Blood, Sweat and Tears

As civilians, we will never truly know how it is to fight side by side with our fellow comrades for the sake of our country’s freedom for ours is a different battle. Although it is not our solemn duty to take lives of enemy insurgents and terrorists, we should not limit ourselves to passiveness. Civil vigilance should be exercised at all times. In this dire time of global crisis, in the civilian world, we have yet another war to face. Chaos and disorder is in our midst and it is just a matter of time before it personally happens to us. Families are torn apart, lives are destroyed due to drugs and violence, and people have lost touch with their spiritual side. All of us one way or another has dreamed of luxury like our little piece of heaven on earth. Complacency has taken over where vigilance should have been present. Alertness and total concern have been side-tracked because everyone had been busy by either earning an extra buck or spending time thinking of how to spend it. The person’s core values have been lost due to several distractions in this lifetime. Traditionally in the Philippines, each member of the family sits down together to eat dinner and talk about pleasant things. Now, everyone sits in front of the TV or computer while talking on the phone as if no one knew each other. There is even a vast disparity between rich and poor. The rich, treated as kings gets away with everything while treating their poor brethren as slaves. This even happens between family members. Survival has a different meaning in this world we call TODAY. It is still dog eat dog world, but in modern times. Those who are wicked can get away with everything, while the righteous are the ones who are blamed and therefore suffer the consequences. Survival of the fittest doesn’t mean the fittest are righteous.

Discovery Channel's Fight Quest with Doug Anderson training Pekiti-Tirsia

Despite everything that is going on around us, through training, we re-live these traditions that we have forgotten. In Pekiti-Tirsia, although we are not born from the same bloodline, we become family and brothers through hard work, training and dedication. There is enough motivation for us to excel because there is nowhere to go but up. We right the wrong and we throw away the rubbish. Fighting is inherent to Kali warriors because it is the only thing we know. Through war, we achieve victory. We don’t shy away from being aggressive and determined if we know we are righteous. We are humble and proud at the same time. If we are down and beaten, we stand up and spit right back at that person’s face and tell them that they cannot keep a good man down. We cross the bridge and burn everything to the ground and come out victorious. The blood, sweat and tears that we experience, we enjoy, because only by this we know we are truly alive. After hardships, there is success. We don’t take no shortcuts. If someone doesn’t go through hardships, he will not enjoy triumph. For in the end, the righteous will be rewarded and the foolish damned. Only when you take it upon yourself and truly say that you are a warrior who does not give up the fight, you emerge the winner.

Save My Life Before I Die

I found this while rummaging through some past blogs by Grand Tuhon. It's a prayer composed by Mr. Dino Martinez of the Florida PTK Pitbulls after taking inspiration from a quote from Grand Tuhon.

"Save My Life Before I Die" by Dino Martinez.

Save my life before I die... that I might not perish from this earth a small and meaningless thing, without having touched greatness, without the siren call of destiny to guide me to something greater than myself; that my searching was not in vain but that I, in the end, walked with Titans.

Principles of Range part 2

Throwing knives

Determining the correct range for one to be safe or to inflict the maximum amount of damage varies for every individual. A person's height is also relative to someone's range. For a short person, the range of 4 feet is already considered long range, but for a tall person, that may be just his medium range. If someone was wielding a weapon, then the range dramatically changes. The length of the weapon is now considered. This doesn't mean that short weapons cannot be limited to short range while long weapons are only limited to long range. Take note that long weapons although effective at a distance, can also inflict maximum damage at close quarters. Imagine a rapier being thrust through your body. In contrast, short weapons may be used as projectiles such as throwing knives and hatchets. These short weapons can penetrate skin and bone depending on the force behind the throw. There are also instances where a long range weapon becomes a projectile weapon if thrown. This even extends the long range weapon to very long range. Just picture the site of a machete, although not being balanced at the center, flying through 20 feet in the air and penetrating a wooden plywood. Even if you slightly miss, it has to do some amount of damage to the target.

