Combat Kalaki Eskrima eng.pdf

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Norbert Wójtowicz

COMBAT KALAKI ESKRIMA

Browsing through the human history we can note, that since ancient times fight

with wooden sticks was treated as an important item in young people’s upbringing

process. Pole fighting, which was an introduction to swordplay, was quite popular in

ancient Egypt. Such a combat is depicted on a painting in the tomb of Amonnos, a

priest of Amenofis I, from ca. 1550 BC; also on slightly younger temple paintings from

Ramzes I period (1290-1223 BC), or a relief in Medinet Habu from the second

century BC. Today this “pole fencing” sport is associated mainly with martial arts of

Far East origin, Malayan Silat or Philippine Eskrima.

Some people claim that Eskrima was born over 25 000 years ago thanks to

Negritos Aetas tribe, who invented that combat system for defence and hunting.

Undoubtedly a club was in frequent use then, but it is difficult to take seriously any

attempts to derive a art from such far-away times. Origins of Eskrima should be

sought rather in the period of Malay migration, which around 1500 BC brought to the

region among others an ancient Indonesian pole-fighting style Tjakatele. Hindi and

Indochinese influence is also visible in the Philippine martial art. With time, original

arsenal – a rattan pole – was enriched with other elements. Religious invasion of

Islam brought the cult of dagger and sword. Today Olisi club, Bolo machete and a

knife of shape inspired by Kris are basic weapons. Next evolution of Eskrima

happened after coming of Europeans. Philippine people adapted Spanish

terminology, movement style and new techniques, especially dagger and epée

combat – “Espada y Daga”. Beside armed combat styles, many unarmed styles

appeared, such as Dumog, Sikaran, Kuntaw, Fraile, Pantukan or Yaw-Yan.

Since 1598 the invaders have sought to dissuade the natives from traditional

combat styles, and finally in 1764 forbade their teaching. From that time Eskrima had

gone underground and was passed in secret from father to son. Very often combat

style elements were taught under cover of traditional folk dance in which various

techniques were practised without a weapon. This was not difficult, because, as

observed by Paweł Zaremba, “there is music in a quick sweep of the pole; pole is

playing. Plasticity is in the movement. We have dance because there are steps. All

this is enclosed in a circle, which transforms into a fight.” Conspiracy into which

Eskrima descended and surrounding secrecy resulted in splitting of the tradition into

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a group of different schools cultivating family systems. The ban issued by Spaniards

was only lifted after taking the power over the archipelago by the US. Since then

many schools started functioning and there appeared public shows. Some people

indicate that there are as many Eskrima systems as there are islands in the

Philippines. To the number of purely Philippine schools one must add enormous

number of systems formed in the West, inspired by Philippine tradition and adding

elements from other traditions.

Philippine tradition came to Poland in structured form only in 1990s, thanks to

rather not too wide-spread Kalaki Arcanis system. It is true that even earlier there

were groups of enthusiasts in Poland, but their activity was in no way formalised. The

first system to take shape in an organised form was, as already mentioned, Kalaki

Arcanis system brought from Australia. On 26 th June 1998, invited by Jan Nycek,

president of Combat and Self-Defence School DO.SAN in Oleśnica, there came to

Poland Master Christopher Nasilowski, president of an official propagator of the

system, “The Millenium School of Martial Arts”. The seminars, shows and lectures

organised during his stay gathered over 300 persons. During this visit an

International Kalaki Center in Wrocław was established with aim of promoting the

system in Poland and other European countries.

Various systems of Eskrima are based on a set of 5 to 30 basic strokes and

blocks. Kalaki Arcanis is an “eighteen” system. The Philippine systems, contrary to

other Far East traditions, start with harnessing the weapon by an apprentice. Only

later one can put Olisi away and learn such elements as bare-hand punches, kicks,

throws and levers. Kalaki is of the same nature. Also here one learns first pole and

knife techniques, which only later are translated into analogous unarmed techniques.

Kalaki also incorporates sparrings, during which participants use special “armour”

known here under name of Amez.

Kalaki system is, however, contrary to a casual observer’s opinion, more than

two persons thrashing each other’s heads with clubs. The aim is not to cleave the

opponent’s skull. It is also not, or not exclusively, improvement of one’s fitness.

Master Christopher Nasilowski stresses that the aim of Kalaki should be “preparing of

body to be a better vehicle, more perfect biological tool to achieve our most elevated

spiritual imaginations in everyday life. We can take nothing physical with us, but our

experiences, their energy, feelings – these we have the right to take with us. This is

the treasure.”

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Having arrived to the Polish ground, Kalaki underwent thorough modifications.

Retaining original Kalaki Arcanis content, it incorporated elements from Doce Pares,

Aiki-Jitsu Spirit Combat International by Soke Brian Dossett, Taekwon-Do, boxing

and kickboxing together with direct contact combat system BAS-3 devised by dr

Andrzej Bryl for special army and police units. The real combat system resulting from

these modifications is, in distinction from its predecessor, called Combat Kalaki. The

training program is supplemented with special techniques preparing for combat and

defence, and enriched in gymnastic elements improving and stabilizing the effort of

the organism. It is a universal and complete system teaching combat with maximal

utilization of human body powers. Combat Kalaki teaches defence with hands and

legs using punches and kicks, interceptions, levers and wrestling holds. It is a

universal system of long, intermediate and short distance combat. The teaching

program contains both perfectly devised defence against knife attack and pole with

knife combat. Knife and rattan pole, readily used in Philippine systems, constitute

superb addition to hand and leg techniques helping in their better understanding.

