It is the art of taking down an attacker simply and directly utilizing locks, chokes and holds. Unlike most martial art systems, both weaponry and empty hands are taught together because the principles are common to both and are inter-changeable. Armed or unarmed, the student learns to relate to any situation using the same concepts of body angling, positioning and flowing. Depending on speed, footwork and skill rather than brute strength, this fluid and practical method of self-defense is one of the most comprehensive martial art systems known. Kali-Silat is a Filipino martial art and is over 1200 years old. It is tried and tested on the battlefield and is believed to be the art that killed Magellan’s warriors when he landed in the Philippines. Kali incorporates empty hand and weaponry as well as specialised sections on dumog (grappling and moving the body), panantukan (Filipino boxing), pananjackman or sikaren(Filipino low-level kicking) and flow / energy drills such as hubud and Kunsi (locks and manipulations).
Practising Blend Kali that is taught by International Grandmaster Dan Inosanto, a martial arts legend in his own right. The blend that we teach has a strong element of knifework in it and this normally signifies a higher level of empty hand skill and technique due to the range of combat. Kali has stood the test of time and evolved into a fantastic martial art that develops mental as well as physical skills. Kali philosophy is based on triangles and the highest triangle is based on Love, Compassion and Humility. There are many areas of Kali to study and as a modern art it serves the student well as a street defence style.
