Thursday, February 01, 2007
About KAI
General information on GM Vicente Sanchez and Kali Arnis International.
As the training progresses in Kali Arnis International one can feel the history and tradition of a true Filipino warrior being taught. Commencing your training with the knowledge of Modern Arnis and thinking you have obtained a part of the art, Grandmaster Sanchez opens a door that has several paths of knowledge to his vast experience through the years. A student soon finds himself addicted and a desire continuously grows for more and more knowledge, which seems never to be satisfied. On this magical tour, the student continues to learn Lightning Scientific Arnis Not just as arts within themselves but as a combination and coalition of extreme knowledge which if serious in learning will make one a formable Arnisador.
In learning one must realize the steps to become a true Arnisador, first starting with the dipa (long form), then tapado (cut in half) making two sticks becoming sinawali. Cut again becomes espada y daga; take away the Daga forming solo baston and that moving to mano mano. All this equals the complete Arnisador. One must also understand that there is no quick way to gain this knowledge. There must be the interest, coupled with dedication, and the time to put forth to obtain the true essence of the teachings. The student must commence with the thought of learning the art to fight, for it has been handed down through history as a way of life, and as a way of self-preservation in the face of confrontations.
When teaching Grandmaster Vicente Sanchez hides nothing and shares all his knowledge he has acquired. This maybe hard to believe, but his belief is that by giving his students his knowledge, then once he has passed on, his knowledge will continue throughout time and nothing will be lost.
-photos courtesy of David Foggie
