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(es-kree-mah) From the Spanish word "escrime" meaning to fence with a sword.
Kali is the mother art of the modern Philippino Martial Arts. When Philippino society was under Spanish colonial control, all martial arts were banned. Elements of Kali were hidden in folk plays and native dance.
Under Spanish influence, the native art became known as eskrima, estocada, arnis de mano or arnis. The first World Arnis Championship was held in Cebu in 1989. Philippino martial arts allow the use of the elbow and knee, as well as low kicking and punching in close-range fighting. Head butting is allowed, along with grappling techniques carried out from either a standing position or from the ground and including strips, takedowns, and throws. Other moves include choke holds and various locks on the hands, elbows, shoulders, ankles, and knees.
Escrima is also know as Arnis or Kali, the different names signify which part of The Philippines the art comes from and some minor variations of technique. Escrima is unusual in that it teaches students stick fighting first and then open handed fighting as its open hand techniques are based on its stick fighting techniques. Escrima is therefore commonly perceived as a stick fighting style, but unarmed combat is given equal emphasis. Most of the unarmed techniqes are strikes, but leg and hip techniques to off-balance or throw an opponent are also used. The spanish Espada y Daga was brought into Escrima, and thus many schools will also teach sword and knife techniques.

There are 12 areas of combat in Kali, with Escrima containing 8 or 9 of them, and Arnis 4 to 6.
These areas are
- Single Stick (or long blade)
- Double long weapon
- Long & Short (sword & dagger, e.g.)
- Single dagger
- Double Dagger
- Palm Stick/Double-end Dagger
- Empty Hands (punching, kicking, grappling)
- Spear/Staff, long weapons (two-handed)
- Flexible weapons (whip, sarong, etc.)
- Throwing weapons
- Projectile weapons (bows, blowguns)
- Healing arts

The sticks used in Arnis are usually made out of wood, or rattan (a special bamboo from the Philippines), 70 cm long and about 2 cm in diameter. The length can vary from 30 cm to 220 cm. Escrima and Arnis are designed to work with sticks, and Kali is a blade art. A common feature of all these arts is their use of geometry. In strikes/defenses and movement, lines and angles are very important. The independent use of the hands, or hands and feet, to do two different things at the same time, is a high-level skill sought after a fair amount of experience.