We offer training in the Filipino Martial Arts
known as Arnis, Kali, or Eskrima,
to provide opportunities for ordinary people
to develop extraordinary skill with sticks and blades.
A QUICK HISTORY LESSON
The catalyst for the development of the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), at least in the Visayas, was most likely the administration of 'the last conquistador' Governor-General Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera (1635-1644), who recruited and trained Christianised Cebuanos, Boholanos, Ilonggos and Macabebes in Iberian sword methods to support Spanish regulars in a campaign to pacify the Moro pirate threat from Sulu (Nepangue & Macachor, 2015). Veterans who returned to the provinces likely modified the Spanish techniques to accommodate local weapons, emphasise their own specialties, and incorporate South-East Asian (Chinese-influenced) Kuntaw fighting traditions. Revolution in the 1800s, and the move towards clubs and sporting competition and encounters with Japanese martial arts in the 1900s, triggered further evolutions of the art.
ARNISADOR?
What does it
mean to be an
One of the most widely used names for the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) in the Philippines itself is Arnis, derived from the Spanish word Arnes, that is closely related to the English word "harness" and which originally referred to a knight's armour. The art was once commonly called Arnis De Mano (Armour of the Hand) because the Arnisador's stick was his only form of protection, and in the hands of a skilled practitioner doubled as both sword and shield.
Other popular names for the art include: Eskrima (from the Spanish word Esgrima related to the English word "skirmish" and meaning "fencing") in the Visayas; and Kali (from an old Tagalog word Kalis meaning "skill with blades") in the United States and Filipino diaspora. Fundamentally, all of these names refer to the same martial art family (in much the way Kung-Fu or Kuen Tao is used to describe Chinese Boxing systems).
REGIONAL VARIATIONS
The product of Spanish swordsmanship and Filipino ingenuity, the Filipino Martial Arts are widely recognised in the martial arts community as the premiere methods of stick and blade fighting. Today there are many different regional and family variations among the Filipino Martial Arts, though they tend towards two main stylistic branches: Largo Mano (Long Hand) and Corto Mano (Close Hand). In our club, these correspond respectively to the authentic De Campo (Largo Mano) and the eclecticTakti-Kali (Corto Mano) styles we teach.
COVIDSAFE TRAINING
In light of the Current NSW State Government Restrictions, and to ensure our members' safety during training, the following COVID-SAFE training policies have been implemented in our academy:
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COVID SAFE Martial Arts School Policy (Effective 1 June 2020)
ABOUT US
Kali Newcastle (Kalisadors Club) is a not-for-profit martial arts club, specialising in the teaching of the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA). All income generated from student fees goes into hall hire, equipment maintenance, and club promotion. Instructors offer their services without any financial remuneration. We teach because we love FMA, and want to share our passion with you too.
RECOGNISED BY
Our club is affiliated with Kung-Fu Wushu Australia and all our instructors are accredited with the Martial Arts Industry Association, the peak body for martial arts instructors in Australia, recognised by the NSW Government and Sport Australia.
AFFILIATION
We officially represent De Campo 1-2-3 Original in Australia, under the authorisation and guidance of Maestro Paolo Pagaling and Master Jomalin Caballero.
DE CAMPO 1-2-3 ORIGINAL
JUEGO TODO "COMBAT ARNIS"
STICK-FIGHTING ART
GM JOSE D. CABALLERO
(1907-1987)
Our club specialises in De Campo 1-2-3 Original (originally known as De Campo 1-2-3 Orehenal Combat Arnis), the premier Largo Mano system of Eskrima, developed by Jose Diaz Caballero as his "original" system in 1925, at the age of 18. Ahead of his time, Grandmaster Caballero set out his system in a written "lesson plan" that still exists today. GM Caballero was to become famous as the Juego Todo champion of his time. Held during town fiestas, the Juego Todo was an all-out stick fight without protective equipment, where the only armour was the arnis stick in your hand. It's contemporary legacy can be seen in "Dog Brothers" style full contact live stick sparring.
A stick fight should be over in three seconds,
beyond that, be careful.
JOSE DIAZ CABALLERO
The De Campo 1-2-3 Original system is known for its specialisation in Solo Baston (Single Stick) focusing on what might be called "high percentage techniques." However, it does include Doble Baston (Double Stick) and Pinuti (Sword) applications in its total curriculum. As a Largo Mano system it aims to "defang the snake" by evading the opponent's attack while intercepting and counter striking their weapon hand (or deflecting their stick off course if you are too far away to hit the hand), and then entering with a barrage of powerful and lightning fast combinations in order to end the exchange. Using the 1-2-3 tactical formulae of fake, counter, strike, and the concepts of Praksyon (fractional timing) and Kadlit (literally "striking a match"), the De Campo stylist aims to blend strikes so seamlessly that three strikes may appear as one, so they "hit first, and hit last" (GM Jose Caballero).