Combat Kalaki, which is based to large extent on armed combat technique, is also an

excellent supplement for people learning other martial arts, such as Karate,

Taekwondo, Aikido, Kung Fu or Jujitsu. This system is based on simplicity,

naturalness and economy of movement. Combat Kalaki is an alternative martial art

allowing an adept to learn effective self-defence based on natural moves and rhythm

of human body, regardless of age and sex. Simplicity of basic techniques used in this

style makes an adept to master practical and effective forms of defence in short time.

Combat Kalaki is regarded as very powerful combat style. It is a training for combat

and sporting competition, healthy gymnastics, but also specialised courses for men,

women and uniformed forces.

Combat Kalaki is an author project of Master Jan Nycek, who currently holds

also the office of the President of The Polish Federation of Combat Kalaki, Chief

Executive of International Combat Kalaki, Director for Poland of World Eskrima Kali

Amis Federation and Representative of Cacoy’s Doce Pares Federation in Poland.

His first contact with martial arts happened in 1977, and since 1979 he started

systematic Taekwon-Do ITF trainings lasting 13 years. He obtained III Dan of this

system, but he searched further. In Australia he met Vince Palumbo, Master of Doce

Pares and Arjukempo, thanks to whom he came to know Soke Brian Dossett, who

supervised him while obtaining IV Dan of Aiki-Jitsu. Another important point of his life

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was meeting with Yun Jung Do. During his stay in Australia he alo met the founder

and president of Millennium School – Christopher Nasilowski.

Because of enormous interest in this combat system, there arose need to

establish an organization which could promote Kalaki on both domestic and

international arena. Since 1999 attempts to establish Polish Federation of Combat

Kalaki have started, and the Federation was eventually registered in 2000.

The basic statutory aims of the Federation comprise, among others, giving help

to instructors in propagatory, medial and training areas. For this reason, a book

entitled “Combat Kalaki jako alternatywna sztuka walki wywodząca się z tradycji

wojowników filipińskich" ("Combat Kalaki as an alternative combat style stemming

from Philippine warrior tradition") was issued in 2001, and shooting of educative

video is being prepared. Systematically organized seminars, chaired by Master Jan

Nycek, enable the members to improve their abilities. Additionally, beside several

invitations issued to Master Christopher Nasilowski, International Kalaki Center and,

later, Polish Federation of Combat Kalaki have attempted to prepare teaching

sessions with other Masters from abroad. In May 1999, on invitation from Master Jan

Nycek, the founder of Spirit Combat International, Soke Brian Dossett came to

Poland and gave a series of seminars on S.C.I. Aiki Jitsu. In May 2001 a disciple of

Bruce Lee, coworker of Cacoy Cañete and Dan Inosanto, co-founder of Inosanto Kali

system, Grand Master Richard Bustillo led training seminars in Warsaw, Kraków and

Wrocław. One year later, on 20-21 April 2002, town of Oleśnica witnessed a seminar

of the last living co-founder of Doce Pares school, Grand Master Ciriaco C. Cañete.

The second aim of Polish Combat Kalaki Federation is to help its members to

participate in various domestic and international competitions. The activity of the

Federation is meant to support significantly individuals and regional clubs in

organization of competitions of any kind. Until now, there have been several country-

wide championships, e.g. for three times – Annual Polish Combat Kalaki

Championships (Wrocław – 25 Nov 2000, Wrocław – 10 Nov 2001, Łódź – 9 Nov

2002). Despite relatively short time of existence, the organization was recognized

also abroad, where in 2000 during World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation

Championships on Cebu (Philippines) Polish contestant won silver medal and Vice-

Master title. One year later, during Cacoy’s Cañete Doce Pares Federation

Championships in Los Angeles (USA) Polish team won two World Master titles. In the

same year Polish contestants took two first places during World Eskrima Kali Arnis

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Federation European Championships in Bristol. In 2002, during 7 th WEKAF World

Full Contact Stick Fightong and Forms Championships in London Polish team won 6

medals, among them – two gold ones. At this event Congress of National Directors of

WEKAF decided to award to Poland the right to organize European Championships

planned for 15-16 June 2003.

Master Jan Nycek has often stressed that in a system containing real combat

elements “very important role in combat elements introduction is played by proper

control and experience of an instructor, and these components are carefully cared

about in our Federation”. For several years since Federation was established,

Combat Kalaki trainings have been supervised by over 50 instructors throughout the

country. Their technical merit is assessed every year and each year certificates

empowering to represent the combat system are issued.

Besides systematic trainings and periodic seminars for Federation members,

workshops for military and civil services, Frontier Guard and police, there happen

quite extraordinary training programs. In 1999 media published photographs of

Master Jan Nycek surrounded by young people on wheelchairs holding sticks in their

hands. The circumstances of taking these shots are worth mentioning. On 18 and 19

August of that year Master Jan Nycek, having been invited by Sport Club “Dan” of

Zamość and Lublin region, led a workshop for international Taekwon-Do meeting in

Zamość. At the same time and place a group of impaired basketball players from

rehabilitation center in Konstancin happened to stay. The Master said later, that

these young people “told me with sorrow that they were often bullied by hooligans.

Therefore I taught them how to defend themselves against an attacker trying to grab,

strike or pull them down from he wheelchair. They have very strong arms, so they are

able to surprise an attacker, bring him down and get at his throat, strangle, use lever

technique or break attacker’s hand. I showed them how to use sticks and their hands

for that purpose”.

In the spring of 2002 a small group of instructors left Polish Federation of

Combat Kalaki. Because of divergence of opinions on further development of the

Federation. Master Christopher Nasilowski during his second stay in Poland in May

2002 established second, parallel structure to promote Kalaki Arcanis. In the wake of

this splitting instructors Mirosław Osytek and, previously discharged from P.F.C.K.

because of actions harmful to the Federation, Paweł Zaremba formed Polish

Association of Kalaki Arcanis. Coming of this new structure to life did not affect the

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