KALI
Filipino Martial Arts
Eskrima - Silat - Arnis
Panantukan - Pangamut

Kali is a general term for the native martial art of the Philippines. Because of the many dialects and languages within the islands themselves, there are an abundance of terms that represent the various styles and methods of fighting in the Philippines.

The word kali is used within our family to collectively represent the original art of the Philippines which pre-dates the Spanish occupation. Kali, the name and art itself hail from the Southern Philippines. While other terms, such as Eskrima (Central Philippines) and Arnis (Northern Philippines) represent Filipino methods, there are often differences in structure, technique and training methods. The term arnis, for example, is of Spanish origin, indicating a more recent development than the mother art of kali. The terms silat, kuntao and bersilat are Malay in origin and are principally the same art as kali sharing identical root movements and philosophies.

Kali is one of the most comprehensive martial arts in existence. It includes both weaponry and empty hand skills in various ranges of fighting with many types of technologies. Unlike most martial arts, kali teaches both empty hands and weapons together; the principles being common to both and interchangeable. Regardless of whether armed or unarmed, the student learns to relate to any situation using the same concepts of body angling, positioning, zoning, and flowing with the opponent.

Only recently has kali been exposed to the public on a large scale. Although it was most likely one of the first martial arts brought to the United States (c. I 700's) it was hidden from view by most Filipino's who practiced the art secretly. So well hidden, in fact, that some families had no idea that their fathers, uncles and even husbands, were eskrimadores.

Not as structured or organized at first glance as other martial arts might appear, kali is far and away more sophisticated and evolved. Traditionally, kali and eskrima practitioners trained more one-on-one in a very informal manner; where-ever and when-ever and with what-ever was available. Consequently, a kali student quickly becomes familiar with various environments and situations and is able to gain the "flow"- the ability to react instinctively in most any situation. There were no "forms" or set patterns as with most other arts, nor were there uniforms. Even the privilege to teach was conveyed by unconventional means; usually by the giving of a special weapon or other personal belonging.

Our curriculum in the Filipino martial arts is a compilation of several systems or styles of kali, eskrima, arnis and pangamut acquired and promoted by our chief instructor, Guro Daniel Inosanto, over the course of the last 35 years.