Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) is known as Kali, Arnis and Eskrima. The terms are more or less interchangeable. There is a lot of disagreement about the origin of the names and the composition of each of the art associated with each name.
There are as many styles of FMA as there are languages and
dialects in the Philippines. They range from single family systems to
international organizations.
FMA is renowned for its versatility, blending armed and unarmed techniques, and its focus on adaptability in real-world scenarios.
FMA traces its roots to precolonial Filipino tribes who used
these skills in warfare. During Spanish colonization, native fighting methods
were adapted to resist foreign rule, often disguised as dances to evade bans on
martial training.
