What is Dekiti Tirsia Siradas?

Escrima / Arnis / Kali are all words used to describe the native martial arts of the Philippines.

Grand Tuhon Nene Tortal's family system has been called many names over the years including but not limited to the Tortal Family System, the Tortal Combatives System, Pekiti Tirsia Kali, Pekiti-Tirsia Kali, Dekiti Tirsia Siradas, Dekiti Tirsia Siradas Arnis de Mano, Dekiti Tirsia Siradas Kali (DTS Kali) to name a few. Dekiti Tirsia Siradas is a family system of Kali developed in 1851 by the Tortal family in the Philippines. It was created from the combined knowledge of the Tortal brothers, Conrado, Balbino and Francisco. It was later passed to Grand Tuhon Jerson “Nene” Tortal, which is the son of Matahari Tuhon Balbino Tortal. Dekiti Tirsia Siradas Kali is a very aggressive system with an emphasis on impact and bladed weapons, as well as empty hand techniques and firearms usage and retention.

The name of the system derives from three words in the Illongo dialect. Dekiti or “Dekit” in the Tagalog language translates to mean in English to stick to or to be very close. This emphasizes that Dekiti Tirsia Siradas Kali is a close quarter fighting martial art. Tirsia means quartering in fighting or close thirds. It can also mean to push into a three sided corner preventing escape. Siradas means to stop your opponent from getting in or out, or preventing the opponent from penetrating your defense with an attack.

Unlike other martial arts, Filipino martial arts begin with weaponry. One starts training footwork and movement with a single weapon (stick) to develop coordination and balance as well as an improved sense of timing, rhythm and confidence. Other areas that are covered are bladed weapons, double weapons, long and short weapons, and empty hand techniques called dumog. The empty hand technques are similar to Chinese Wrestling and Japanese Judo/Jujitsu.

The student also learns how to react in all ranges of fighting with or without weapons in hand.  Dekiti Tirsia Siradas Kali will also improve ones timing, coordination, and self-confidence.