Cali's Filipino martial art was created from the need of the local population to repel the aggression of the many invaders who liked this beautiful land. Proud Spaniards, purposeful Japanese and boastful Americans invaded the territory of the freedom-loving Filipino people, but fierce, stubborn resistance met them all. It is not worthwhile to stand on ceremony with the enemies who have come to your house with their orders - they must be destroyed quickly and hard, without giving a chance to come to their senses and continue their dirty business. Kali's martial art is just about that.
The origin of Kali and its use against invaders
The first to experience the effectiveness of Filipino martial arts in his own skin was the famous Portuguese and Spanish navigator Fernando Magellan. His desire for a small victorious war turned into a tragedy. Having got involved in the dismantling of the local "princes", he agreed to calm the local leader of the tribe. The calculation was simple: firearms were supposed to sow panic among the local population, which the self-confident Spaniards considered savages.
Fearing ashore with 50 people on the night of April 27, 1521, he began to make demands to the leader named Lapu-Lapu, not embarrassed by expressions and threats. And then came what the Europeans did not expect at all. Impulsive, hot Spaniards did not hit the locals with their military training and valor, but they probably set all speed records, fleeing to their boats. Captain Magellan, or as Antonio Pigafetta, a participant in those events called him, “Mirror, light and comfort of ours,” was safely thrown into reprisal. Fernando Magellan did not even have time to draw the blade. This was the martial art of Kali in action, according to experts of all stripes. But at that time, the islanders did not call their struggle. Subsequently, the rebellious managed to pacify, using their contradictions and tribal enmity.
The Spaniards were shocked by the art of the natives. For this reason, they prohibited not only the carrying of any weapons, but also the training of this deadly system that went underground. The Americans who replaced the Spaniards, and then the Japanese, also faced fierce resistance, but even the most terrible repressions could not break the spirit of this proud, freedom-loving people.
The name Kali as a beautiful marketing move
A doctor, a physiotherapist, president of the Philippine Martial Arts Research Association, and also a trainer in knife fighting tactics at the MV Frunze Military Academy, Daniel Fororda, in one of the TV shows “Fighter”, said that he himself was a participant in the promotion of the Kali myth as the most ancient and primordial Filipino art. Then, realizing how much harm he was doing to the culture of his people, he took the path of correction and openly declares that the real name of all Filipino martial arts is Escrim. And the martial art of Kali is one of his areas of work dedicated to edged weapons. Translated from Spanish, this term refers to a fight.
The name “Cali” was invented by enterprising trainers to promote their system, and recognition of its Spanish roots could have a bad effect on doing business. Whether this is true or not is the subject of numerous disputes and discussions that have not ceased to this day.
Kali and his traditional weapons
The meeting with the invaders tempered the civilians in the struggle. They used everything at hand. These include a long ginunting knife or bolo, with which they did not part in the jungle. Malay Chris (a long dagger with a wavy blade) was widely used. As exotic, you can distinguish the trident “chiabang” and “knife-butterfly” (balisong), the handle of which consists of two halves, and its blade is recessed in the groove between them. Most often, two such knives are used at once. The application technique is very similar to “malit tobacco” in arnis. There are attacks on the lunges, damage to various joints, painful grips and the use of kicks.
Often, various sharp agricultural tools were also used. Palm should be given to the kerambit, designed to remove coconuts. In fact, for the natives, Kali's martial art was a melee system with any pointed object.
Kali in the service of the Philippine special forces
The Philippines is one of the few countries where the use of knives in the course of hostilities has not lost its relevance. The military, by occupation and lifestyle, needs to be pragmatists - not just life is at stake. The fulfillment of a combat mission depends on their training, moral and psychological preparation, and business qualities. Failure entails additional human sacrifice. Therefore, the Philippine commandos, like their counterparts from Russia, take into service only what really works in a real combat situation.
The training course for such "combat vehicles" lasts only 6-7 months. The Philippines shows that Kali’s knife fight not only got its “second wind”, but also continues to develop successfully. His transformation into the Philippine Marine Corp Martial Art Kali (PMCMAK). This is a military system designed and implemented for the needs of special forces. Her father is Manuel Prado Jr.
Myths shatter about cruel cold reality
Countless different masters have appeared who speak of the exceptional effectiveness of the technique they have presented and are self-affirming at the expense of naive beginners. Not bad at the same time making money. What only is not emphasized in their fabrications and unrealized fantasies. “Perfect stance”, “perfect grip of a knife”, “using kicks to disarm”, “a couple of seconds - and your opponent is a corpse”. It does not take into account that even a mortally wounded enemy can pose a real threat. In a word, the storehouse of ideas of such “woeful instructors” is not running out.
Now a new trend is Philippine Kali knife fighting. Therefore, various sections around the world grow like mushrooms after rain, and an increasing number of citizens are filled with a genuine sense of pride from the awareness of their own strength. What can they all wish for? Good luck on the way and never meet in a duel with the commandos. The result is predictable due to differences in moral and psychological preparation, motivation and approaches to the learning process. Although these are far from all factors.
What is Kali’s army knife fight focused on?
The Philippine military does not even claim to have created something radiant that goes beyond. All preparation is based on general principles already known to mankind. It is true that in an extreme situation, any skills degrade. Only those that are fixed by repeated repetition remain. Muscle memory is the most reliable. Therefore, in the subcortex of the human "biocomputer", simple ones that are performed along a minimal trajectory of movement will be best stored.
Each hit is aimed at the result. And he is always alone - the defeat of vital organs and parts of the body. That is, everything is the same as that present in other combat systems, which focus on the destruction of the enemy.
Of course, the army fight on Kali’s knives has its own “zest”. But there are only a few people who possess such unique knowledge in Russia. They "cooked" in that environment, studying at the center of the special forces of the Philippines. Although we even have training in exotic countries, there are enough worthy specialists whose experience and achievements are not inferior.
What you need to remember when setting blocks from a knife?
In the Soviet Union, most police attempts to block the criminal’s armed hand ended in a hospital bed or death. In other countries, with a similar situation, the result was no better. But this does not mean that the blocks do not work. Even how they work, but it is necessary to adhere to one simple truth - save the legs. Leaving the line of attack is a priority. Here it always passes at an angle.
When setting up a block, it is very easy to miss. In this case, the blade reaches the most exposed parts of the body. It is necessary to meet an armed enemy with your own weapons, and if there is none, then use any means at hand. Their size, sharpness does not matter much. In the experienced hands of a person with good self-control, even an ordinary pencil turns into a deadly weapon. But a piece of reinforcement is still better.
In conditions with the same mastery of hand-to-hand fighting technique, the advantage of an armed person is many times higher. This is perfectly demonstrated by the Philippines. Kali is a way to survive in a country with a high crime rate, where everyone has a blade.
"They will put everyone in prison"
What is still important to remember the citizens of our vast country, who decided to engage in a knife fight or in a difficult extreme situation. The use of a knife, even in self-defense, most often ends in a prison term. Therefore, it will be useful to know the laws of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on issues of self-defense (they exist) in order to minimize negative consequences for themselves.