The world recognizes Filipino Martial Arts Schools. People from all over the world to the Philippines to practice FMA (Filipino Martial Arts). Participants in stick fighting competitions come from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, India, and the US. And the movies are filled with fight scenes that feature Filipino Martial Arts moves.
The Day Filipino Martial Arts Schools became Known Throughout the World
In August 1987, Cañete invited notable instructors and masters from outside the country for a roundtable held in Cebu City. Seventeen individuals from England, USA, Guam, New Zealand and Australia attended the five-day event, the “First World Instructors' Arnis Seminar.”
Ready to Learn the Fundamentals of Eskrima?
Download this Free Book that teaches you the Essential Training Methods of Eskrima – Essentials of Kali Martial Arts
Those persons who participated in the affair were left energized and excited regarding the arts' future. Numerous participants would continue to play significant roles, on behalf of the WEKAF organization in their respective countries.
Participants during this affair included Bobby Breen of England, Sharon Burns of Australia, Greg Henderson of New Zealand, Arif Shaikh of India, and Tom Sipin of U.S.
In 1988, the objective of hosting contests outside the country was accomplished in the first USA National Eskrima Arnis Championship held in California. Because of the combined efforts of Arnulfo Cuesta, Dionisio Cañete, and Alfred Bandalan, the tournament fascinated over a hundred contestants from various regions of the U.S.
For the first time in so many years, this occasion was attended by the top 3 grandmasters of the arts residing in the U.S. Such grandmasters are Ben Largusa of Villabrille-Largusa Kali, Leo Giron of Giron Arnis Escrima, and Angel Cabales of Serrada Eskrima.
The World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation is formed – Good News of Filipino Martial Arts Schools
In August 1989, more than 100 individuals from ten different countries gathered in Cebu City to celebrate a world association for the FMA. The plan's success to expand the arts' international plea was evident that 75% of the individuals present at the assembly were not from the Philippines.
Dionisio Cañete was the chosen chairperson as well as the presiding officer of the not-long named WEKAF (World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation).
By-laws and articles were approved during the gathering, including that one board director embodies every member country, and that the officers in charge of directing the everyday events of the organization would be designated from the board members.
Filipino Martial Arts Schools: Eskrima in Popular Culture
Eskrima in popular culture reveals the strong effect that this form of martial arts has made it out of the martial arts world. Arnis, Eskrima, and Kali highlight weapon-based combating with blades, sticks, and customized weapons. Due to this type of training, Eskrima’s elements have created an impact in movies, television, comic books and video games.
Eskrima is frequently utilized to train stuntmen and actors how to hold the same weapons for utilization in movies.
Filipino Martial Arts Schools Films
- Eskrima was widely utilized in film “I, Frankenstein” (2014). Aaron Eckhart, the main star, trained for six months under Diana Lee Inosanto and Ron Balicki for the part.
- In “The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption,” Dave Batista (Agromael) utilized Eskrima in his combat scenes.
- In the film “Wrong Side of Town,” Dave Batista and Marrese Crump were utilizing Eskrima in combat scenes.
- “The Bladed Hand: The Global Impact of Filipino Martial Arts” (2011) is a documentary film by Kent Vives, Sonny Sison, and Jay Ignacio which includes interviews from loads of the famous Filipino grandmasters in the Philippines and around the world who are living presently. It’s extraordinary since they were able to get an authorization to create a record on Eskrima systems which have had long bitter competitions against each other, something which wouldn’t have been probably ten years ago.
- In “Hanna” (2011), Saoirse Ronan and Eric Bana are shown to have been practicing six-step sinawali double-stick routine at the start of the movie. Towards the ending, Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) got into a clash and utilized Filipino knife-fighting and trapping techniques. Ronan trained and prepared at the Inosanto Academy for the movie part, and Jeff Imada was the combat choreographer for the movie as well.
- In “Kick-Ass” (2010), Aaron Johnson portrayed the title character and utilized Eskrima sticks to ward off criminals. Hit-Girl portrayed by Chloë Grace Moretz utilized the popular Filipino knives called the balisong.
- In the film “Repo Men” (2010), Jude Law and Forest Whitaker, a Kali practitioner under Dan Inosanto, utilized Kali for the ferocious fight scenes with their fight choreographer, Jeff Imada.
- In “Chronicles of Riddick series,” Riddick (Vin Diesel) made use of a more violent variant of Eskrima. Paul Rapovski was the combat choreographer of Kali de Leon.
- In “Mission: Impossible III,” a 2006 movie, the characters Tom Cruise as well as Keri Russell have exposed training with sticks.
- In “The Sensei” (2006), the character of Diana Lee Inosanto instructs a young lad in Eskrima.
- Wesley Snipes utilized Eskrima in his movie “Blade: Trinity” (2004). Chuck Jeffries, the fight coordinator, is an expert in Kali (under Dan Inosanto), and Snipes studied with Jeff Ward, the combat choreographer in the first two films.
- In “Resident Evil: Apocalypse,” a 2004 movie, the character of Milla Jovovich was taught to utilize Eskrima by Ron Balicki to dispose of several enemies with supple batons. Ron Balicki, a senior Kali/JKD trainer under Dan Inosanto, and Diana Lee Inosanto, his spouse, were the combat choreographers.
- In “The Prodigy” (2004), Ron Balicki, the stunt/fight coordinator, stylized each of the fight scenes utilizing Eskrima techniques.
- “Mano Mano 3: Arnis the Lost Art” (2004), starring Ronnie Ricketts, Christopher Ricketts’ brother, is a Bakbakan International Style founder.
- In “The Hunted,” a 2003 movie, starring Benicio del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones, exhibited Filipino knife combating which was taught by Rafael Kayanan and Tom Kier from Sayoc Kali.
- “Blade II,” the film sequel (2002), features Eskrima again. Apart from the amazing choreography of Donnie Yen, Jeff Ward, a Kali instructor, returned as the combat coordinator, and Wesley Snipes trained under him.
- In “Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever” (2002), the character of Lucy Liu utilizes Eskrima to repulse her enemies by means of a couple of sticks.
- In “Equilibrium” (2002), the commentary shows that Eskrima is utilized in the battle between Brandt and John Preston.
- In “Kiss of the Dragon,” a 2001 film, the character of Jet Li utilizes an Eskrima-based stick-fighting in a part where he was cornered in a dojo filled with black belters.
- Eskrima is the technique utilized in the composition and choreography of the famous 1998 comic-book-based movie Blade. Jeff Ward, the fight choreographer, is a Pekiti Tirsia trainer, and stunt coordinators Chuck Jeffries and Jeff Imada are Inosanto Kali practiced as well.
- In “Chronicles of Riddick series,” Riddick (Vin Diesel) made use of a more violent variant of Eskrima. Paul Rapovski was the combat choreographer of Kali de Leon.
- In “Mission: Impossible III,” a 2006 movie, the characters Tom Cruise as well as Keri Russell have exposed training with sticks.
- In “The Sensei” (2006), the character of Diana Lee Inosanto instructs a young lad in Eskrima.
- Wesley Snipes utilized Eskrima in his movie “Blade: Trinity” (2004). Chuck Jeffries, the fight coordinator, is an expert in Kali (under Dan Inosanto), and Snipes studied with Jeff Ward, the combat choreographer in the first two films.
- In “Resident Evil: Apocalypse,” a 2004 movie, the character of Milla Jovovich was taught to utilize Eskrima by Ron Balicki to dispose of several enemies with supple batons. Ron Balicki, a senior Kali/JKD trainer under Dan Inosanto, and Diana Lee Inosanto, his spouse, were the combat choreographers.
- In “The Prodigy” (2004), Ron Balicki, the stunt/fight coordinator, stylized each of the fight scenes utilizing Eskrima techniques.
- “Mano Mano 3: Arnis the Lost Art” (2004), starring Ronnie Ricketts, Christopher Ricketts’ brother, is a Bakbakan International Style founder.
- In “The Hunted,” a 2003 movie, starring Benicio del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones, exhibited Filipino knife combating which was taught by Rafael Kayanan and Tom Kier from Sayoc Kali.
- “Blade II,” the film sequel (2002), features Eskrima again. Apart from the amazing choreography of Donnie Yen, Jeff Ward, a Kali instructor, returned as the combat coordinator, and Wesley Snipes trained under him.
- In “Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever” (2002), the character of Lucy Liu utilizes Eskrima to repulse her enemies by means of a couple of sticks.
- In “Equilibrium” (2002), the commentary shows that Eskrima is utilized in the battle between Brandt and John Preston.
- In “Kiss of the Dragon,” a 2001 film, the character of Jet Li utilizes an Eskrima-based stick-fighting in a part where he was cornered in a dojo filled with black belters.
- Eskrima is the technique utilized in the composition and choreography of the famous 1998 comic-book-based movie Blade. Jeff Ward, the fight choreographer, is a Pekiti Tirsia trainer, and stunt coordinators Chuck Jeffries and Jeff Imada are Inosanto Kali practiced as well.
- In “Chronicles of Riddick series,” Riddick (Vin Diesel) made use of a more violent variant of Eskrima. Paul Rapovski was the combat choreographer of Kali de Leon.
- In “Mission: Impossible III,” a 2006 movie, the characters Tom Cruise as well as Keri Russell have exposed training with sticks.
- In “The Sensei” (2006), the character of Diana Lee Inosanto instructs a young lad in Eskrima.
- Wesley Snipes utilized Eskrima in his movie “Blade: Trinity” (2004). Chuck Jeffries, the fight coordinator, is an expert in Kali (under Dan Inosanto), and Snipes studied with Jeff Ward, the combat choreographer in the first two films.
- In “Resident Evil: Apocalypse,” a 2004 movie, the character of Milla Jovovich was taught to utilize Eskrima by Ron Balicki to dispose of several enemies with supple batons. Ron Balicki, a senior Kali/JKD trainer under Dan Inosanto, and Diana Lee Inosanto, his spouse, were the combat choreographers.
- In “The Prodigy” (2004), Ron Balicki, the stunt/fight coordinator, stylized each of the fight scenes utilizing Eskrima techniques.
- “Mano Mano 3: Arnis the Lost Art” (2004), starring Ronnie Ricketts, Christopher Ricketts’ brother, is a Bakbakan International Style founder.
- In “The Hunted,” a 2003 movie, starring Benicio del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones, exhibited Filipino knife combating which was taught by Rafael Kayanan and Tom Kier from Sayoc Kali.
- “Blade II,” the film sequel (2002), features Eskrima again. Apart from the amazing choreography of Donnie Yen, Jeff Ward, a Kali instructor, returned as the combat coordinator, and Wesley Snipes trained under him.
- In “Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever” (2002), the character of Lucy Liu utilizes Eskrima to repulse her enemies by means of a couple of sticks.
- In “Equilibrium” (2002), the commentary shows that Eskrima is utilized in the battle between Brandt and John Preston.
- In “Kiss of the Dragon,” a 2001 film, the character of Jet Li utilizes an Eskrima-based stick-fighting in a part where he was cornered in a dojo filled with black belters.
- Eskrima is the technique utilized in the composition and choreography of the famous 1998 comic-book-based movie Blade. Jeff Ward, the fight choreographer, is a Pekiti Tirsia trainer, and stunt coordinators Chuck Jeffries and Jeff Imada are Inosanto Kali practiced as well.
- In “Mortal Kombat Annihilation” (1997), Sultan Uddin (Cabales Eskrima) didn’t only play the character Reptile but also choreographed fight sequence of Princess Kitana showcasing the motions of Eskrima Serrada.
- In “Barb Wire,” a 1996 movie, the character of Temuera Morrison utilized empty-hand Eskrima to ward off Customs agents, Ron Balicki and Diana Lee Inosanto.
- In the 1991 film “The Perfect Weapon,” reveals the title character portrayed by Jeff Speakman who made use of Arnis in a number of scenes (as of 1991, Arnis has been implemented by the American Kempo schools).
- “Kamagong,” a 1986 movie which stares Lito Lapid as an Arnisador. It features the ostensible sticks created from highly-adored kamagong stick.
- “Big Trouble in Little China,” a 1986 movie starring Kurt Russell, reveals a triad affiliate (Jeff Imada) exhibiting “sinawali” with a “balisong,” as well as a collapsible stick in an airport throughout the essential kidnap scene. Imada choreographed for this film as well. The majority of the film’s stuntmen were students of Dan Inosanto, with him making a small part as well throughout a fight scene in a room.
- “Arnis: The Sticks of Death,” (1984) was one of the earliest films about Arnis. It starred a Modern Arnis practitioner, Rolando Dantes.
- “The Pacific Connection,” (1974) starred Rolando Dantes.
- In Bruce Lee’s unfinished movie “Game of Death” (1978), he faced his close coworker Dan Inosanto in a featured battle against various martial arts masters as he ascends the tower. This is among the movies that first compelled Eskrima to international attention.
Final Words
Filipino Martial Arts are becoming known throughout the world. As an effective and formidable martial art, it is something worth learning and promoting throughout the world.
Read More:
