Warriors Without Borders: The Global Roots of Filipino Martial Arts

At the Fall Family Gathering at Warrior's Way International, I was introduced to the story of the Royal Armories — one of the oldest museums in the world and home to one of the largest collections of weapons, armor, and tools of war. Its holdings span hundreds of countries and thousands of years, with the Tower of London museum itself dating back to the 15th century.

But what really stood out wasn’t just the sheer scope of the collection — it was learning how the Sayoc Kali Group is pushing to make sure Filipino weapons and martial traditions don’t get lost in that sea of history.

Sayoc Kali’s Mission of Preservation

The Sayoc Kali Group has taken on the mission to find, identify, and catalog Filipino weaponry and artifacts so they can be preserved and recognized as part of world history. Their work has already built bridges with major institutions like the Field Museum in Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, the Smithsonian, and now the Royal Armouries.

For many kali practitioners, history and training are inseparable. Every blade we hold connects us to the battles, sacrifices, and innovations of those who came before. Preserving this legacy isn’t just about displaying artifacts behind glass — it’s about keeping the Filipino warrior spirit alive.

Bridging Gaps in Understanding

Tamawah Brandon pointed out something striking: even seasoned museum experts, with all their knowledge of global weaponry, often struggle to place Filipino arms in their proper context. For someone unfamiliar with Southeast Asia, a Filipino kampilan might be mistaken for an Indonesian sword, or a Visayan blade confused with something from Brunei.

As Tamawah broke down the details in photos — the lines of the steel, the weight of the hilt, the purpose of the design — he reminded us that Filipino weapons don’t stand alone. They are forged from centuries of war and resistance, shaped by contact with Hindu empires, Indian conflicts, and Islamic expansion long before Spain ever arrived. That realization drove me to look deeper at how those influences tie directly into the fight for Filipino freedom.

A Timeline of Influence and Identity

Life Before Spain: Barangays and Kingdoms

Before colonization, the Philippines was already a land of warriors. Small barangays, led by datus, organized their people for survival and defense. Nobles (maginoo), freemen (timawa), and warrior-slaves (alipin) made up the ranks. Beyond these villages, larger powers rose — the Sultanates of Sulu and Maguindanao, the Rajahnates of Cebu and Butuan, and the Kingdoms of Tondo and Maynila — each defending trade, land, and honor. Blades like the kampilan, kris, and barong weren’t just weapons; they were extensions of identity.

Indian Influence and Regional Wars (200 BCE – 1000 CE)

Indian culture shaped Southeast Asia through trade, migration, and conflict. Titles like rajah and scripts like Baybayincame from India, as did the idea of warrior-kings guarding their realms. Regional wars influenced by Hindu-Buddhist traditions elevated the role of the fighter and refined weapons and tactics — laying groundwork that would echo through Filipino martial culture.

Islam and the Rise of Sultanates (1000 – 1500 CE)

Islam spread across the seas into Malaysia, Brunei, and the southern Philippines, where the Sultanates of Sulu, Maguindanao, and Manila rose in strength. These states fused political power with warrior tradition, producing fierce resistance against outsiders. Their struggles birthed distinct Filipino martial practices, blending survival tactics with codes of honor in battle.

Spain and the Moro Wars (1521 – 1898)

When Spain arrived, they didn’t find scattered tribes — they found hardened societies. For more than 300 years, the Spanish fought the Moro Wars in the south. Filipino tactics evolved in direct response: blades adjusted to counter armor, guerrilla ambushes designed to break stronger armies. This era burned the connection between Filipino identity and martial skill into the nation’s core.

America and the Fight for Independence (1898 – 1946)

Colonial power shifted from Spain to the U.S., bringing rifles, bayonets, and new wars. Filipino guerrillas blended bladed tradition with modern firearms. The bolo knife became the icon of resistance — carried by revolutionaries in the Philippine-American War and again by freedom fighters during World War II.

Modern Philippines: A Legacy of Freedom

Today, Filipino martial arts carry the weight of all these eras. Indigenous roots, Indian influence, Islamic traditions, Spanish encounters, and American resistance each shaped the blades and the systems we still train. Every strike tells a story of survival, every weapon a reminder that freedom in the Philippines wasn’t granted — it was fought for.

At the Fall Family Gathering, hearing about the Royal Armouries and the mission of the Sayoc Kali Group brought all of this history into focus. Filipino blades — the kampilan, kris, barong, bolo, and so many more — are more than weapons. They are records of a people who refused to break, even under centuries of conflict.

By partnering with global institutions, Sayoc Kali is ensuring these weapons are not overlooked or mislabeled but recognized as uniquely Filipino contributions to martial history. This work reminds us that martial arts are more than drills or techniques — they are acts of preservation, resistance, and pride.

Just as Filipino freedom was forged through centuries of struggle, Filipino martial arts remain alive today — practiced, respected, and passed forward to the next generation of warriors.

Written by Tia Talamantez