Kali
Kali
Kali is a Filipino martial art emphasizing edged — patalim (blades) — and impact weapons — baston (sticks) — with sophisticated doble baston (double-stick) and daga (knife) techniques. Different lineages (Pekiti-Tirsia, Inosanto-Lacoste, etc.) have distinct methods but share core principles.
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Kali develops extraordinary hand speed and weapon awareness — with hubud-lubud (sensitivity) and sumbrada (counter-for-counter) drills. Its blade-awareness training makes it one of the most practical arts for real-world weapon threats.
At a Glance
Who It's For
What You'll Learn
Double-stick — doble baston — and sinawali (weaving) fighting
Knife — daga — combat and edged-weapon — patalim — awareness
Hubud-lubud (tying-untying) sensitivity and trapping — gunting (scissor) — drills
Empty-hand — mano mano — striking derived from blade mechanics
Pekiti-Tirsia (close-quarters) or Inosanto-Lacoste lineage methods
Your First Class
Wear athletic clothing. Rattan sticks and training knives will be provided. Expect single and double stick drills, basic knife angles, and hubud-lubud (sensitivity) drills. Classes run 60 minutes.
Watch & Learn
Legends of Kali
Dan Inosanto
Dan Inosanto is a martial arts instructor, actor, and the foremost authority on Jeet Kune Do after Bruce Lee. He is one of only three people certified by Bruce Lee to teach JKD and has dedicated his life to preserving and advancing Filipino martial arts, Silat, and Southeast Asian combat systems.
Remy Presas
Remy Presas synthesized traditional Filipino stick and blade arts into Modern Arnis, making the complex system accessible to international practitioners. He brought Filipino martial arts to the global stage and influenced a generation of FMA instructors from the Philippines to the United States.
Leo Gaje Jr.
Ray Dionaldo
Related Styles
FMA (Filipino Martial Arts)
Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) — Sining ng Pakikipaglaban ng Pilipinas — is an umbrella term for the weapon-based fighting systems of the Philippines, including Arnis, Kali, and Escrima. Training begins with weapons — baston (sticks) and blades — espada (swords) — and translates to empty hands — mano mano (hand-to-hand).
Arnis
Arnis — also called Arnis de Mano ("harness of the hand") or Modern Arnis — is the pambansang laro (national martial art) of the Philippines, designated as such by law. It focuses on baston (stick) and blade fighting with systematic disarming — disarma — techniques and empty-hand — mano mano — applications.
Escrima
Escrima (Eskrima, from Spanish esgrima, "fencing") is a Filipino weapon-based martial art closely related to Arnis and Kali. Visayan in origin, it emphasizes practical baston (stick) and blade combat — with a strong emphasis on corto mano (close-range) fighting.
Jeet Kune Do
Jeet Kune Do ("Way of the Intercepting Fist") was developed by Bruce Lee as a personal combat philosophy. It rejects rigid styles in favor of directness, simplicity, and adaptability, drawing from boxing, fencing, and Wing Chun.
Pencak Silat
Pencak Silat is the umbrella term for Indonesian martial arts encompassing hundreds of styles. Pencak (artistic performance) and silat (combat application) together feature flowing strikes, devastating sapuan (sweeps), and intricate kuncian (joint locks), often incorporating spiritual and cultural elements.
Popular With
Tactician
There is no such thing as a fair fight.
Weaponologist
Give me any weapon.
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