A hand-held hatchet

In the field of combat, we do not limit ourselves to blades or empty hands alone. Considering the fact that your enemy is equipped with various weapons should only heighten one's awareness in knowing to operate these weapons. One should also be aware in modern warfare. In the advanced levels of Pekiti-Tirsia, Gunology or knowledge of the gun is introduced.

Various blades being forged

Principles of Range

When talking about distance in fighting, during close quarters, you are up toe-to-toe against your opponent in close distance. Most of the attacks may be done in flurries through short distances where you may not see exactly what the other person is doing. The attacks are not see entirely because of limited vision. This is more deadly.

Close quarter fighting in Pekiti-Tirsia

Fighting close quarters also exposes the body through a number of bodily weapons. The more you fight closely, the more you are susceptible to your opponent’s weapons.

Whereas, distance fighting enables you to see from a distance what the other person is doing therefore, one can plan his/her attack and/or defense more. What someone should be aware of when fighting at a distance, is that the body is exposed from long range weapons. Examples of these are long swords, spears and staves, projectiles weapons and guns. Although this is true, one can still clear away from these weapons types since you are at a range meaning you have the option to engage or flee the situation at hand.

In Pekiti-Tirsia, it is advised that if you go close quarters, you finish off the opponent in the shortest amount of time. Only 3 seconds is allowed for you to get in, deliver your goods, and then get out. This is with the assumption that you are not only fighting with one armed opponent.

Inch by Inch

The road to be a successful kali man is never easy. You need to invest the time to perfect every move to be at your best. Perfect repetition is one of the key ingredients in training. It is just easy watching videos on the internet and copying them, but without the core foundations and proper guidance from a reputable source, you are just setting yourself up for failure.

Like a child, we are first taught to stand up, then walk, and then run. The first few inches are the most difficult. Even when you are recuperating from injury, the most painful part is getting up, ignoring the pain and putting your mind and do what needs to be done. It is the same thing with Pekiti-Tirsia. There are times when we are lazy to attend training because it is more tempting to indulge and bask in the luxuries that life is offering us. What we do not realize is that the discipline of training puts us in a mindset that our life is not ours and that any time it can be taken away from us. We do our training to prevent this from happening. Prevention is always better than a cure.

PTK Camp Karingal group

It has been apparent to us that the world has given a new meaning to terrorism. The global economy has been affected by these terrorist attacks. Mass carnage and human sacrifice has been the weapons these personalities are using in order to get back at common civilians. If you look at it, it seems like we have gone back to barbaric times when warlords decapitates his victims’ head and places them on stakes to scare off would-be attackers. Most of them have no value for their life as long as they get to do what they believe in. They insist on what they want by creating cults and insurgency among men. They brainwash everyone to think a certain way which they believe is for the greater good, but in the end would only benefit them. Hundreds and thousands of innocent lives have been and are continuing to be claimed each day because the general public are not vigilant.

PTK Dubai Sicas Famosus

We have come in peace with what popular media has been feeding us which is a big mistake. In our belief, it is a sin to be complacent. Only a dead man can say that he cannot do anything with his life because he is 6 feet below the ground. But for most of us, we should be saying otherwise. We do not demand time from those who see us as a burden. But to those who really would want to experience what true Filipino fighting culture is all about, we encourage them to train with us because they love to. When we are tired, we just keep on going. When we cannot grasp what is being taught, we ask questions and practice with utter obedience and faith, knowing the the stick is round and the blade is flat. Inch by inch, slowly but surely, we will be able to achieve our goals. We have lots of heart and determination. We train to perfection with unending determination and a no surrender attitude, because in the end, our lives are our trophies.

