History

Protecting the family since 1897.

Survival Arts Academy was established in Bacolod City, Philippines to Protect womxn and girls against all forms of violence. 

Now with students training coast to coast and throughout the Philippines, Survival Arts teaches around the globe, sharing the knowledge necessary for survival in today's ever-increasingly violent world. Our knowledge is rooted in the indigenous Filipino blade culture called Pekiti Tirsia Kali.

Pekiti Tirsia Kali (PTK) is a sacred family system of Filipino fighting arts. Originating from Bacolod City in the Visayas region of the Philippines, this blade culture has protected the family since 1897. 

The Guardian of the system is Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje Jr., a 3-time Hall of Fame awardee & Weapons Master Instructor. Grand Tuhon brought the Pekiti Tirsia Kali system from the Philippines to the Unites States in the 1970s. Teaching all throughout the world since then, the system now spans over 25 countries, especially within military and law enforcement groups in India, Asia, and Europe. Grand Tuhon’s contribution to the Filipino fighting arts and Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) community is unsurpassable, making him one of the greatest living legends of our time, and making Pekiti Tirsia Kali internationally-renowned for survival strategy and tactics.

Survival Arts leads the first ever Kali Women’s group, teaching and training internationally. In 2018, Survival Arts created a Training Program for schools & communities to combat violence against women, working to reclaim the ancient fighting arts to protect those it was always meant to protect. Join the movement to make sure that all women, girls and gender-expansive beings have the knowledge needed to protect themselves, and survive. 

Survival Arts is living history, herstory, our story.