Author: Nick Capozzi
THE MULTI-FACETED Filipino Martial Arts of Kali/Eskrima/Amis etc are currently enjoying a substantial surge of popularity in Australasia and around the world – due, in no small part, to the energetic promotional efforts of such internationally renowned ambassadors of their styles as Masters Dan Inosanto, Cacoy Canete and his family, and Remy and Ernesto Presas.
The no-nonsense, combat-effective approach of the Filipino systems are relatively easily learnt, and seem quite compatible with most of the traditional Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu and eclectic styles. To reflect the growing acceptance of the Filipino systems among the more ‘mainstream’ Martial Artists, AFA is publishing a special series on accomplished local instructors of the combat arts of the Philippines.
This issue’s featured instructor is Mr Nino Pilla, Chief Instructor of the South Australia-based Australian Filipino Kali Academy. He is qualified in both the Filipino and Iun Fan Martial Arts, as taught by Guro/Sifu Dan Inosanto.
Nino is the Australian representative for the World Eskrima-Kali-Arnis Federation (W.E.K.A.F.) and co-ordinator of the National Filipino Martial Arts Association of Australia. Through his classes in Adelaide and seminars interstate, Instructor Nino Pilla teaches the broad concepts found in the Filipino Martial Arts system.
In this photo-sequence, Nino demonstrates the first five basic stages in the single stick lock flow. “There are many factors that will determine whether a given technique will work in a given situation”, Nino explains. “Which is why, when attacking or defending, it is important that you can flow into another technique when one doesn’t work or give the response you are looking fOL .. ”
Nino’s partner in this combination is Stephanie Curtiss, current Australian Women’s Amateur Lightweight Kickboxing Champion, former Taekwondo Contact Champion, and a qualified Filipino Kali instructor.
