Kali - Filipino Martial Arts

Kali is a mother art to many founded in the Philippines. This art has much Spanish and Italian influence. It is primarily weapon based and begins through the study of sticks. Other weapons include different variations of daggers, swords, shields and flexible and projectile weapons. The empty hand portions of Kali are derived from the weapon arts. Use of left and right hand techniques develop coordination. Drills and techniques taught in a fluid, non-restrictive manner allow students to enhance their natural attributes and improve their sense of timing, speed, awareness, balance, agility, and confidence.

The Filipino martial arts have something to benefit everyone. Developed for "mass attack" as well as single opponent confrontations, the training heightens student's awareness of their surroundings and teaches them to use their environment as tools of combat. Everyday objects, such as umbrellas, books or keyrings become effective means of self-defense in the hands of a properly trained individual.

We at the Wu Hsin Kuen Academy teach the Guro Dan Inosanto method and it includes such subsystems from Kali as Eskrima, Arnis Silat, Sikaran (Filipino kicking), Panatukan (Filipino boxing), Pangumit, and Dumog (grappling). Footwork is heavily emphasized. In sparring we use protective equipment such as fencing masks, padded gloves, elbow and knee pads.

The following members of Wu Hsin Kuen Academy are certified in Filipino martial arts under Dan Inosanto:

• Jon Rister
• Risto Hietala
• Richard Hogg

Guro Dan Inosanto

Dan Inosanto has decades of experience in martial arts and is a world authority in Jun Fan kung fu and Filipino martial arts. He is one of the few instructors certified by the late Bruce Lee.

In addition to having studied over 20 methods of Filipino martial arts (being an instructor in several), he is an instructor in Muay Thai under ajarn Surachai Sirisute, an instructor in Pentjak Silat under Pendekars Victor De Thouars, Paul De Thouars and Herman Suwanda, an instructor in Shoot Wrestling (Shooto) under Yori Nakamura. In keeping with the spirit of always being a student guro Dan is also studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with the Machado brothers.

Dan Inosanto is truly a martial arts legend.