Kali / Escrima (stick and knife fighting) at the Shouraki martial arts school in Aachen

Kali, also called Escrima, is a martial art in which you train with stick and knife from the very start. The focus is on coordination, reflexes, timing and tactical thinking, developed through set partner drills. The movement patterns can later be used without a weapon as well. At Shouraki in Aachen, Kali is its own class with separate times for knife training and stick fighting.

Both belong to Kali but differ in distance and movement. In stick fighting you work with a longer reach, powerful strike paths and a lot of rhythm. In knife training, short distance, precision and control of the weapon hand count. At Shouraki in Aachen, both areas have their own times.

No, you can start without experience and you do not need your own equipment for your first session. Comfortable sportswear, flat trainers and enough water are enough to begin with. The school provides training sticks and training knives at first. After that, you should gradually get the equipment you need yourself. Our instructors lead you into the movement patterns step by step and correct your execution. To get a taste, you can arrange a free trial class online.

The structure follows the pattern of all classes at Shouraki: a thorough warm-up, technique training and partner drills, then sparring and conditioning, and finally stretching and a cool-down. In Kali the emphasis is on clean strike paths, hand-eye coordination and partner drills that are practised slowly at first and then sped up. The current times are in the timetable on this page.

No, with controlled training Kali is not inherently more dangerous than other sports. Safety comes first in training. You practise in set sequences with training weapons, under the guidance of experienced instructors and at a pace that suits your level. Control, suitable protective equipment and mutual respect are a must.

Kali is suitable for adults from age 16 who want to develop coordination, reflexes, tactical thinking and self-defence. The minimum age for knife training is 18. The class is open to beginners and advanced students, because the pace and complexity of the drills are adjusted. Kali is also particularly interesting for police and security staff and for students from other disciplines, because the movement patterns improve timing and a sense of distance.

Kali mainly trains hand-eye coordination, reaction speed and body control, and these skills carry over beyond training. You learn how weapons work and how they can be used for defence. You also learn to read movements early, stay calm under pressure and make deliberate decisions. On top of that come discipline, focus and a good counterbalance to everyday life.

At Shouraki in Aachen, Kali runs several times a week, with knife training and stick fighting held separately. We deliberately do not give fixed times here, because the weekly schedule changes from time to time. You will find the current times in the timetable on this page, and the full weekly schedule of all classes on the timetable page.

Yes. In Kali (stick fighting) there are gradings every 5 to 8 months. Ask your trainer for the details of the next grading.

Yes, there are workshops in Kali. Ask at training about the next dates.