International Kali Arnis Eskrima Federation has a best definition of Eskrima: Over the centuries and with the influence of the various tribes and cultures in the Philippines, the martial arts developed to be highly effective.
Certain tribes had limited stick fighting skills, such as only fighting at long range or short range, these were eventually combined which made the art a highly effective combat system. The three best known names are Kali, Eskrima, and Arnis.
The Spanish occupiers named the martial arts of the Filipinos “Eskrima”. That derives from the Spanish word ” Esgrima “describing a brief fight or fencing”.
In short, Eskrima is a stick fighting where each protagonist has no armor or any other protection.