Stick, blade and empty hand
Filipino Martial Arts (Kali / Escrima) in Guildford
Stick, blade and empty-hand fighting from the Philippines — practical, fast, and unlike anything else we teach. No experience needed, and your first class is free.
- Good for
- Weapons & empty-hand skill
- Levels
- All levels
- Ages
- Adults
- From
- Ask us
Filipino Martial Arts is one of the more unusual classes on our timetable, and one of the most rewarding. You may have heard it called Kali, Escrima or Arnis — these are all names for the same family of arts, built around weapons and empty-hand combat that flow into one another. Almost no other gym in the Guildford area teaches it, so if you have been looking for something genuinely different, this is it.
Here is the plain-English version. You start by learning patterns with a training stick — how to move, strike and defend with a weapon in your hand. The clever part is that those same movements carry straight over to empty hands. So even though you are holding a stick, you are sharpening your reflexes, footwork and timing for unarmed situations too. Everything connects.
You do not need any background in martial arts to start, and you do not need to buy any kit. We will hand you a training stick, talk you through it, and build you up at a sensible pace. Day one is controlled drilling with a coach and a partner — not getting hit. It is calmer and more technical than people expect, and it tends to click quickly once you feel the patterns in your own hands.
New to this?
What a Kali class is really like
A typical session starts with a gentle warm-up, then moves into drills — short, repeatable patterns you practise with a training stick until they start to feel natural. Your coach demonstrates, you copy, and you get feedback as you go. Nobody expects you to know anything on your first night.
From there you usually work with a partner, flowing through the movements slowly and safely. This is where Kali comes alive: you start to see how a strike turns into a block, and how the same shape works whether there is a weapon in your hand or not. The pace is yours — you will never be thrown into anything you are not ready for.
Forget any image of two people whacking each other with sticks. Beginner training is controlled and cooperative, the sticks are training sticks, and contact is built up carefully over time, not on your first day. Come in trainers and comfy clothes, bring some water, and we will sort the rest.
Why you'll love it
- Learn a rare art most Guildford gyms simply do not offer — weapons and empty hand in one system
- Sharpen your reflexes, coordination and timing in a way that carries over to everything else you train
- Practical, self-defence-minded movement: stick and blade patterns that translate to your bare hands
- A calm, technical class where you can think and improve, not just trade hits
- Brilliant cross-training if you already box or do Muay Thai — it adds a whole new dimension
- All standards welcome, from total newcomers to experienced martial artists wanting something new
This is for you if…
- You want something beyond punching and kicking, and a discipline that not everyone in your town is doing
- You are drawn to practical self-defence and want to understand how weapons and empty-hand work together
- You already train Muay Thai or Boxing with us and fancy adding a new skill to your week
- You are an experienced martial artist looking for genuine depth and a fresh challenge
- You are completely new to all of this but curious — that is fine, we will guide you from the very first stick
On the timetable
Filipino Martial Arts this week
Times can change — check the full timetable or call us to confirm before your first visit.
- Saturday1:00–2:00pm
Your coaches
Who teaches Filipino Martial Arts
Good to know
Common questions
What is Kali / Escrima, in simple terms?
It is a Filipino martial art built around training with a stick or blade and with your empty hands. You learn patterns and movements with a weapon, and the same movements work without one — so it trains your reflexes, footwork and coordination at the same time. Kali, Escrima and Arnis are all names for the same family of arts.
Do I need any experience to start?
No. Plenty of people arrive having never picked up a training stick or done any martial art before. Your coach builds you up from the basics at a pace that suits you, and you will be learning alongside other people at all stages.
Do I need to bring my own sticks or kit?
Not to begin with. Just bring trainers, comfy clothes and some water, and we will provide what you need to get started. There are changing rooms and showers on site.
Is it safe? It involves weapons.
Yes. Beginner training uses training sticks and is built around controlled, cooperative drilling with a coach and a partner — not free-for-all sparring. Contact is introduced slowly and carefully over time, never on day one. The first sessions are about learning the movements safely.
Is it good for self-defence?
Many people train Kali for exactly that reason. The weapon patterns sharpen the same reflexes, timing and awareness you would use empty-handed, so the skills carry over to real, unarmed situations as well as armed ones.
Is Filipino Martial Arts included in my Muay Thai membership?
A Muay Thai membership covers all your Muay Thai classes and use of the gym during opening hours. Whether Filipino Martial Arts (Kali) is included can vary, so the honest answer is to ask us — call 01483 578358 and we'll tell you exactly how it works. BJJ and Savate are priced separately. You can also pay as you go at £15 per class. See our Memberships and Prices page, and the timetable for the current Kali class time.
Where are you and is there parking?
We are at Weyford House, 21/22 Woodbridge Meadows, Guildford GU1 1BA, with on-site parking and about a 10-minute walk from Guildford town centre and the mainline station.
How do I try it?
Your first class is free, so you can come along and see the level for yourself with no pressure. Check the timetable for the Kali slot, then book in or call us on 01483 578358 and we will get you set up.
Get started
Your first class is free
No experience needed, no contract to try. Come and see why beginners feel at home here — book a free trial or just give us a call.