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Kali ("ka-lee")   Strengths | Weapons | History |
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| Other Names: | Arnis, Arnis de Mano, Escrima, Sikaron | |
| Martial Class: | Weapon-based, pugilistic | |
| Region of Origin: | Philippine archipelago | |
| Proponents: | Guro Dan Inosanto, Inosanto Academy, CA, USA | |
Guro Dan InosantoPhoto by Sara Rubenstein
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top Strengths: |
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”De-fanging the snake.” is the core maxim that kalistas (practitioners of Kali) train and fight under. This means that in the Filipino martial arts the primary target is the opponent’s weapon hand. Once the weapon hand has been destroyed the opponent’s combative ability is severely hindered. Allowing the skilled kalista to move in for the kill with little resistance. As recent as the 1940s it was common for people in the Philippines to settle disputes with bladed duels. This practice was outlawed with the American occupation/liberation during WWII. The word "Kali" comes from the joined words, Kamut Lihok (ka-moot lee-hook) meaning body motion, this best describes our use in the Kali/JKD family. The other words, Escrima and Arnis are also used depending on the region the system came from. It would be impossible to catalog the hundreds of different families of systems from the different regions but it would be safe to say they all have in common a particular training method unique to its region. Utilizing rattan (a reed that grows on the ground), angles, and rhythm are used to train the art. The left and right side of the body is trained simultaneously by wielding one or two rattan sticks swung in the pattern of the Escala. A diagram that resembles an asterisk A base platform similar to the escala on the ground is used for footwork. Angles of movement:
Traditional rhythmic music is used to teach your body rhythm, control, and speed in combat. This is a unique way to train gross motor movements, much like we train fine motor movers as children doing the alphabet. The preference in the Filipino martial arts is to call training "play" and can be characterized by its flowing, dance like movements. There are up to thirteen categories of training. The Filipino Martial Arts have something to benefit everyone. Developed for multiple opponents as well as single opponent confrontations, the training heightens student's awareness of their surroundings and teaches them to use their environment as tools of combat. Everyday objects, such as umbrellas, books, bandannas, etc., become effective means of self-defense in the hands of a properly trained individual. Use of left and right hand techniques develop coordination. Drills and techniques taught in a fluid, non-restrictive manner allow students to enhance their natural attributes and improve their sense of timing, speed, awareness, balance, agility, and confidence. Stressing the importance of range in attack and the angle at which the attack comes from gives the kalista or escrimador a clear advantage over many other systems. It does not matter what weapon an opponent attacks with, it will come at you from a generic angle that has been trained repetitiously. Thusly, mounting a counter attack with ease is possible even if you have never seen the system before. |
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top Weapons: |
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The Fillipino Martial Arts have been categorized into 12 levels or areas of weaponry or training:
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top History: |
| The Filipino Martial arts, comes from a group of islands, numbering in the thousands in the South Pacific oceans off the coasts of Southeast Asia. The Phillipines hosts a flourishing culture that comes from many years of war, conquest, migration, immigration, and fortune-seeking travelers. The local natives of the land through the years have developed fighting systems congruent to the terrain and the various circumstances and invaders that have threatened their existence.
Many of the influences that have made up the Filipino martial arts today have originated from some of the peoples who have tried and failed to colonize the Philippine islands to this day. Kali is comprised of many elements from the Spanish and Italian sword and rapier methods (Espada y daga or long and short). In fact, the Spanish gave up the Philippines to the United States in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. The Japanese, in World War II, occupied them until they achieved their independence in 1946. Muslim Filipinos of the Southern Islands are most commonly called Moros although not all tribes are Muslim. Today there are about 13 Moro tribes inhabiting Central and Southern Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago and Palawan. The Muslims of the Southern Philippines were respected as some of the greatest close range blade wielders that the world has known. Religious devoutness, fearlessness, determination and nationalism stimulated the combative prowess of Moro warriors. This made the Moro unreceptive and combative towards any sovereignty that tried to control them or forcibly change their views for nearly four hundred years. |
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