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DAMAG-INC Kali Combatives
Blog
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Tue, 24 Oct 2006
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Written and published texts of the History and origins of the Filipino Martial Arts
Background Of the Filipino Martial Arts
The Fighting arts of the Philippines are deeply
rooted in the history and culture of the Filipino
people. They are the products of a highly
developed civilization which flourished long
before the arrival of the West upon its shores,
and of centuries of warfare against a variety of
oppressors. Both these factors are responsible
for the highly technical and pragmatic outlook of
the Filipino martial arts.
The Maharlikas was the original name of the
Philippines before the coming of the Portuguese
and Spanish in the 15th and 16th centuries. The
general consensus among scholars is that the
first settlers in the Philippines were the
Negritos of prehistory. It is theorized that
these small dark-skinned people traveled by land
from Central Asia, perhaps via an ancient land
bridge. They brought with them the short bow and
later developed the long bow.
This process was followed by a series of Malay
migrations from what is today Southeast Asia and
the Indonesian Archipelago. The first of these
began before the birth of Christ. These taller
seafaring people brought with them the first
bladed weapons.
In the 5th and 6th centuries in Indonesia and
Malaysia a huge empire was formed due to the
migration of the Hindu tribes of India to Sumatra
and Java. The Srividjayan Empire, as it came to
be known, eventually spread as far as the
Philippines.
Their martial arts skills, advanced weaponry, and
superior organization made it possible for them
to conquer the earlier settlers. Some fled to
distant islands, others stayed and the two
cultures merged. The Srividjayans were the
ancestors of the Tagalogs, Ilocanos, Pampangos,
Visayans, and Bicolanos. The area of the Central
Philippines where these people first landed is
today known as the Visayan region. It is thought
by many Filipinos that the island of Panay, the
most western part of the Visayan Islands, was the
birthplace of Kali – as the Filipino martial arts
were known at that time. The Srividjayans brought
the influence of Hindu and Indonesian religion,
philosophy, arts, and combative forms to the
Philippines. They introduced laws (the famous
Code of Kalantaw), a calendar, written alphabet
(Sanskrit), new religion, and a system of weights
and measures. This new culture developed a social
unit called the barangay each independently
headed by a Datu (leader or chief). These were
the first to leave a written historical
record.
The next major incursion of foreign ideas and
culture occurred in the 12th and 13th centuries.
The Majapahit Empire of Indonesia, which eclipsed
the Srividjayan Empire spread throughout
Southeast Asia and into the Philippines. At its
height the Empire included areas that are today
Burma, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia,
the Philippines and Madagascar. Deeply influenced
by Moslem culture, the Majapahit brought Islam to
the Philippines where it settled most heavily in
the South. Today the Southern region of Mindanao
remains a Moslem stronghold, fiercely independent
and at war with the governing Christian majority.
By the 12th century thousands Chinese had
migrated to the Philippines following the
Manchurian invasion of China. They brought with
them the martial arts of the Tang Dynasty, which
came to be known as Kuntao throughout Southeast
Asia. The Chinese and their arts were assimilated
into the Island culture.
These diverse influences led to a highly
developed civilization, which existed before the
6th century until incursions from the West
starting in the 16th century. The Filipino’s
during this period were thought to be followers
of the God of Violence – Kali. The head of the
family unit was called the Kaliman. Each Kaliman
had a rank of status represented in his blade
known as the Kalis. There are at least 25
different types of blades in the Philippines,
although most estimates put the figure much
higher. Many of these bear signs of Hindu,
Indonesian, and Moslem influence. Blade designs
differed from region to region and sometimes from
village to village. The type and size of the
blade was a measure of the respect to be accorded
the individual Kaliman as well as an indicator of
his place of origin. The more well known types of
blade are the kampilan, the kris, the lahot,
utak, gunong, barong, and balasiong. The leader
of the barangay or of the region was said have
worn the shortest Kalis – the short length being
a symbol of his authority and fighting prowess.
This blade is known even today as the danganan.
