About
Claremont’s Hidden Treasure of Martial Arts. Legacy is not the average school of martial arts. It’s an Eclectic Art that is rarely found. Great for Law Enforcement, Military, Prison Guards, Correctional Officers, Adults, Women, Teens, and Seniors.
We are a Martial Arts Studio that offers instruction in Kali Arts (Filipino Martial Arts). “Kali” Practitioners are known for their state of flow. Use of bladed weapons, sticks, and empty hands are used an emphasized in training. Once only taught to secret societies and family members is available to the public. Today “Kali” is used for Law Enforcement, Military, Wheelchair users, Women Self-Defense, Physical Art, and Fitness. We believe in a “Universal Blend” of Martial Arts. No one style rules. The arts will adapt to you, not you adapt to the art. It’s a combination of your personal interpretations of the arts that lead you to your discovery of honest expression. Jason Cruz ,the chief instructor continues his training in other martial arts from todays leading and legendary instructors such as, Valencia Lameco Escrima (Specialty Blade/Knife), Muay Thai, FCS Kali, Jeet Kune Do, and integrates his continual studies in his instruction.
When most people think of martial arts they think of kiah!, or physical activities, violence, etc. There are many other ways martial arts benefit practitioners lives. There are martial artists that are great physically, there are those that fight with their mind, and there are those that are good at both. For example there are martial artist that make great fighters but can’t instruct as well. There are martial artist that are great at instructing and are more knowledgeble in the arts than the actual fighter. Then there are people that are both.
The following are other ways martial arts can be used to fight common day to day battles :
- To get out of bed is a battle
- To eat correctly is a battle
- To arrive at work on time is a battle
- To go to school or do your homework is a battle
- To clean that garage is a battle
- To finish something you started is a battle
- Avoid Confrontations
- And More…..
All these and more can be accomplished from practicing martial art.
History
Kali Arts is most noted for King/Chief Lapu-Lapu who defeated and killed Ferdinand Magellen on the Sands of Mactan Beach in the Phillippine Islands. It is said that Lapu-Lapu and his men were experts in Kali Arts.
More than 100 different Filipino Martial Arts styles developed, which can be grouped into three complete self-defense systems which utilize sticks, swords, empty hands and other weapons. The systems are called Northern, Southern, and Central.
In Kali the assumption is always to use the edge of a blade, be it sword or knife. Kali employs many techniques, including strikes, stances and weapons handling. During the Spanish occupation Kali/Martial Arts were banned and not allowed. Filipinos kept the Kali Arts alive by having them hidden in their dance movements, which the Spanish thought were harmless moves of celebration.
The Southern islands, where influenced by Arab missionaries and became known as (Moro Filipinos”), fierce Moslems who violently opposed foreign peoples on their native land. During the American occupation in the early 1900s, Moros, marked by tiger-eyes and red headbands – signifying a resolve to kill until killed battled American trrops.
The Moros were so ferocious that the American soldiers found their .38-caliber pistols ineffective. As a result the .45-caliber pistol was designed as a knock down weapon specifically to deal with the Moros. The American military term “leather neck” comes from fighting the Moros during this time. American Marines would wrap their necks in leather to keep from getting injured by the Kali warriors.
In 1935, the Philippines were occupied by the Japanese during World War II. Known for close-in, hand-to-hand combat with bolo knives, Filipino troops established themselves as fierce guerrilla forces.
Following the war, many Kali practitioners migrated from the Philippines to Hawaii and California. They lived close together, working as farm laborers and practicing their martial art in secret.
After years of secrecy the old Kali masters started to teach a younger generation the beautiful and deadly Filipino Martial Art. It’s sad to say that the older generation of Kali masters believe the martial art is dead in the Phillipines.
Todays Kali practicioner shows respect to the art by the use of a visual salutation. They touch the closed fist of their right hand to their forehead and the open palm if the left hand to their heart.
