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GAT Saint Louis was founded to provide training in the Filipino martial arts (FMA) of Garimot arnis, buno, and esgrima to the Midwest. Arnis (also called eskrima, escrima, or kali) deals with the use of and defense against weapons; Garimot arnis is a system that integrates different styles from the northern area of the Philippines (Luzon) and incorporates many types of weapons, including sword, knife, stick, staff, spear, and shield. Garimot buno consists of wrestling and striking, as well as the use of a rope in fighting. Garimot esgrima is a unique type of Filipino fencing, using swords with long, thin blades.

The training at GAT St. Louis is guided by a group of martial artists with decades of experience.

Styles

The principles we train at GAT St. Louis are embodied by the styles within Garimot arnis, buno, and esgrima.

Tres Puntos

tres puntos

Tres Puntos (meaning three points) is a style that originated in Batangas, the home of the balisong. The triangle patterns in this art encode the essential weapon-handling skills of thrusting, cutting, and retention, as well as countering the opponent's attacks and defenses.

Cinco Teros

cinco teros

Cinco Teros, which means five strikes, is thought to be the original art of Luzon. The fundamental timing and angles to safely strike your opponent are seen in this style. The Cinco Teros of Garimot arnis emphasizes largo mano (positioning yourself out of your opponent's reach but close enough to strike), but deals with corto mano (close range controlling and hitting) as well.

Siete Colores

siete colores

Siete Colores means seven colors (or seven flags), a reference to the seven original provinces that rebelled against Spain. It is popular in Laguna with various names and characteristics, all related by their use of seven angles of attack. Siete Colores shows methods of using the opponent's movement to your own advantage.

A condensed version known as Laban Tulisan (bandit fighting) was used to quickly train guerrilla warriors in Laguna to fight the Spanish when firearms or ammo were scarce.

Doce Pares

doce pares

Meaning twelve peers, Doce Pares is an old system, named for the legend of Charlemagne's knights, developed from native fighting arts with Spanish influence through the larong moro-moro in Laguna. Doce Pares provides a framework for integrating and understanding all the systems in Garimot arnis.