The indigenous fighting arts of the Philippines are vast. The term “Kali” or “Escrima” is often used to describe these weapons-based arts. There are many many systems of Kali. Innovative Fighting Arts teaches the Filipino Arts brought down to us from the Inosanto/LaCoste system.

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Guro Dan Inosanto, utilizing Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do concepts, took what was most effective and useful from many systems of Kali. John LaCoste, considered to be the deadliest of the Filipino masters living in Stockton California, was very much like Guro Dan. He incorporated several systems into his own. Heavily based in the bladed arts of the Moros, the system of Moro Moro would be the center of his system. Adding arts from Cebu and an unknown system he successfully used these in many altercations right to the age of 85 years old when he himself was attacked by three teens intent on robbing him. Two were swiftly dealt with, the other, (smarter one) ran away.

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IFA also adds a heavy influence of Pekiti Tirsia Kali. PTK is perhaps one of the most relative systems of Kali around today. IFA is a member of the Pekiti Tirsia Tactical Association. PTK trains in both empty hand as well as weapons. This also includes modern weapons as well as the traditional weapons. Developed from traditional PTK, Tricom Combatives is also offered. Tricom is the scaled down system geared to Operators, Law Enforcement and Military but is also appropriate for civilians. Tricom is the meat and potatoes of a system that is easy to learn, effective and doesn’t require as much repetition to utilize. If you want real world skill in significantly less time, Tricom is the answer to this. Tricom is taught all over the world to military and law enforcement as well as part of the SWAT program in Salt Lake City.

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Weapons training in FMA involves single stick, double stick, stick and knife and single and double knife. Staff and double sword comes in the advanced classes. Training in edged and improvised weapons teaches the student to develop something we call “bladed motion” this is learning to always move as if there was the threat of a blade. This makes the student difficult to hit and more explosive in their entries. Furthermore, students learn to use anything as a weapon because of the attribute gained through this specific training and by understanding exactly HOW anything around may be used for defense.

Attribute development and understanding is only part of the benefit of training in FMA. Kali trains in “angles of attack” Most systems incorporate 12 angles. Although IFA teaches all 12, we really train heavily in 5. Manong (Grand Tuhon) LaCoste believed if a student of his would understand the first two angles he would beat anyone from any other system.

As well as the more known arts of the Philippines, IFA also teaches the following Filipino Arts:

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Dumog: Filipino wrestling. Involving single joint locks, joint isolation and joint choke points. Breaks and body manipulations.

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Panantuken:  (pronounced Pah-Noon-took-ahu) often referred to as “dirty boxing” involves destructive entries, elbows, head butts, shoulder butts, joint manipulations, slips and trips.

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Pananjakman: Kickboxing version of Panantuken

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Kino Mutai: An obscure art brought to us through Paul Vunak involving biting, eye gouges and pinches. When incorporated with jiujitsu (ground fighting) becomes a very devastating defensive art.

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Maphlindo Silat: This is Guro Dan Inosanto’s Silat system incorporating systems from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Silat traces its roots as far back as Alexander The Great. It’s referred to as the battlefield art. It incorporates devastating breaks, takedowns, attacks and as its own art can become very advanced in specific striking methods.