RECOGNISED BY
OUR MISSION
We offer training in the Filipino Martial Arts to provide opportunities for ordinary people to develop extraordinary skill with sticks and blades.
LANGUAGE NOTE
There are over 120 different language groups in the Philippines. Most are Malayo-Polynesian, while some are Chavacano (Spanish-influenced creoles). Tagalog, officially known as Filipino, is the national language (along with English). In the Filipino Martial Arts it is common for ex-pat Filipinos and non-Filipino speakers to use phonetic spellings or to draw from different languages, making terminology confusing. As the arts we teach are predominantly from the Visayan region of the Philippines, we aim to use Cebuano terminology as much as possible on this website, with spellings based on the Binisaya dictionary, so meanings can be independently tracked and verified.
ABOUT US
We are 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.
ABOUT FMA
The Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) are commonly known as Arnis (from the Spanish word Arnes, related to the English word "harness" and referring to "armour") or Arnis De Mano (Armour of the Hand) in Luzon; 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). Just as there is a Northern Long Style and Southern Close Style in Kung-Fu, there are Largo Mano (Long Hand) and Corto Mano (Close Hand) styles in FMA.
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 are likely to have returned to the provinces, and taught their martial arts to other villagers, resulting in regional variation, as a consequence of individual specialisation, independent evolution, and mixing with local martial traditions. Methods were adapted to accessible weapons such as bolo (machetes) and ulisi (sticks), a tradition that continues in the use of improvised weapons in FMA today.
Revolution and the struggle for independence in the 1890s triggered further evolution of FMA, while the early part of the 20th Century marked a period in which commercial clubs and academies emerged. Among the most significant include the Labangon Fencing Club (1920), Doce Pares (1932), Balintawak (1950s), the Lapunti Self Defence Club (1970s), and the Bakbakan (1980s). By virtue of the Republic Act No. 9850 (2009), Arnis is now recognised as the national sport of the Philippines and is taught as part of Physical Education programs in schools.
DE CAMPO 1-2-3 ORIGINAL
JUEGO TODO STICK-FIGHTING ART
GM JOSE D. CABALLERO
(1907-1987)
A stick fight should be over in three seconds,
beyond that, be careful.
GM JOSE DIAZ CABALLERO
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, Caballero set out his system in a written "lesson plan" that still exists today. 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.
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) in its total curriculum. As a Largo Mano system it aims to "defang the snake" by evading the opponent's attack while 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).
1. BUILD TECHNICAL SKILL
2. DEVELOP YOUR ATTRIBUTES
3. PRESSURE TEST YOUR TACTICS
CORE 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 phases or levels: Primary/Elementary, High School and College.
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 REDONDO
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
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
ADVANCED SPECIALIZATION 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; bladework using the Pinuti (a cutlass type sword); and adaptations of the basics for use in Corto Mano (close quarters).
CORTO BASTON
SUPPLEMENTARY CLOSE QUARTERS STICK-FIGHTING CURRICULUM
Within De Campo 1-2-3 Original training you will not find any of the close quarters Block-Check-Counter drills that originated in Balintawak and the FMA styles it influenced, such as Modern Arnis; nor does one find any of the elaborate stick disarming methods, or stick grappling methods of many contemporary forms of FMA. However, in order to ensure our De Campo Eskrimadors are well equip to counter such tactics, and for those times when one is forced by circumstances into clinching or grappling range, we do engage in supplementary training in the following:
KALI MANO
CLOSE QUARTERS BLADE-BASED CURRICULUM
While our club specialises in the Largo Mano (Long Hand) system of De Campo 1-2-3 Original for stick-fighting, we believe it is also important to understand and be able to "play" in the Corto Mano (Close Hand) arena, especially when armed with a dagger or short blade, in order to be a well-rounded Eskrimador. Consequently, we offer a parallel certification path in Kali Mano (Bladed Hand) our own eclectic expression of Bisayan Baraw (Visayan-Influenced Dagger) fighting methods.
