Escrima/Kali/Arnis

The mother of the modern Filipino Martial Arts is the art of Kali. All martial arts were banned when the Filipino society was under Spanish colonial control. Due to this ban elements of the art of Kali would be hidden in folk plays and native dances. Later under the influence of the Spanish this native art came to be known as Eskrima, Estocada, Arnis De Mano or Arnis.

One theory suggest that the art of Kali comes from the Indonesian art of Tjakalele also a form of Silat, another is of the opinion that the name stems from the Kalis a snaked shaped sword also known as Kris. Yet others think that the names are based on regional differences, so Arnis in the north, Escrima in the central regions and Kali in the south. But there are others who say that the term “Kali” came in to existence only in the 1970’s when it was used by the great Dan Inosanto in his book on the Filipino arts.

A lot depends on the individual practitioner’s preference or style that he/she is practicing. Modern Arnis training means it is referred to as Arnis. But in the Serrada system created by Angel Cabales it is known as Escrima. There is not much to be found in terms of actual history and with a large number of versions, true origins of this art may never be known. Today Kali and Escrima are used in the United States while Arnis is the national art of the Philippines.

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