The Filipino arts are a wide selection of martial arts: Mostly noted for their weapons skill and mastery with sticks, knives, short swords, long swords, long bo, and devastating empty hand techniques.
You’ll find many different systems under the term Filipino Martial Arts. But mostly the more common are; KALI, ESKRIMA, ARNIS. These systems are alike in every manner but each also have very distinctway about them that separate them apart giving them the name they are derived by. Let’s start with KALI a system some call the mother art of the Philippine Island or Archipelago. Kali consists of both weapons and empty hand skills. The art mainly uses synchronized stick training drills along with body angling and fluid movement to gear to a person for better hand and eye coordination, along with phasing out the fear factor of being confronted with a weapon blunt or edged.
It is said among Filipino Art practicioners by understanding the weapon first, you come to know the empty hand. There are uncountable systems in the Philippines known by other names such as Arnis de Mano (harness of the hand) Eskrima, Sikaran, Silat, Kuntao, Kalibadman, Kalir Ongan, Pagkkalikali, and Tjakalele also described as Indonesian fencing. Each style has methods and synchronized techniques that set it apart from the others. Yet all are bound together by a common thread, concentrating on angles of attack.
It has been postulated that the Filipino art of Eskrima originated in India and that it was brought to the Philippines by people who traveled through Indonesia across a land bridge known as the Riouw archipelago that linked the Malay to the Philippine islands. Indonesia Tjakalele and Malay Silat Melayu are two forms of combat said to have been introduced to the Philippines via these now sunken routes. the 9th century Tang dynasty brought goods to the Philippines from East Asia and Malaysia. These countries combat methods of Kuntao and Silat had a great influence on the development of Kali, which is the “mother art” of the Philippines. Legends claim that ten datus (chieftains) left Borneo and settled in Panay where they established the Bothoan in the 12th century. The Bothoan was a school where the DATUS taught Kali along with academic subjects and agriculture. It was kind of a preperatory school for tribal leaders. During the 14th century, a 3rd migration of Malaysians to the Philippines took place. These immagrants were the ancestors of the MORO (Muslim) Filipinos of Mindanao and Sulu. They spread their culture religious beliefs as well as their Kali systems, which utilized bladed weapons of varying lengths. Datu Mangal is credited with bringing the art of Kali to Mactan Island. Sri Bataugong and his son Sri Bantug Lamay were said to have brought the art to the Island of Cebu during the Majaphit Empire. Raja Lapu Lapu, the son of Datu Mangal through constant struggle and war, developed a personalized Kali subsystem known as Pangamut. In the 16th century, he and Raja Humabon, the son of Sri Bantug Lamay, began to quarrel. A battle, was mounting as Lapu Lapu accused Humabon of wrongfully taking land that belonged to his father. The battle, however, was never to take place, as the Philippines were unexpectedly visisted by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
In the early part of the 16th century, the Spanish set sail in search of a westward route across the Pacific to the Indies. Commander Ferdinand Megellan’s fleet of ships accidentally stumbled upon an unknown archipelago. On March 16, 1521 Magellan came upon the island of Samar. He decided that it was in his best interest to wait to attack, and thus dock at a nearby island. This island was uninhabited and so Magellan’s fleet took a few days of needed rest.
On March 18, the Spaniards took note of a boatload of natives coming toward their ships. Commander Magellan, seeing a strategic opportunity, greeted them in friendship. This friendship was to develop, and the natives islanders familiarized Magellan with the names of the surrounding islands that made up the archipelago. With the assistance of the ship’s priest, Magellan baptized Raja Kolambu, the chief of Samar, and also Raja Hamabon, the chief of Cebu, converting them to Catholicism and ultimately to the Spanish allegiance. On April 27, Magellan led and expedition to nearby Mactan Island in hopes of conquering it and then presenting it as a gift to Raja Humabon. Unfortunatly, as he and 49 Spanish conquistadors disembarked from their ships, there were confronted by 1,050 islanders, led by Raja Lapu Lapu, armed with Iron tipped fire hardened bamboo lances, and pointed fire dried wooden stakes. Greatly outnumbered , Magellen was killed by the spears and arrows of Lapu Lapu’s men.
In
1543, Ruy de Villalobos, sailing from New Spain (Mexico), landed south of
Mindanao and proceeded to name the entire archipalego the Philippines after King
Phillip II of Spain. It was not
until 1556 that Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi, authorized by Phillip II , colonized the island of Cebu, and a foot
hold was secured in the Philippines. When
the Spaniards traveled to the island of Luzon in 1570, they found it inhabited
by Filipino, Chinese and Indonesian cross-cultures, and upon their arrival they
were confronted by Kalistas (Kali warriors) whose fighting methods were far more
advanced and exceeded theirs. But
the Spaniards, using firearms, defeated the inhabitants of Luzon.
From then on, the art of Kali was prohibited, but it was still practiced
and perfected by a dedicated few. The
arts where then preserved in native ritual dances called sinulog
that had mock battles with swords as finales.
Ironically, these dances were often performed for the Spaniards
enjoyment. Kalistas practiced their
arts diligently, and hence developed extreme accuracy, speed, and agility.
These attributes were a must. Because
the Spaniards swords were very sharp and readily cut through the Filipino’s
wooden weapons, many strikes to nerve centers along the body and limbs were
mastered, allowing the Kalista to disarm and disable his opponent with one
strike. During the 330 yrs of
Spanish reign, after many skirmishes with Spanish fencing exponents and after
careful observation, the art of Kali was altered.
Many training methods were dropped and many new concepts and techniques
were added. This coupled with the
influence of Spanish culture and language, prompted the evolution of Eskrima/Escrima
(aka Arnis de Mano). It was the
Spanish rapier and dagger systems that had the greatest influence on the
development of Eskrima. The use of
numbered angles of attack as well as what have become traditional Escrima
uniforms, were both influenced by the Spanish.
It is also interesting to note that although Tagalog is the national
language of the Philippines, many of the top Eskrima masters will still teach
their arts in the Spanish language today.
At IMAA we encourage a person to experiment with all the concepts and principles of as many systems as possible. This type of liberal attitude is what makes a free-thinking individual. One who makes a style of their own, and who uses their wits and instincts to the best of their ability.
Students have the options of experiencing : (Click on each for a description)
Serrada
Mr. Cory Ballinger (Head Filipino Martial Arts
Instructor) background is as follows:
1987-1999- studied under Guru Bruce Ogle in Kali, Silat, Jeet Kune Do concepts and Chinese Gung Fu.
1998-present- studying under Guru/Sensei Kim Satterfield Isara Eskrima (6thDan Shorinji Goshin Do Karate)
1998-present- affiliated with Guru/Sensei Mike Casto of I.M.P.A.C.T. Academy a Kali/Silat blend school
Mr. Ballinger has attended several seminars too many to note but the most recognized of all is Guru / Sifu Dan Inosanto, Grand Master Maung Gyi, Guru/ Sifu Dion Riccardo, GrandTuhon Leo T. Gaje Jr.
