My understanding from my Maestro is that Escrima and Arnis are strictly stick forms whereas Kali derives from a sword art.

Thanks, i'll check it out! What a great spread of arts.

cheers, g*

Kali, Arnis, and Eskrima (alt. Escrima) ARE interchangable terms, and the movements correspond to live blades, from daggers to short swords to large swords. Of course there are methods of "stick-fighting" but once you are familiar you are able to modify according to whether it's a blunt or sharp weapon. Note that some may disagree with me as far as terminology, which is fine, but I urge all to look deeper at the variation of arts and you will understand what I am saying more fully.

Most major systems begin training with sticks, but I'm sure there is a small minority of exceptions. Off the top of my head, I can't name one system that doesn't...

Also, all systems are for the most part based on blade training. There is one main reason we train with sticks, and that is because bladed weapons were outlawed in the Philippines under Spanish occupation.

Nowadays most systems use sticks regularly because they're safer, but training with live or training blades is definitely practiced on a large-scale basis, but most, if not all, start with at least one stick in hand.

The bulk of my training was with hardwood, not rattan, as my great-uncle was ranked Guro as an early student of Mike Inay. FYI the brand of Serrada I learned previously was influenced by my family, therefore I call it modified Inayan Serrada Eskrima. My uncle who taught me didn't have a name for it at the time. I now use either about a 20-inch rattan for Serrada or a 28-29 inch rattan for Largo. When choosing a rattan stick, the rule of thumb is "the more nodes, the better." Straightness of the stick is also key. No one wants a warped stick (although they sell them purposely at I & I Sports).

Anyhow, my explanation for Kali, Arnis, and Eskrima is very straight-forward. Some systems that use the terms Kali rather than Arnis or Eskrima have some valid reasoning. Usually it symbolizes a return to their roots, kind of like shedding a slave-name. Also the word "Kalis" (forget which dialect) means "sword" so it is said that in the old days that word was used in certain parts of the Philippines in reference to the indigenous art of the sword. Although there is little to no written documentation (most history of the last few hundred years has been preserved through folk tales and such) there is a return to the ancient Philippine Baybayin alphabet (www.mts.net/~pmorrow/bayeng1.htm). Maybe we will see new evidence spring up in the next few years as the arts continue to gain popularity.

Peace, ~John