Filipino martial arts: Kali, Escrima and Weapons

Filipino martial

Today's most popular and influential martial arts are the fighting styles that have emerged in the Philippines, including Kali and Escrima [or Eskrima, all of which are the names of a very similar set of overlapping martial arts disciples]. Filipino martial arts are unique in their emphasis on practicality, and little by little rituals are effective. This is necessary for the history of violence in the Philippines, as conflicts between local tribes and conflicts between international powers such as Spain and the United States have jeopardized this history. Filipino martial arts include weapons training, especially sticks and blades, and empty-handed training. The idea is that weapons are strictly an extension of the body. Another unique concept of Philippine martial arts is that anything can be used as a weapon, from daggers or knives to rolled up newspapers or umbrellas. This makes Philippine martial arts have important cultural appeal and influence in everything from Hollywood to US special forces, which I will discuss later. But first, the weapons and techniques behind the Philippine martial arts.

Philippine martial arts weapon

Freehand [because your body is also a weapon]:

In the unarmed Kali or Escrima, any part of the body can be used as a weapon. The battle involves countless punches, kicks, elbows, knees, heads, finger taps, locks, blocks, fighting, disarming techniques, forearm strikes, palm attacks, and even bites. Everything is a fair game, because you are also a weapon.

Blunt weapon

Kali Sticks / Escrima Sticks:

In Kali and Escrima, sticks are a common weapon. These include:

Baston: A short Kali rod, usually made of flexible rattan

And Bangkaw: a longer pole or staff, usually made of bamboo

Simple weapons such as pens, umbrellas, canes, and even rolled up newspapers and magazines can be used as Kali and Escrima sticks! Fundamentally, there is almost no difference between using newspapers to combat or using baston, so similar techniques apply to both.

Bladed Kali Weapons

In Kali and Escrima, blade weapons are of fundamental importance because a fundamental part of the martial arts culture of the Philippines is blade culture. Cutlery of various shapes and sizes is a common and normal life factor for cutting overgrown vegetation, cutting fruit or meat, or cutting opponents. This raises one of the main differences between Filipino martial arts and other weapon-based combat systems, such as Japanese Kendo, Okinawa Kobuto or European Fencing: Although no one carries katanas and sabers with them, people still carry knives and machete and other types of Cutlery, all of which are learned and used by learners through the study of Filipino martial arts. This makes Kali or Escrima particularly useful and useful for martial arts to know.

Dagger: A common blade weapon in Philippine martial arts. Traditional varieties include gunong, punyal and barong

Foldable butterfly knife: called Balisong

Sword: Spanish Espada, traditional varieties including kampilan and pinuti

Machete: Traditionally known as Golok

Spear: called sibat

History and influence of Kali and Escrima / Eskrima

The Cali martial arts began very well before the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines, because the Horde needed a means to protect them against other tribes, whether on the island or in other tribes. It is said that the islands of Philip are as many as the islands of the Philippines. Kali may initially be influenced by similar stick and sword fighting styles from India, such as Silambam, which also involves stick fights.

Once the Spaniards invaded and colonized the Philippines, Cali was classified as illegal and suppressed. In return, the Filipinos began to incorporate them into their dance ceremonies, which enabled them to pass on cultural knowledge and combat skills without encountering anger or even the attention of the colonists.

The Cali martial arts developed through bloody trials and mistakes during the colonial period, as the successful rebellion of Filipinos shook Spanish rule. As each rebellion was suppressed, the Filipino people reassessed their martial arts, took out things that didn't work, and improved what worked.

Today, many Kali / Eskrima systems have been taught, most of which teach weapons, fight, cuddle, throw and destroy. Kali's goal is to teach lightning-fast movements, efficient footwork and practical self-defense.

In popular and military culture, Cali martial arts also have influence. It is used by US special forces, Russian Spetznaz and Indian special forces. The Hollywood film also depicts Kali, a short flash from Bruce Lee's "Entering the Dragon" to "The Spy Shadow Series with Bert Damon", "Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible 4" and "Star Wars" Prequel A more fulfilling look in the trilogy.

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