Articles by Mark Warner

The training methods of Dekiti Tirsia Siradas Kali are derived directly from its name. The language is of the Ilongo dialect of the Visayan region of the Philippines. The word Dekiti means close range, or tightly close, which is the combat range preferred by the DTS combatant. Tirsia is close [Read More]

All martial arts are a set of basic rules that the practitioner must learn and apply to progress in their style of martial arts. In this aspect of training, Dekiti Tirsia falls in line with all the rest. We have spoken of these three many times not being more insignificant, [Read More]

Although known primarily as a blade/weapon art Dekiti Tirsia has numerous empty-hand techniques that it can call upon in an instant for use in self-defense situations. The Philippines is located right at the juxtaposition of many Asian/Southeast Asian countries that each have a unique martial art. There has always been [Read More]

Most systems of Kali have a set of strikes to various target locations on the body, I have heard of systems with as little 2 basic angles of attacks, and as many as 64 angles of attack, Today we will be focused on the 12 basic strikes of Dekiti Tirsia [Read More]

Let’s start at the very beginning The first thing we learn in DTS Kali is our 12 basic strikes, much the same as you would basic strikes or kicks in any style of martial arts. The proper motion is tag to the students to be reviewed time and time again. [Read More]

There are many ways to peel an onion. As you do, you go deeper until you get to the very core. This is the way all martial arts are meant to be taught and learned. I will focus today (as I always do) on Kali. Even more specifically, Dekiti Tirsia [Read More]

When we think of self-defense, much of the time we portray ourselves as an empty handed defender striving to overcome a weapon wielding attacker. However in this day and age, never knowing if, when, or how we may be attacked, should we consider using a blade to defend ourselves? This [Read More]

This tremendous journey started in 2007. I had been training some Kali with Mike Williams (always working on increasing my martial arts knowledge) when he mentioned that one of his grandmasters was coming to the United States and would I like to host a seminar at my school. Now those [Read More]

This time we’re going to discuss the main long blades of Dekiti Tirsia Siradas (DTS) as well as other miscellaneous weapons. Negros Island, the home of Grandmaster Jerson “Nene” Tortal is in the Visayan region of the Philippines. That being the case, we will use the Illolngo term for the [Read More]

Whenever we think of the Filippino martial arts, the first thing that comes to mind is the stick, one of the weapons often used. We are all acquainted with the rhythmic click click click of stick on stick. The baston normally is 28” 26” or 24” 3/4-1inch in diameter. It [Read More]