Based upon his fighting prowess and other skills
the Kaliman was awarded a title of rank. In the
Visayan region the Datu headed the barangay and
above him was the Sultan who had authority over
the entire region. At one point it is thought
that there were three Sultanates – North in Luzon
region; Central in the Visayas; South in
Mindanao. It was, however the Tuhon or master
teacher who was often considered the most
important person in a particular region. The
Tuhon represented the repository of knowledge and
culture of a given area. The bothoan or central
communal school was headed by the Tuhon. It was
his responsibility to pass on the culture of the
Filipino civilization. These teachings grouped
under the name Kali, included philosophy,
religion, morality, healing, combative arts and
the written word. Long before Spanish rule, the
Filipino’s had developed their own system of
medicine, astronomy, engineering, as well as
written language and history. Most of these
writings were destroyed during the Spanish
conquest. Written and oral languages differed
according to region so that today there are over
300 major dialects in addition to Tagalog, the
national language.
The history, philosophy, and religious aspects of
kali, as an object of worship and kali, the
fighting arts were so closely interwoven that
they must be considered as a single entity.
Although Kali was the God of Violence and death,
the Filipinos considered it a peaceful god. The
Kaliman, spiritually through his philosophy and
physically through his training in the combative
arts of Kali confronted death as a part of daily
life. By this constant awareness of the presence
of death and his resolution to confront it, the
Kaliman is liberated from the weight of his fear
of death. In this confrontation with the darker
side of life the Kaliman comes to see things as
they really are, a view uncluttered by futile
dreams, hopes and false expectations. Further he
learned not to base his actions on the fear of
death, old age or sickness but to revel in the
moment. Only in the “now” can he see things
clearly and without judgment or bias.
Indeed, the ancient laws of Kali, known as the
code of Kalantiaw, contained 18 laws – the first
was “Thou shall not kill”. In all its phases –
philosophy, healing, the sciences, combat, the
written word, etc. – Kali was an art for the
preservation of life. The life of the individual,
his family, village, and culture. The importance
of Kali is emphasized in the words basic to the
Filipino and his view of the world. Kaligayahan
or happiness and Kalayon (freedom) both contain
the spirit of the Kali within them. They are
words still used today in parts of the
Philippines.
The concept of Kali as an art which preserves
life and freedom and which cultivates mutual
respect among men can be most vividly seen in the
unconquerable spirit of Muslims (Moros) of the
Southern Philippines. Dan Inosanto relates that
the Muslims warriors opposed the Spanish
conquests with their religion, their courage, and
their unparalleled fighting ability. Attempt by
the Spanish to capture Muslim leaders as a lever
to make their people submit, as they had done
with Montezuma in Mexico, ended in failure. The
Filipino leader held his position by dint of his
fighting knowledge his fighting prowess. He was
expected to die for his people in order to
preserve their freedom. The Southern Philippines
remained exempt from tribute throughout the
Spanish occupation. With American intervention
and occupation at turn of the century the Moros
continued their resistance to foreign government
and religion even when the rest of the country
submitted. The .45 caliber automatic was issued
to American servicemen because their .38s did not
have sufficient stopping power to halt the charge
of these ferocious warriors. This battle
continues even today between the Moros of
Mindanao and the incumbent government.
Knowledge of the Filipino martial arts first
appeared in the 16th century with arrival in the
Philippines of the Portuguese explore Ferdinand
Magellan. Magellan attempted to subdue the
natives and convert them to Christianity but he
was resisted by Lapulapu a leader of the local
people.Lapulapu’s men were well trained in native
fighting arts due to preparations for the battle
over a territorial dispute between Lapulapu and
Humabon, the chief of the neighboring tribe. The
tribes of Lapulapu and Humabon were part of the
Sri Visayan Empire in the earlier centuries of
Filipino history. The fighting arts of both
Lapulapu and Humabon were originally brought to
the Visayan Islands by their ancestors.
The early styles of Kali advocated by lapulapu
and Humabon were also known as pangamut. They
consisted of only eight strokes – six slashes,
two each to the head, chest, and kidney area, and
two thrusts – one to the head and one to the
chest. According to Eulogio Canete of the Doce
Pares Club, the differences were more in
application than in theory. Lapulapu was reputed
to be extraordinarily powerful. His favorite
weapon was a huge kampilan (double – pointed
blade). It is said that he could throw a short
stick with such force as to stick it fast in a
coconut tree. The kali of Humabon was softer and
more evasive than Lapulapus’ hard, powerful
techniques. Despite the preparation of the two
chiefs, a battle never took place between their
tribes. Instead on April 27, 1521 the Portuguese
were defeated in the battle of Mactan. Lapulapu
and his men met swords and musket fire with
blades, spears, and sharpened sticks. Magellan
himself died in the battle.