The Moments that Take your Breath Away

Training in Pekiti-Tirsia the traditional way has neven been easy. Show me a Pekiti-Tirsia class who has relaxed training and I tell you now that it is not authentic. The first day alone gives the un-initiated blistered hands, heavy feet, sore muscles and shortness of breath among many others. I've even seen people use the stick for support like a walking cane. And there are even a few who never made it to the second day. With the art being available worldwide, it's sad to know that there are some posers out there who claim to be masters, but in reality, they re just masters of marketing... making the art a business. One should be very wary into entering a new class. Ask around if the instructor is indeed teaching the right stuff to his students. Most newbies usually gets blinded by flashy disarming moves, locks, and high flying acrobatics. But the truth is far from this. For all you know it, out there, you'd be dead in a blink of an eye before you can even begin your turning roundhouse kick. Given an encounter with 3 knife-wielding thugs while you do not have any available weapons, would you even have time to pull-off to disarm all 3 of them? This can be only seen in Hollywood.

Training should be taken seriously. One should not be only training during class but even during sleeping. You may not know that someone would attack you in your sleep. An attack usually comes when you least expect it. So always be alert and anticipate that someone will attack you. How you would react to this type of situation is part of the mental aspect of training. After picturing the attack going on in your head, practice the scenario and possible options by your lonesome or with a partner. This would get your prepared for the actual encounter.

Techniques are a dime a dozen in Pekiti-Tirsia. There is no set technique for a specific situation because there are no 2 exact same situations. This is the wonder of Pekiti-Tirsia because we are always evolving... adjusting ourselves to fit the situation, or rather, make the situation fit you. Make them fight your fight and not you fight theirs and you have won half the battle. Coming out alive is the other half. Hide, fight or flee are the most common options in a self-defense scenario, but when you are trained in Pekiti-Tirsia, it just becomes a part of your life. You won't panic when faced with these type of situations. The moments that take your breath away will awaken the sleeping warrior within and spark the fire within you and accomplish what should be done, Do or Die!

Sicas Famosus Combat Instruments

Aluminum training knives













Ceramic training knives
Rattan sticks - light training sticks


















Bahi sticks - heavy training sticks

Kamagong sticks - heavy training sticks


Dubai Sicas Famosus black training t-shirt























Dubai Sicas Famosus orange training t-shirt

The Complete Warrior

With age and experience comes the venerability of the soul. A wise person becomes wiser with age and a challenged person only becomes more challenged. For one to survive in difficult times, one needs to be complete or one should try to be. In every aspect of mental, physical, emotional and spiritual, the complete warrior should be well-equipped.

- Nourishment
If someone wants to live long enough, be strong and healthy for you to see your grandchildren, you should supply your body with the proper nutrients and stay away from bad vices. Treat the food as fuel to power your body. What goes in also comes out.

- Academic Study
By powering the body, one has to also power the brain. Without proper knowledge or enrolling yourself in an institution that can bring out the best in you, you are short changing yourself from proper education and academic know-how. As one progresses in life, research and continuous study in essential fields is required. As the great Sun Tzu said, know yourself, know your enemy, and the battle is won.

- Prayers & Proper Guidance
What the body needs is also needed by the spirit and heart. A spirit at peace gives you a sense of well-being and peace of mind. This is priceless. Knowing that you are getting the proper guidance and prayers gives the person an extra edge in any ordeal. You will be needing enough prayers to make it through the tough times and get an insurance for your soul. Family and loved ones contribute a great deal to a warrior's development.

- Physical Training
All of the above mentioned will be put to waste when someone takes the life away from you. It is known that death is the ultimate destroyer of happiness. A person who believes in life not death, abhors the evil doers and takes it upon himself to protect his safety and those that surround him. The discipline of the blade entitles you to partake of proper physical training needed for all adversities.

Why study Pekiti-Tirsia Kali?

Pekiti-Tirsia's training, drills and exercise routine promotes total body health and mental toughness. The rigorous training methods also develops coordination and proper body mechanics needed for one to possess in order to have a fit and healthy mind and body.

