Filipino Martial Arts and Local

Knowledge on HABAK

By
Andrew John B. Fernandez
M.A. Anthropology
University of San Carlos

Rationale

Every culture has produced its own

set of talismans and amulets, and the
Philippines is no exceptions.
Eskrima the indigenous fighting arts in the
Philippines. This is also known as Arnis
and Kali. It is one of the fastest and
deadliest martial arts in the world. The
spiritual home of this fighting art is located
in Cebu.

 Filipino martial artists are noted for their

ability to fight with weapons or empty
hands interchangeably and their ability
turn ordinary household items into
lethal weapons.
Despite the skills of filipino martial
artists, the escrimadors are the loyal
believer or practitioner of the traditional
knowledge of habak .

 Since the dawn of time the Filipino

Warrior has been known to be particularly
fierce and unyielding, rumored to possess
certain powers, super powers that made
them better than the rest. Powers that
gave them added strength, endurance,
and knowledge that enabled them to go
well beyond their human limits.

 In Medical Anthropology looks at cultural

conceptions of the body, health, and
illness; the evaluation of health, illness and
cure from both an emic and etic point of
view,
naturalistic
and
personalistic
explanation, evil eye, magic and sorcery.
Escrimadors are not only skillful in filipino
martial arts but also skillful in traditional
healing.

 Medicine, health, and illness are all partly

cultural categories and different cultures
have their own logic and alternative means
to deal with these. Medical Anthropology
looks at cultural conceptions of the body,
health, and illness. (Veena Bhasin)
Ethno medical studies are conducted to
evaluate the efficacy of traditional health
care practices. (Veena Bhasin)

Research Problem
The goal of this ongoing study is to look
into the escrimador perspectives on
engaging in practice of filipino martial arts
in connection with the habak knowledge
that would give them extra strength or a
strength beyond their limits.

How does this habak

knowledge be acquired?

or

healing

 How does the history of indigenous

knowledge affects or influenced the modern
day escrimadors?

The procedures followed in making the

habak.

Methodology
This follows the purposive study of
participant observations and in-depth
interviews with the filipino martial artist
that possess the habak.
It investigates how the techniques are
learned and acquired by the FMA and
shared to the new generations.

History of Mixed Martial

Arts

It has been postulated that the Filipino art

of Eskrima originated Indonesian Tjakalele
and Malay Silat Melayu. Eskrima fighting
style is very much identical to short stick
(kali or kaji) and other weapon based
fighting styles in Silambam, a stick/staff
based ancient martial art of India.
Silambam influenced many martial arts in
Asia like Silat.

History of filipino matial arts

The Philippines had several forms of
martial arts and combat sports including
boxing (Panantukan), grappling (Dumog),
foot fighting (Sikaran), Yaw Yan and
weapon- based arts (Kali and Escrima).
(http://www.ocmma.net/history-of-mmamixed-martial-arts/)
When the Spaniards began colonizing the
Philippines, they saw an already-developed
weapons-based martial arts practiced by
the natives.

 In the past, there were fighters known

as Pulahan (those warrior wearing red
bandana on their heads). During the
time of lapu-lapu they called it putong.
They were known as dios-dios that
refers to the members of religious
beliefs developed in the Visayas prior to
the Philippine Revolution.

 In the early days, each tribe claim to practice

their own way of system of eskrima. These
were closely guarded secrets and which will
only be passed on from one generation to
another.
During the Spanish Rule it was prohibited
and the Grand Masters went underground in
practicing using knifes, sticks and big swords
as this was available among the civilians.

 During the American regime, the

Americans encouraged the Filipinos to
practice their art. The grand masters
came and open their school of martial arts.
In 1920, the first martial arts school open
in Cebu. They called the Labangon
Fencing Club.

 In 1932, all the grandmasters agreed to form

one school in order to avoid rivalry and
violence. They called it Doce Pares. The
word Doce Pares came from the 12
bodyguards of Emperor Charlemagne of
France.
Grand Master Felimon Momoy Canete the
well known eskrimador during his era. He
served as the chief master and guiding
teacher in doce pares.

What are the fighting styles of

eskrima?
Albanieco it is the fan style..
Larga mano or long blade is the long
range style
Vigia Largo is the middle range style
Corto is the short range style
Empty hand combat
Knife fighting

How come that the practice of habak

was a combination of aminism and
catholicism ?
The triangle is one of the strongest
geometrical structures and stand for
strength. In every triangle there is an eye in
the middle that would represent as the divine
or the ultimate God. They called it Dios.

 It was the Spaniards convince the locals or

the eskrimadors that we have the same God
and we believed on one God.

These gives the reason that in the oracion of

the habak was written in latin and some
would even bring bible on their oracion.

terminologies
Anting-anting is the tagalog term for filipino
warrior name for amulet, talisman, or
charm. However, in Cebu, they called
Habak it covers all types of antinganting, amulet, talisman, or charm.
It was called habak means to tie around
your waist, wrist, and neck.

terminologies
The habak is a charm or amulet made
from stone. The habak may be of any
form or designs. It can be a medallion, a
small book, a piece of paper, a tattoo, or
a vest or scarf inscribed with oraciones.

terminologies
Oracion are prayers, usually in Latin, that
when chanted, spoken, or mentally
recited, serve to protect or strengthen.
They may protect one from certain ill fate
while traveling in unknown territory, or
add strength or additional power to the
habak
Juego Todo fight to the death

beliefs
What are their beliefs system to habak?
all of the eskrimadors believed that the
habak will make them stronger.
they will not be hit by a bullet or sword or
any item that will harm their body.
It they will be hit, it will not hurt them.
They will not be wounded or if wounded,
it will just heal immediately.
The bullet will just slide which they
locally term it taliwas.

 Why is it that most of the believers of habak

were the escrimadors?
In the past, the escrimadors were not only taught
of filipino martial arts but they were also healers.
The mystics of the filipino martial arts coupled
with mans instinct of self preservation.
The intent of supernatural powers is common
among escrimadors.

How will they be able to acquire the habak?

- It will given or pass from one generation to
another. (rights of passage)
- Some will fight the spirit warriors
- Through uncristined child during holy Thursday,
they will uncover the child and put in a jar with
water and consume the child two teaspoons in a
day.

How will they be able to acquire the habak?

Through uncristined child also and during holy

Thursday, they will uncover the child and get the
knee cap and wrap with red cloth.

Fighting against those people with Habak

and the price will be their habak.
Some masters with a very powerful habak
perform an oracion to an object and it give it
to others.

How can a habak be neutralized?

Lack of faith in habak
Using the habak for bad purpose or reasons.
Fighting against person with a more powerful
habak.
Failed to perform the rituals.
Failed to recite the oracion.
Those people declared that they have a
habak

INJURIES
The injuries that they will be able to heal
generally:
Pop up elbow
Broken finger
Groin enlargement
Tooth extraction
Head cut
Bruises
Poison
Illness because of barang or kulam

Self medication
techniques
The athletes, except for broken bones, will
just take a time off of 2 to 5 days for their
recovery of injuries and they dont usually
go to the doctor for regular check ups.
The fighters will just take or still use
traditional medicinal leaves such as
Gabon or Gemilina.

 As long as the fighters have not

experienced broken bones, they dont
usually go to the doctor for regular check
ups. ( those who were lack of faith in
habak)
While doing this medication, they will
perform an oracion for healing.