The martial arts world has long been a culture of mysticism, art, feats of physical strength and agility, and beauty through combat and body mechanics. In this age of big box martial arts clubs and MMA centred academies, it’s easy to forget the history and the real culture behind the art form.
KAPISANAN will not only be stepping into the martial arts world this year, but will be opening doors and opportunities for people to come and step back into OUR world and to learn about the FMA (Filipino Martial Arts); specifically through Arnis, also known as Kali or Eskrima.
Rooted in bloody history and rebellion, Arnis is a favoured combat system of many of the world’s police and military forces due to its practical nature, efficient combat system, and deadly, no non-sense killing and disarming techniques.
Although it never really claimed its share of the spotlight from mainstream martial arts like Karate, Kung Fu, and even Muay Thai, Arnis has had a growing trend in popularity since the 70's. So much so, that it has become the basis for many fight scenes in Hollywood big screen flicks and adrenaline-pumped action movies such as "The Bourne Supremacy".
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17xgMvfFsv4 Matt Damon's character in The Bourne Supremacy, tearin' up the house, Kali style.
Arnis is a growing sport and martial art, and is becoming widely popular all over Europe and North America. Even before it became THE national sport of the Philippines in 2009, World Arnis competitions were being held all over the world, including Europe, North America. And in 2000, Toronto was host to one of the world Arnis competitions, hosting over 300 international fighters!
The classes being taught at KAPISANAN will be conducted by Guro Rudy Cosico, the same Guro (that means teacher in Filipino) who led the Canadian team in the 2000 Arnis competition in Toronto. Guro Rudy brought 30 Canadian fighters to compete in the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) Championships in Cebu, Philippines in 2008, bringing home 18 gold medals, 16 silver, medals and 12 bronze, placing Canada as number 3 out of 38 countries that competed!
Guro Rudy will be teaching his own family form of Arnis, passed down from generations before him, originally named Hirada Batangeña. This form further evolved into Arnis De Cinqo Terros, or Arnis of the Five Strikes. In the martial arts world, it’s a rare treat to be taught and trained by an actual live master and inheritor of a fighting form!
Be inspired! Don’t miss this rare opportunity. Take part in a sport growing in world wide popularity and learn the history and take part in the mysticism and beauty in the art form the Filipinos call Arnis.
Trial classes begin this Saturday, January 22 at KAPISANAN (167 Augusta Avenue) from 4pm-6pm (more details here).