The Secrets of Kalis Ilustrisimo (9780804831451)

Master the art of Filipino kalis with this illustrated martial arts guide

The Filipino martial art of ilustrisimo hails from Cebu, Philippines, where martial arts are still considered a matter of life-and-death survival—rather than sport or exercise.

Named after Antonio "Tatang" Ilustrisimo, the master who taught the style to both of the authors of this book, the art of kalis ilustrisimo has been in the Ilustrisimo family for more than five generations. Based on traditional Philippine stick and sword fighting methods—and refined by Antonio Ilustrisimo's vast personal experience in challenge matches—it offers a powerful, flexible, dynamic, and effective fighting style.

This illustrated guide to the secrets of this technique include:

• KALIS ILUSTRISIMO IN PERSPECTIVE — History and Development; Structure of the Ilustrisimo System
• FUNDAMENTALS OF PRACTICE — Preliminaries (Weapon Length; Weapon Grip; Combat Ranges); Stances and Footwork; Methods of Striking
• DEFENSIVE MOVEMENTS AND APPLICATIONS — Fundamental Fighting Techniques; Methods of Disarming
• THE COMBATIVE ENCOUNTER — Combative Sign Language; Spiritual Fortitude; Fighting Principles and Strategies
• AND MORE!

The Secrets of Kalis Ilustrisimo is the first book to deal with the techniques and theories of this very effective system of personal combat including the history of kalis ilustrisimo and structure of the system, the fundamentals of practice, the defensive movements and applications, and the training techniques used to prepare for actual personal combat. It also includes hundreds of photographs showing the essential movements and techniques of this martial arts style.


About the Author:
Antonio Diego became interested in arnis as a child in Pasil, Cebu, one of the cradles of Filipino martial arts. First a student of the Balintawak style of arnis, he became a student of Antonio Ilustrisimo in 1976 and remained a student until his teacher's death in 1997. In 1992, he was formally named heir to the fighting art of Kalis Ilustrisimo.

Christopher Ricketts began studying arnis in the late 1960s, after an earlier study of kung fu and karate. In 1984, he became a student of Antonio Ilustrisimo, and assisted his teacher is systemizing the teaching progression of the style, by videotaping training sessions. Both authors make their homes in the Philippines, but travel frequently in the U.S. to teach.