Pekiti Tirsia Kali
From MartialTalk Online Martial Arts Encyclopedia Project
Pekiti Tirsia Kali is a Filipino Martial Art founded in 1897. It was developed and improved during the years 1930-36 by Conrado Tortal.
Tortal was from Panay, the island that the chieftains from Borneo settled on when Kali came to the Philippines.
The Muslim chieftains established a colony on Kalibo, Aklan — this is sometimes cited as the origin of the name "Pekiti-Tirsia Kali". Another reason is that a practicioner of the art is trained in carrying a knife, which is called a "kalis".
Pekiti-Tirsia Kali has been passed on to Tortal's grandson, Grand Tuhon Leo Tortal Gaje, Jr..
Pekiti Tirsia Kali's Philosophy is: "Belief in life, not in death. Belief in success, not in failure. Belief in good health, not in sickness."
In traditional practice, Kali techniques — a ritual dance with sharp weapons — are performed at sunrise. The Kali student whose strengths are supposed to be drawn from the sun also directs his eyes towards it, and avoids blinking for as long as possible. He also accustoms himself to seeing sharp swords swinging towards him without fear.
Kali's movements involve slicing swords in a circular motion, meant to be symbol|symbolic of the orbits of the moon and the planets. They also incorporate triangular movements symbolic of constellations. In ancient times, Kali was taught in rituals and were then used pragmatically to survive against adversaries and wild animals.
Pekiti-Tirsia is the only Kali system recognized by the Philippine government, which uses the system to train elite Force-Recon Marine Battalions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Special Action Force (SAF) contingent of the Philippine National Police.
Tournament Sport
"In the year 1998 Pekiti-Tirsia Philippines, Inc. organized the "Battle of Grandmasters". A tournament following the Total Submission Policy - fighting without any protection gear (no glove no helmet!) with unpadded sticks, no referee, no time limit, no rules. Fighting was done on challenges (Master and Grandmaster division) and as a challenge tournament (advanced students). The tournament was open to all styles, and Masters and Grandmasters from more than 15 styles have been personally invited - but only Pekiti-Tirsia fighters were willing to fight under the said conditions."
