10 Fascinating Facts About Filipino Martial Arts | Arnis Kali Eskrima in Calgary
- Jeff Estrada
- 18 hours ago
- 6 min read
Most people discover Filipino Martial Arts — known as Arnis, Kali, or Eskrima — and immediately wonder: why haven’t I heard of this before? It’s been practiced for centuries, it’s the national martial art of the Philippines, it’s used by militaries and Hollywood stunt teams alike — and right now, it’s being taught in Calgary. Here are ten facts that explain exactly why FMA is unlike anything else out there.
Whether you’re new to martial arts or a seasoned practitioner, these ten facts will change how you see FMA — and maybe convince you to try a class.
In this post:
1. FMA Defeated a Famous European Explorer — in 1521
Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer leading a Spanish expedition, was killed at the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines in 1521. The warrior responsible was Datu Lapu-Lapu, a local chieftain and FMA practitioner. Magellan’s armoured, technologically superior forces were defeated by indigenous Filipino fighters using strategies and techniques that are still taught in FMA academies today — including at Flow here in Calgary.
Lapu-Lapu is now a national hero in the Philippines. His victory is celebrated as the first successful resistance against European colonization in Southeast Asia. More than 500 years later, the system he used still exists, still works, and is being taught in cities around the world.
2. It’s the National Sport of the Philippines
Arnis was officially declared the national martial art and sport of the Philippines by Republic Act 9850 in 2009. It is taught in Philippine schools as part of the physical education curriculum, ensuring the art is preserved and passed on to every generation. This isn’t ceremonial recognition — it’s active integration into national culture.
For Filipino-Canadians in Calgary, training in Arnis, Kali, or Eskrima is a direct connection to cultural heritage. We regularly welcome Calgary students from the Filipino community who find meaning in learning the martial art of their ancestors. Learn more about Flow Martial Arts Academy here.
3. Military and Law Enforcement Use It Worldwide
The U.S. Army, various special forces units, and law enforcement agencies across multiple countries have incorporated FMA into their close-quarters combat training. The art’s efficiency, weapon-based foundation, and adaptability to real-world scenarios make it uniquely suited for professionals whose lives depend on their techniques working every time.
When professional combatants with access to every martial arts system in the world choose FMA, it speaks to the art’s real-world efficacy in a way that no amount of marketing can replicate.
4. The Same Movement Works With or Without a Weapon
One of FMA’s most elegant features is that the biomechanics of a stick strike are essentially identical to the empty-hand equivalent. This means every hour of weapon training simultaneously develops empty-hand capability. It dramatically accelerates learning and makes the system more internally consistent than almost any other martial art.
This is one of the reasons FMA students in Calgary often remark that they feel like they’re learning two arts at once. In a sense, they are.
5. Training Sticks Are Specifically Chosen
Traditional FMA training uses rattan — a type of palm plant — rather than wood or metal. Rattan is chosen because it is flexible enough to absorb impact without shattering into dangerous splinters, yet rigid enough to accurately replicate a real weapon. When it does break after heavy use, it frays rather than fragments, keeping training partners safe.
At Flow in Calgary, all training sticks are provided for beginners. As students advance, many develop preferences for specific rattan weights and lengths — a sign of growing technical awareness.
“Every hour of weapon training in FMA simultaneously develops your empty-hand capability. Students are learning two arts at once.”
6. FMA Has Dozens of Regional Styles
The Philippines comprises over 7,000 islands and was home to many distinct cultures and fighting traditions. This created a remarkable diversity of FMA styles — estimates range from 50 to over 100 distinct systems. Each has its own flavour, emphasis, and technical vocabulary, yet all share the same fundamental principles of angles, flow, and weapons-first training. Filipino Martial Arts teaches stick, knife, and empty-hand combat using the same body mechanics.
At Flow, we teach an integrated curriculum that draws from sport and non-sport combat applications, self-defense, and respect for each other — giving Calgary students exposure to the full breadth of the tradition. See our programs.
7. It Was Kept Secret During Colonization
During centuries of Spanish colonial rule, Filipino warriors disguised their martial art as folk dance to continue practicing without drawing the attention of colonial authorities. Dances like the Singkil and Sayaw sa Bangko preserved FMA footwork and weapon-handling principles in plain sight — an extraordinary act of cultural resistance and ingenuity.
This history of preservation under adversity is part of why FMA practitioners around the world feel such a strong cultural connection to the art. It survived specifically because ordinary people chose to protect it.
8. It Appears in Major Hollywood Films
The fluid, dynamic weapon-fighting seen in The Bourne Identity, the John Wick series, The Book of Eli, and various Mission: Impossible films features FMA techniques prominently. Many Hollywood fight choreographers are trained in Kali and Eskrima specifically for its cinematic appeal and technical effectiveness.
When Calgary students watch these films after starting FMA training, they often spot specific angles, defenses, and footwork patterns they’ve practiced in class. It’s one of the more unexpectedly delightful parts of the training journey.
9. You Can Train Into Old Age
Unlike grappling arts that stress the joints or striking arts that accumulate head trauma over years, FMA can be trained safely and effectively well into older age. The emphasis on stick work, footwork, and angling rather than strength or speed means the art grows with you as your physical attributes naturally change.
This makes FMA an excellent long-term investment for Calgary adults. You’re not building a fitness habit that expires at 45 — you’re developing a skill that will serve you for decades. To learn more about this, read our post on why it’s never too late to start martial arts.
10. Flow Has Been Teaching It in Calgary Since 2012
Flow Martial Arts Academy has been Calgary’s dedicated home for authentic FMA instruction since 2012 — making it one of the longest-running FMA schools in Western Canada. Over 13 years, we’ve trained hundreds of Calgary students across all skill levels, hosted visiting grandmasters, and participated in national and international FMA events.
Flow Martial Arts Academy has been teaching Filipino Martial Arts in Calgary since 2012, with Guro Jeff Estrada’s beginner-focused coaching helping students of all experience levels start training with confidence.
If you’re in Calgary and ready to experience this remarkable art firsthand, we’d love to welcome you to the floor.
Why More Calgary Beginners Are Discovering Filipino Martial Arts
Filipino Martial Arts is growing quickly in Calgary because it combines practical training, cultural depth, fitness, and beginner-friendly instruction in one system.
Unlike many martial arts that focus on only one range of combat, FMA develops coordination, timing, adaptability, and real-world skill through weapons-first training that naturally transitions into empty-hand application.
At Flow Martial Arts Academy, students train in a supportive environment designed to help complete beginners progress with confidence from day one.
Ready to Try It for Yourself?
Flow Martial Arts Academy has been Calgary’s home for authentic Filipino Martial Arts since 2012. Trial classes are open to everyone — no experience needed, all equipment provided.
📍 602 22 Ave NW, Calgary • flowma.ca • 587-891-8108
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