CORE ORIGINAL STICK-FIGHTING
CURRICULUM SINCE 1925
GM Jose Diaz Caballero set out the core curriculum of De Campo 1-2-3 Original in his now famous Libretto, believed to be the first written curriculum in the Filipino Martial Arts. The versatility of the stick plus the meticulousness of the system - made possible by decades of study through experimentation and live Juego Todo matches by the founder - resulted in a lethal art which has been proliferated, practiced, and celebrated around the world. The core curriculum has three main levels: Primary/Elementary, High School and College.
HIGH SCHOOL
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GROUP 8: DOS MANOS DOS LARGOS
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GROUP 9: DE CADENA DE CUERDAS
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GROUP 10: HAGAD HUBAD ORIGINAL
MIXING PRIMARY & HIGH SCHOOL
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MIXING ABECEDARIO with GROUPS 8 & 9
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MIXING DE ALFAVITO with GROUPS 8 & 9
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MIXING HORIZONTAL with GROUPS 8 & 9
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MIXING SERRADA with GROUPS 8 & 9
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MIXING ABIERTA with GROUPS 8 & 9
COLLEGE
GROUP 11: THE 7 SPECIALS
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DIRECT CHOP SERRADA
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DIRECT CHOP ABIERTA
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LEVEL
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SERRADA
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ABIERTA
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KULOB ABIERTA
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ABANIKO
COMBINATIONS
12 123 1234 1234567
23 234 2345
34 345 3456
45 456 4567
56 567
67
PRIMARY
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GROUP 1: ABECEDARIO
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GROUP 2: DE ALFAVITO
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GROUP 3: HORIZONTAL
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GROUP 4: SERRADA
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GROUP 5: ABIERTA
ELEMENTARY
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GROUP 6: DE CAMPO ORIGINAL
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GROUP 7: REDONDO Y REDONDA ORIGINAL
MIXING PRIMARY & ELEMENTARY
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MIXING ABECEDARIO with GROUPS 6 & 7
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MIXING DE ALFAVITO with GROUPS 6 & 7
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MIXING HORIZONTAL with GROUPS 6 & 7
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MIXING SERRADA with GROUPS 6 & 7
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MIXING ABIERTA with GROUPS 6 & 7
ADVANCED SPECIALIZATION | MASTER'S COURSE
At higher levels, the worthy De Campo practitioner is introduced to GM Jose Caballero's Specialisation Course (the equivalent of "postgraduate" study in the system), that includes advanced striking combinations; a greater focus on Paspas the art's signature "rapid" footwork; Kaabtik (cleverness, ingenuity, craftiness) or combat strategy; and bladework using the Pinuti (a cutlass type sword).
TAKTI-KALI
OUR CLOSE-QUARTERS BLADE-BASED CURRICULUM
Takti-Kali is our eclectic close-quarters blade-based "fencing" system, inspired by our exposure to a number of different FMA systems (and using blades of varying lengths from knives to short swords). Its focus is on the Corto Mano (Close Hand) or Close Quarters style of FMA, where the non-weapon hand is used to Pasugat (meet, stop or jam) or Pasunod (follow, pass or parry) the opponent's Hiwa (slashing), Punyo (pommeling), and Saksak (thrusting) attacks, in order to open and control lines for counterattack with one's own weapon.
BAGUHAN
Junior Apprentice
SINAWALI
PARTNERED STICK WEAVING FOUNDATION
Stick Focus
Solo Baston (Single Stick) and Doble Baston (Double Stick) partner drills teach the fundamental coordination, underlying movement patterns, and striking angles that are required for success at higher levels of the art.
BIHASA
Cultured Senior
PALAKAW
COUNTER FOR COUNTER WORKING METHOD
Stick & Blade Focus
Training continues with the Baston (Stick), and to it is added a focus on bladed weapons, including the Espada (sword) and Daga (dagger). The training format builds from basic block, check and counter, to counter for counter flow drills. The methods of Pasugat (meeting the force) and Pasunod (following the force) are the conceptual heart of this level.
BATIKAN
Seasoned Instructor
KURIDAS
ALL INCLUSIVE RANDOM FEEDER-RESPONDER FLOW
Stick, Blade & Unarmed Focus
At this level, Palakaw (Working Method) drills are integrated into the random flow of Kuridas (All Inclusive Feeder-Responder Practice). Emphasis is placed on Agos (flowing between methods), and Panapos (finishing the exchange). Methods of Disarma (disarming your opponent), and Trangka (stick grappling) are explored, and focus includes facing an opponent armed and unarmed.
