Fillipino Martial Arts (FMA) Philosophy:

‘We believe in life, we don’t believe in violence.
We believe in success, not in failure.
We believe in good health’

Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) – Kali Eskrima – Arnis & Jeet Kune Do (JKD – Bruce Lee’s method of fighting)
“Are the most practical and deadly martial arts you will ever come across”
Master Loukas Kastrounis

Join Reading Academy Kali Eskrima – Arnis Fillipino FMA and experience the benefits of Kali Eskrima-Arnis/JKD.
Sign up for a free trial lesson

What is Kali Eskrima-Arnis / JKD?

Kali Eskrima-Arnis/JKD is a complete fighting system and one of the most effective, proven fighting styles practiced around the world today. Originating from the Philippines hundreds of years ago, it was originally developed as a form of self defence against invading colonisers. It is a close-quarters combat system based on the use of sticks, blades and empty hand fighting techniques. As well as the use of weapons, Kali also incorporates boxing, trapping and grappling. There is a strong focus on the science of tactical strategy and the concept of survival on the streets – Kali has proven to be an incredibly effective street fighting style and works well in urban combat.

Kali is unique in that unlike other martial arts, students learn how to control and deal with weapons first, before moving on to empty hands training and techniques. This is because a lot of the empty hand techniques come from either single or double stick, knife/dagger or sword techniques. Drilling with weapons increases both sensitivity and co-ordination, which can then be translated to empty hand techniques. Students learn counter offense tactics and techniques against multiple opponents and offensive striking when unarmed against armed attackers.
Practicing Kali is great fun and has many physical and mental health benefits. Practitioners realise significant improvements in awareness, sensitivity, coordination and reflexes, as well as developing an increased awareness of their surroundings and an ability to read situations on the streets. Other health benefits include joint/muscle flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, improved body posture and increased self-confidence.

Master Loukas Kastrounis was taught Kali Eskrima-Arnis / Jeet Kune Do
by Master Nino Bernardo – Master Dan Inosanto (the foremost instructor of Bruce Lee)

Master Dan Inosanto And Bruce Lee.

Who is Master Loukas Kastrounis?

Master Loukas Kastrounis was taught Kali Eskrima-Arnis / Jeet Kune Do at `The Basement` In London  from Master Nino Bernardo – Master Dan Innosanto (the foremost instructor of Bruce Lee).

Master Loukas has been teaching Kali Eskrima -Arnis / Filipino Martial Arts FMA/Jeet Kune Do since 1992. He is a second-generation Kali instructor through Master Dan Inosanto.  Master Loukas Kastrounis teaches martial artists, law enforcement officers, the military and special forces.  His work is featured in the British and international press and he is a Combat Magazine Hall of Fame Achiever.

You can read more on Master Loukas Kastrounis’ life and achievements HERE

 Dan Inosanto , Cass Magda , Nino Bernardo at The Basement in London 1986

Who is Guru Dan Inosanto?

Guru Dan Innosanto is widely regarded as a leading authority on Kali Eskrima-Arnis. Master Dan Inosanto was a teacher to Bruce Lee, introducing him to nunchaku – he introduced the weapon to Lee, taught him the basics and some exercises to get him started on his weapons training. Master Dan Innosanto taught Master Nino Bernardo.

Master Dan Inosanto was born on July 24, 1936 and is a Filipino martial arts instructor and actor. He began training in martial arts at the age of 11, receiving instruction from his uncle who first taught him traditional Okinawan Karate and later

also Judo and Jujutsu. He was a student of Ed Parker, from whom he received a shodan rank in American Kenpo.  Inosanto served as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division from 1959 to 1961 and was a member of the Strategic Army Corps. At Fort Campbell he refined his skills in various martial arts, training under Henry Slomanski.

Guru Dan Inosanto holds Instructor or black belt level ranks in several martial arts. He has studied traditional Okinawan karate, Judo, Jujutsu, Kenpo, Shoot wrestling, Systema, Filipino martial arts, and Jeet Kune Do. He was one of three people who were appointed to teach at one of the three Jun Fan Gung Fu institutes under Bruce Lee, the other two being Taky Kimura and James Yimm Lee. After Bruce Lee’s death, Inosanto became the principal spokesperson and historian for Jeet Kune Do.

Inosanto is credited for training martial arts to a number of Hollywood actors including Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris and others. He has had minor roles in a number of films, including Lee’s uncompleted last film Game of Death (1972), and Steven Seagal’s Out for Justice (1991).

 At age 28, Inosanto received his 1st-degree black belt in kenpo after three years under Parker. On his master’s suggestion, he began training in the blade arts of Kali and Eskrima. His teachers included John Lacoste and Angel Cabales.

Kali Eskrima-Arnis/JKD does not have forms or Katas,
but has a logical progression which is: