irony of it all let's start that

really

got to me here are foreign when you call

the foreigners they're natives in their

own land of course but then another

country

these people could advertise their art

and a lot of people come to them and in

case you're wondering about the

significance of why I mentioned that

yourself it was he who taught the people

who choreographed the different action

movie specifically the men who

choreographed the Bourne Identity the

men who choreographed the fight scenes

for the hunter and all of that including

300 they were all students of darkness

and those movies Filipino martial arts

and artists and with meantime right here

where do I find an early school now you

know you don't get to find an artist

teacher except by personal referral and

one of my classmates in law school

introduced me to his teacher first judo

and the parties and that got me started

among all the other arts and tried why

on this well here's why providing a

unique collection to Latino identity

what was it about the art you know like

why what is this thing we call artists

it's such a unique art what is the term

are nice mean anyway well the word are

nice comes from this but yogurt unless

Minnie armor or arts or gonna be the

stuff that we carry with us but the

artists as we martial art actually

refers to an indigenous martial art it

centers on the use of web sticks

I didn't bring my sword today and start

to give it scary and they use some

knives and of course applications with

your empty hand and historically

speaking this art this indigenous art is

device from

condition

the points of combat mixed with the

Spanish sword methods taught to the

militia yes you lose a Christ

the Spaniards did teach their own

fighting tactics to the local militia in

the township they have already occupied

and this fusion results in the

contemporary forms we call our this day

now yes this school became a big big

deal for me I learned how to identify

with Philippines with the word Filipino

to this it was a part of our history but

something that we don't always recognize

and we don't even think that it was that

important because it is a physical organ

we value the intellectual but actually

this is very important this imbalance

and here our display the role in our

history because it was used in Paris

resistances against the foreign invaders

in world war two battalions of infantry

men were known as the Bornmann they had

lack of breakfast but the local fighters

knew how to use their weapons and they

use this they were known as the bottom

now when we talk about the benefits of

martial arts it's easy to say oh well

you know this is like any other martial

art you learn some protection we are

having groups should keep moving aerobic

condition you learn how to be calm you

learn how to be self discipline anyone

from any martial art could claim the

same thing so what made Army's special

for me okay now here is where we see

again as I said it's a different way to

look at our culture here I found a

warrior similar to but not the same as

the Bushido of Japan okay or what we

know the Wulin of Chinese the martial

way of China or in fact the cold of not

good in the in Europe now similar but

not the same because there are

front set of storage there are different

circumstances that shape its growth how

is this exemplifying mythology and

folklore how many of you would know if

you're from the Messiah how many of you

have heard the names whom enough know

this one

LaVon don't good very good yes the white

mana Messiah but this love up who drew

the a Liguilla here are the warrior

epics from the past in which they

exemplify an ethos that was common to

mainly mainly communities in Angeles but

practicing an art in which they have a

linkage about history and a culture and

it was unique because these things are

echoed in the contemporary setting where

did I find the sources and my work as an

anthropologist they had to review

ethnography we have to read about the we

have to continue reviewing scholarly

works about communities and it was there

it just needed to piece it all together

see what were these different things

that we found out right what makes her a

warrior I'm under invite in Kigali

Pagani as a word use in the South among

the savanna and many other groups magani

by the way is a cognate of the world I

am II think about the Pagani is a

warrior

Diana as hero right here is an

embodiment of the following qualities a

began you must always be courageous

Matata you can pick face any situation

from me a magani must be strong tell

animal on us to meet all sorts of

challenges Abigail you must act with

honor at all times

Moran had a began you must be respectful

of others Mangala

a began II must be humble McCune Baba

sometimes you know when you practice

these arts the danger is that of pride

you become proud of Aragon yet and then

you become the target of

wants to pull you down or test you

because your ground sometimes the Apple

humidity also means you have to conceal

what you have so as to be careful what

others might say or do and not to cause

fear right Abba Gandhi should be helpful

to others

mahtim Lincoln and the mangani loves a

community almost always the stories of

this heroes center on the defense the

protection of the community against an

outsider and yes there are female Magali

to in our mythology one of my favorite

stories about the female warriors is the

story Matt Ibaka and this lead and the

diet of the wind in this particular

story of this young woman rescues her

brother who was captured by the invaders

and how she did it is a story that's

working for telenovela if somebody would

pick it up now about Danny is foot is

for a beginning is a practitioner of

whatever the religion is and you know

this is again founded all of those

indigenous stories it is something that

we need to go back to Nepal Panem

Palatine now now what's the special

bubble couldn't be saved in any order

warrior culture these are the same yes

but here is a difference again going

back to our academic study in academic

literature here there is a context you

know these values these eight warrior

attributes that are outlined here we

were born out of the research but also

they were born out of discussions with

colleagues and scholars and one of a

close friend of mine who is also a

fellow warrior it's wonderful to have

put to work with me sharpen your mind

and that is an exemplification what we

did to sharpen what he did to sharpen me

it's in this slide these values are not

for individuals they are for a community

they are for other people this word Papa

means that you find yourself you are

part of others you are not just for

yourself alone but you live your lives

for other people and in this what were

your values this eight whole warriors of

course these are not the only ones but

they said the most prominent we've been

able to find this warrior values help

you understand what it means to truly

live with one another in harmony through

pockety son to show mutual respect for

people of an equal status to and best of

all to react and to come together as a

community when crisis erupts the true

meaning of hockey gear and here that is

an essence of what they've learned along

the path trying my best to become a

warrior that these things challenge me

because I grew up in the mid more in the

mid 60s

yes I will betray my age there are mania

here you are my batch mate you know who

you are being born in the mid sixties I

grew up in the 60s and 70s and early 80s

with this popular notion that we in us

live the life of the small the smallest

fish the smallest volcano and even our

national heroes who small why should me

what way should these other people have

all the tall ones why not us oh well

okay but should that have been a one was

that rather highlighted all the time

there's something not quite right here

what is missing in this not only that

look we were in our education from

time we were taught and nature a history

of course start falling

the fall of Baca and the fall of Korah

heed or the fall of Manila oh my gosh

now we are repeating that cycle all over

again the fall of our economy the follow

of our politics what are we doing wrong

here and this is one of the things that

only stopped me to look at is there

something beyond this again discussions

with my father and with my friends help

sharpen this thinking because in the

practice of this martial art it is there

is no place to be small if that's what

you want to think there's no place for

small thinking you have to expand you

have to go big if we are forced to live

beyond ourselves we are forced to

challenge this idea and one of the

greatest lessons I've learned here is

that these ideas these channels worth a

lot more when they are transferred to

others and this has been lately

instantly between the some of my friends

a small advocacy has been crystallizing

the use of this concept in Filipino

martial arts to challenge ideas of

culture and to take that and use it to

transform the immediate spaces and the

places we work in we live it you don't

have to be a martial artist to learn all

of these but you could be good at least

to know that there is another facet in

Philippine that we need to be aware of

and then this last part we will be

demonstrating your physical practice

what I've been talking about how it

means to be work together what it means

to come together what it means to help

one another journey and I can introduce

my student and partner for this

demonstration mr. a Shapiro

we'll be going set the three exercises

from our school of armies the first one

is a control pattern we call the guy ,

which is to say literally giving the

strike and the chain of movements

nemesis flow continues continue that

once an initial defense

this last one here careful with this

when the adrenaline gets up we call this

a pencil depends

it's a limp freestyle format attack and

defense it's time you rely only on our

timing in our own skill we have to be

very control can a hippie Sangha back L

to watch out for one another

Nikita Natalya and you'll be responsible

what we do otherwise Nicaragua die