Lapunti de Kombate Arnis evolutionary history begins with Arsenio "Seniong" Caburnay (1882 - 1962). Seniong was a blacksmith who travelled throughout
the Visayas to Negros, Bohol, Leyte and Samar. He also visited the cities of Cagayan De Oro, Illigan and Ozamis in Mindinao, plying his craft.In particular his main love in blacksmithing was
to produce quality bolos for the many people he met and Seniong was a welcome guest in the homes of these people during his travels. Seniong's clients used these
bolos for both farming and
sometimes for self-defense. Seniong himself having an interest in martial arts and self-defense in general, learned many of the fighting methods from the different people during his travels.
In
1927 at the age of 12 his brother Felimon "Mooney" Caburnay (1915 - 1991) began to learn the arts of blacksmithing and travelled the Visayas and Mindanao with his brother. Felimon now learned many
different fighting styles of Arnis/Escrima from both Seniong and from the people they met. Guro Jonie Miraples a student of Guro Caburnay has founded the Lapunti de Kombate Arnis.
Lapunti de
Kombate Arnis is characterized first of all by the fast "fan" like movements or the "abanico" moves of its primary teaching tool, the baston. Other aspects
similar to other
styles of Arnis are also given equal importance. The dagger, baston and dagger, double baston and unarmed combat fighting are taught as well.
The footwork is a combination of classical Arnis
forward-backward movements, a triangle system of offence and defence and the cross-legged and twisting style. The main emphasis in Lapunti de Kombate Arnis is on long range but with the combination of the
tight footwork the fighter has excellent mobility and with the speed of the strikes the encounter can be at close range as well. The style is based on body dynamics, not strength, in combination with the
footwork. The fundamentals are 12 basic Lapunti strikes. The 12 counter strikes, attack and retreat, basic defence and disarming and multiple strikes.
