Kali, also known as Escrima.
Filipino warriors known as Escrimadors,
developed a highly effective Martial Art System.
In the fifteenth century under Magellan the spaniards
invaded the Filipino's. The spaniards lost three times.
The Filipino Warriors had exceptional skill and discipline
and faith in their native art of Kali, that their ability
to
survive was extraordinary !
The Filipino Art of Kali is now preserved, practiced & taught
in form by using wooden sticks ( made of rattan or bamboo )
in order to mimic the movements once used.
In the Art of Kali, the practitioner ( student ) will
primarily
be taught the following:
- Sensitivity drills
- Development of coordination & focus
- Empty Hand Skills ( self - Defense )
known as :
'Panantukan' ( Filipino Boxing )
- Intricate footwork & low line leg
techniques,
known as : 'Pananjakman'
- Practical Self Defense techniques against
Single stick or double sticks, such as :
nerve strikes to the hand ; disarms ;
locks & chokes.
- Also the use of knees & elbows, which is
very
similar to 'Tai-Boxing'
The ancient art of Kali also teaches the practitioner or
student
to be skilled in self - defense against multiple opponents
as
well as single opponents.

The Art of Ninjitsu, is a Japanese
Martial Art which emphasizes training in the
highest levels of disciplining the mind and
the body - as well as stealth in movement,
escaping, and weapons training & tactics.
Pentjak Silat is an Indonesian Martial
Art and began
originally as a weapons style of combat.
Pentjak Silat
has borrowed much from its nearby neighbors
of China
and India, combining the fighting styles
of these regions
into their own philosophy& methodology,
the end result
is a style which contains weaponry both
long & short as
well as bladed. Silat also features techniques
consisting
of fighting range, therefore, it will
readily be apparent
that
the art of Silat has many & varied
techniques such as :
kicking, striking, sweeping, pressing & grappling.
Pentjak Silat was founded approximately
1,000 yrs. ago
and was popularized by Dan Inosanto who
is the founder
of his own system of Silat known as Maphilindo
Silat, as
the synthesis of Dan Inosanto's vast experience
in the
Kali & Silat styles found in the Philipines,
Indonesia & Malaysia.
Pentjak Silat's open hand techniques are
based upon
skill executed and practiced around the
use of weaponry.
When fighting without a weapon, all parts
of the body are
to be used for striking. Students learn
to calmly avoid attack
and then they are taught how to defend
themselves against
an assailant / attacker with a weapon
when they are without
a weapon. Pentjak Silat's attacking & deflecting
techniques
are based upon skill & graceful footwork,
which is developed
over time. Due to the nature of this
arts graceful footwork
it
is often mistaken as a dance.
Hapkido ( Hop - Key - Do )
Definition
- Hapkido, literally means, the way of
coordinated power.
Hapkido is a Korean Martial Art, it combines
techniques from Karate, Aikido and Judo.
The definining feature of Hapkido is
the joint
locks as well as the spectacle characteristic
of its sensational throws !
Developed in the 1940's by its founder
Grandmaster Choi Yong Sul. who'd learned
martial arts first in Japan at Daito
- Ryu Aiki -
Jujutsu, an ancient form of Jujutsu that
was
taught & practiced by the Samurai.
Upon Choi Yong Sul's return to Korea,
he'd
modified techniques he learned & studied
;
in order to defend against particular
types
of attacks, and borrowed heavily from
many
other systems & styles.
A famous student of Choi Yong Sul was
Ji Han Jae who'd continued to develop
the art and was very instrumental in
bringing Hapkido to the western world.
During this time Ji Han Jae met Bruce
Lee, who was very impressed with the techniques
of Hapkido. Ji Han Jae coached Bruce
Lee,
who then incorporated Hapkido into his
own
Art & Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do.
Ji Han Jae appeared in a fight scene
in
Bruce Lee's last film 'Game of Death
!'
The techniques taught in the art of Hapkido
place strong emphasis on minimizing the
need for strength, by focusing on the
use of
leverage, timing, circular motion, and
also
practical applications.
Hapkido is not a sport & has no Katas
or
set forms ; instead its focus is adaptation.
The Art of Hapkido is a much more complete
Martial Art in that it consists of :
both hard &
soft style deflection techniques, throws,
takedowns, groundfighting, extensive
joint locking techniques, and weapons
training ( short stick, single baton,
sword,
knife, rope & bo staff ).
The movements
or
techniques found in Hapkido are very
fluid
and smooth.
Hapkido is a very effective martial art,
and
is an excellent method of self - defense
; as
such it can be a most beneficial method
of
training ( Martial Art Form ).
|