We offer training in the Filipino Martial Arts

to provide opportunities for ordinary people

to develop extraordinary skill with sticks and blades.

ARNIS, KALI, ESKRIMA?

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). 

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. 

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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 Indigenous fighting traditions. Revolution in the 1800s, and the move towards clubs and  sporting competition in the 1900s, triggered further evolution of the art. 

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As a result there are many different regional and family variations among the Filipino Martial Arts today, 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 eclectic De Salon (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:​

• COVID SAFE Martial Arts School Policy  (Effective 1 June 2020)

• COVID SAFE Martial Arts School Poster

ABOUT US

The Kalisadors Club (Kali Newcastle) 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.

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We officially represent De Campo 1-2-3 Original in Australia, authorised by Maestro Paolo Pagaling.

DE CAMPO 1-2-3 ORIGINAL

JUEGO TODO STICK-FIGHTING ART

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. 

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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).

     CORE ORIGINAL 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

• GROUP 2: DE ALFAVITO

• GROUP 3: HORIZONTAL

• GROUP 4: SERRADA

• GROUP 5: ABIERTA

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ELEMENTARY

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• GROUP 6: DE CAMPO ORIGINAL

• GROUP 7: REDONDO Y REDONDA ORIGINAL

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MIXING PRIMARY & ELEMENTARY

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• MIXING ABECEDARIO with GROUPS 6 & 7

• MIXING DE ALFAVITO with GROUPS 6 & 7

• MIXING HORIZONTAL with GROUPS 6 & 7

• MIXING SERRADA with GROUPS 6 & 7

• MIXING ABIERTA with GROUPS 6 & 7

HIGH SCHOOL

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• GROUP 8: DOS MANOS DOS LARGOS

• GROUP 9: DE CADENA DE CUERDAS

• GROUP 10: HAGAD HUBAD ORIGINAL

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MIXING PRIMARY & HIGH SCHOOL

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• MIXING ABECEDARIO with GROUPS 8 & 9

• MIXING DE ALFAVITO with GROUPS 8 & 9

• MIXING HORIZONTAL with GROUPS 8 & 9

• MIXING SERRADA with GROUPS 8 & 9

• MIXING ABIERTA with GROUPS 8 & 9

COLLEGE

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GROUP 11: THE 7 SPECIALS

1. ​DIRECT CHOP SERRADA

2. DIRECT CHOP ABIERTA

3. LEVEL

4. SERRADA

5. ABIERTA

6. KULOB ABIERTA

7. ABANIKO

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COMBINATIONS

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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; and bladework using the Pinuti (a cutlass type sword).

  KALI DE SALON  

  KALI DE SALON  

Kali De Salon is our eclectic stick and blade training system, blending elements of a number of FMA systems. Its focus is on the Corto Mano (Close Hand) or Close Quarters style of FMA, where the non-weapon hand is used to jam (stop) or parry (pass) the opponent's attacks, in order to open and control lines for counterattack for defending oneself armed or unarmed against a weapon wielding opponent. This efficient and effective curriculum is practiced with the following weapons in isolation and in combination: Baston (stick), Espada (sword), Baraw (dagger), Dulo-Dulo (palm stick).

METODO

TECHNICAL & TACTICAL METHODS

BRONZE MEDAL

JUNIOR CURRICULUM

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Key Principle: PASUGAT

Meeting

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GROUP 1: ABAKADA | Rudiments

• NUMERADA | Angles of Attack

• TIRADA | Strikes (Labtik, Witik, Redondo)

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GROUP 2: CONTRADA | Counters

• ABECEDARIO | Basic Block, Check & Counter

• DIKIT | Butting-Against (Knife Defence)

• DOBLETE | Double Circular Slashes

• PLANCHADA | Ironing (Side to Side Slashes)

• ROMPIDA | Broken (Vertical) Slashes

• SANGGA-PATAMA | Defend & Attack

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GROUP 3: SINAWALI | Weaving

• SOLO SINAWALI | Single Weaves

• DOBLE SINAWALI | Double Weaves

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GROUP 4: SOMBRADA | Shading

• SIMPLE SOMBRADA | Simple Shading

• BOX SOMBRADA | Box Shading

• LARGO-CORTO/CORTO-LARGO | Long-Short/Short-Long

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GROUP 5: ESTOKADA | Thrusting

• SAKSAK TRYANGGOL | Thrusting Triangle

• PANASTAS-SUNGKIT | Slash & Thrust

• FLORETE | Flower Petal Thrust & Slash

• HIKOT | Binding to the Thrust

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GROUP 6: PUNYO | Pommeling

• DAKOP Y PUNYO | Catch & Pommel

• HUBAD LUBID | Untie & Tie

• HUBAD PASUGAT | Meet & Release

• HUBAD PAKUSOG | Intense Clearing

• GUNTING-KRUZADA | Scissoring & Crossing

• KAMBIATA | Switching 

Testing Method: NUMERADO

By the Numbers - Nominated Attacks

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Rank on Completion: KANDIDATO

SILVER MEDAL

SENIOR CURRICULUM

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Key Principle: PASUNOD

Following

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GROUP 7: SEGUIDA | Following

• PASUNGKIT | Hooking

• PALIS-PALIS | Sweeping

• ANINO | Shadowing

• PISADA | Stomping

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GROUP 8: BANTAY KAMAY | Guarding Hand

• PARA-PASA | Stop & Pass

• PALUSOT | Passing

• PAT'OL | Laying Upon (Knife Defence)

• DEKADENA | Chaining

• SABAYAN | Simultaneous Defence & Attack

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GROUP 9: ABANIKO | Fanning

• KURBADA | Curving

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REPEAT GROUP 1-6 + 7-9 IN PALAKAW

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Testing Method: PALAKAW

Working Method - Unnominated Attacks

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Rank on Completion: GRADWADO

GOLD MEDAL 

INSTRUCTOR CURRICULUM

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Key Principle: PANAPOS

Finishing

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GROUP 10: DISARMA | Weapon Disarms

• HUBAD | Stripping

• LUGSOT | Ejecting

• AGAW | Seizing

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GROUP 11: DUMOG | Grappling

• TRANGKA | Locking

• TUOK | Contricting

• BUNO | Throwing

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GROUP 12: PANGAMOT | Dirty Boxing

• SUNTOKAN | Striking

• SIKARAN | Kicking

• KADENA DE MANO | In-fighting (Chain of Hands)

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REPEAT GROUP 1-9 + 10-12 IN KURIDAS

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Testing Method: KURIDAS

All Inclusive - Continue Until Subdued

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Rank on Completion: INSTRAKTOR

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

• GROUP 2: ESPADA | Sword Method

• GROUP 3: BANGKAW | Spear Method

• GROUP 4: BUGSAY | Boat Oar Method

     INSTAGRAM GALLERY    

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:

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• Child Safety Policies & Procedures;

• Instructor's Code of Ethics;

• Code of Practice for Martial Arts Centres and Instructors.

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). 

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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.

RECOMMENDED READING

The first four 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

KALI DE SALON

WEDNESDAYS 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM (LIVE)

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ESKRIMA DE CAMPO 1-2-3 ORIGINAL

SATURDAYS 9:00 - 10:15 AM (ZOOM)

SATURDAYS 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM (LIVE)

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Pre-booking is required for new students to ensure compliance with COVIDSafe Restrictions.

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MAYFIELD WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL

7 Gregson Avenue

Mayfield West NSW 2304

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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.

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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.

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