Prior to the printing press, information was primarily conveyed through symbols. Theses symbols were not only more visually appealing, but more
suggestive and pregnant with meaning to the mind. The ancient Egyptians
believed the onion was sacred, its layers symbolizing the concentric spheres
comprising the heavens. The Pekiti-Tirsia Kali (PTK) logo is also like an onion
with may layers of symbolic meaning.
The PTK logo is comprised of (1) the
syllable "Ka", (2) a sun, (3) a triangle, and (4) a circle of three
arrows. This heraldic representation of the PTK system is analagous to the skin
of the onion, the surface meaning, essential a trademark. Now we will peel some of the layers of
symbolic meaning within the logo.
(1) KA - is the symbol within
the sun. It is the letter "ka" written in the Bayabin alphabet, an ancient pre-colonial Philippine
alphabet. It is a Brahmic script, derived from ancient Indian writing. Baybay literally means "to
spell" in Tagalog. "Ka" is the first syllable in the word
Kali, the blade fighting science indigenous to the Philippines. It also alludes
to the influence of Indian culture on the Filipino language and fighting styles.
"Ka" is also used as a term of respect spoken before an individual’s
surname.
(2) SUN
- In ancient times the people of the Phillipinces called themselves
"children of the sun" as it appeared to rise out of the western
Pacific to bathe the Philippines in light, first among the nations of the
Earth. The eight rayed sun is a national symbol found on the flag of the
Republic of the Phillipines. Each ray represents one of the first eight
provinces (Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Manila, Nueva Ecija,
Pampanga and Tarlareac) to revolt against Spanish rule in 1896. The rays also allude to the eight cardinal directions.
(3) TRIANGLE - The triangle represents the
science of Kali, which bases many principles and movements on the model of a
triangle. A primary example of this is the triangle footwork system. As such,
it can also be viewed as a symbol of the Earth. The triangle is known to be a
very strong shape geometrically – it can be turned in any direction
and its base remains very well balanced. It is the geometrical representation
of the number three, ubiquitous in Kali, and has both physical and metaphysical
properties. The sides of the triangle also represents the three main regions of
the Philippines – Luzon, in the north; the Visayas, the center; and
Mindanao, in the south.
(4) ARROWS - The arrows symbolize the power and
fluidity of the system. It also represents the transmition of the art from
island to island. The circle represents the circular movements of the blade,
mirroring the elliptical orbits of the planets around the sun. Finally, the circle of arrows represent the long range footwork of the system, in which you circle clockwise
outside the weapon hand of a right handed opponent.
[Sources: "History of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali" interview with Grand Tuhon Leo T. Gaje, Jr.; "Tactical Arts Academy" website by Tuhon Leslie Buck; "Philippine Marine Corps Martial Arts Program" logo courtesy of Master Sgt. Manuel Prado. Any errors or ommissons are solely the author's.]
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