History of Sikaran

Sikaran is the Filipino art of foot fighting. It is from the root word Sikad which refers to the motion between standing still and initiation of a kick. Sikaran originated n the province of Baras, Philippines. It was developed by paddy farmers as a past time activity. Farmers will draw a 25 foot circle called pitak. One person will defend the circle by fighting and kicking.his opponents outside the circle. Later on, Sikaran fighters use their hands and sticks. Stick fighting is called arnis.

History of Arnis

The origin of stick fighting in the Philippines is hard to trace. Indian, Southeast Asian, Chinese and Indonesian influences have helped develop the highly sophisticated fighting styles using sharp swords, daggers and fire-hardened sticks.

When Spaniards came, stick fighting which they dubbed as escrima (skirmish) was outlawed. The Filipinos preserved the techniques by staging dances or mock battles in religious plays known as moro moro. The actors playing Spanish soldiers wore arnes which is the harness worn during medieval times for armor. The actors used the blade fighting forms and footwork identical to those used in escrima. The word arnes later became arnis.

The Brotherhood

Early 1920's: Grand Master Ciprano Geronimo founded Sikaran. The disabling kicking techniques termed "panghilo" or knockout blows were developed at this time. Its trademark and one of its fatal techniques is "biakid" which is a kick delivered exactly the opposite of an opponent's head.

1940's: Sikaran became popular in the provinces surrounding the Baras village area.

1950's: Sikaran had become widely known and was accepted as a legitimate art in such places as Japan and Korea.

1958: The son, Master Meliton C. Geronimo founded the World Sikaran-Arnis Brotherhood of the Philippines. He structured the Sikaran into 2 divisions: Sport and combat. He also promoted Sikaran as a contemporary martial art and sport by introducing it to various Asian tournaments.The efforts of Master Meliton C. Geronimo and his students are responsible for the emergence and worldwide acceptance of this Filipino martial art. Sikaran has taken roots in the Philippines, Canada, New Zealand, United States, Saudi Arabia, Germany. Qatar and Australia.