Arnis is a Filipino martial arts primarily used for self-preservation during the pre-Spanish times. While arnis can be practiced in combat fights without weapons, it usually involves the use of two wooden sticks that each serve as extension of the hand. This stick-fighting tradition is also the country’s national sport. Historically, the practice of arnis has not been confined to one particular class of people. From ordinary workers to royalty, arnis has been practiced in both real-life combat scenarios and sports among all the population. Arnis employs a set of hand patterns and body movements to hone the practitioner's skills for self-defense. As a sport, the discipline improves the health and lifestyle of practitioners.
Muay Thai is Thailand's national sport. This self-defense art was originally taught to the Siamese army to equip them for hand-to-hand fighting. Contemporary Muay Thai practitioners use it for self-defense, sports, military and law enforcement activities. Muay Thai uses the hardest parts of the body, including the head, fists, elbows, knees and feet, as weapons. Training in this discipline develops power, speed, cardio-vascular endurance and fighting spirit. A Muay Thai combat showcases opponents exchanging blows without the use of any weapon.
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art widely used by the South Korean military as part of training. The discipline was originally an amalgation of unarmed combat styles developed by three rival Korean kingdoms during ancient times. As South Korea’s national sport, taekwondo combines combat techniques, self-defense, sport, exercise, meditation and philosophy for the physical and spiritual wellness of the practitioner. Sports taekwondo emphasizes speed and competition, while traditional taekwondo emphasizes power, health and self-defense.