Kali/Arnis/Escrima is not just stick fighting. It is stick fighting first, but that is just to practice the coordination and movement, as the movement translates from 1 and 2 sticks to stick+knife, machete (bolo) + knife, 2 machete, 2 knives, bare hands (mano mano), but it has grappling technics too (dumog), and also has long staff technics, boxing (panantukan)... these are all parts of the FMA, which is a complete system, you learn all if you are dedicated. The Art also has healing and recreational skills to learn too... Martial arts are lifestyles, but the Filippino Martial Arts (FMA) takes this to a whole new level. The FMA styles are not for express yourself, or to represent beauty - these technics were developed and perfected for killing, or to survive others attempt of killing you, which was not rare in the Philippines history. In the past 20-30 years, many blockbuster movies had FMA technics utilized on the screen too, sometimes its not clear what other schools are mixed with FMA on the screen, but in general, FMA is very fluid, it's complimenting other styles very well... Bruce Lee learned FMA technics (for example the use of nunchakus!) from Dan Inosanto, but you can also use Arnis/Kali/Escrima for utilizing 1 or 2 karambit(s), or to combine it with Silat... it is deadly in itself but it is even more dangerous when mixing it with some other styles. Regardless of how good it is, it's not for MMA fighting tho (I think).
Arnis/Eskrima/Kali does not rely at forms but focuses on the utility, Function, and effiency of the art. Its a art where it seems crude but fluid, simple yet deadly. Some may think its silly, but it focuses on ending battles quick and survive.
Quite right. FMA's fighting component is not ideal for MMA's combat simply because MMA has rules. Most FMA techniques have minor joint manipulations, (just as BJJ's minor wristlocks, and jointlocks are not which is not allowed in the Octagon in UFC Combat Sports or MMA) and dirty tactics to finish fights quickly.
I used to train for balintawak arnis before and all I can say is that the training was quite brutal. My teacher was really fast and powerful as well, he was quite shredded too lol.
GM Bobby Taboada is 72 if I'm not mistaken and he is a 2nd generation of Single stick style of Balintawak Eskrima style under the bigger Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) family. All FMA use blade (short and lobg, single and double) , blunt weapons (sticks, staff, pocket sticks, chakò, 1 meter long stick etc), flexible weapon and unarmed combat with locks, strikes, grappling and throws (dumog, buno etc). They are using traditional training rattan sticks. Balintawak use only ones stick with punch, shoulder bump etc. Real battle stick is made of fire hardened bahi or kamagong (Philippine Ebony), Gijo and magkuno hardwood. Once you are hit, it will break your bone. GM Bobby travel the world to teach his brand of Balintawak like many Filipino martial arts teachers
This technique is very effective in close fighting, in my younger days, when i was still learning how to box, i encountered an opponent who knows this technique. I can not get a solid hit , since he kept slapping and pushing my wrist and my shoulders, keeping me in an awkward position.
Don't let the wavy motions fool you If applied in real armed combat, its versatility will enable you to use any available weapon nearby and it will take only one or two moves before the target is neutralized. These techniques were actually developed from the battlefields and death matches between different schools before they switched to non deadly means of competition. Yes, he is that fast, even while speaking and teaching.
I have been fortunate to include Balintawak Arnis in my training, and have actually tested to level 5 under GM Bobby Toboata. (There are 7 levels) He’s definitely the real deal and incredible to watch. He has the uncanny ability to go thru lightning fast movements while looking at the audience of students (not his opponent), all the while maintaining complete control of the demonstration. I can attest to the fact that being tested (working) with GM Toboata is both exhilarating and scary as F-CK!!! This man could smoke you in a second. If the rumors are true, back in the day he had to undergo death matches in the Philippines, (meaning yeah, he’s killed dudes).
@@vinchezmo8864 I've heard he was beaten regularly by his instructors, more than once nearly to death. The Philippines is a tough place to grow up when you're poor. Bobby is definitely the real deal.
@@keithsj10 - Obviously not to death. Dear me. We train with real sharp blades and unpadded sticks. The point is that we get to trained with the real things that will hurt you so you learn to fear it first, respect it then overcome your fear later. So yes, when we use the rattan sticks, you will get accidentally hit on the hands, arms, head, and they do sting or stun you stupid for a few seconds like on a real fight. It’ll prepare you on what will happen to you if get hit. Learning to use a with real knife it’ll cause you to act cautiously and respect it. Unlike in Hollywood movies, A small knife can easily kill a large person with just one stab. A slice on a person’s arm and leg will cause a man to go into shock in 1 to 3 minutes. I accidentally grab sharp blade for a split second, I feel no pain but seeing the amount blood starting to drip into floor would automatically make your heart race. Good thing the slice is shallow so I don’t need to go to the ER for stitches. (Wrapping my handkerchief tightly does the trick) Mike Tyson famously say "everyone have a plan, until they get punch on the fact" That’s why the key element in Kali/Escrima is simple footwork, simple circular movement, fast multiple attack and defense and lastly, experience actually being hit and learn to take it. All simple movement, so that if you get suddenly hit or punched on the face, it’ll stun you senseless for a couple seconds but your training would bring in the muscle memory to put up a good defensive action while you recover your senses for a later counterattack.
I had the privilege of training with guru Taboada in the early 90's in Charlotte NC. . His style Balinitawak is often called counter to counter fighting - around the 3 min mark guru is showing how to respond to each of the angles of attack. First you check with stick/blade - then strike back. This applies well to open hand so when you block every one also does damage. Also he is one of the nicest people you will ever get to meet, so humble and if you get the chance to get a beer with guru. Oh - and he can go MUCH faster than they show here. Oh - and I am currently training in kendo - and yes kali is TOTALLY different from one another. And if you want to get a real life demonstration of how deadly kali/knife fighting can be there is a easy and safe way to do it. We did it with Guru Tobaoda once - you get a plain white t-shirt you don't mind getting messed up. Then get markers and use them like knives and you will see where you cut one another.
Do you know Peter Ball? He brought Bobby over to America in the early 90's from New Zealand. I met him once in Arizona with Bobby during a visit to Sam Buot. They looked like two helicopters fighting each other. I hope Peter is well.
That's Grandmaster Bobby Taboada , one of the leaders in Filipino Martial Arts today. His system is referred to as "Arnis", but that's simply a regional term for the same art; Kali, Eskrima, Artnis, Pangamot all fall under the same category of Filipino Martial Arts. Great video!
@@TheEdmondsMartialArtsAcademy Arnis and eskrima are styles but balintawak is tactical system that is continuously evolving like Jeet Kune do…did I get your panties in a bunch?
Yes..this is a one of a kali martial arts in the Philippines🇵🇭. There are more names in the Martial arts in the Philippines like balintawak arnis, kali, FMA - Filipino Martial Arts, arnis o kamagong etc. FMA martial arts is use now in the hollywood action movies.
Boby Taboada is one of only a handful of teachers, either living and dead, that I would call Master. The term Master should not be used indescriminately. I can only think of four or five, living teachers, that deserve this title. Your attitude to be like him "when you grow up" is admirable. I understand that reverential feeling. I am 63 and feel the same way about two teachers I know of. Even after training more than 45 years, there is, thankfully, always someone to look up to. If you are humble, and sincere, if you are willing to sacrifice and persevere. Humility is the seat of wisdom. Good luck on your journey. "When the student is ready the teacher appears." Laoshr #60 Ching Yi Kung Fu Association
During japanese occupation, kali masters in different regions of the Philippines were invited to japan to demonstrate the martial art. They never returned and no one ever heard anything from them ever again. No kali ever established in japan. Most probably, they were killed to stop the martial art, because its a very dangerous skill to learn. Even at par with japanese samurai. Kali originally intended to be taught down to your own family only. Non members is never an option. Not until now.
I believe this story..thres a video of dan inosanto,and his daughter narrating such a story.. Its a video about jit kudo hierchy,and a seminar on phil history of MA..
I first heard of Bobby Taboada a decade ago when I started my kali training in Inosanto-Lacoste system in New Jersey. I never seen his system in action maybe 2 years ago. Balintawak system has been making a good name for itself in the in the military & LEO combatives circles. I currently train in Pekiti TIrsia on and off in Tokyo & Yokohama (I live in Aomori). I travel to the Kanto every 1-3 months for training. I've been doing that since I came to Japan back in 2014. The Balintawak guys are really awesome. You should check out other guys in Lightning Scientific Arnis (I have an interest but never interacted), Kombatan (Modern Arnis) in Ikebukuro, Shin Kali (Pekiti Tirsia group) in Yoyogi, Himagsikan (Pekiti Tirsia) in Yokohama, Majaphit Kali in Roppongi. Osaka, Kyoto & Sapporo has Inosanto-Lacoste Kali & Osaka/Kyoto have Pekiti Tirsia as they are branches of Shin Kali (Tokyo based). There are other groups in Japan but I never met with them. I want to.
Different schools and teachers call their martial Arts different names because we speak different dialects and languages in Philippines. The three most common names are Arnis, Escrima, and Kali.
I actually regret not going thru my Kali training when I was younger. I got infatuated with other martial arts. Kali is almost a complete martial arts. It has unarmed and armed combat. Ground, grab and throws. If you havent been hit by an Rattan stick its almost is a whip searing pain with blunt pain afterwards lol. You will learn quick too cause back then no padding and its not pleasant to be hit and most masters will hit you if you make a mistake. Although not full force still not pleasant.
I was a student of the first Filipino Tai Kwondo grandmaster Mr. Latino Gonzales during my high school days in the mid 1960s. His two sons Roberto and Rolando were also my instructors.
@@glm8245 that is why eskrima and kali are not taught for sport but for self defense. we also do not match a kali master with a sniper if that is the comparison you want to make
I have been trainig this art for 2 years. Balintawak is a flavor of escrime/ kali that specializes in short range, which includes a lot of trapping. In wikkipedia it says that people have called Balintawak "the wing chun of escrima" because there are so many trapping moves. GM Bobby is not only extremely fast but his strikes are very powerful. He has to hold back a little for fear of his partner stepping in at the wrong time and getting hit. He was definitely over 70 in the video, and is 75 today. His organization has schools around the world and a lot of master level students. Most of these had trained in various other martial arts for most of their lives,. Some are in their 20's but gm bobby can still beat each and every one of them. He is a unique example of the fact that the "myth" of the old martial artist beating everyone is not exactly a myth. I doubt, though , that there is any martial artist anywhere his age who has kept his skills and atributes as well.
Did you know Bruce Lee learned kali to create his own martial arts jeet kune do......kali is also used in fighting choreography to some american movies...
Bruce Lee called Bobby Tabuada to trained him back to life after his long recovery from back injury that almost made him permanently disabled. Not just military also famous Hollywood celebrities worldwide called Bobby Tabuada to trained them for their up coming action movie films the likes of Chuck Norris and among other Europeans.... Bobby Tabuada teaches Manomano, Kali, Hubod and Patid martial arts techniques from the Philippines natives indigenous tribesmen fighting skills.... Bobby Tabuada is old and his daughter that has the same skills as he is taking his place and teaches like Bobby Tabuada's teaching methods.
Filipino Martial Arts or FMA like Arnis/Kali/Eskrima was so Deadly. Specially on Weapon like Knife/Bolo/Machete/Sword or even the Stick. They create the their system before long time ago not for the Sport but they use it on Combat to Kill people or to test their Skill if whos system is the best. Its Fight to the death. They Use real Blade. But this Era they using Only Stick for demonstration. But even its a stick it was so deadly it can hurt people or they using for self defense. PUGAY po FMA!🤩🇵🇭
Not many know. Arnis has many different forms and techniques some have already been lost. Kali and that one are some of the remaining ones. My father use to tell me stories that every region in the philippines and arnis practicing families has different styles.
Dayum... trying to go against this "older" gentleman is like asking death to spar‼️😳 I'm Filipino, Chinese and Spanish. I wanna be like this older guy. 🇵🇭 Maramin Salamat for this great video reaction. Keep up the good work 👏
i practice a diffrent form of kali we call illustrisimo. its just like karate having diffrent forms of thought. balintawak is designed more for close up fighting in narrow spaces. its amazing
In the new Dune movie, the House Atreides soldiers are trained to use Filipino Martial Arts which makes them dangerous to both the House Harkonnen (Mongol style) and Imperial House Corinno Sardaukar (Viking style) soldiers.
Long before Spaniards, tribal war and beheading warring tribes are a tradition in the philippines. each tribe have a diffrent form of war style using diffrent swords or knife, like batagas will be using butterfly knife (balisong), norther province uses "bolo" (long sword that have no point but heavy and thick with one sharp side, acts like an axe+sword. Southern parts uses "kriss" (sword that shapes like a zigzag). All are forbidden by Spaniards to avoid violence and uprising of datus (tribe wealthy captian) and sultans (wealthy tribe leaders). That's why the natives come up with a practice it in secrecy and uses wooden sticks instead of swords and knife that eventually evolve into what we know as Kali, because ilustrados (converted wealthy native absorbed to spanish political society) also practiced it as their roots of fighting but only on sticks.
That's why the stick swings like that because it suppose to be close combat knife or short swords sliding to each other to slide an attack to the center or to the arm.
I saw a demonstration thirty years ago or so in Phoenix of a California Kali style that used steel rods with some kind of hook for picking asparagus. They claimed that's how their style adapted to the restrictions the Spaniards placed on them when the Philippines was occupied. I've never seen it again, it was weird.
