Filipino Martial Arts: Exploring the Depths

I picked this up as a companion to training (and for a bit of interesting reading on the train - although I wouldn't recommend trying the techniques on there, you will get some odd looks). Perfect for anyone looking to expand on several core skills. Breaks them down to the core elements, how to develop training for them and translating this to other weapon categories. Organised well with great full colour photos. The only criticism I can think of is that there could be more intermediate photos of the strikes (the book shows the beginning and end of each). Segments of photo space has been used to show other weapons and demonstrate different training techniques so something had to give, there is only so much space after all. Heartily recommended.

This is a clear and concise book on Filipino Martial Arts that will greatly enhance your understanding and skills in the many many aspects of the art. Well written and clearly illustrated for beginners and experts. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the Filipino arts and looking at it in depth. I reference the book quite often when I'm teaching pletho. A must have book in your library.Peter Lewis is incredibly knowledgable in the Filipino martial arts and is also a phenomenal teacher. I'm also proud to call him a friend.

This book is clearly written by someone who is at the top of their game. Rather than condense a broad range of concepts into one book, Peter has focused on some of the fundamental techniques which make the Filipino martial arts so devastating.The techniques are laid out in a clear and concise manner with a good balance of pictures and text. I particularly like how each technique is shown using both multiple weapons and empty hands, something that is missed in a lot of books on this subject.This book is a great companion for anyone starting on their journey in FMA but still has enough depth to engage more experienced students.Recommended

For those that are unaware of Peter Lewis beyond this book, he is more than just a martial arts author. Peter has been pioneering the development of the Filipino Martial Arts in the UK for many decades before deciding to become an author. This is his first (hopefully of many) book of the subject and shows a great respect for FMA to write this now after a long and dedicated career studying the art.In this book you will find a small collection of the fundamentals taught in his classes, the tone and content of the book reflecting his teaching style. The content shows only a small part of the Bakbakan Kali syllabus but encapsulates many fundamental principles and concepts inherent in the FMA. This book is unique in that, as opposed to glossing over the majority of his chosen art (like most other books on the subject) Peter adheres to those fundamentals and shows the reader that applications are only limited to the mind of the student, so long as they know the core concepts.This book is not comprehensive, nor is it meant to be. For those readers requiring this all in one text, be patient, as to cram this much in one book is fruitless. For those wishing for an instructional book either, this may not be up to your expectations. It is always wiser to look at the material in the book and then consult the author for advice [...]. Peter, being a scholar and academic teacher as well as a skilled martial artist, is more than up for the task. The feedback from this text will inform future texts and develop the student as they progress.A must for those studying in Kali Illustrissimo and other classical FMA and a great reference for those martial artists wishing to cross train.Disclaimer: I will acknowledge that Peter Lewis has been my instructor for some time. As well as vouching for his skill, I also intend this review to be as objective as possible. This book has helped me develop personally and I see it of benefit for others that show an open mind.

Very basic.