The Filipino martial arts under went a radical
change during the 18th and 19th centuries. The
Spanish conquistador’s had learned to respect
Filipino weaponry and fighting skills in the
intervening years. Under their rule the display
or carrying of blades and practice of Kali were
prohibited. The Filipinos turned to the use of
the bahi (hardwood) or oway (rattan) stick.
Practice with the blade still continued in secret
or in moro-moro plays. These indigenous stage
plays had Christians engaged in sham battles with
Moros. Kali, in a modified form, and Filipino
dances became an important part of the show. It
was through the moro-moro plays that arnis
survived the Spanish conquest and later the
American occupation.
With Spanish rule the native fighting arts
adopted new terminology and new methods.
Previously the art had been one in which the
blade was the primary weapon. Under the Spanish
the emphasis of the art turned to the use of the
stick. Before the Spanish Kali was known as
pananandata to the Tagalogs, Kalirongan to the
Pangasinenses, among the Ilocanos as didya or
kabaraon, to Visayans as kaliradman or
pagaradman. The Pampaguenos called it sinawali
and the Ibanag pagkalikali. After Spanish
occupation the art had became known as arnis de
mano derived from the Spanish word “arnes”
meaning trappings or defensive armor. In the
Tagalog province it became estocada, and in other
areas estogue, fraile, armas de mano, or simply
arnis. Among the Visayans it changed to egrima,
escrima, or eskrima from the Spanish fro “to
fence” or “skirmish”. The stick became known as
the baston, garote or tabak and the blades are
often grouped under the term bolo. Espada y daga
was what Spanish called the blade and dagger, and
sinawali or double baston refer to the use of two
sticks. Today the native fighting arts of the
Philippines are grouped under the name arnis. The
National Arnis Association of the Philippines
(Naraphil), a government supported organization,
is attempting to unify all of the native fighting
arts of the Philippines under one body, although
many styles are lost or remain secret handed down
only within the family or from father to son.
Source: http://www.customfighting.com/coed.html
History and Development of Filipino Martial Arts
Pre-Spanish Conquest
The Fighting arts of the Philippines are deeply
rooted in the history and culture of the Filipino
people before the arrival of the Spanish.[1]
The Philippines are located in a very central
position within Southeast Asia, acting as the
central stepping of the region. Even in
prehistoric time, earliest man would have crossed
though the Philippines to reach Indonesia,
Malaysia, and Australia. Millennia of culture
recorded waves of migration to the Philippines
from India, Malaysia, Indonesia and China. Due to
huge base of knowledge that was acquired, the
Filipino culture became quite advanced,
developing their own system of medicine,
astronomy, engineering, written language and
history.
In 200 B.C the Malays migrated to the
Philippines, bringing a wavy bladed knife from
the island of Java.[2] The ‘Kalis’ or ‘Kris’ is
the first foreign weapon to be incorporated into
today’s Filipino martial arts.[3]
In 78 AD, the Indian Prince Aji Caka extended the
Hindi Empire into Indonesia.[4] A mass migration
of Hindu Indians later followed in 400AD.[5] The
Hindu martial arts, weaponry, and superior
organization made it possible for them to conquer
the earlier peoples of Southeast Asia.
Two major waves of Indo-Malay culture were spread
to the Philippines.[6] Around 600AD, the Hindu
Sri-Vijaya Empire expanded into whole Philippine
region.[7] Later in 1331 AD, the Moslem Majapahit
Empire expanded into the Southern Philippines.[8]
The Srividjayans are the ancestors of modern
central Filipinos, including the Tagalogs,
Ilocanos, Pampangos, Visayans, and Bicolanos. The
Srividjayans brought the influence of the Hindi
and Indonesian religions, philosophy, arts,
combat, new laws (the famous Code of Kalantaw),
the Hindi calendar, a written alphabet
(Sanskrit), and a new system of weights and
measures.[9] The Majapahit Empire settled in the
Southern Philippines, bringing with them Islam.
[10]
Hinduism introduced the goddess Kali. Kali is
often depicted in Indian art as a black or dark
blue woman with four arms, holding a curved sword
and the head of a slain daemon. She has a
multifaceted character, known for her violence,
peace, compassion, chaos, and wisdom. These
contradicting traits mirror the contradicting
traits of nature, and are seen as representing
the ultimate reality of life.
[11] Followers of Kali seek to see things as they
really are, uncluttered by futile dreams, hopes
and false expectations. As a result, they learn
to seize the moment, and avoid making decisions
on the fear of death, old age or sickness.
