Ever heard of the Kali Knife Fighting System? If you consider yourself to be a knife enthusiast or expert, the term Kali will not escape you. Otherwise, better stick to this article and prepare to be enlightened.



The Kali Knife Fighting System is a form of Asian martial art that utilizes small and medium-sized bladed weapons, commonly known as knives in our modern terminology, to their full potential, whether the purpose is to defend oneself or to inflict as much damage as one can. Many people see the knife as a last-ditch weapon that is only used when one has ran out of bullets. But in the hands of a Kali practitioner, even a small paring knife can be as effective as an M16 assault rifle (metaphorically speaking).

The Kali is a direct descendant of Arnis de Mano (Harness of the Hand) and Eskrima (Fencing). Both forms of fighting evolved and saw its peak during the Spanish Regime in the Philippines. Lapu-Lapu, the tribal chieftain from Mactan who battled with Ferdinand Magellan and his crew in 1521 AD, was believed to be a master of the ancient version of the Kali. The Kali Knife Fighting System therefore, belongs under the Filipino Martial Arts category, along with its contemporaries Yaw-Yan (Dance of Death), Balintawak Eskrima (Modern Arnis) and Cigue-Cigue Bakbakan (Modern Street fighting).

But while it is recognized as Filipino, the Kali Knife Fighting System is practiced worldwide and even the United States Navy SEALS have trained to master the art of Kali. Why the popularity? Martial Arts experts from different disciplines like Dan Inosanto (a master of Jeet Kune Do and former student of the late Bruce Lee) have praised the Kali Knife Fighting System because of its efficiency with bladed weapons and have pointed out that it is a very useful form of martial art that allows its practitioner to quickly adapt to any situations when the need to fight is inevitable. And the Kali practitioner practically turns any bladed weapons, for instance a combat knife, or a non-bladed weapon; say a stick into a very lethal piece of fighting equipment.

Ancient Kali practitioners adopted the use of knives practically because it is not heavy and cumbersome, unlike swords. And the techniques taught in Kali require speed and flexibility, which is not likely present when wielding long spears (unless you are a Wushu master) and other big weapons. With such features, the Kali fighter can draw first blood and can go as far as permanently disabling his opponent, even if the latter made the first move. The ease of moving and the lightness of the knife permit such defensive attacks, literally making any defensive stops into offensive strikes. Modern Kali masters have carried such philosophy of disabling the opponent with minimal effort up to this day.

The Kali Knife Fighting System, like almost all forms of martial arts, requires its students and practitioners to use their skills only when the situation calls for it. If violence can be avoided, then do so. Otherwise, that's just being cocky.