Word
kali
US/ˈkɑˌɫi/
UK/kˈɑːli/
Definition
n. a traditional martial art from the Philippines that focuses on using sticks, knives, and open-hand techniques.
n. a system of Filipino martial arts emphasizing weapon-based combat with sticks, bladed weapons, and various improvised tools. Often used interchangeably with the terms Arnis and Eskrima.
Examples
“He practices kali twice a week to improve his coordination.”
“The action movie featured realistic fight choreography based on the rapid strikes and blocks of kali.”
“While many practitioners focus on the rhythmic stick-fighting drills, the core of kali remains a highly practical system of self-defense designed for fluid transitions between armed and unarmed combat.”
Examples
simple
“He practices kali twice a week to improve his coordination.”
contextual
“The action movie featured realistic fight choreography based on the rapid strikes and blocks of kali.”
complex
“While many practitioners focus on the rhythmic stick-fighting drills, the core of kali remains a highly practical system of self-defense designed for fluid transitions between armed and unarmed combat.”
Usage
Typically treated as uncountable when referring to the martial art as a discipline.
Etymology
From Sanskrit काली (kālī) or कालिका (kālikā).
From Sanskrit कलि (kali).
A shortening of German Kalium.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.