Filipino Kali / FMA
Schedule: Monday -Thursday 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Filipino Martial Arts / Kali
Let’s face it… weapons are cool. This class brings the FUN! Tap into your inner-warrior and grab a stick. KSK’s weapons curriculum is by far one of the most enjoyed classes by our adult students. People love it!
We call the KSK weapons curriculum Armas-Kali (Weapon Hand Motion). Its simple purpose is to teach students the concepts, tactics & techniques of multiple weapon arts, in a way that seamlessly blends them together, and is easy to learn. Our primary base is Filipino Martial Arts, but we also borrow from Thai, Indonesian & Okinawan weapon systems as well.
This class features its own organized ranking system that is unique to KSK Martial Arts, to ensure a properly structured journey for maximum learning.
Weapon Types
Weapon Types
Here at KSK Martial Arts we focus on the following 5 weapon types:
– Impact Weapons
– Edged Weapons
– Puncture Weapons
– Projectile Weapons
– Flexible Weapons
More specifically, some of the weapons we use at KSK Martial Arts are:
- Single and Double Stick
- Single and Double Knife
- Single and Double Sword
- Stick and Knife Combination
- Sword/Stick and Shield
- Palm Stick
- Karambit
- Staff
-Sarong/Malong
-Trapo/Bandana
Earning Rank in Kali
We offer a ranking progression in Armas-Kali for those who wish to mark their journey. As students improve and develop deeper understandings of the concepts being taught, and meet the objectives presented at each benchmark in their training, students will progress through a series of colored levels:
No Color (Entry Level)
Yellow
Green
Blue
Red
Brown
Black Levels 1-5 (Black Belt)
Branches of Filipino Martial Arts
Our Armas-Kali curriculum is a blend of three primary branches of Filipino Martial Arts:
#1. Mixed INOSANTO Concepts
These are training methods that generally are universal non-weapon specific motion, meaning the movement or tactics of a technique can be done with multiple types of weapons such as a Stick, Sword, or Knife. This branch is named after Guro Dan Inosanto, who was responsible for bringing Filipino fighting methods into mainstream martial arts, and serves as the foundation from which the other branches are taught. The main subsystems we draw from in the Inosanto Concepts Branch are:
- LaCoste Kali
- Ilustrisimo Kali
- Pekiti Tirsia Kali
- Villabrille Kali
- Macabebe Tribe Escrima
#2 Mixed BALINTAWAK Concepts
These are training methods based around the use of a single stick, using close quarter techniques in an enclosed environment. The main subsystems we draw from in the Balintawak Concepts Branch are:
- Anciong-Buot Balintawak (Ted Buot lineage)
- Toboata Balintawak
- Atillo Balintawak
- Personal Experimentation
#3. Mixed BLADED Concepts
These are training methods based around the exploration of the Blade. The primary tools of this branch are the knife (dagger), the short sword (Machete or Bolo type weapon), and the Karambit (hooked knife). The majority of our training methods were developed through personal experimentation over the years, but have also been influenced & inspired by blade-focused subsystems such as:
- Pekiti Tirsia Kali
- Sayoc Kali
- Atienza Kali
- Dionaldo Kali (FCS)
- Personal Experimentation
A little preview of what you can learn at KSK
Footage From the KSK Martial Arts 2019 Weapon's Camp.
KSK's Filipino Martial Arts Lineage
KSK founder Guro T. Kent Nelson has been studying various Filipino Martial Arts with multiple high level teachers since circa 1994, and has made it his life's work to constantly find the balance between function & safety in the training methods of our school's curriculums.
Guro Nelson holds Instructor level rankings under:
- Guro Dan Inosanto (Founder of the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts - JKD, Kali, Silat)
- Guro Daniel Lonero (Founder of XTMA Cross Training - JKD & Kali)
- Sifu Paul Vunak (Founder of Progressive Fighting Systems - JKD, Kali, Edged Weapons)
(Note: Nelson is also the former Michigan Training Group Leader for Sayoc Kali, appointed by Tuhon Harley Elmore)
Guro Nelson also holds Student level rankings and/or training time under:
- Sifu David Hatch (Anciong-Buot Balintawak - Private Training)
- Grandmaster Bobby Taboata (Taboata Balintawak - Seminar Training)
- Guro Dan Inosanto (Atillo Balintawak - Seminar Training)
- Tuhon Harley Elmore (Sayoc Kali - Private Training & Seminar Training)