Interested individuals are curious whether or not Kali will work in reality-based situations where you have multiple attackers, some or all wielding weapons. Situations like assault, theft/robbery, or hostage are also mentioned. Often times, questions like "Why would I study holding a stick if I wouldn't have a stick when I am attacked?", come up. Only by immersing yourself in the program will you understand the answers to these questions. More often than not, we are mocked by training with weapons when in reality you are not holding one in your daily waking life. These people do not realize that we should be always carrying a weapon or more apparently, we are always carrying weapons with us. You will be prepared for action-oriented situations, self-defense, and have an acute sense of self-awareness.

By training Pekiti-Tirsia Kali, one will develop proper speed, power, accuracy, timing and precision for C.O.M.B.A.T. (Counter On Motion Before Attack Time). Before an attack is even initiated, the prepared combatant is already prepared for a counter attack.

Classes are done in groups or in private all over the world so as brotherhood and camaraderie is greatly practised. Students get to experience the true beauty of Filipino fighting culture in its finest, truest form through dedicated practice, loyalty and perseverance.

Pekiti-Tirsia is the benchmark when it comes to edged-impact weapon based fighting and tactical combat and is still evolving and transcending depending on different battle situations using core principles mastered by the diligent practitioner.

Kali Country, Where the Flavor Is

The Philippine archipelago, comprised of 7,100 islands in the Western Pacific Ocean, is a small country with a big population. It once was the Pearl Of the Orient during the high time of sea expeditions. Philippine history, many argue, did not begin with the coming of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. Rather, it began in the 13th century, when 10 datus from Borneo, each with a hundred of his kinsmen, landed in what is now known as Panay Island in the Visayas. Yet it was Magellan, and succeeding expeditions from Spain, who put the Philippine archipelago on the map of the world. The intrepid Magellan was dubbed the discoverer of the Philippines after he landed in Homonhon islet, near Samar, on March 17, 1521. He was later killed in Mactan island of Cebu, in a clash with native warriors led by a chieftain named Lapu-Lapu.

The Philippines is a melting pot of different cultures. Many westerners have decided to make their home in this country due to the tropical weather, ease of business and simply, the culture. Accessibility of resources found on the islands from other Southeast Asian countries together with the West is apparently abundant in the region. Basically one will get the best of both worlds.

The fighting culture is still the same as it once was. Guns and knives are relatively seen in guerrilla warfare. Where tanks and heavy artillery cannot infiltrate, bladed weapons gets the job done. Kali is the martial art of the Philippines. It was practised way back during the formation of the Srivijayan and Majapahit empires. Other popular names are Arnis and Escrima during the Spanish occupation up to present times. Pekiti-Tirsia, as a system was formed during the late 19th century by Conrado Tortal, is a system of the Tortal family. The sole heir and guardian of this system is Leo T. Gaje, Jr. who is referred to as the Grand Tuhon. Pekiti-Tirsia is a combat-oriented style, as opposed to sport orientation by other systems. Pekiti-Tirsia is currently the only Kali system recognized by the Philippine government used to train Force-Recon Marine Battalions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Special Action Force (SAF) contingent of the Philippine National Police.

Among regular civilians, the Pekiti-Tirsia battle demeanor is rarely seen but only felt. Practitioners are taught to believe in life not in death, health not in sickness, and success not in failure. Concepts of counter offense rather than defense are instructed. This means that a practitioner, though a civilian, should be always conscious and aware with his surroundings. A battle-ready mindset should always be present. Pekiti-Tirsia prepares the person to survive in times of crisis. The ability to see the danger without engaging the danger, ability to prepare to find an exit with speed without being inside the danger zone. An immediate solution is applied leaving no evidence, a complete self-defence skill. We have to survive no matter what and at any cost. In the brotherhood, everyone is advised to always train hard for in training hard, great friendships are forged. We can never be truly friends if the friendship is only based on good times and shallow relationships. But if there is an ordeal, the friendship is forged in the fire and metal and clang of the blade. We get past the ordeal and we are friends forever.