True. The real application kills because it is initially meant for bladed weapons. It is not a protracted encounter. You're lucky if you loose an eye, an ear, or a finger on the first blows.
For your information guys the filipino martial arts is a very practical combat martial arts. Infact that was addopted by hollywood actor movies and US Marine force
he's teaching military men from different countries. most of the guy here will go back to their countries and spread the teachings of Filipino martial arts to their soldiers.
Arnis is not exclusively just stick fighting but you can use any innocent looking objects such as a pen, a rolled up newspaper, an umbrella and even a key to defend your self. Furthermore, there is also empty hand technique, coz using a weapon is considered an extension of the arm.
Eskrima or arnis focuses on speed. It's meant to kill a opponent quickly. The sticks represent a knife or a sword. The sticks were used to hide the martial arts from the Spaniards in a dance. Technically we would have had more Filipino martial art masters but with WW2, Japanese commanders invited them to a martial art meet and had all of the masters executed. The art survived by the masters who didn't show up and from practitioners passing it down through the family. Every island usually has a different style and different way of striking but have a similar core of knowledge.
I think I heard that story about the Japanese killing the Kali masters on a boat from Diana Lee Inosanto. As with most Filipinos, there's more story telling than documented writings, so who knows. Sounds right for the time.
@@keithsj10 maybe. But with all the atrocities the Japanese did during WW2, it doesn't seem far fetched. Just look at the Bataan death march in the Philippines. Writing and records usually get destroyed during wars. For example, the Spaniards who 1st landed called the Filipinos savages and said we didn't have any writing but in fact we did and was called Baybayin or Alibata. My filipino grandparents on my mom side hid up in the mountains from the Japanese while my grandfather on my dad side fought with the guerrillas and later joined the US army. For you it might be stories, but other people actually witnessed it. Just because it's not in writing, doesn't mean it's all false.
@@abefernandez6546 I agree, that's why I said it sounds right for the time, even though there's no evidence. Why would there be with that kind of story? They're at the bottom of the ocean. At least we know the impact of the atomic and nuclear bombs on Japan. They paid dearly. The Chinese were butchered by Japanese soldiers in Nanjing in 1937, so killing a single boatload of Filipinos would be nothing to them.
@@keithsj10 there are stories like that because of the students who were left behind. I heard this story from a old man who fought during WW2 as a Filipino guerrilla. He practiced doce pares and where I learned some of it. But I'm more mixed style because I learned boxing and judo too.
GM Bobby is 75 years old...I just started training in Toboada Balintiwak Kali and its amazing...GM Bobby was a former boxer which is why he incorporates boxing into his Kali style. I've trained in boxing for many, many years as well as wing chun and vee jitsu arnis...and Balitiwak incorporates elements of all of them into stick/knife fighting which turned out to be ideal for me
Arnis, Kali and Escrima are given different names depending upon region of the Philippines.....In the north where I am ethnically from, Arnis is the name for the bladed weapons aspect and Escrima is the name for sparring with the sticks..... Modern boxing gets its' roots from the Arnisadors who emigrated to America to farm in Northern California and Hawaii in the 1920's like my great uncles......Maestro Bobby is in his 70's
@@jorndoff2002 knife fighting and panantukan.....the angular foot movement stepping to the side...and keeping the hands to guard against carotid and wrist attacks.
Yes sir.. This is called ARNIS.. one of our national martial art in the Philippines. But there are still a lot of martial arts here that never been showed internationally.
What I like about Arnis is that the sticks are only extensions of the hand, meaning empty or knife fighting, you're still winning, just a little more dangerous, and the other part is the movements are fast and explosive, you never know what your enemy is doing before you are knocked out.
Just a short info regarding Philippine's Nat'l Mart'l Arts Kali: >It is widely considered as the most deadly form of martial arts. >there are other forms of kali. >And NEVER do any form of training without guidance from a practitioner or a master. Believe me: it is flashy and dangerous
Pinoy movie action daw inspired by holly wood. Di nila alam na halos lahat ng action movie sa hollywood inspired by kali, balintawak atbp pinoy martial arts. Napakasakit isipin na puro kabaklaan, kalibugan lang kayang gawin ng pinoy pag dating sa pelikula at love team na nakaka-umay. Kaya ito ngayon ang pelikulang pinoy napag iiwanan na ng karatig na bansa.
