‘Raya’ with the Arnis is what P.E. classes should’ve been

We wish we looked half as cool

I’m around 14 years removed from my days in grade-school, but I can still distinctly remember the time when we did Arnis for our Physical Education class. For the non-Filos out there, Arnis or Eskrima is the national martial art of the Philippines.

It can take many forms, but the most recognizable concept revolves around pummeling your enemies with sticks made of rattan. It’s absolutely badass (even Bruce Lee loved it) that it made me hyped for the class, only to realize that having your hands, arms and legs hit by overeager classmates isn’t my idea of a good time.

Fast forward to today, Arnis seems to be getting it’s due in the latest Disney-animated film, ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’. The movie follows a warrior named Korra…erm I mean, Raya as she travels to find the last Airbender…. erm, Dragon, to restore peace between five n̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ clans.

It promises to be a landmark Disney film, as it’s the first to feature an entirely Southeast Asian aesthetic. Its main setting, the fictional world of Kumandra, is inspired by the likes of Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and our very own.

At some point in the trailer, Raya pulls out two wooden sticks to fight an enemy, clearly referencing the Arnis fighting style. Naturally, Filos went nuts over the inclusion, including me. Another big-budget, mainstream Hollywood movie is finally paying attention to this underrated craft.

More of the same, please.

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Source: we the pvblic