A new start - Kali

[Call-Me-Matt]

Hello, I am new here. I am an older guy and I do have a long history with certain martial arts. However, I will not really talk about those or my past instructors. While that conversation would get a lot of interest, I am not here for that.

I have a few health issues, and I know I need to get back into shape in certain areas, so I recently started two new to me martial arts. One of them is Kali. I will not say who my instructor is, but after researching him, he has an extensive and legitimate background. I am practicing for health, mental clarity, and self defense. I am not focused on being an expert. I am very happy in the lower ranks. The only person I am trying to impress or compete with is myself.

It has only been about three weeks, but I really enjoy Kali. The triangle footwork is awesome, and getting off the centerline is something I have been understanding better. The parry salute is really great as well, and at times that flows into certain arm locks and takedowns. My punches are weak, and my kicks are really weak, but in my most recent session my kicks felt stronger. I need to watch out for my knee joints. When you get older, some of you out there will unfortunately understand what I mean.

The other thing I have been enjoying is the single stick. Apologies, as I am having a tough time remembering the Filipino terms for techniques, but I will get there. I do not have a solid rattan stick yet, but I made a light bamboo one. The length and width are good, and it works fine for my own single practice use. - Matt

 

[HighKick]

Welcome to the forum. I look forward to hearing more about you training.
I trained under Bill McGrath back in the 90's/00's.
Can you expand on what kicks you are doing? We did not kicks.

 

[Prince_Alarming114 144]

Welcome to MT. You have my envy, Kali is awesome

 

[Call-Me-Matt]

Thanks, Im lucky to be learning it.

 

[Call-Me-Matt]

Welcome to the forum. I look forward to hearing more about you training.
I trained under Bill McGrath back in the 90's/00's.
Can you expand on what kicks you are doing? We did not kicks.

I just got finished practicing… Kali is challenging… but its way different then other martial arts that I have done.

I not doing that many, and all low kicks. Low front kick stomach, groin or knee.
Side kick to the knee and not trying to compare but the only way I can describe it is a low “Thai boxing” cut kick, targeting to the side of the knee. Many of these are combo with the salute parry. I did that “cut kick” today and my back is feeling it. Because I have to put full hip rotation and everything else into it.l even if its low, that took the steam out me today.

I think you saw my other post in the Shotokan Karate part of the forum.. I kind of wish I never posted over there. I tend not to engage with back and forth on certain topics.

In this part of the forum, everyone seems very positive.

On the good news side, I am about three weeks in, and I have noticed I sleep better and I have A LOT MORE energy in the daytime. Kali has a lot of logic behind the techniques. Great close-up fighting. Elbows and knees, and many times close up clinches turn into arm locks and pulls into knee and elbows or with out pulling.

The single stick I also like that.. when I am practicing solo at home (and hopefully I remember this number correctly) I do the 9 strikes with the single stick. It is going really great so far. I just need to keep building my endurance up.

I don't talk about again my past martial arts training as I trying to keep a single mindset like: “This is FMA Kali and I don't know anything”. I am doing this for health and mental clarity and also for self-defense. I need to get back where I was to be able to have the endurance and the basics down to defend myself empty handed…and honestly I am not there right now. So that is also what I am fixing. There are times, that I don't have my concealed firearm or other less lethal options on me (all legal) for certain reasons. It will take some time, but I’ll get there.
- Matt

 

[ap Oweyn18 7]

I understand precisely what you mean by knee joints, Matt.

Welcome to FMA. MartialTalk has quite a few accomplished practitioners of various styles of arnis, eskrima, and kali. One thing I think they'll all agree on, I suspect, is what a trip the terminology can be.

For any given thing in FMA, you'll likely encounter two or three different words. When you consider the number of dialects in the PI, then borrowed words from Spanish and English, then variations between teachers and styles, it's dizzying. I went through the exercise, when I was moderating a different FMA sub-forum back in the day, of beginning a glossary. And that got overwhelming quickly.

Gradual osmosis is probably the only realistic way.

The stick, for instance, could be called olisi, baston, yantok, garrote (though that one refers to a particular shape of stick at least), etc. So (as you mentioned in your other thread), single stick might be called "solo baston," as it was in my curriculum. Funnily enough though, that same curriculum referred to double stick as "doble olisi."

Don't expect consistency. You're not getting it.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf114 144]

I understand precisely what you mean by knee joints, Matt.

Welcome to FMA. MartialTalk has quite a few accomplished practitioners of various styles of arnis, eskrima, and kali. One thing I think they'll all agree on, I suspect, is what a trip the terminology can be.

For any given thing in FMA, you'll likely encounter two or three different words. When you consider the number of dialects in the PI, then borrowed words from Spanish and English, then variations between teachers and styles, it's dizzying. I went through the exercise, when I was moderating a different FMA sub-forum back in the day, of beginning a glossary. And that got overwhelming quickly.

Gradual osmosis is probably the only realistic way.

