Filipino Martial Arts - Weapons Training

INSTRUCTORS

Steve Grantham - Head Instructor
John Sul - Senior Instructor
Angie Harvey
 

BACKGROUND

    Guro Dan Inosanto
 

Guro Dan Inosanto, while recognizable to most as the chosen successor to Sijo Bruce Lee's arts of Jun Fan Gung Fu and Jeet Kune Do, is also one of the people most responsible for the widespread popularity of the Filipino Martial Arts.  Having studied more than 25 systems of FMA (Filipino Martial Arts), he is certified to teach in at least 15 of those systems.  He has certified instructors all over the world, and is in constant demand for seminars.   Guro Inosanto has composed a blend system that incorporates what he considers the best elements of all of the systems he has studied.  This Blend system is what we teach at our Academy.

HISTORY

Kali was originally developed in the Philippines and has been battle-tested for centuries. The fact that the southern Philippines were unconquered by the Spanish Conquistadores for over 377 years and that the European explorer, Magellan, died at the hands of Lapu Lapu when he attempted to subjugate the islands are evidence of the power and history of this art.  The key to the survival of the FMA was it's adaptability.  If a technique was functional, it was incorporated. If not, it was discarded.  In the Northern Philipines, the FMA are usually referred to as Arnis; in the Central region as Eskrima;  in the Muslim Southern region as Kali.  The Spanish dominated the Northern and Central regions, and used the long standing animosity between the various Tribes to use one to help conquer the other.  After they took control of these areas, they drafted Filipinos from these conquered regions to the Southern Philipines to  fight against the Muslims in the South.  However, any foothold the Spanish achieved against these formidable Kris bearing warriors was tenuous and usually temporary.  Filipino's from the Northern and Central Islands, forced to soldier and man ships for the Spanish, travelled all over the world, absorbing and refining various methods of edged weapons combat.

BENEFITS                                               

The best way to defend against a weapon is to understand how it can be used against you.  Ignorance is your greatest enemy.   Once you develop the ability to strike with power, accuracy, and speed, you will also learn to defend against similar strikes.  With an accomplished Eskrimador's stick moving in excess of 100 mph, you become much more comfortable with a punch coming at significantly slower speeds.

Kali was developed as a battlefield art, not in a dueling environment. It was necessary to be aware of your entire surroundings.   As such, training in this Art will develop your ability to deal with multiple attackers, both armed and unarmed, as quickly and efficiently as possible.

CURRICULUM

The curriculum consists of training with empty hands, swords, sticks/batons, knives, staffs, and two-handed sticks. You will be taught to use footwork to outmaneuver your opponent, as well has how to defend strikes when you are unable to avoid the attack.  Classes incorporate drills to help develop many attributes such as timing, range control, and body mechanics.