This was found by Balintawak Guro Nick Elizar. He has a good name in the FMA world. An e-mail friend more or less of mine for quite a few years. The big Kali debate that has been going on for many years is being researched well by him. I knoew the word Kali did not drop out of someones mouth then became world famous because of Leo Gaje or Dan Inosanto. This is a great find in FMA history. Read this:I just reviewed Mirafuente's essay on Arnis history in Yambao's book. He clearly states again and again that "kali" was the original term for what we now know as "Arnis" or "Escrima". Now, I know that I and others have stated that there is no document of the era that states that there was a martial art called "kali" and that Yambao's book contains the first mention of it ever in written form. I and others have also stated that Mirafuente gave no reference as to where he got the term.......
Well, it seems that Mirafuente DID give a reference! All we need to do now is verify it!
Here's where I got the Mirafuente statement:
Book: Mga Karunungan sa Larong Arnis by Placido Yambao (published 1957)
Section: Maikling Kasaysayan ng Arnis (A Short History of Arnis) by Buenaventura Mirafuente
Subject: Quotation by Buenaventura Mirafuente of a statement made by Don Miguel Lopez de Legaspi regarding the practice of swordplay by the natives during his 1564 voyage around the Philippine islands.
Quote (page 10, paragraph 1) : Sa gayon ay nawika ni Legaspi sa sarili na "ang kali ay hindi lamamng larong libangan at pangpalipas ng panahon kundi isang mabisang sining ng pagtatanggol sa sarili sa larangan ng digmaan". (To that Legaspi exclaimed to himself that "kali is not merely a game to entertain oneself or pass the time but an effective art for defending oneself in the field of battle".)
So Mirafuente attributes the above quote to Don Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. Mirafuente wrote that Legaspi discovered the natives demonstrating "kali" to welcome him to the villages he visited. He specifically mentions the places Abuyog in Leyte, Limasawa, Camiguin, Bohol ("kali" demonstrated at the same occasion as the blood compact with Sikatuna), Dapitan and Cebu. So, I guess the next step should be to find chronicles, diary entries, accounts of the Legaspi expedition during that time and see if there is specific mention of "kali" in them. Can anyone get hold of any of these? Can anyone help?
Ron Kosakowski
Practical Self Defense Training Center
847 Hamilton Ave. (RT 69)
Waterbury, CT 06706
203-596-9073
info@psdtc.com
http://www.psdtc.com
http://www.traditionalfilipinoweapons.com
The big Kali debate partially solved...
Posted - 07/29/2010 : 15:02:32
