Basic Filipino Terminology

The following tables contain some of the words and phrases that are traditionally used in Filipino Martial Arts training. They are based on Tagalog, the primary Indonesian language of the Philippines. You'll notice that Spanish influence in some of these terms, not surprising since the Philippines was once a Spanish posession.

                                        Rank & Title                                   
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|       Tagalog        |      English        ||       Tagalog       |   English         |
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| Sa Pinuno            | Leader (Master)     || Pundador            | Founder           |
| Arnisador/Escrimador | Arnis Practitioner  || Baguhan             | Beginner          |
| Pangitna             | Intermediate        || Abante              | Advanced          |
| Dalubjasa            | Expert              || Taga-Pagsany        | Trainer           |
| Saligan Taga-Pagturo | Basic Instructor    || Taga-Pagturo        | Instructor        |
| Abante Taga-Pagturo  | Advanced Instructor || Punong Taga-Pagturo | Senior Instructor |
| Guro                 | Teacher             || Punong Guro         | Senior Teacher    |
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                                      Numbers (Counting)                                   
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|       Tagalog        |      English        ||       Tagalog       |   English         |
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| Isa                  | One                 || Pito                | Seven             |
| Dalawa               | Two                 || Walo                | Eight             |
| Tatlo                | Three               || Siyam               | Nine              |
| Apat                 | Four                || Sampo               | Ten               |
| Lima                 | Five                || Labing Isa          | Eleven            |
| Anim                 | Six                 || Labing Dalawa       | Twelve            |
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                                     Actions & Techniques                                   
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|       Tagalog        |      English        ||       Tagalog       |   English         |
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| Patama               | Strike              || Sanga               | Block             |
| Hawak                | Hold                || Pakawalan           | Release           |
| Sugod                | Attack              || Lumaban             | Fight             |
| Sinawali             | Weaving             || Rompida             | Up & Down         |
| Banda y Banda        | Back & Forth        || Redonda             | X Movement        |
| Corto                | Short               || Largo               | Long              |
| Abanico              | Fan                 || Palis Palis         | Sweep Stroke      |
| Crossada             | Cross               || De Cadena           | Give & Take       |
| Tulok                | Push                || Tusok               | Poke/Jab          |
| Hirada               | Forward             || Mahuli              | Trap              |
| Mano-mano            | Hand-to-Hand        || Cadena de Mano      | Chain of Hands    |
| Ocho-Ocho            | Figure Eight        || Sungkiti            | Thrust            |
| Hawi                 | Parry               || Hawi-Sungkiti       | Parry-Thrust      |
| Doblata              | Double Movement     || Abaniko Doblata     | Double Fan        |
| Suntukan             | Boxing              || Anyo                | Form (Kata)       |
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                                          Weapons                                   
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|       Tagalog        |      English        ||       Tagalog       |   English         |
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| Espada               | Sword               || Baston              | Cane              |
| Solo Baston          | Single Cane         || Doble Baston        | Double Cane       |
| Punyal               | Knife               || Punyo               | Sword/Cane Butt   |
| Daga                 | Dagger              || Espada y Dagga      | Sword & Dagger    |
| Yantok               | Rattan              || Bahi                | Iron Reed         |
| Tabak                | Bolo                || Balisong            | Butterfly Knife   |
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                                    Misc & Conversational                                   
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|       Tagalog        |      English        ||       Tagalog       |   English         |
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| Lakan                | Male                || Dayang              | Female            |
| Galang               | Courtesy            || Simula              | Start             |
| Opo                  | Yes Sir             || Hindi Po            | No Sir            |
| Tayo                 | Stand               || Upo                 | Sit               |
| Sigaw                | Shout               || Orascion            | Meditation        |
| Watawat              | Flag                || Yuko                | Bow               |
| Salamat              | Thank You           || Miraming Salamat    |Thank You Very Much|
| Walang Anuman        | You Are Welcome     || Kumusta Ka          | How Are You?      |
| Mabuti               | Fine/Good           || Dinaramdam Ko       | I Am Sorry        |
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Contents of this page courtesy of American Modern Arnis Associates.
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