A dying Art
The Filipino Martial Arts have always been a very prominent part of 
Philippine culture. Long before foreigners arrived on the 7000 plus Island nation the natives have developed a very effective form of combative arts.
The combative arts that was developed by these `savages` were so effective that the 300 hundred plus years the Spaniards were on the Philippine Islands, the whole island was never totally conquered. The famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan met his untimely death in the Philippines - killed with some say a fire hardened stick.
The martial arts known as kali, arnis or eskrima was slowly dying. This was due in part to suppression from foreign invaders. Also many old filipino martial arts masters were not willing to teach it out in the open. Many practiced in secrets with only close family members and friends away from the `enemies`.
Last Update: October 19, 2005