DOS MANOS LARGOS
OUR TWO-HANDED LONG STAFF CURRICULUM
Dos Manos Largos is our home-grown staff fighting system inspired by contemporary Filipino Martial Arts (PTK Sibat and KI Dos Manos Kalis), Historical European Martial Arts (specifically Spanish Montante longsword) and the Japanese Bojutsu (Staff-fighting) methods of the Kukishin Ryu (as taught in the Bujinkan Kobudo curriculum).
Dos Manos Largos methods adapt easily to the use of a walking stick, or other household objects. The principle training method is Sangga-Patama (Shield and Hit) moving from Numerado (Nominated Numbered Attacks) to Contra y Contra (Counter for Counter) flow.
PATAMA
Hitting Methods
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CORTO MANO | Two-Handed Sliding & Paddling Methods
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MEDIA MANO | Two-Handed Sword Swinging Method
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LARGO MANO | Single Hand Walking Cane Method
SANGGA
Shielding Methods
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GROUP 1: PASUGAT | Meeting the Force
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GROUP 2: PASUNOD | Following the Force
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GROUP 3: PISADA | Pressing Down the Force
OUR INSTRUCTOR
Robert 'Espada' Parkes
Our club is registered with the Martial Arts Industry Association as a member organisation of Kung Fu Wushu Australia Limited (Member No. A2114). As such we uphold and are bound by the following codes:
Dr Robert 'Espada' Parkes (BEd Hons Sydney, PhD Newcastle) is the Founder and Head Instructor of the Kalisadors Club. He is an accredited martial arts instructor (MAIA / KWA Accreditation No. A00606) who shares his knowledge and expertise with generosity and humour. A published author, editor, historian, and teacher educator, Robert holds the position of Associate Professor at the University of Newcastle, and is currently Acting Head of the School of Education (one of the largest teacher education providers in Australia).
This year (2020) marks 40 years since Robert first began training in the martial arts. He began his martial arts training in 1980 at the age of 14 and opened his first martial arts school at the age of 18, while still in high school. During this early phase of his martial arts career, he studied and gained teaching credentials in Wing Chun and Non-Classical Kung-Fu; and gained his first and for a long time his most influential exposure to Filipino Martial Arts, through seminars with Guro Dan Inosanto, that resulted in the incorporation of Filipino Martial Arts as the weapon curriculum during his Non-Classical Kung-Fu studies.
In his twenties Robert studied and taught Bujinkan Kobudo (also known at the time as Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu and/or Ninpo Taijutsu), gaining the rank of 5th Degree Black Belt and title of Shidoshi (teacher of the warrior ways) in 1992, from Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi. During the 1990s Robert also gained a trainer qualification in Modern Arnis (GM Ernesto Presas lineage, later to be called Kombatan) through the Arjuken Martial Arts Association headed in Australia by Chris Traish.
Since 2015 Robert has also been studying the Afro-Brazilian martial art of Capoeira. His nickname 'Espada' (sword) was given to him by the amazing Mestre Borracha, head of Capoeira Aruanda, after seeing him playing with a Kali training sword. In 2019 he travelled to the Phillipines with his daughter, Rebekah 'Serenata' Parkes, to study De Campo 1-2-3 Original, the famous, system of Eskrima of the Caballero family of Toledo, under the wonderful and insightful guidance of Maestro Paolo Pagaling.
CLASS TIMES & LOCATIONS
We are usually located in the School Hall of the Mayfield West Public School. Enter via the front gate that is on the left side of the pedestrian crossing, if facing the school. However we are currently in a classroom, while the hall gets renovated. Please call if you have trouble finding us.
COMING BY CAR
If arriving by car, there is plenty of street parking out front of the school.
COMING BY BUS
The 47 bus stops right at the door.
MAYFIELD WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL
7 Gregson Avenue
Mayfield West NSW 2304
WEDNESDAYS 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
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Our regular FMA Class, cycling between all aspects of Kali with Guro Robert "Espada" Parkes
SATURDAYS 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Fortnightly Rotation (1st/3rd, 2nd/4th). Approx finish time.
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De Campo 123 Original
with Maestro Paolo Pagaling
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Bernas Estocadas
with Grandmaster William Bernas
& Maestro Paolo Pagaling
After zoom class finishes, there is informal training until 12pm.
Pre-booking is required for new students to ensure compliance with COVIDSafe Restrictions.
MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
Whether you're looking for a long-term training program or a quick introduction to a new martial art, our credit system offers flexible payment options that put your needs first. Our credits can be used for any regular timetabled class, and as we operate in partnership with Capoeira Aruanda | Team Novo Flow as part of the Novo Flow Community, our 10 Class & Ultimate Pass credits can be used for their classes too. Our Month Pass is a "single art" pass that offers a discount for someone only studying Kali within our community.