The long and established tradition of martial arts in the Philippine is legendary. A melting pot, in terms of influences, ranging from China and Japan as well as sword and ground fighting skills said to date back to Alexander the Great, the Philippines and its martial art of Kali is truly one of the most combat proven and effective styles of hand-to-hand as well as weapon-based systems in the world.

To date, Kali, and more specifically, Pekiti Tirsia, a particular style of Kali, is the official empty hand and edged weapons training regimen of the Philippine Marine Reconnaissance Forces, and National Police. One of the first modern records of Kali in the battlefield occurred in the 1520′s, during an expedition by Ferdinand Magellan. He and several of his men lost their lives and three out of five ships battling a local tribe of Filipinos. It was said that they Filipino application of knife and sword skills were so precise, they could accurately target the better armed Spaniards through weak or exposed areas in their armor.

Kali’s footwork, used throughout its various styles, is also said to be the progenitor, or influence to the traditional boxer’s shuffle. This is where the boxer shifts his weight and shuffles from the front or lead foot to the rear foot in a rhythmic shifting of weight.

In present day, Kali’s innovative and real-world application of empty hand and knife fighting techniques has gained notoriety more recently within the silver screen than on the battle field. Its rapid, close range series of strikes and counter-strikes can be seen in films such as “The Bourne Identity,” “The Bourne Supremacy,” “The Hunted,” and “The Book of Eli.”

There also exist competitive styles of Kali, more specifically within the realm of stick fighting, known as Escrima. One of the most well-known and accomplished grand masters of Filipino Martial Arts in the United States is Dan Inosanto, also known for being the first of only three black belts under the instruction of Bruce Lee before his death.