History of the Martial arts in the Philippines

Martial arts today was cultivated by our culture and ancestors for us to defend and not only to
defend but also to strengthen our mind, body and soul. Today it was also a sport that is held in the
different places in the Philippines.

In the Philippines martial arts is classified in three distinct territorial style. That is Arnis,
Eskrima and Kali. Martial arts in the Philippines start from Indonesian. Eskrima was brought in the
Philippines by the India. It was brought by the people who traveled through Indonesia. In the 9 th century
brought a goods from East Asian and Malaysia that have a big influence in the martial arts of the
Philippines. Kuntao and Silat are the martial arts or the combat and fighting skills of these countries that
influence and give development of the Kali of the Philippines. Which is the mother of martial arts in the
Philippines. There are legends, that the Kali was taught together with the academics by the datu in
Bothoan. Bothoan was a school that is established by a ten chieftains. They left Borneo and settled in
Panay where they established the Bothoan in the 12 th century.

In the 14th century, Malaysian migrated in the Philippines. These immigrants were the ancestors of the
Moro or Muslim in the Mindanao and Sulu. They were the one that spread the culture of the Muslim.
They were also the one that spread the Kali system. These are the bladed weapon that has a different or
it has a various lengths.

In Mactan Island, art of Kali was brought by the Datu Mangal. This art was brought to the island of Cebu.
During the regime of Majapahit Empire, this art of Kali was developed as a personalized Kali subsystem
called or also known as the Pangamut by Raja Lapu-lapu. Until then the Spanish came to the island of
the Philippines. Philippines was a unison archipelago that time. The commander of the ship is Ferdinand
Magellan. The island that they landed is in the Samar. That time Samar only have a few people living
that makes them rest for a few days.

As time passes by, there are some people who approach the ship of Magellan. It became an opportunity
for the Spanish to make friendship to the people of the Samar. With the friendship of Spanish and the
Filipino. Magellan converted the datu of Samar and datu of Cebu into a Catholicism, with the help of the
priest in the ship of Magellan. Christianity was the main weapon of the Spanish to control and take over
the place.

On the 27th of the July Lapu-lapu set sail in Mactan in a expecting that he can conquer it as a gift to a
datu. But they encountered the Spaniards. The army that is led by Lapu-lapu was armed with iron tipped
fire hardened bamboo lances and pointed fire dried wooden stakes. They outnumbered the Spaniards
reason for Lapu-lapu to win the battle.

In 1570, Spaniards came in Luzon. When they arrived, they were confronted by the Kalistas a Kali
warrior. But unfortunately they were defeated because of the firearms that the Spaniards have. But the
fighting skills of the Filipino were far exceeded than the fighting skills of the Spaniards. After that the Kali
was prohibited in the place. But it was still preserved there are few who still practice it and it was also
presented to the Spaniards for there enjoyment. By putting it in a ritual dances like the Sinulog. Where it
has a mock battle with sword as a finale.
The sword of the Spaniards was sharp that it can easily cut through the wooden weapon of the Filipinos.
That’s why they consistently train until they reached the accurate, speed and agility that they needed to
defeat the enemy. They master the strikes from the limbs and nerve center. Allowing them to disarm
and disable the enemy’s attacks. After observing the fighting techniques of the Spanish. Many
techniques and methods are added in the Kali. Many cultures and concepts are added that made the
Eskrima evolve that is known as Arnis de Mano. Until this day, this techniques was taught the different
schools. They taught it not just only to protect a oneself but also to strengthen the body and mind.