PEKITI-TIRSIA KALI

Considered in Filipino Martial arts as the art of knife fighting, Pekiti-Tirsia kali is the only Kali system recognized by the Phiippine 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.

According to the history of Pekiti-Tirsia, Muslim chieftains established a colony on Kalibo, Aklan. This was considered why the discipline is called "Kali." Another reason for the name of the martial art is because of the knife carried by the practitioners alled, "kalis."

Opposed to Sport-focused style, Pekiti-Tirsia is a combat-oriented system founded in 1897 by the Tortal Family. Leo T. Gaje Jr. is now the Grand Tuhon and the sole heir and guardian of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali. The movements of the system are based on the traditional blade art of the Philippines.

The 5 main weapon categories of Pekiti-Tirsia including the human body are:

• Solo - Single stick, sword or spear.
• Doble - Double stick or sword.
• Espada y Daga - Sword and Dagger.
• Daga y Daga - Knife to Knife
• Mano y Mano - Hand to Hand.

The subsystems of training are:

• Doce Methodos (These are the 12 methods or subsystems of the Pekiti-Tirsia system. Each is a distinct grouping of techniques and related application methods which represent the core principle of that subsystem. A condensed form of 64 movements called the 64 Attacks illustrates many of those subsystems.)

• Seguidas (bridging techniques between different ranges: sometimes included as part of Doces Methodos)

• Contradas (countering techniques with emphasis on following the attack as opposed to meeting the attack)

• Recontras (re-countering techniques)

• Recontradas (recountering against the recounter techniques)

• Offensa-Defensa--Defensa-Offensa (evasion drills for weapon arm)

• Contra Tirsia Dubla Doz

• Tri-V Formula

• Capsula Methodica

• As well, other training aids have developed, including Alphabeto and Numerado, which pattern strikes based on the alphabet and numbers respectively.

Areas of specializations according to Grand Tuhon:

• Specialization A:

All of the basic of 64 attacks including the breakdown of Thrust and Tapping, Break In/Break out, Five attacks, Seven attacks, and Clock system. It includes advanced techniques of Sequidas, Contradas, and Recontras. There are inserts along the way of unarmed knife tapping, bladework, locks and technical throws, unarmed combat and armed combat. The footwork strategy and handiwork with the weapon are also most important.

• Specialization B:

Doce Methodos, a unique structure compatible to any mode of attacks using the Diagonal V and Reverse V.

• Specialization: C

Contra Tirsia Dubla Doz, a unique methodology now advanced into the Tri-V Formula and the Edged Impact Weapon Tactical Combat, Edged Impact Weapon Control Dynamics, and Edged Impact Weapon Survival Tactics.

• Specialization D

Advanced mastery with combination of the TRi-V Formula and the Capsula Methodica, and the Mastery of the Dagaso Tirsia for Single knife and the Qol Demama Daga. The combined structures are applicable to full contact stick fighting.

• Specialization E

Combining the Contra Tirsia Dubla Doz and Tri-V Formula that will lead to Capsula Methodica.