Pekiti Tirsia Kali
Encyclopedia
Pekiti-Tirsia Kali is a style specific to Filipino Martial Arts
. Pekiti-Tirsia Kali was founded in 1897 and is the 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 system, as opposed to sport-focused, style.
ic of the orbits of the moon
and the planet
s. It also incorporated triangular movements symbolic of constellation
s. In ancient times, Kali was taught in rituals that were then used pragmatically to survive against adversaries and wild animal
s.
The Muslim
chieftains established a colony on Kalibo, Aklan
— this is sometimes cited as the origin of the name "Kali". Another reason is that a practitioner of the art is trained in carrying a knife
, which is called a "kalis".
Pekiti-Tirsia Kali specifically was a family system that goes back at least four generations, starting with Norberto Tortal. It was further developed and improved during the years 1930-36 by his grandson Conrado Tortal. Tortal was from Panay
, the island that the chieftains from Borneo
settled on when Kali came to the Philippines
. The system is now headed by Leo Tortal Gaje Junior, the grandson of Conrado Tortal.
Gaje introduced his system to North America after arriving in the US in 1972. His style earned recognition and respect from major martial arts organizations such as the Jewish Karate Federation, the United States Karate Association International, and the United States Karate Federation. His system has been an influence on the Dog Brothers, Dan Inosanto
and other FMA practitioners. He has since brought the system to various European countries as well.
In 1995, Pekiti Tirsia International was formed in the US. In 1997, this organization went its own way. It is currently headed by Tuhon Guro McGrath (President and Chief Instructor). Other Directors include Mataas na Guro Erwin Ballarta
(Law Enforcement Director), Magino'o Dan Inosanto
(North American Director), Sifu Manfred Steiner (European Director), Ralf Beckmann (Director for Germany), and Guro Roberto Bonomelli & Guro Attilio Acquistapace (Co-Directors for Italy).
In 1996, Pekiti-Tirsia Europe Organization was formed, with Maginoo-Mandala Uli Weidle as Managing Director.
In the year 1997 the Centennial Celebration for 100 years of Pekiti-Tirsia was celebrated in Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines last October 25, 1997. Pekiti-Tirsia was the only Filipino Martial Art officially recognized as having a centennial.
In 2003, Pekiti Tirsia Global was established.
PTGO National Directors include Leo T. Gaje, Jr. and 2nd Maginoo-Mandala Rommel Tortal in the Philippines, Maginoo-Mandala Timothy D. Waid in the United States, Mandala-Tuhon Philip Gelinas
in Canada, and Maginoo-Mandala Uli Weidle in Europe.
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
.
Pekiti-Tirsia Kali incorporates 5 main weapon categories (including the human body):
There are various subsystems of training that have evolved over the years, including:
Grand Tuhon Gaje has described the following areas of specialization, highlighting the particular strengths of different Pekiti Tirsia instructors:
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.
Doce Methodos, a unique structure compatible to any mode of attacks using the Diagonal V and Reverse V.
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.
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.
Combining the Contra Tirsia Dubla Doz and Tri-V Formula that will lead to Capsula Methodica.
It must be noted that the said invitation given out to the Grandmasters and Master were not signed by Pekiti-Tirsia Philippines nor by Leo Gaje. Thus that might be the reason why the Grandmasters and Masters did not participate in the tournament.
Filipino martial arts
Filipino Martial Arts refers to ancient and newer fighting methods devised in the Philippines, the most popular of which are known as Arnis/Eskrima/Kali. The intrinsic need for self-preservation was the genesis of these systems. Throughout the ages, invaders and evolving local conflict imposed new...
. Pekiti-Tirsia Kali was founded in 1897 and is the 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 system, as opposed to sport-focused, style.
Origin and history
Pekiti-Tirsia's movements are based on the traditional blade art of the Philippines - Kali, which involves slicing swords in a circular motion, symbolSymbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
ic of the orbits of the moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
and the planet
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
s. It also incorporated triangular movements symbolic of constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
s. In ancient times, Kali was taught in rituals that were then used pragmatically to survive against adversaries and wild animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
s.
The Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
chieftains established a colony on Kalibo, Aklan
Aklan
Aklan is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas. Its capital is Kalibo. It is located at the northwest portion of Panay Island, bordering Antique Province to the southwest, and Capiz Province to the east...
— this is sometimes cited as the origin of the name "Kali". Another reason is that a practitioner of the art is trained in carrying a knife
Knife
A knife is a cutting tool with an exposed cutting edge or blade, hand-held or otherwise, with or without a handle. Knives were used at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools...
, which is called a "kalis".
Pekiti-Tirsia Kali specifically was a family system that goes back at least four generations, starting with Norberto Tortal. It was further developed and improved during the years 1930-36 by his grandson Conrado Tortal. Tortal was from Panay
Panay Island
Panay is an island in the Philippines located in the western part of the Visayas. Politically, it is divided into five provinces: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo, all in the Western Visayas Region. It is located southeast of the island of Mindoro and northwest of Negros, separated by the...
