“When you direct your opponents’ energy, you force him to change his position and you learn to exploit him, learn to adapt and to be fluid.”

Paclibar Bicol Arnis is a system of drilling by which students master all body movements, such as bending, rotating, pushing, balancing by learning to move limbs and moving the body backwards and forwards, left and right, and also dodging up and down, freely and uniformly. The techniques of striking must be well controlled with power directed at the target accurately and attack directed to the target using the appropriate technique and maximum power in the shortest time possible, hurting the opponent momentarily following up with a lethal technique.

A unique system in which one learns to adapt to the combat self defense by acquiring the important skill of transitioning from one technique to another, smoothly and instinctively.

Maestro Paclibar is dedicated to train others and to help propagate the growth of his system of Paclibar Bicol Arnis and Otso Tiradas systems. Maestro Paclibar focuses on every aspect of fighting from long range, medium range and close range, grappling, stickfighting and knife fighting. Training his students for realistic street fighting, which is different than fighting in a tournament, however he does teach his students the principles of tournament sport fighting for this also has its values.

He has turned Paclibar Arnis with Kaikijutsu into a hard and soft style with an avenue of response to any kind of attack. The Saia and Otso Tiradas system is the system or form of fighting which uses the natural weapons of the body from striking, kicking, throwing and joint reversals. Maestro Paclibar is a firm believer that the basics are the foundation of any art, and when learning and practicing correctly will give the student a firm foundation in techniques, speed and power. Forms are just another training method in learning basics. Paclibar Bicol Arnis builds towards the unity of the mind, body and the heart, bringing confidence and peace within ones self.

The 6/8 Tiradas fighting techniques, is an offensive form moving in a graceful, but forceful flowing movement, which demonstrates the power and agility of the Paclibar system. The Paclibar Bicol Arnis system focus on the use of a simple stick, kinamot, locking dumog, dulo-dulo concentrating to largo mano and then medium range and finished on close range fighting tactics. It can be classified as a modern system, a composite of several fighting principles of physics, the quality of force and counter force.

All tempered by good timing, speed, power deceptiveness, power to the mind, concentration of power, relaxation, visualization, breath control and effective counter attacking, reaction force, calm mind, lower abdomen and hip jerking role of muscular power and rhythm. Maestro Paclibar instructs in Sais Tiradas and Otso Tiradas like Serrada, Abierta, Aldabis, Saboy, Tochar, and number six is Herada. The student is taught that there is a counter to every counter and that continuous research and discovery is basic knowledge. Only those with faster reflex, coordination and agility will prevail. To achieve perfection in the art, you need speed + timing + reflex, (S + T + R) which is necessary to acquire a defensive posture and fluidity in movement. To harness one’s natural body movement refine it with S + T + R = vector and awaken one’s sense to move and react to it. In Paclibar Bicol Arnis the student is first taught with the baston and empty hand later. The student learns the six (6) Tiradas or Biradas, the counters, disarming, locking. Footwork and body shifting is very important in the aspect of training. Triangle (tatsulok) the student performs many repetitions of stepping left and right on the triangle diagram, (this is taped on the floor). In Sais Biradas or the six (6) Cardinal Birada (strikes), this is patterned around the areas of the body divided by an “X” with a dot in the center for thrust.

Saia Tiradas / Biradas (Six Strikes)

• 1. Birada esa/one (Abierta)- A backward diagonal strike aimed downward at the opponents’ right temple.
• 2. Birada dilawa/two (Serada) - Forehand diagonal strike aimed downward at the opponents left temple.
• 3. Birada tatlo/three (Aldabis) - A downward diagonal backhand strike to the opponents’ right leg area.
• 4. Birada apat/four (Saboy) - A reverse downward diagonal forehand strike to the opponents left leg area.
• 5. Birada lima/five (Tochar / Sungkite) - A thrust to the abdominal area.
• 6. Birada anim/six (Herada) - A strike to the opponents crown

Paclibar Arnis students - Winners in Metro Manila Tournament

The student learns the six strikes which are designated to attack various areas of the opponents’ body. With the six angles of attack understood, then the student is taught cutting, checking with the baston which is often accompanied by disarming. (As the student matures in his training he begins to realize that the disarming he initially learned is interchangeable and will work with various attacks like miscellaneous striking patterns from other systems as well, like wetik, pitik, lastiko, bartikal, buhat araw, abanico, rapillon, florete, tercia, serada, saboy, abierta, amara, rompida, tinulisan, and many more.)

Mastery of the fundamental concepts, builds a strong foundation and a working knowledge for the more advanced techniques. Once the foundation is built, the arnis student is taught to execute and defend against the six angles of attack. Once this is accomplished, reflex development is introduced. Then empty hand is introduced with the knowledge of zoning, footwork and distancing it is an easy transition.

L-R: Grandmaster Diego, Peachie Baron-Saguin,Maestro Paclibar, Grandmaster Tongson, Grandmaster Sanchez, Grandmaster Robas

L-R: Engr. Diaz, Maestro Paclibar, Master Sobrino, Master Villeno, Master Santos, Student, Student, Master Buena

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