The stick, for instance, could be called olisi, baston, yantok, garrote (though that one refers to a particular shape of stick at least), etc. So (as you mentioned in your other thread), single stick might be called "solo baston," as it was in my curriculum. Funnily enough though, that same curriculum referred to double stick as "doble olisi."

Don't expect consistency. You're not getting it.

I have tried multiple times trying to figure out what something is called, to find a video of something, double check something, or discuss it online. Google doesn't always show up results, and I never know if I'm not spelling it correctly or if it normally goes by a different name, or if it's just something rare that isn't discussed much. Depending on the day, it could be any of the three.

 

[ap Oweyn18 7]

I have tried multiple times trying to figure out what something is called, to find a video of something, double check something, or discuss it online. Google doesn't always show up results, and I never know if I'm not spelling it correctly or if it normally goes by a different name, or if it's just something rare that isn't discussed much. Depending on the day, it could be any of the three.

Absolutely. Even the name "eskrima" is a lark.

1) "Esgrima" is the Spanish word for fencing
2) "Escrima" is the Anglo-American spelling I first encountered
3) "Eskrima" is the Pilipino spelling

By the way, Matt, "Pilipino" isn't a typo. The "f" sound apparently isn't a naturally occurring sound in that alphabet. Which was reinforced for me during the glossary exercise I mentioned. One of the submissions I got was "praksyon," which turned out to describe the timing of a particular hit that arrived a "fraction" of a moment earlier than the opponent's.

 

[Prince_Alarming114 144]

Wow, suddenly the exact spelling of the word 'pinan' no longer seems like such a burning issue

 

[Call-Me-Matt]

I understand precisely what you mean by knee joints, Matt.

Welcome to FMA. MartialTalk has quite a few accomplished practitioners of various styles of arnis, eskrima, and kali. One thing I think they'll all agree on, I suspect, is what a trip the terminology can be.

For any given thing in FMA, you'll likely encounter two or three different words. When you consider the number of dialects in the PI, then borrowed words from Spanish and English, then variations between teachers and styles, it's dizzying. I went through the exercise, when I was moderating a different FMA sub-forum back in the day, of beginning a glossary. And that got overwhelming quickly.

Gradual osmosis is probably the only realistic way.

The stick, for instance, could be called olisi, baston, yantok, garrote (though that one refers to a particular shape of stick at least), etc. So (as you mentioned in your other thread), single stick might be called "solo baston," as it was in my curriculum. Funnily enough though, that same curriculum referred to double stick as "doble olisi."

Don't expect consistency. You're not getting it.

Kumusta ka. I know one word at least. But Thank You for mentioning all of that.
At the time of this post this is the fourth week, and I have seen further improvements in small ways. My kicks are getting stronger, over all stamina , mental clarity, balance. And again, I am 100% happy staying in the lowest ranks as these small wins that I keep seeing is more important to me over all. Practicing FMA Kali is keeping my interest as it is different, while again kicks and ouches are familiar the triangle footwork and inside fighting is not to me, and again I’m enjoying learning that.

I try not to talk about past martial arts that I learned and have done in the past as that would spark up many different conversations and again to ME, having a beginners mindset and not drifting to other past training is a good thing. I have practiced with a stick before as well, a shorter one, but not continuous movement that FMA Kali has. Again very different and thats keeping my interest going forward.

Thank You again for you comment, have a great day.

 

[ap Oweyn18 7]

Kumusta ka. I know one word at least. But Thank You for mentioning all of that.
At the time of this post this is the fourth week, and I have seen further improvements in small ways. My kicks are getting stronger, over all stamina , mental clarity, balance. And again, I am 100% happy staying in the lowest ranks as these small wins that I keep seeing is more important to me over all. Practicing FMA Kali is keeping my interest as it is different, while again kicks and ouches are familiar the triangle footwork and inside fighting is not to me, and again I’m enjoying learning that.

I try not to talk about past martial arts that I learned and have done in the past as that would spark up many different conversations and again to ME, having a beginners mindset and not drifting to other past training is a good thing. I have practiced with a stick before as well, a shorter one, but not continuous movement that FMA Kali has. Again very different and thats keeping my interest going forward.

Thank You again for you comment, have a great day.

I'm well, thanks.

Oh okay... If I'm remembering those early lessons correctly: Mabuti po naman. (I may not be. Reader beware.)

Don't worry. I'm not going to ask about previous background. I agree that's entirely your business. I will say that one of the nice things about FMA is its ability to incorporate other influences without violating some ethos or wrecking some technical approach. Western fencing, boxing, kickboxing, whatever you've got. My first FMA style was Doce Pares (though my first teachers also had a background in Pekiti Tersia), specifically the arm of DP from GM Ciriaco "Cacoy" Cañete. When I interviewed him ages ago, he cited his experiences in judo, jujutsu, aikido, karate, and boxing as well. So there's room for that in FMA, which I love.

