Arnis The Up and Down Method Book by Neofito Santos

Arnis: The Up and Down Method is an illustrated instructional manual on Filipino stick fighting, presenting Neofito Santos's streamlined approach to defense, counterattacking, and combat with the rattan stick.

Santos reduces the system to two primary striking directions—upward and downward—combined with footwork, distance, timing, and body movement. The book demonstrates basic strikes and defenses against numerous angles of attack, including sweeping blows, overhead strikes, straight thrusts, and low attacks. Santos emphasizes simplicity and conditioned response, arguing that a small number of well-practiced movements can be more practical under pressure than a complicated collection of techniques.

The techniques are presented through step-by-step photographs and explanations, with particular attention to striking the opponent's wrist while simultaneously moving away from the line of attack. The book also provides background on Santos, a native of the Philippines who began studying Filipino stick fighting as a child and later explored several systems of Arnis and Escrima.

A useful vintage reference for practitioners and collectors interested in Arnis, Escrima, Kali, Filipino martial arts, and traditional stick-fighting methods.

71 pages