One Stick, Two Stick

Nope, this isn't going to be a post about knitting, although you will likely see knitting posts from time to time.

When we all first started taking kung fu, there were certain things we expected to learn at some point during our training. We knew that eventually we would learn traditional forms, fighting applications, and well, we hoped that at some time we'd get to learn how to use weapons. We expected those to be the tai chi sword (straight sword), the broad sword, and my husband's most anticipated--the long staff. My husband had taken kung fu for a brief time several years ago, so he had an idea of what was to come. As for me, the only kung fu that I knew came from what I saw in Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li films. Over the years, we would regularly all gather around the computer screen while my husband went from one video to the next on traditional kung fu forms and styles. It was through those videos that I became acquainted with the traditional weapons used.

Imagine our surprise when we started learning kali (also known as eskrima and arnis). This is a Filipino martial art that uses sticks as weapons. There's more to it, in that eventually you can use improvised weapons in the same manner, and like most martial arts, the applications are endless. In any case, this was not something we ever expected to learn, thinking that we probably wouldn't stray far from the traditional weapons used in Chinese martial arts. I have to add that this is a testament to how wonderful our sifu is. He sees the value in teaching us a broad curriculum of styles and applications, and his enthusiasm is infectious. We've been learning kali for a few months now, and I'm greatly enjoying myself with these sticks. While I've had the opportunity to use the straight sword, so far I feel more "at home" with the sticks. The sword is a beautiful weapon that I'm looking forward to using more often, but it certainly doesn't feel as instinctual for me. The stick and arm movements seem infinitely more natural. The footwork however, continues to be a challenge. My husband believes that I find it generally more natural because I used to be a majorette years ago, and therefore feel more comfortable with a stick weapon I can "twirl around." This is not to suggest that batons are weapons of course, although when one cracks you on the head after you fail to catch a toss, you may just think otherwise.

Kali has definitely become something I greatly look forward to every time I go to class. I think it's funny for my husband to see just how invested I am in this whole kung fu and kali experiment seeing as I was so reluctant at the very beginning. It was only supposed to be about the kids and getting them involved in a martial art. And yet here I am, enjoying it all as much as they do. I'm so glad I tagged along that first day.

Probably the most famous name in kali stick fighting is Dan Inosanto, who was one of the three men Bruce Lee certified to teach his own style of Jeet Kune Do. I've spent inordinate amounts of time watching videos of Dan and other kali practitioners on youtube, and find myself getting more and more excited about this martial art. But the funny thing is that really, there hasn't been a single thing I've learned that I haven't enjoyed.

Click here to watch Dan Inosanto in action. It's a shame the video cuts off at the end, but it's the most recent, and best quality one I could find on youtube.