The other thing I love is that there are these different styles, but there's enough common ground that practitioners of different styles can train together relatively seamlessly. My formal background is in DP. I've also trained long-term in Inosanto Blend and "alongside" a Modern Arnis group. (That is to say I trained for years with a Modern Arnis teacher and his students, though I make no claim to being trained in Modern Arnis. Frankly, I couldn't even remember their basic twelve angles if you held my feet to a fire.)

For the most part, that never prevented us from having productive training sessions.

I think you're really going to enjoy getting into the weeds with the different styles available under the FMA umbrella. Even the aforementioned terminology thing I really enjoy. It doesn't have to be simple. It's representative of a range of personal and cultural influences. That's part of the appeal for me.

 

[Holmejr13 12]

Enjoy your training! The FMA is a deep art. The ambidextrous multitasking nature of the art makes it particularly beneficial to cognizant health. The flowing nature keeps one supple into old age. You’ll be amazed how this art reveals itself to you and you to yourself. Enjoy.

 

[Call-Me-Matt]

Enjoy your training! The FMA is a deep art. The ambidextrous multitasking nature of the art makes it particularly beneficial to cognizant health. The flowing nature keeps one supple into old age. You’ll be amazed how this art reveals itself to you and you to yourself. Enjoy.

Thanks, I appreciate that.

 

[Call-Me-Matt]

I believe I am on week 5, last week I pushed myself a bit more and I admit my back and lower ribs, and left foot feel it this week. One thing I bought, is something I used to use a while back. Its a generic brand of the same ingredients of tiger balm. That has been helping out, in-between sessions.

 

[Holmejr13 12]

I believe I am on week 5, last week I pushed myself a bit more and I admit my back and lower ribs, and left foot feel it this week. One thing I bought, is something I used to use a while back. It’s a generic brand of the same ingredients of tiger balm. That has been helping out, in-between sessions.

Not sure how old you are, but I’m 70. The pain goes away eventually.

May I ask what brand of Kali you are taking?

 

[Call-Me-Matt]

Not sure how old you are, but I’m 70. The pain goes away eventually.

May I ask what brand of Kali you are taking?

Wow good on you Sir…. I am little bit younger than you with certain past injuries that I care not to discuss. Things are slowly getting better, I know all too well, that pushing myself can be good and bad.

As I have told others, I don’t discuss the particulars on who I am train with or where. Privacy and security is very important to me. The only reason while I am practicing Kali is not just self-defense its more towards health and mental clarity.

My movements are getting better. Also as I stated prior, I don't talk about my past involvement with other martial arts for certain reasons. There used to be a few topical muscle relievers I used many years back. One was tiger balm (Im probably showing my age) and I just found decent equivalent thats work for me.

Have a great day and night.

 

[EskrimaFan]

Welcome Matt and enjoy your journey.
FMA is a very diverse branch of martial arts so to speak.

Like people here already stated, there are styles that are really huge systems on it's own and focus a lot on ambidextrous training. I'm not a fan of this because of personal reasons.

I practice and teach a couple of specialized styles namely De Campo 1-2-3 Original, and Baraw Sugbo, these styles I teach. I practice the Ilustrismo style of Mang Yuli Romo with my instructor.

I also did some PTK with the PTTA program, but didn't do that very long.

All styles are a lot of fun, just get out of it what you want.

 

[Call-Me-Matt]

Welcome Matt and enjoy your journey.
FMA is a very diverse branch of martial arts so to speak.

Like people here already stated, there are styles that are really huge systems on it's own and focus a lot on ambidextrous training. I'm not a fan of this because of personal reasons.

I practice and teach a couple of specialized styles namely De Campo 1-2-3 Original, and Baraw Sugbo, these styles I teach. I practice the Ilustrismo style of Mang Yuli Romo with my instructor.

I also did some PTK with the PTTA program, but didn't do that very long.

All styles are a lot of fun, just get out of it what you want.

Thank You, I appreciate that.

 

[ap Oweyn18 7]

So... how's it going? Been a couple of months now. Is kali what you hoped it would be?

 

[Call-Me-Matt]

So... how's it going? Been a couple of months now. Is kali what you hoped it would be?

Hello, sorry for the late reply. I honestly had no expectations other than I want to try it, and I am finally comfortable to the triangle and footwork. I knew, with certain past injuries that I had that I would adjust and my instructor has work with me on certain issues. It reminds me of certain modern CQC combatives.

I wont get into particulars but I have lost more weight and I have seen increased stamina and drive, more than I first started, so for metrics that is good. For lessons learned / takeaways, I need to be careful as it’s easy to go “full speed” and rip a tendon or ligament. I know some people won’t understand that but everyone is different.

One thing that my instructor also was showing me, is the value of FMA Kali while concealed carrying. I legally conceal carry at times for certain reasons, and defending close range and tying in using my sidearm is a great thing.. actually..that is something I did not expect or thinking about.