What Is Filipino Martial Arts? A Beginner’s Guide to Arnis, Kali & Eskrima in Calgary
- Jeff Estrada
- May 9
- 4 min read
Updated: May 31
Flow Martial Arts Academy has been Calgary’s dedicated home for authentic Filipino Martial Arts since 2012 — one of the longest-running dedicated FMA schools in Western Canada. In over a decade of teaching, we’ve introduced hundreds of Calgarians to one of the world’s most practical martial arts systems.
If you live in Calgary and you’ve never heard of Filipino Martial Arts — also called FMA, Arnis, Kali, or Eskrima — you’re not alone. Despite being one of the most practical and complete fighting systems in the world, FMA remains one of martial arts’ best-kept secrets. Here in Calgary, that’s starting to change.
If you’re completely new to training, our beginner’s guide explains what Filipino Martial Arts is, how training works, and why more adults in Calgary are discovering FMA.
In this post:
What is Filipino Martial Arts (FMA)?
Filipino Martial Arts (Arnis Kali Eskrima) is the national martial art and sport of the Philippines. It is a combat system that developed over centuries across the Philippine archipelago, refined through real warfare and continuous challenge. Unlike many martial arts that begin with empty-hand techniques and add weapons later, FMA does the opposite — students begin with weapons (typically rattan sticks) and progress toward empty-hand combat. The reasoning is brilliant: if you can handle an armed opponent, an unarmed one becomes far more manageable.
The art goes by several names depending on the region of the Philippines it comes from:
Arnis — from the northern island of Luzon; also the official national sport of the Philippines, designated by law in 2009.
Kali — a broader international term with roots in the Visayan and Mindanao regions; preferred in North American and European FMA communities.
Eskrima / Escrima — widely used in the central Philippines and throughout the global martial arts world.
At Flow Martial Arts Academy, we use these terms interchangeably and teach an integrated curriculum that draws from the full FMA tradition.
Why Filipino Martial Arts Is Different From Other Calgary Martial Arts?
Most martial arts specialize. Boxers focus on punches. Judoka focus on throws. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on the ground. FMA covers all ranges of combat — from weapon strikes at long range, to clinch and trapping at mid-range, to grappling and ground defense up close. One system for every situation.
What truly sets FMA apart is its emphasis on flow and adaptability. Techniques translate fluidly between weapons and empty hands. The same movement used to strike with a stick works identically when your hands are empty. Every principle you learn applies across all tools and all ranges simultaneously.
“The same movement that strikes with a stick works identically with empty hands. Every principle applies everywhere.”
This interchangeability means that every hour of training doubles as both weapons training and empty-hand training. Calgary students at Flow consistently find they develop a depth of understanding in FMA that takes far longer to achieve in arts where weapons and empty hands are taught as separate disciplines.
Who Practices FMA?
FMA has a remarkable range of practitioners. Professional military and law enforcement units worldwide — including the U.S. Army and various special forces — train in FMA for its practical, real-world application. At the same time, it’s successfully taught to complete beginners of all ages and fitness levels, because the curriculum is structured and conceptually progressive.
In Calgary, our students at Flow have ranged from teenagers to adults in their 60s — from complete beginners to experienced martial artists from other disciplines who wanted to add something substantively new to their game. The common thread is curiosity and consistency, not age or athletic background.
Our instructor, Guro Jeff, brings over a decade of teaching Filipino Martial Arts in the Calgary area, with credentials that include qualifying for the 2012 WEKAF World Championships. That experience is what you’re stepping into from your very first class.
Filipino Martial Arts Classes in Calgary at Flow Martial Arts Academy
Flow Martial Arts Academy sits in Calgary’s northwest at 602 22 Ave NW, serving students from across the city — Kensington, Hillhurst, Sunnyside, and beyond. We offer group classes, private lessons, and structured curriculum for all experience levels. Classes run Monday and Wednesday evenings. Our classes are intentionally small so every student receives genuine individual attention from day one, not just a number in a large group.
In your first class, you’ll have a rattan stick in your hands and be landing real strikes and real defenses before the hour is up. Corrections are immediate and visible — because you can see the arc of your movement. This is one of the reasons FMA is uniquely approachable for beginners.
To see what your first class would look like, visit our schedule page or book a free trial class directly.
Is Filipino Martial Arts Right for You?
If you’re looking for a martial art that is practical, challenging, rich in cultural history, and genuinely engaging — FMA deserves serious consideration. You don’t need to be athletic, strong, or young. You don’t need prior martial arts experience. You just need to show up with an open mind.
Here’s the honest profile of someone who thrives at Flow:
→ You’re a complete beginner with no martial arts experience (our most common student)
→ You’ve tried other martial arts but want something that rewards thinking as much as physicality
→ You’re an adult returning to physical training after years away
→ You want practical self-defense skills grounded in real-world application
→ You’re looking for a welcoming community, not a competitive gym environment
The most common thing we hear from new students after their first class is: “I wish I’d found this sooner.” The second most common is: “When can I come back?”
Start Filipino Martial Arts Training in Calgary
Flow Martial Arts Academy has been welcoming complete beginners since 2012. Classes are small, the community is welcoming, and your first trial class is available now. Still have questions about training, equipment, or what beginner classes are like? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more about starting Filipino Martial Arts training in Calgary.
📍 No experience needed. No fitness requirement. Call 587-891-8108. Don’t wait — see you soon!
Related Reading
Comments