Legacy of the Blade: Embracing a Time-Honoured Martial Art
Pekiti-Tirsia Kali is a highly effective close-quarters fighting survival art of the Visayan region in Philippines.
Pekiti-Tirsia Kali is a highly effective close-quarters fighting survival art of the Visayan region in Philippines.
Officially founded in 1897 by Grand Master Conrado Tortal. Pekiti-Tirsia was reserved in secret as a family system to defend the Tortal land until the art was brought to the U.S. in 1972 by Grand Master Leo Tortal Gaje Jr., the grandson of Conrado Tortal and heir to the Pekiti-Tirsia System. Since then, Pekiti-Tirsia Kali has expanded worldwide and influenced the creation of dozens of off-shoot combat systems.
Based on tactics and strategies derived from edged weapons, Pekiti-Tirsia Kali is a complete system incorporating both weapons and empty hands methods. Designed for both single and multiple attackers, Pekiti-Tirsia is an ancient art that has evolved to stay relevant for modern combat and self-defense scenarios.
Pekiti-Tirsia is proven effective in combat and invaluable for preparing Operators of the law enforcement and military community. In the country of origin, Pekiti-Tirsia has become the basis for the official combatives programs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police. Internationally, it has been taught to thousands of police and military Special Operations personnel in the United States, Europe, India, Russia and across Asia.
His legendary teaching skills remain in demand by martial artists, law enforcement and military units worldwide. He is unquestionably the greatest living authority on the use of the Blade.
“His art is based on the knife, and may just have more street realism than any other”
Inside Kung-Fu magazine
“When it comes to strategic knife defences, Pekiti Tirsia Kali is one of the most progressive, useful, and sophisticated systems I have ever encountered”.
Guro Dan Inosanto

Kali, hailing from the Philippines, is a martial art rooted in a blend of offensive and counter-offensive strategies. The term itself, a fusion of "Ka" for "Hand" from "Kamot" and "Li" for "Motion" from "Lihok," embodies a philosophy of continuity in motion. This blade-centric practice holds spiritual significance, symbolizing the concept of 8 or infinity, reflecting perpetual movement. Embracing the Filipino philosophy, the Malay race's script, derived from Sanskrit of Indian origin, imbues Kali with multiple meanings, including a nod to the goddess Kali, believed to be the system's energy source.

Boracay, Phillipinnes

The Pekiti Tirsia Tactical Association was founded by Tuhon Jared Wihongi in 2002.
The idea of an association dedicated to the tactical application of Pekiti-Tirsia was based on Tuhon Jared’s extensive background as a Police Trainer, SWAT Operator, and an Army Special Forces Combatives Instructor.
As such, the Pekiti Tirsia Tactical Association is dedicated to training the Tri-V Method of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali with an emphasis on practical and tactical application.
Its mission has since grown to encompass assistance in the development of the TRICOM combatives training modules and the Classical Pekiti Tirsia Doce Methodos training methodologies, in addition to the Tri-V base curriculum.
Most Senior Instructors within the PTTA are current and former Police/ Military Operators and Use-of-Force trainers from around the world. This being the case, the PTTA has expanded to the point where most affiliate schools have classes and organizations with student bases made up primarily of civilian enthusiasts, as well as police/military Operators.
For more than two decades, we’ve helped thousands to increase their capacity to protect themselves and their loved ones, to excel in their training and teaching methods and become functionally and technically skilled in the art of Pekiti Tirsia Kali as taught through the PTTA curriculum.
It has changed the face of Filipino Martial Arts & Combatives Training and will continue to change lives as our affiliate community grows.


A first question to ask yourself is, “Why exactly do I want to join the PTTA community?”.
Filipino Martial Arts continues its rapid growth and expansion across the world of martial arts.
As such, the PTTA methods of training Kali have become more in demand in recent years, but finding local instructors in remote parts of the world is often difficult.
Additionally, current practitioners of Filipino or other Martial Arts are often looking for resources to supplement their regular training.
The online training platform, Pekiti University, was created to address these demands, and will continue to evolve into a resource that will keep you progressing in your pursuit of the Filipino Martial Arts. Pekiti University aims to set the standard for excellence for FMA online training.
The PTTA is also a source of training and information on the TRICOM programs. These were developed to provide self defense focused training programs and to meet the training needs of police departments & special operations units around the world.
So, if you want to make an impact on your community, make a positive difference in people’s lives, become part of a global network of PTTA Affiliates, and build your life around that vision, we recommend you learn more about how to make this happen.
We’re here for you every step of the way. We have an unparalleled network of people, products, and services designed to support the PTTA affiliate community.
We’ve got you covered. With our vast network of affiliates worldwide and our team of field support professionals, we are dedicated to supporting you in your journey as much as you need.



























































Learning qigong and martial arts under Shifu Kumar. I've experienced a profound transformation. Shifu doesn't just teach techniques; he teaches a way of life. The martial arts training is rigorous and effective, focusing on real-world applications. I've gained confidence and the physical skills to protect myself. Qigong helps protects and improve your quality of life. If you're looking for an instructor who can help you unlock your full potential, both physically and mentally, I wholeheartedly recommend him.
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