Balintawak is also an arnis, stick is just only an extension of the hand, it, s movement is based on hand movement such as punching, striking, parring, blocking, disarming and counter striking
I hope and prey my boys will and become one of Bobby's family of excellence in Cebu 👍..to become protectors of the good and the frail..and destroyers of bad and greed..😇master Bobby..🇵🇭✊❤
This martial art is designed no other just to kill or fuck up your opponent as fast as possible back in the day by using stick, nife, a bolo long nife or just your bare hands that's why it was forbidden back in Spanish era.
Yes it's kali or arnis or eskrima (borrowed from the Spanish word for sword fighting). Same thing. Like kendo, it was intended to be used with bladed weapons.
the video only shows 1 stick... but it is also for using two sticks at the same time. but one stick is more practical because if you're in a fight without weapon you can just anything straight like a pipe, wrench, or whatever long enough as weapon to use this technique. or... there is also empty hand technique and your opponent has a stick/pipe weapon against you, kali/arnis empty hand can be used to disarm the stick from the other person, and use it against him afterward.
ARNIS is the term in Luzon, in Visayas region they called it ESKRIMA. Westerner called it KALI. because of its popularity, other masters also named their martial art as KALI.
He is my grandmaster that I had the honor of meeting last year because my teacher convinced me to travel to Washington to see him. He is crazy good and fast for a man in his 70s if I'm remembering it correctly he had all of us do free flow drills with partners in front of everybody and I was so nervous when he called me because I wanted to make sure that I looked good but also that my teacher did a good job teaching me
Most filipinos take this martial arts forgranted, as they look for ways to find a living and learn something else instead. Foreigners take this new skill and develop it and fuse it with their different martial arts backgrounds. Applications for this art, is in movies, military and police training, self defense and personal growth.
Bobby Taboada's Lineage is from Cebu City. Arnis Martial Art is from the Philippines. Balintawak (specific form of Arnis) is a local martial art from Cebu
The Arnis Balintawak style emphasizes the short-range combat and trapping techniques. It's different when it comes in free-flow drills because there is no specific movement to start with. When you start a movement then go with the flow.
sensei Smith Kali/Arnis/Escrima and many are inter linked with each others you can say that different branches with same root with different directions of purpose. these basically combat arts with involvement of weapons like sticks,swords,knives and empty hands. awesome reaction.
Yeah Shin like I said in your other video in Kali where they came from Bobby Tabuada is one of the master of Kali like a Filipinos Japanese master Dan Inosato. In last video.
My grand grand father teach my father this type of martial arts Arnis, my grand grand father is black belter in this martial arts. One time my father got a trouble in tren going home the security guard point a gun on him and in just a split of second my father throws double fast kick and the gun drop in first kick and in second kick it goes above the head of security guard, the guard luckily my father don't have intention to hurt him if that kick landed his face will be broken.
Bruce Lee used that in the film Enter the Dragon with Jackie Chan as his opponent and in Game of Death with his Kali trainer and grandmaster Danilo Inosanto as the opponent...
bobby also has a shotokan karate background, before the arnis i believe. i get to work with him in Chicago, in April. i cant wait. i also come from a shotokan, judo background
Correction... "Arnis" comes from "Arnes" (Spanish) meaning "harness" "Escrima" aka "Eskrima" (Philippine alphabet doesn't have the letter "c") comes from "Esgrima" meaning "skirmish).
its always eskrima in bisaya not kali, esp. in Cebu where we believe it originated...Master Taboada is true full-blooded Cebuano...the name Balintawak comes from a small street in Cebu City where the obscure eskrima club was located...bobby taboada learned the art as small boy janitor in that club...for loyalty he carried that name Balintawak to his technique.....
You are right. That martial art is Kali also known as Arnis or Escrima. The last 2 words are from Spanish origin. Bobby Taboada teaches in my former hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina and teaches Balintawak Escrima.
Good day,that martial arts originally here in Philippines and adopted some foreign martial artist sometimes they call it their own like krag maga or something…
arnis is just another name for kali in the Philippines. Balintawak arnis is branch of kali or arnis that uses one stick rather than two sticks born out of Balintawak back alleys in Cebu. The fighting style heavily incorporates shortblade offense, open hand from grappling (dumog), and panantukan, which is the empty hand combat and boxing variant of Kali.
The focus of this are is learning strike counter strike skills which extends the skills with weapons such as of course the stick, the knife, a short sword, and emphasises speed, reaction, and application of the skills, and having a lot of practice, as you've seen with the girl it becomes instinct. You are right, in certain situations this art can kill. The only thing it needs is combining with grapple and counter grapple moves for this kind of art to be applied in UFC/MMA sport, but in real life hand to hand combat, this is certainly deadly.