The Tradition of Kali Pekiti ( English version)

The Tradition of Kali Pekiti. The Republic of the Philippines is the only predominantly Catholic country in Asia. Colonized by Spain and the United States, this nation displays a distinct cultural blend. In this distant land, Kali Pekiti—the indigenous Filipino martial art—is at the heart of popular culture.
Throughout the history of the Filipino people, no single national cultural identity has emerged. This is partly due to the remarkable number of languages spoken in the country, estimated today at 80, along with the numerous dialects derived from them. The relative isolation between neighboring populations—whether from village to village or from island to island—also contributed to this lack of a unified identity.
Kali Pekiti thus appears as a common denominator among these dispersed populations. Carrying cultural and philosophical values, its history spans 1,500 to 2,000 years. As a supreme self-defense art, it is taught to security forces around the world and is highly effective. But Kali Pekiti also contains a spiritual dimension, teaching a positive philosophy of self-confidence meant to bring health and success to dedicated practitioners.