Filipino martial art catching on

Tan (fourth from right) with his students. — Photos: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star

DESPITE opening up to the world fairly recently, Filipino martial art Pekiti-Tirsia Kali (PTK) has become a revered self-defence system used by many law enforcement and military forces around the world.

Although the PTK system was founded by the Tortal family in 1897, the Filipino martial art dates back to as far as during the colonisation of the Philippines in the 16th century, where it was used by locals to protect themselves and fend off intruders.