, the island that the chieftains from Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
settled on when Kali came to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The system is now headed by Leo Tortal Gaje Junior, the grandson of Conrado Tortal.
Gaje introduced his system to North America after arriving in the US in 1972. His style earned recognition and respect from major martial arts organizations such as the Jewish Karate Federation, the United States Karate Association International, and the United States Karate Federation. His system has been an influence on the Dog Brothers, Dan Inosanto
Dan Inosanto
Daniel Arca Inosanto is a Filipino-American martial arts instructor from California who is best known as a student of the late Bruce Lee and authority on Jeet Kune Do Concepts.-Martial arts:...
and other FMA practitioners. He has since brought the system to various European countries as well.
In 1995, Pekiti Tirsia International was formed in the US. In 1997, this organization went its own way. It is currently headed by Tuhon Guro McGrath (President and Chief Instructor). Other Directors include Mataas na Guro Erwin Ballarta
Erwin Ballarta
Erwin Ballarta is the Executive Vice President of Capitol Strategic Operations and is a self-defense expert in Pekiti Tirsia Kali and various weapons. Ballarta has taught hand-to-hand combat and weapon tactics to the FBI, the Texas Highway patrol, and various military personnel and has been a...
(Law Enforcement Director), Magino'o Dan Inosanto
Dan Inosanto
Daniel Arca Inosanto is a Filipino-American martial arts instructor from California who is best known as a student of the late Bruce Lee and authority on Jeet Kune Do Concepts.-Martial arts:...
(North American Director), Sifu Manfred Steiner (European Director), Ralf Beckmann (Director for Germany), and Guro Roberto Bonomelli & Guro Attilio Acquistapace (Co-Directors for Italy).
In 1996, Pekiti-Tirsia Europe Organization was formed, with Maginoo-Mandala Uli Weidle as Managing Director.
In the year 1997 the Centennial Celebration for 100 years of Pekiti-Tirsia was celebrated in Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines last October 25, 1997. Pekiti-Tirsia was the only Filipino Martial Art officially recognized as having a centennial.
In 2003, Pekiti Tirsia Global was established.
PTGO National Directors include Leo T. Gaje, Jr. and 2nd Maginoo-Mandala Rommel Tortal in the Philippines, Maginoo-Mandala Timothy D. Waid in the United States, Mandala-Tuhon Philip Gelinas
Philip Gelinas
Philip Gelinas is a martial arts practitioner who lives in Montreal, Quebec. He owns and runs the Gelinas Academy of Mixed Martial Arts , also known as the Cultural Martial Arts Academy. He is one of the founding Dog Brothers as well as one of the founders of the Brazilian Top Team Canada network...
in Canada, and Maginoo-Mandala Uli Weidle in Europe.
Pekiti-Tirsia is currently the only Kali system recognized by the Philippine government used to train Force-Recon Marine
Philippine Marine Corps
The Philippine Marine Corps is the marine corps of the Philippines, and is part of the Philippine Navy.- History :...
Battalions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
and the Special Action Force (SAF) contingent of the Philippine National Police
Philippine National Police
The Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. It is both a national and a local police force in that it does provides all law enforcement services throughout the Philippines...
.
Fighting methods
All fighting ranges are integral parts of the Pekiti-Tirsia system, but special attention is given to close-quarter fighting. Integral to this is a coiled close quarter stance that allows evasion and generation of a powerful strike even in close range. Pekiti-Tirsia is about quartering the opponent, or 'cutting up into little pieces', emphasizing destruction with counter offence while not getting hit. The Pekiti-Tirsia methodology originates from offensive and counter offensive principles against attacks from all ranges, angles and threat levels. There is less emphasis on purely defensive techniques per se, as this is not seen as an effective survival strategy.Pekiti-Tirsia Kali incorporates 5 main weapon categories (including the human body):
- 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.
There are various subsystems of training that have evolved over the years, including:
- 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...
Grand Tuhon Gaje has described the following areas of specialization, highlighting the particular strengths of different Pekiti Tirsia instructors:
- 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.
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.It must be noted that the said invitation given out to the Grandmasters and Master were not signed by Pekiti-Tirsia Philippines nor by Leo Gaje. Thus that might be the reason why the Grandmasters and Masters did not participate in the tournament.
External links
- Pekiti-Tirsia Kali Global Organization
- Pekiti-Tirsia Kali
- Pekiti Tirsia International
- Practical Self Defense Training Center historical resource of Leo Gaje
- Interview with Tuhon Gaje about "Defense"
- BBC documentary video clip - Filipino Police Special Action Force training 1
- BBC documentary video clip - Filipino National Police Special Action Force training 2
- Pekiti Tirsia Kali San Francisco
- Pekiti Tirsia Kali Manila