Martins Licis, the 2019 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) and 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic champion withdrew from the 2024 season due to an injury sustained earlier in the year. During his recovery, Licis traveled across Asia and Europe, seeking out the histories of strength.
Licis has lifted the legendary Svaneti Bell in the Georgian highlands, immersed himself in sumo wrestling, and competed in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Licis’s latest adventure took him to the Philippines in mid-November, where he learned Arnis, a traditional Filipino martial art, and stick fighting alongside a world champion athlete.
[Related: 2024 Magnús Ver Magnússon Strongman Classic Results]
History of Arnis
Licis’ research into 16th-century Spanish scholars and the stories from practitioners suggests that Filipino farmers, who defended their land with everyday blades, mastered Arnis long ago. “These were no mere flailing brawls; what they had was an ever-evolving martial art,” Licis described.
People taught these forms and passed them down for generations. They were practical and so adaptive that they successfully integrated old fencing techniques inspired by their Spanish conquerors. Arnis became so feared that the authorities banned its practice.
Instead of blades, people used sticks with the techniques taught through choreographed dance and mock battles.
Martins Licis Learns Arnis
Licis navigated the Arnis’s sports elements program, which includes three distinct events:
- Anis Anyo (form)
- Point System Sparring
- Live Stick Sparring
Warm-Up
Licis warmed up with wrist articulation, striking techniques, footwork, lunges, and blocking.
Demonstration
For his initial demonstration, Licis struck the target mid-air in a lunge position, closing the distance swiftly. He executed the maneuver on his first three attempts before proceeding to the next demonstration.
In the second movement, Licis refrained from lunging. Instead, he planted his feet and moved his dominant foot forward and back. The emphasis was on timing to return to position. Given Licis’ larger size, he would be disadvantaged if actual swords were involved.
“To make it a snappy, quick motion, I really need to drive immediately the moment my front foot hits the ground,” Licis explained. “I need to react and drive back. It’s like a jumping lunge but trying to be as precise as possible and not get hit by a stick at the same.”
Sparring
Licis struggled to fit into his sparring gear but improvised to make it work. After a few rounds, he admitted, “This guy’s intimidating, but I’m so proud of myself. I got one point, which is a huge accomplishment.”
If this were a match with swords, I’d have no fingers left.
—Martins Licis
Licis’ sparring session was exceptional cardio and lots of fun. “I cannot express to you enough just the level of fun, 10 out of 10. I imagine this [like] a medieval battle with swords,” he expressed.
Road Trip
After his sparring session, Licis embarked on a four-hour drive to meet the Master, a traditional practitioner dedicated to preserving a unique and historical form of Arnis. During his visit, Licis was taught the subtle art of foot adjustments and positioning to gain advantageous striking angles and to evade hits from opponents in Arnis’ training.
Licis was also introduced to a distinctive Arnis style involving training on a plank, believed to have originated with farmers who fought over land along narrow paths. This style demands extensive footwork, spatial awareness, and a specialized approach.
While learning the obscure Arnis martial arts, Licis expressed gratitude for Filipino stick fighting and hopes it expands into a worldwide practice in sports and self-defense.
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Featured image: @martinslicis on Instagram
