Kali/Escrima/Arnis These are the names of the ancient martial arts of the Philippines, Born in the 9th century, there are probably over 100 styles of "eskrima", but they can be divided into three main groups according to their characteristics: the northern style; the southern style; and the central styles of the Philippines. Unlike martial arts from other asian countries, "kali" starts the student off with a weapon. A common misconception is that "kali" is only a stick art. "Kali" is a complete self-defense system including empty hands, sticks, daggers, swords, clubs, staffs, lances, long knives and projectile weapons. It includes the newspaper art, cane art, shoe art, rope and chain art, the fan art and various other hand weapons. It can be safely said that the Filipino martial arts contain the largest variety of weapons of all martial arts styles. It also can be said that if you can hold an object in your hand, then "kali" can show you how to use it for a weapon. A variety of skills must be developed before the trainee becomes an expert. These skills are similar to those used over a thousand years ago---striking, parrying, offense and defense with a dagger ("balaraw"), use of the leg or leg-hip fulcrum over which to break the opponent's balance and throw him, and using the stick or a free hand to apply leverage in disarming a foe. Some modern "arnis" centers concentrate more on stick use and hand movements rather than the complex body maneuvers vital to the ancestral "kali" forms. The early "kali" forms used the "sayaw" and the "sinulog" dances are used in modern "arnis" and are preserved in three (3) traditional training methods: 1) "muestrasion" or "pandalag" teaches the artistic execution of the swinging movement and stroking for offense and defense in repetitive drills. (2) in "sangga at patama" or "sombra tabak", the student practices striking, thrusting, and parrying in a pre-arranged manner which permits excellent control conditions. (3) "Larga muton" or "labanang totohanan" (translation: actual fight), the ultimate phase of "arnis" training, is a free practice in which two trainees try to outmaneuver each other using all of their skills. Kali"/"Escrima"/"Arnis" have been influenced by martial arts from almost every Asian country, including: Chinese kung-fu, japanese karate, indonesian pencak silat, malaysian beasilat, spanish fencing and indian martial arts. The Filipino people were forced to adapt and assimilate the martial arts of invading countries in order to survive. The influences of these other martial arts can be clearly seen in "kali"/"eskrima"/"arnis" and it also can be seen that "arnis" can easily be used to counter these other styles. The "arnis" expert is trained to concentrate his gaze on his opponent's forehead. A stare is developed which seems to penetrate through the opponent and creates an attitude of dominance over him. The expert is trained to stare for extended periods without winking---a wink in combat might prove fatal. The prime target of the stick is the armed assailant's weapon bearing hand or wrist. Any vital spot is considered a secondary target, for a head blow or a body blow, even though wounding the assailant might not stop him from his continuing his armed attack against unarmed assailants, however, the more vital areas are attacked. Like its ancestral forms, the best "arnis" styles were secret. Training sessions were announced only to the initiated and carried out secretly in remote places. Students were sworn, under threat of death, never to reveal their knowledge. |
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| Guros Richard Bustillo and Dan Inosanto |
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| GM "Cacoy" Canete |
| Prof. Remy Presas |
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