[12]
From the 600AD to 1500AD the Filipinos were
followers of Kali. The language and culture
became saturated with reference to their goddess.
The words for happiness (‘kaligayahan’), freedom
(‘kalayon’), and the family/tribe (‘kaliman’) all
derived from the Kali faith.
[13] Each family or ‘kaliman’ also had its own
uniquely shaped sword known as a ‘kalis’.
[14]
[15]
Ferdinand Magellan
[16]
In 1518, Ferdinand Magellan convinced King
Charles I of Spain that the Moluccas, then known
as the spice island, could be reached by sailing
west instead of east. This would allow Spain to
claim Moluccas as part of the Spanish realm
agreed upon in the Treaty of Torsedillas.
[17]
The king agreed and on 20 September 1519, the
expedition sailed southward across the Atlantic
Ocean. After reaching the Marianas, Magellan
continued his voyage and arrived in the
Philippine Archipelago on 17 March 1521.
[18]
Magellan soon befriended the island chief Rajah
Kolambu, and with Kolambu’s help Magellan sailed
northeast to Cebu. The relationship between
Magellan and Cebu’s leader Rajah Humabon
flourished. In April 1521, Magellan succeeded in
baptizing Rajah Humabon, his wife and five
hundred villagers.
[20]
With the friendship and conversion of Rajah
Humabon, Magellan and his army were able to gain
control over all the Filipino islands except one.
On Mactan, a small island east of Cebu, Rajah
Lapu-Lapu stood defiant. Magellan was confident
that his men, with steel armor and muskets, would
easily defeat Lapu-Lapu. On the other hand, Lapu-
Lapu had only native spears (Kampilan),
broadswords (Kalis), and daggers (Daga).
[21] However, Lapu-Lapu’s men were well trained
in native fighting arts that were originally
brought by Sri-Vijaya Empire.
[22]
Lapu-Lapu was also reputed to be extraordinarily
powerful. It is said that he could throw a short
stick with enough force to pierce a coconut tree.
On 27 of April 1521, [25] Magellin and his men
were defeated in the battle of Mactan.[26]
Ferdinand Magellan himself, was slain by the Raja
Lapu-Lapu in a fierce hand-to-hand fight.[27]
Eyewitness historian Antonio Pigafetta recorded
that Magellan after a blow to the leg and neck
with a Kampilan.
[28]
One of Magellan’s remaining commanders, Juan
Sebastian del Cano, was left to complete the
remaining journey back to Spain.
[29]
There are some historians who suggest that the
battle of Mactan was probably exaggerated.
Magellan’s ‘army’ was more likely to have
consisted of 49 men with mainly pikes, swords,
halberds, some armor, and only a few firearms.
Lapu-Lapu’s men would have outnumbered Magellan’s
by more than twenty to one, and rained hundreds
of arrows and spears upon the Spaniards.
[30]
Spanish Occupation of the Philippines
Eventually the Filipino islands were conquered.
In 1542, the islands were renamed from Maharlikas
[31] to Las Philippinas in honor of Prince
Philip, later King Philip of Spain (Philip II,
1556-1598).[32]
In an effort to completely colonize the natives,
Spaniards destroyed and suppressed most aspects
of Filipino culture. This resulted in the loss of
the written Filipino language, religion, science,
and art.[33] Most of the population was converted
to Roman Catholicism[34] and forced to adopt
Spanish family names.[35]
In 1871, the Spaniards banned all forms of
martial arts and weapons.[36] The Filipinos found
a way to openly practice martial arts with
swords, by incorporating it with folkdances known
as ‘moro-moro’s’.[37]
The Binasuan, for example is a dance which shows
the joint locking techniques.[38] However,
Filipino martial arts could only survive by going
underground. The banned swords (‘kalis’) were
also replaced by the rattan stick (‘baston’)
replaced the banned sword.
Spanish rule lasted until 1898 when Spain was
defeated in the Spanish-American war.[41] The
Philippines were liberated, but were greatly
influenced by American culture, and English
became the second language. During World War II
the Philippines were occupied by the Japanese.
Martial arts were banned and again went
underground.[42]
The terms Kali, Escrima and Arnis all refer to
the same martial art.[43] However, the source and
meaning of these terms is highly contentious.
