Arnis

Arnis, sometimes called Escrima or Kali, is an eclectic martial art from the Philippines.  Arnis can be a valued complement and balance to other disciplines.

Many American Arnis practitioners have backgrounds in (or are currently practicing) other martial arts. Arnis at Shodokan is heavily influenced by the Japanese arts offered at our dojo and the many years spent by many of our members practicing Japanese martial arts. We emphasize defensive, non aggressive techniques and cooperation with one another as we learn and practice. Despite our regular use of one or two sticks and wooden practice knives, we are always working toward empty-handed techniques. The use of sticks also allows beginners to make a great deal of contact while practicing without being invasive of another's personal space or sustaining extensive bruising from hundreds of strikes and blocks. The stick, for us, is merely an extension of the hand, the arm, the body, and, of course, the person wielding it.
As well as tanto [wooden practice knives] we regularly practice with bo or jo [wooden staffs of varied lengths] and, occasionally, exotic weapons that come our way [dog leashes, tennis balls on tethers, canes, umbrellas, etc, et al...].​
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Arnis Frequently Asked Questions

Our Instructors:
Alix Lavaud
Russ Felt
Patrick Koch
​Sam Rivlin