NARAPHIL First Arnis Tournament

"1st NARAPHIL Inter-Club"

Arnis Exhibition/Competition
Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Gymnastics Gym
(July 1980)

In September 1979, the “1st Arnis Grandmasters Tournament” was held at the Philippine Normal College gymnasium along Taft corner Ayala Avenue, Manila.


It was participated by 8 grandmasters and eventually won by GM Ciriaco “Tiyo Cacoy” Cañete (Doce Pares – Cebu). The 1st Runner-up was GM Florentino “Tino” Pecate of (YMCA Manila) and the 2nd Runner-up trophy went to GM Benjamin "Mang Ben" Lema. It was a hotly contested fight because the name of their group was at stake but one thing came out from the grandmasters personality, their true of being a gentleman and an arnisador. It was their followers who were more of the problem than the GM's.

That was the very first full contact ever sponsored by the NARAPHIL and probably the last for that category since it did not really achieve the goals intended for the tournament. It further enhanced the rift and differences of the different followers instead of uniting them and bringing them closer together under the umbrella of the organization. So the organization concentrated for the meantime on the non-contact type of tournament like the one pioneered by the PHILMAT.


The PHILMAT pioneered the very first non-contact type of arnis tournament dubbed as the “1st NARAPHIL Inter-Club Arnis Exhibition/Competition” on July 1980 at the NARAPHIL Central Office at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Eight groups participated in that event namely: Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trade (DHVCAT Pampanga), Makati Polytechnic Community College (MPCC), Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Esteban Abada High School of Manila, Nayong Pilipino Arnis Club, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Arnis Club, Araullo High School and Emilio Aguinaldo High School. PUP Arnis Club won the very first championship trophy. Two more succeeding tournaments were held before finally changing the format into a full contact type when Nayong Pilipino Arnis Club took over the sponsorship from NARAPHIL.


The "3rd NARAPHIL Inter-Club Arnis Exhibition/Competition" was held at the PUP Sta. Mesa Gymnasium on August 1983 and was participated by 26 arnis clubs affiliated with NARAPHIL, four of which came from nearby provinces - Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna.

The succeeding 4th-9th NARAPHIL National Team Tournament was held in Nayong Pilipino. The 4th and 5th was an experimentation on the use of padded sticks but came out unimpressive due to the impact of its softness. Since they don't feel any pain when they are beaten, players become callous and the art looses its form. So the Rules Committee decided to use the real stick for the players to be more cautious when they get hit because of the pain. This is the same method used to this date with the advent of safer proctective devices developed.

Presentation of the participants by Dante de Jesus
- NARAPHIL Press Relation Officer

"2nd NARAPHIL Annual Inter-Club"
Arnis Exhibition/Competition
Gymnastics gymnasium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex
Vito Cruz, Manila
March 1981

The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Arnis Club showing their basic arnis lessons as part of their presentation to the exhibition/competition.

The DHVCAT of Pampanga showing their basic techniques in striking and blocking as part of their number in the competition.

Defending Champion PUP Arnis Club performing their different pattern of the basic lesson. They eventually placed 1st Runner-up with the "Cruz na Ligas Elementary School Arnis Club" of Quezon City winning the championship trophy.

The MMBTAA winning the 4th Runner-up Trophy



The new Champion "Crus na Ligas Elementary School Arnis Club"
of Diliman, Quezon City defeating the PUP Arnis Club.



Itaguyod natin:
"Arnis de mano - Larong Pilipino"
(by Liping Maharlika)