Pekiti Tirsia Kali

Pekiti-Tirsia Kali

Philippine Marine Corps instructor teaching US Marines Pekiti-Tirsia Kali during military exercises.
Also known as	Pekiti-Tirsia
Focus	Edged/Impact/Empty Hand Weapons
Country of origin	Philippines
Famous practitioners	Norberto Tortal Conrado Tortal Leo T. Gaje Jr.
Olympic sport	No

Pekiti-Tirsia Kali is a style specific to Filipino Martial Arts. Pekiti-Tirsia Kali was founded in 1897 and is the system of the Tortal family. The sole heir and guardian of this system is Leo T. Gaje Jr.. Pekiti-Tirsia is strictly a combat-oriented system, as opposed to sport-focused, style. It is a fighting system that focuses on edged, impact and improvised weapons. PTK has been adopted as the preferred combative training program by elite military and law enforcement units around the world.

Pekiti-Tirsia's movements are based on the traditional blade art of the Philippines - Kali, which involves slicing swords in a circular motion, symbolic of the orbits of the moon and the planets. It also incorporated triangular movements symbolic of constellations. In ancient times, Kali was taught in rituals that were then used pragmatically to survive against adversaries and wild animals.

The Visayan datus established a state in Kalibo, Aklan — this is sometimes cited as the origin of the name "Kali". Another reason is that a practitioner of the art is trained in carrying a knife, which is called a "kalis".

Pekiti-Tirsia Kali specifically was a family system that goes back at least four generations, starting with Norberto Tortal. It was further developed and improved during the years 1930-36 by his grandson Conrado Tortal. The system is now headed by Leo T. Gaje Jr., the grandson of Conrado Tortal.

Gaje introduced his system to North America after arriving in the US in 1972. His style earned recognition and respect from major martial arts organizations such as the Jewish Karate Federation, the United States Karate Association International, and the United States Karate Federation. His system has been an influence on the Dog Brothers, Dan Inosanto and other FMA practitioners. He has since brought the system to various European countries as well.

In 1995, Pekiti Tirsia International was formed in the US. In 1997, this organization went its own way. It is currently headed by McGrath (President and Chief Instructor). Other Directors include Erwin Ballarta (Law Enforcement Director), Magino'o Dan Inosanto (North American Director), Sifu Manfred Steiner (European Director), Ralf Beckmann (Director for Germany), and Roberto Bonomelli and Attilio Acquistapace (Co-Directors for Italy).