(COMING SOON)
(COMING SOON)
KALI
HISTORY
Kali (also known as Arnis or Eskrima/Escrima) is a traditional martial art of the Philippines. Filipino Martial Arts (or FMA) has an emphasis on weapon-based fighting methods using bladed weapons, swords, sticks, knives, various improvised weapons, as well as empty-hand techniques. ​​The name 'Kali' is derived from the pre-Hispanic Filipino term for blades and fencing, 'Arnis' and 'Eskrima' comes from the old Spanish words for armour and fencing.
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When the Spanish expeditions first arrived in the Philippines in 1521, they observed a weapons-based martial arts practiced by the Filipino. They encountered fierce native tribesmen, with deadly skills in swords and knives. After the Spanish colonized the Philippines, a decree was set that prohibited civilians from carrying full-sized swords. Despite this, the practitioners found ways to maintain and keep the arts alive, using sticks made out of rattan rather than swords, as well as small knives wielded like swords. The arts were passed from generation to generation, and sometimes took the form of choreographed dances or mock battles at stage plays. As a result, a unique and complex stick-based technique evolved. It is noteworthy that the Spaniards and Americans never fully conquered the southern parts of the Philippines.
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Kali combines these native fighting techniques along with old Spanish fencing, and a degree of systematization was achieved over time, resulting in a distinguishable Philippine martial art. With time, a system for the teaching of the basics also evolved. With the exception of a few older and more established systems, it was common to pass the art from generation to generation in an informal approach. This has made attempts to trace the lineage of a practitioner difficult.​​
FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS
Americans were first exposed to Kali during the Philippine–American War in 1901, where most of an American company was hacked to death or seriously injured by machete-wielding guerillas in Balangiga. With regards to its spread outside the Philippines, Kali was brought to Hawaii and California as far back as the 1920s by Filipino migrant workers.​​ More recently, Kali has been taught to many armed forces around the world, examples include the Filipino Marines, South Korean Marines, US Marines (centre photo above) and Law Enforcement.
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In Western countries, it is common to practice Kali in conjunction with other martial arts: Jeet Kune Do and Wing Chun. Wing Chun is a form of Southern Chinese kung-fu brought to Hong Kong by Ip Man, and made famous by actors Bruce Lee and recently Donnie Yen. Jeet Kune Do was created by Bruce Lee by mixing Wing Chun with boxing, fencing, taekwondo, and Jujutsu.
In the US, the cross-training between Kali and Jeet Kune Do (as headed by Dan Inosanto of the Inosanto Academy in Marina del Rey, California), goes according to the well known maxim "Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless".
OUR LINEAGE
TSKM Academy follows a Filipino-American developed, western Kali system taught by Dan Inosanto. ​Dan Inosanto (now in his 80s) is a famed American martial arts instructor and actor. Famously known as Bruce Lee's training partner and friend, Inosanto became the principal spokesperson and historian for Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do upon Bruce Lee's passing.
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Inosanto served with the US Army 101st Airbourne as a paratrooper, and is credited with training Filipino Martial Arts to a number of Hollywood actors including Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris and others. ​Inosanto teaches Kali / Filipino Martial Arts, Jeet Kune Do, Shoot wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Silat, MMA and other arts at the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts in Marina del Rey, California, USA. Some notable students include:
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Bruce Lee (Inosanto taught him Nunchaku and staff)
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Chuck Norris
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Jeff Imada - fight choreographer, stunt coordinator (Bourne Trilogy, Fight Club, Blade, Iron Man 2, Furious 7)
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Damon Caro - stunt coordinator and fight director (300, Mr and Mrs Smith, Batman vs Superman)
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Over the course of 2023 and 2024, through Wilson Sze's personal work in Film/TV, he has been fortunate to be offered the opportunity to train and practice Kali on a weekly basis with his US-based instructor Steve Brown, a senior instructor direct from the Inosanto Academy who works under Dan Inosanto in Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles, California.
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Wil has been training long staff, katana (sword), single-stick, double-sticks, dagger and empty-hands drills - as taught by Dan Inosanto. Steve Brown visited Wellington both years 2023+2024 and has given Wil blessings to teach Kali at TSKM in Wellington.
FILM + TV / MOTION PICTURES
Kali has been used in many Hollywood films that required a flowing, fast and deadly fighting style, often incorporating bladed weapons or improvised weapons. It has been also used by various stunt professionals and actors for their physical training, stunt training and character development. Here are two examples among many others:
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In the Bourne Trilogy Jason Bourne played by Matt Damon uses a mix of Kali and Bruce Lee fighting-styles as choregraphed by famed Fight Choreographer Jeff Imada, who was trained by Guru Dan Inosanto, at the Inosanto Academy LA.
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In The Book of Eli, the 2010 American post-apocalyptic neo-Western action film starring Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman and Mila Kunis, all the fight sequences by Denzel's character using blades and sword were choreographed by Jeff Imada. Denzel was trained by Guru Dan Inosanto. Photo above shows Denzel Washington with Gru Dan Inosanto and Jeff Imada.
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In addition to Kali, JKD by Bruce Lee, and Wing Chun by Ip Man are both of course very well-known fighting styles that has been used famously in Chinese, Hong Kong and Western cinema.