METODO
TECHNICAL & TACTICAL METHODS
OPENSA | Offense
GROUP 1: ABECEDARIO | ABCs
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Downward Diagonal Forehand
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Upward Diagonal Backhand
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Upward Diagonal Forehand
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Downward Diagonal Backhand
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Centreline Thrust
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Horizontal Backhand
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Horizontal Forehand
GROUP 2: ABAKADA | Rudiments
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HIWA | Slash
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DUSLAK | Thrust
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PUNYO | Pommel
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REDONDO | Rotary Cut
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WITIK | Jab or Hack
GROUP 3: SOLO ENERDYI | Single Energy
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EKIS | X Template
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OCHO OCHO | Figure 8 Template
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PLANCHADA | Horizontal Template
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DIYAGONAL | Diagonal Template
GROUP 4: SAKOT ENERDYI | Mixed Energy
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KRUS | Cross Template
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ROMPIDA | Broken Template
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PANA | Arrow Template
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SUNGKIT | Hook Thrust
GROUP 5: ENGGANYO | Baiting & Faking
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DOBLETE | Double Slash Template
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FLORETE | Flower Petal Template
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ALTA-AMBA | High-Low
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SULOD-GAWAS | Inside-Outside
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MABAW-LAGLOM | Shallow-Deep
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OPENSA-DEPENSA | Offense-Defense
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KONTRA-KUMPAS | Broken Rhythm
DEPENSA | Defense
MODE 1: PASUNOD | Following the Force
Principle: Divert & Counter
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SAGANG | Parrying
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PALUSOT | Passing
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ANINO | Shadowing
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HIKOT | Binding
MODE 2: PASUGAT | Meeting the Force
Principle: Shield & Counter
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DAKOP DUSLAK | Catch & Thrust
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HUBAD LUBID | Untie & Tie
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HUBAD PASUGAT | Meet & Release
MODE 3: PANASTAS | Slash & Cover
Principle: Simultaneous Slash & Cover
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PANASTAS-SUNGKIT | Cutting & Thrusting
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KRUZADA | Crossing
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GUNTING | Scissoring
MODE 4: DAGA DISARMA | Knife Disarming
Principle: Control & Disarm
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DIKIT | Butting Against (Stop)
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PAT'OL | Laying Upon (Pass)
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AGAW | Depriving (Disarms)
MODE 5: PANGAMOT | Dirty Boxing
Principle: The Body as the Weapon
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SUNTOKAN | Striking
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SIKARAN | Kicking
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TRANGKA | Locking
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BUNO | Throwing
DOS MANOS LARGOS
TWO-HANDED LONG STICK (STAFF) CURRICULUM
DOS MANOS LARGOS
TWO-HANDED LONG STICK
This home-grown staff fighting system incorporates methods from contemporary Filipino Kali, Spanish Montante (Longsword), Chinese Shaolin Kung-Fu (WuShu), and the Japanese Bojutsu (Staff-fighting) methods of the Kukishin Ryu.
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GROUP 1: TUNGKOD | Staff Method
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GROUP 2: ESPADA | Sword Method
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GROUP 3: BANGKAW | Spear Method
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GROUP 4: BUGSAY | Boat Oar Method
INSTAGRAM GALLERY
SENIOR 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 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.
RECOMMENDED READING
The first three ebooks above are good generalist introductory texts providing an overview of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) history, structure, and tactics; the fourth is an excellent overview of historical European swordsmanship by Guy Windsor, which is interesting given its likely influence on FMA. We recommend that our students also read the out of print monograph, Corsican Steel by Andrea Ferara, and an excerpt from the book Foil on "the psychology of fencing" by Charles A. Selberg. Both are excellent texts on the psychology of weapons sparring.
CLASS TIMES & LOCATIONS
SATURDAYS 10:00 - 12:00 PM
Scheduled time includes 30 minute optional free practice session after 90 minute class.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE
Callaghan NSW 2308
We train at the Basketball Courts located between the CBA Building and the Hunter Union Building otherwise known as the Bar-on-the-Hill.
Download Map (Ref: G11).
COMING BY CAR
If arriving by car, parking is free in the university grounds on weekends.
COMING BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
There are many bus services that will drop you off on campus, and Warabrook Station is only a short walk away.
WEDNESDAYS 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Scheduled time includes 30 minute optional free practice session after 90 minute class.
MAYFIELD WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL
7 Gregson Avenue
Mayfield West NSW 2304
We are 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.
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.
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.