Pekiti-Tirsia is martial art system developed in the central region of the Philippines. In the Ilongo dialect of the Philippines, Pekiti-Tirsia means literally "close-thirds" or, as we might say in English, "close-quarters". It is called this as it is a complete fighting system that specializes in close-quarter techniques. It is based on three principles:
1) You will face multiple armed assailants.
2) There are three combat ranges: long, medium and short.
3) For every attack, there is a counterattack; for every counterattack, there is a recounter...and so on.
The system was developed by the Tortal family of Negros Occicental, Philippines in the 1800's. As it was passed down from generation to generation, it has been tried and tested through the Spanish-American War, World War II, and many battles fought between neighboring tribes from other islands. It has also proven itself through street confrontations in the Philippines, the United States and abroad. The system has been brought to the world through the efforts of the surviving grandmaster, Mataaas Na Tuhon Leo Tortal Gaje, and his senior student, Tuhon Guro William McGrath. It is taught to military and law-enforcement worldwide, and it is being made available to you through Pekiti-Tirsia International.
The ability to protect one's self and their loved ones from harm has been a valued skill, predating civilization itself. If one could not protect his/her family and territory, then one could expect to be overrun by those who trample over the weak. In today's society, situations may not be so cut and dry, but the ability to defend oneself is no less valued or needed.
As opposed to many martial arts, you begin with weapons and eventually develop towards using the empty hand. By starting off with weapons first (in the case of Pekiti-Tirsia, it is a stick), a student can develop body coordination and dynamics relatively quickly. In addition, if escape is not possible, a student's odds of surviving a vicious attack increase substantially if he/she has something in his/her hand to be used as a weapon. In fact, the student learns to make virtually any object into a weapon for self-defense. Much time is spent cultivating the student's footwork, which is instrumental in either escaping a conflict or engaging multiple assailants.
You will learn practical self-defense training against armed multiple attackers intending to do you serious harm. These methods you will use run the gamut from weapons to the empty hand.
Traditionally, Pekiti-Tirsia is a blade-oriented art. As such, one begins with the footwork training necessary for dealing with an adversary armed with a knife. When the stick training begins, further coordination and body dynamics for power are cultivated. All training culminates in effective and responsible edged-weapon awareness.
Curriculum in the Pekiti-Tirsia system is as follows:
Solo Baston (single stick/sword)
Doble Baston (double sticks/swords)
Espada Y Daga (stick/sword and dagger)
Daga (dagger/knife)
Mano Y Mano (empty hands)
The principles and techniques learned in these areas of study apply to more advanced subject areas, such as handcuffing techniques, firearm retention and use, and much more.