Kali Practitioner | Martial Artist – Guro Gerald Toki

Kali | Preserving the Ancient Martial Art of the Philippines

Born and raised in Hawaii, Guro Gerald Toki became an active practitioner of martial arts at an early age. In 1965, Gerald started with boxing and was also engaged in the study of Senju Karate.

In 1976, Gerald began training in Kauai, Hawaii under the guidance of his father, Franks Mamalias. Over the years, he has had the opportunity to learn from some of the great masters of this ancient art.

– Master Vince Maglinte, Senju Karate (1965)
– Maestro Frank Mamalias, Escrima/Doce Pares (1976)
– Professor Greg Lontayao, 10th Degree Black Belt/Kali (1982)
– Grandmaster Ben Largusa, Villabrille-Largusa Kali (1994)
– Guro Dominado Largusa, Villabrille-Largusa Kali (1994)

Today Guro Gerald Toki resides in Glendale, Arizona and actively teaches the Villabrille-Largusa Kali System with schools in Glendale and Mesa. The Villabrille-Largusa Kali System school teaches weaponry, empty hands, and kicking techniques.

The objective of The Gerald Toki School of Kali is to promote and preserve the traditions, legacies, philosophies, and teachings of the founder, the late Grandmaster Floro V. Villabrille and Grandmaster Ben T. Largusa.

Official Instructors Trained by Guro Gerald Toki: Guro Shane Bolosan and Guro Brian Tufts

The terms Guro (Tagalog / Filipino National Language) and Maestro (Cebuano / Filipino Dialect) are both common terms that are often used interchangeably in reference to a teacher or instructor.

WHAT IS KALI?

Kali is the forerunner and mother Art of Escrima and Arnis which are both contemporary arts that rely on similar principles. The martial art of Kali includes fighting techniques that utilize bare hands, feet, bladed & wooden weapons, and hard sticks. This ancient fighting art was developed long before the Spanish colonization of the Philippines and during the period of time when the Philippines existed as part of the Indonesian empire.

One theory reveals that the name ‘Kali’ comes from the word ‘Kalis’ which refers to a bladed weapon. Yet another theory, claims its origin is based upon a combination of the first syllables of two words – Kamut (hand) and Lihok (movements).

Little known fact – Contrary to what is popularly known, Magellan and his men were defeated by Lapu-Lapu and his warriors using Kali and not Escrima or Arnis.

VILLABRILLE-LARGUSA KALI

Kali is a combat-proven martial art that spans many generations. From the time before the Spanish invasion of the Philippines, to only a few years ago, Kali was a closely guarded secret that was passed on from teacher to student and father to son. Only the students deemed loyal were taught the art and it was never taught to non-Filipinos. Today the art is practiced by thousands around the world and the perpetuation of this treasured part of the Filipino heritage continues.

The Villabrille – Largusa Kali System is the Filipino Martial Art founded by the late Great Grandmaster Floro Villabrille. It is comprised of the various Filipino arts Villabrille learned in his travels across the Philippines. Numerous masters have influenced Villabrille’s method of combat but his most influential instructors were his uncle, Leoncio Villagano, Master Pio from Masbate Isles and Princess Josephina from Gandara, Samar.

Villabrille’s protégé and hand-picked successor to his system, the late Grandmaster Ben Largusa systemized and broke-down Villabrille’s fighting techniques. He put into place theories and philosophies that comprise the art and it is for this reason that the art is known today as the Villabrille-Largusa Kali System.

Schools of the Villabrille-Largusa Kali System continue to teach the weaponry, empty hand (Kinamot and Panantukan) and kicking (Sikaran) techniques of the late Grandmaster Villabrille. It is taught today for self-defense and fitness; but every aspect and characteristic of combat is maintained, regarded and practiced with the greatest honor and respect.

THE KALI ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

On January 27, 1973, the Kali Association of America (KAA) was officially formed after the Constitution and By-Laws of the KAA were adopted by the Grandmaster Villabrille, Tuhan Ben Largusa, the Guro and students of the Largusa School of Kali. The KAA is a non-profit organization that exists to promote, organize and perpetuate the Villabrille-Largusa Kali System, a martial art of the Philippines. It is the governing body of the Villabrille-Largusa Kali System and its member schools.

Reference: http://www.villabrillelargusakali.com/

For more information about the Gerald Toki School of Kali call 623.332.9367 or 480.319.4645

Photos & Research Courtesy of Tony Menendez, Co-Owner, Head Pastry Chef / Chef de Cuisine at Casa Filipina Bakeshop & Restaurant. Casa Filipina is Located at 3531 W. Thunderbird Rd., Phoenix, Arizona 85053 (Tel: 602-942-1258)