‘Kali’ and ‘Eskrima’ are foreign (foreign
influenced) terms, and Arnis is the correct
Filipino (Tagalog) term for this martial art.[44]
The word ‘Escrima’ is derived from the
Renaissance Spanish terms for ‘fencing’
or ‘skirmish’ (scherma, scrimia, escrime,
esgrima).[45] The Visayan people of the central
islands quickly adopted the Spanish terminology,
[46] either because of the linguistic influence
of Spanish, the incorporation of the Spanish
fencing into Filipino martial arts, [47] or both.
The word Kali is the name of the Filipino goddess
of war that was adopted from ancient Hindi
empires which had expanded into Southeast Asia.
[48] These empires included the kingdom of the
Indian Prince Aji Caka in 78AD, [49] and the
Majapahit Empire of 1331AD.[50]
The word Kali is a composite of the Filipino
words KAmut (hand) and LIhok (movement).[51] The
word Kali, sometimes written as Kahli, is a type
of stick in the Filipino dialect of Visayan.[52]
The word Kali is derived from the Tagalog dialect
term Kalis, meaning a large bladed weapon. This
was shortened to Kali to refer to all bladed
weapons.
[53]
The terms Kali, Escrima and Arnis are all native
Filipino words, that reflect different dialects.
[54] Arnis comes from the northern islands
dialect of Tagalog (Luzon). Eskrima comes from
the central islands (Visayas) dialect of Visayan.
Kali comes from the southern islands (Mindanao)
dialect of Cebuano.
The term Kali is seldom used in the Philippines
and in most cases is an unknown word. The terms
Escrima and Arnis are the names primarily used in
the Philippines today.[55]
Prior to Spanish conquest, Kali was known
as ‘Pananandata’ in the Tagalog
dialect, ‘Kalirongan’ in the Pangasinan
dialect, ‘Didya’ or ‘Kabaraon’ in the Ilocano
dialect, ‘Kaliradman’ or ‘Pagaradman’ in the
Visayan dialect, ‘Sinawali’ in the Pampaguenos
dialect, and ‘Pagkalikali’ in the Ibanag
dialect.
[56]
The term Kali, only refers to the martial art
that was first developed on the Island of Panay
in the Visayan Islands.[57]
The word Arnis is derived from the Spanish
word ‘arnes’, meaning ‘trappings’ or ‘defensive
armor’. Following the Spanish conquest, the
Spaniards referred to Filipino martial arts
as ‘arnis de mano’ or ‘defence of man’.[58]
The term Arnis is used to collectively refer to
all native Filipino martial arts. This is
apparently the official stance of The National
Arnis Association of the Philippines.[59]
http://www.shaolinchowka.com/shaolin-kung-fu-
history/index.html
Other interesting links:
Cebu
Eskrima Society
"NEW
THEORIES ON THE ORIGINS OF ESKRIMA" by Celestino
Macachor & "THE ORIGINS OF ESKRIMA" by Ned
Nepangue, M.D.
Musings on Martial Arts with Romy
Macapagal
The Spaniards' first 50 years in the
Philippines, 1565-1615
Posted 22:04
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9 comments
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just asking
I would like to ask where did you get the
information that Filipinos were worshippers of
Kali in the circa 600? I have studied Philippine
History since grade school in University of St. La
Salle Bacolod City and I have not read about this.
My readings were from " History of the Filipino "
by Gregorio Zaide. All my classmates read this
book and this is our textbook in High School. You
can find it in the National bookstore in any mall
(SM) in the major cities of the Philippines.I have
read that Filipinos during that time were pagans
but I never read that they were worshipping Kali.
Wow, ang bobo ko naman hindi ko alam ang aking
kasysayan. Please correct me , proud pa naman ako
na ako ang Academic Excellence Awardee sa Social
Studies( History) ng High School ako. Pakibigay po
sa akin yung pangalan ng libro para mapakita ko sa
guro ko sa History. Pasensya sa hindi makaunawa
nito , hindi ko napagsalin sa banyagang wika.
Pasensya lang po. Para ito sa Pilipino
Maraming salamat po,
Madamu gid nga salamat'
Daghang salamat
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code of kalantiao
Pacensya lang pero, hindi po totoo na may code of
kalantiao paki basa pang po sa "History of
Filipino People" ni Gregorio Zaide, o sa mga aklat
pankasaysayan na mabibili mo sa national bookstore
sa Pilipinas. Gumagalang
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agoncillo
kapatid na raymund ang nagsulat ng History of
Filipino ay sa Teodoro Agoncillo. Classmate he he
nalimutan mu na . Mga sampung taon na natin na
basa yon ha ha, pero tama ya yan ang sinabi mo,
maski ang Kaliman wala sa libro, saan ba yan
nakuha ng mga banyaga?
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Pagpatalang sa mga pilipino
ang inyo ginabuhat indi maayo. untati nyo na ni.
ginaguba nyo ang kasaysayan sg pilipinas. waay
basihan ang inyo ginasulat.
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Zaide or Agoncillo
During our high school days at the University of
San Carlos in Cebu City in the first half of the
1970s, we used the history book of Gregorio
Zaide. In our college days at USC in the second
half of the 1970s, we used the book of Teodoro
Agoncillo. I had never cared much who was the
better historian. IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO
VALIDATE MANY THINGS IN OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE.
All I know is that, each time I look at my
children, I can tell that we Filipinos are of
mixed races. My eldest child has Malay-Spanish
looks, the second of Malay-Chinese, the third of
Malay-Indian and the fourth of Malay-Spanish-
Chinese. I have also noted that, if we take out
the large doses of Spanish and Chinese terms,
Cebuano, Ilonggo, Tagalog and other Filipino
dialects are very similar. Descendants of the Sri
Visayan Empire of South Asia who came over to the
Philippines thru the Visayan Islands?
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CODE OF KALANTIAO AND KALI
Since my fingers are now into this Sri Visayan
Empire thingy, please let me share more of this
cake.
Jesuit priest Father Francisco Deza found in year
1614 in the Visayan island of Panay the Code of
Kalantiao and other ancient Visayan scripts. It
was believed that this Code was implemented in
year 1433. The original manuscript was brought to
Spain and last known in possession of Don
Marcelino Orfila of Zaragoza. Article IX of this
Code says: "All these shall be beaten for two
days - those who sing while traveling by
night...." I WOULD HAVE LOVED LIVING IN THOSE
TIMES, WHEN I COULD ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD NIGHT
SLEEP WITHOUT THE PROBLEM OF A NEIGHBORHOOD
KARAOKE BAR!
KALI as a foreword can mean many things in
Visayan. Kalibotan means world, kalibonan -
bushes, kalipay - happiness, kalingaw -
enjoyment, kaligutgot - hatred, etc. IT IS IN
THIS CONTEXT THAT I BELIEVE THAT THE WORD KALI
COMES FROM THE HINDU GODDESS KALI, A MULTI-
FACETED CHARACTER. Just imagine kalibotan (big
place) versus kalibonan (small place); kalipay
(positive feeling) versus kaligutgot (negative
feeling)!
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please correct me
Is it true as what I have read in Zaide's book, or
with Agoncillo's book, that the CODE OF KALANTIAO
is
a HOAX? it was stated as one of the HOAXes in our
history. Please read the PHILIPPINE history book
of ZAIDE,in national bookstore. It costs around
200+ pesos. Of just with Agoncillo's History of
the Filipino People. Thanks God bless.. Just
asking.. These textbooks are read by most students
in the Philippines.
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you are right
It's a hoax. As stated in the books. I should know
that. I'm a teacher of Philippine History for 40
years.
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traditional kaliradman alive and well
I am a caucasian man who lived in Hawaii for 5
years. In that time I was bullied by Hawaiians
and Samoans, (I also have Hawaiian and Samoan
Friends.) A Visayan friend of mine saw my
dilemma and invited me to secretive Kaliradman
practice sessions. It was a slow dance that had
only 12 moves using heavy hardwood dowels for
the blocks and strikes. The reason for the heavy
sticks was to make the rattan sticks feel
lighter during our stick fighting practice
sessions. Kaliradman and other Filipino stick
and knife martial arts is the closest example to
a Jedi Knight. When you fight a real opponent in
a real conflict with Kali, you are not fighting
on your own strength. A legion of Kali spirit
forces are backing your play. (I will give a
true account of how Kali saved my life in a
street fight) One night in Hawaii I was
surrounded by a group of rough islanders. My jaw
was dislocated by one Samoan man then another
Samoan punched me in the eye. I was fortunate to
have fallen next to a steel pipe that I grasped
for dear life. With the pipe I hit the Samoan
guy who dislocated my jaw twice to his body and
one to his head. The surrounding crowd broke
their tight circle around me when the Samoan hit
the pavement unconscious. I ran for my life with
the pipe still in my hand. I didn't have faith
in kali until that night. I thank God for giving
me a friend who showed me one of the most
genuinely lethal martial arts on earth.
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