| Every culture throughout history has created some | | | | muskets and cannons, because they forged their skills |
| form of martial art so their people can defend | | | | on the battlefields of Europe for centuries fighting the |
| themselves in a time of crisis. But the only true test of | | | | also highly skilled Muslim invaders! Not a bunch of tribal |
| a martial art is actual combat. | | | | natives. Spain's fighting men conquered huge amounts |
| Known as Kali in Europe and the United States, the | | | | of territory, and destroyed ancient empires with |
| knife and stick fighting based art is actually called | | | | discipline, superior tactics, and hard training. The |
| Eskrima or Arnis by the Filipino people. It is said that the | | | | unfortunate tribal warriors of the Philippines (and their |
| art was developed over centuries during many | | | | cultural fighting art of Kali) were no different than any |
| intertribal conflicts and wars with outside invaders. | | | | other native conquest to the Conquistadors. |
| Those who practice Kali claim that is more then just a | | | | But historical insignificance is not the only chink in the |
| cultural art and remains an effective form of self | | | | Kali armor. |
| defense that can be taught to someone quickly. And | | | | While it isn't fair to discount Kali simply because its |
| while on paper Kali seems like it has a lot to offer, both | | | | practitioners main focus is blades and sticks (they also |
| its historical data and self defense methodology say | | | | do practice some grappling and empty hand |
| otherwise. | | | | techniques), but this kind of training is hampered in the |
| Many Filipino martial artists cite the Battle of Mactan, | | | | real world. |
| which occurred on April 27, 1521 as proof that their | | | | It has not been socially acceptable to carry a sword in |
| system works in battle. Warriors of Lapu-Lapu, a | | | | public in over 100 years and there are many |
| chieftain of Mactan Island, defeated a landing force of | | | | restrictions on smaller bladed weapons. And although |
| Spanish sailors and soldiers under the command of | | | | Kali stick fighting looks impressive to the untrained eye, |
| Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Magellan's | | | | I have yet to hear of one person beaten to death by a |
| forces were armed with crossbows and muskets, but | | | | pair of Escrima sticks. All said and done, someone |
| were heavily outnumbered by the natives. The | | | | armed with an ordinary wooden baseball bat or axe |
| overwhelming tribal warriors cut them down and the | | | | handle, could undoubtedly finish off one of these so |
| famous explorer was killed. | | | | called "dangerous" stick fighters in a heartbeat. |
| The major flaw with this isolated example is that it is | | | | Like any cultural fighting art, I don't condemn anyone |
| the only successful battle of hundreds throughout the | | | | for spending their time practicing Kali because it seems |
| sad but true history of a conquered people. The | | | | like a decent physical conditioning method and a heck |
| Spanish Conquistadors went on to conquer all of the | | | | of a lot of fun. And while weapons training can be a |
| islands with ease and held them until the United States | | | | great addition to your close combat toolbox, learning |
| invaded in 1898. | | | | from these conquered people is not the answer as it is |
| The conquistadors were skilled warriors even without | | | | clearly not a legitimate method of self defense. |