Philippine Marines teach 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit members from Okinawa century-old fighting style during PHIBLEX

Photo By Lance Cpl. Ryan Wicks | Philippine Marine Corps Sgt. Ramon Egalam Jr., demonstrates Pekiti-Tirsia Kali fighting techniques Oct. 21, 2008 in Crow Valley, Tarlac Province, Republic of the Philippines. The demonstration was part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's participation in this year's Amphibious Landing Exercise, an annual bilateral training exercise conducted between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military.  

10.31.2008

Story by Lance Cpl. Ryan Wicks 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Ryan Wicks
III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES — U.S. Marines spent time in Tarlac Province Oct. 21, 2008 learning different knife fighting techniques from Philippine Marines who gave a class on Pekiti-Tirsia Kali, a combat-oriented Filipino martial art founded in 1897 that utilizes blades and sticks.

The Marines, with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, participated in the training during this year's Amphibious Landing Exercise.

The class was taught to give them insight into an unfamiliar fighting skill and break up the day, according to Philippine Marine Staff Sgt. Carlito Englatiera, a Pekiti-Tirsia Kali instructor.

According to students, the instructors gave in-depth detail in their explanations of moves during the demonstrations.

"The class was downright impressive," said 1st Lt. Rolando Medina, the battalion adjutant. "They taught the class with a tie-in, just like our martial arts classes. The class was also taught by-the-numbers, which is how we learn."

During the class Marines were taught parrying, striking and killing techniques with several different blades and sticks as well as proper footwork during close-quarters combat.

"They had very interesting kill moves," Medina said. "The skill is advanced and their moves are more fluid than any other martial art I have seen."

The Philippine Marines teaching the class showed great skill and poise under the circumstances, said 2nd Lt. Scott Brown, a supply officer with the battalion.

"It was amazing that they were skilled enough to train us because they have only been practicing Pekiti-Tirsia for three months," Brown said. "I would definitely train with them more in-depth if I had the opportunity."

According to Englatiera, the art is such a big hit in the Philippine Marine corps it is now being incorporated into their recruit training.

"It has already proven itself as a useful skill in the southern Philippines in combat against the rebels," Englatiera said. "So it is a good thing that we will all be more proficient in combat.

"If you have a blade and you encounter an enemy in close combat, you have a 90 percent chance of survival," he added.

The class was not only a way to show the U.S. Marines new moves and ideas, but a method to provide a means of enhancing the working relationship between U.S. and Philippine forces.

"I am looking forward to more training with the U.S. Marines so that we can enhance and improve each others' skills," Englatiera said. "I am glad that the Marines come every year to train, and I look forward to the next time they come."

Amphibious Landing Exercise and Talon Vision are annual bilateral training exercises conducted between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military, which enhance military cooperation and improve communities through humanitarian assistance and civil action projects.

The exercises began Oct. 15 and ended Monday.

• Date Taken: 10.31.2008
• Date Posted: 10.30.2008 02:23
• Story ID: 25716