Sibat is a type ofspear used as a weapon or tool by natives of thePhilippines. The term is used inTagalog andKinaray-a. It also calledbangkaw,sumbling orpalupad in the islands ofVisayas andMindanao; andbudjak (also spelledbodjak orbudiak) amongMuslim Filipinos in westernMindanao and theSulu Archipelago.
Sibat are typically made withrattan,bamboo,bahi or other hardwood, either with a sharpened tip or a head made from metal. These heads may either be single-edged, double-edged or barbed. Styles vary according to function and origin. For example, a sibat designed for fishing may not be the same as those used for hunting wild game such as boar.
According toKalis Ilustrisimo archivist Romeo Macapagal, inKapampangan, it is known astandos ortandus and a fishingharpoon with 3 or more prongs is asalapang in both Tagalog and Kapampangan.[1]
According toFilipino martial arts researcher & authorCelestino Macachor, a shorter version of the Visayanbangkaw inCebu is thesapang, around 38 inches (97 cm) in length and a thrusting weapon, and abudiak orbodjak is aMoro weapon that is about the same length as thebangkaw, but heavier.[1]
In theMountain Province of Luzon, theIgorot people have different versions of them such as thefan′-kao andkay-yan′, and thefal-fĕg′ war spear of theBontoc people.[2]
The sibat/bangkaw is widely used inArnis systems such asSan Miguel Eskrima,Modern Arnis,Kombatan,Inayan Eskrima andPekiti-Tirsia Kali.
Sibat can either be used hand-to-hand or thrown from a distance. Blunt portions of the weapon could be used to incapacitate at closer ranges. These attacks can be used in conjunction; the shaft can be used to block an enemy's weapon and then followed with a thrust into the throat or stomach.
In theIlocano fighting arts ofKabaroan learned by Grandmaster Ramiro Estalilla, 2 spears (Ilocano:gayáng) can be used at the same time, with the second spear held with a grip in the middle and used as ashield. When one spear is thrown, the practitioner can then draw his blade anddual wield with a blade and spear.[3]
The Igorot andAeta people in Luzon also have spears with detachable heads. The Aeta remove the heads when entering Christian towns to trade (during which the shaft can still be used as astaff weapon) while the Igorot can use the detachable head as a dagger.[1]
Traditionally, Philippine spears were not used with the "helicopter" twirling motions found in Chinese arts such asWushu and IndianSilambam. According toFMA instructor and journalist Daniel Foronda who hails from theMountain Province region, such twirling techniques cannot be used amongst dense pine trees, and basic utilization with the Igorot spear is more akin to riflebayonet training.[1]
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