After years of studying Filipino martial arts, I know about the system I was studying, but I didn’t know much about Filipino martial arts history and culture.  I would hear stories or information about various FMA Grandmasters and their systems but I would hear the information sporadically and not in a way that was easy for me to recall or have a good understanding of. I realized I didn’t know much about FMA. I needed to do my own research about FMA.

In searching for information about FMA, I found many books about various FMA systems such as modern arnis, eskrima, balintawak, etc.  Many of the FMA system books would include information about the history of FMA from their system perspective, history of the founder of the system, and a glossary in additional to their techniques.  While reading these books, I was trying to stitch together the various facts from these books. Sometimes the information is the same…and sometimes I’m just left feeling that there is a gap in the information.  I’ve searched through history books – and it was a challenge finding information about FMA or associated topics around FMA. I’m learning to broaden my search scope to beyond FMA and history books – to include arts and dance and south east asian sources. And to search beyond books, magazines and YouTube articles: I started searching for university research papers. I’m sure a large part of my struggles is because I’m not a trained researcher or research librarian.  When I read this quote, I felt a little better about my lack of success in finding more information about FMA – “There has been a lack of reliable academic studies regarding Filipino martial arts (FMA) that have uniquely developed in the Philippine archipelago.”¹

Then I discovered the book Filipino Martial Culture by Mark V. Wiley. After skimming through the table of contents, the appendices, the glossary and the index, I knew I was holding a special book.   At that point, I hadn’t read the 375 page book but I knew that the book would help me learn more about Filipino martial arts.

And it did.  The book helped to organize the information I was looking for and filled in the gaps.  The book bridges the gap between research and practical martial arts application.  I would say it is an essential read for serious FMA practitioners. 

“Mark V. Wiley’s books are often heralded as being interesting and insightful in genres that tend toward works that are dry and redundant. But then, Dr. Mark Wiley is unique. He is an accomplished author, editor, publisher, traditional healer, martial arts grandmaster, world traveler.”²  He studied with many Filipino martial artists including Grandmaster Angel Cabales of Cabales Serrada Escrima.  Wiley has written many books and articles on Filipino martial arts.  “Mark Wiley stands out as a leading scholar/practitioner of the Filipino arts.”³

The book covers the following:

• Historical perspective of the origins of FMA and how it was shaped over time.
• The Filipino Warrior Culture – including information on rituals, festivals and weapons
• Articles about 18 Grandmasters and their systems

When I heard that the Indian martial art Kalaripayattu was considered to be the oldest structured martial art starting about 3,000 years ago. I wondered what was the origin of Filipino martial arts.  I appreciated reading the chapter titled “The Prehistoric Era” which introduced the early inhabitants of the islands and the legend of the Ten Datus.

When I think of Filipino weapons, I thought of swords, knives and sticks. In this book, I was not only introduced to the many versions of swords but also to flexible and projectile weapons.

Through this book, I was introduced to many Grandmasters and their systems.  I appreciated reading about the grandmaster and system that I studied at my school. 

This book is on the top shelf of my book shelf and a go-to resource.

Praise for Filipino Martial Culture:

• “Filipino Martial Culture is an incomparable masterwork. For anyone who has searched for reliable information on the topic, this book is simply the best – Michael A. DeMarco, Journal of Asian Martial Arts.”⁴
• “Mark Wiley’s Filipino Martial Culture is, and will undoubtedly remain, the definitive work on the martial arts of the Philippines.  If that wasn’t enough, Wiley’s work also establishes a new standard of excellence in research and presentation for martial arts publications; all serious martial artists should read this book!” – Diane Skoss, Publisher, Koryu Books ⁵
• “This work clearly establishes Mark V. Wiley as the world’s foremost authority in the martial arts of the Philippines.” – Micahel Maliszewski, Author, Spiritual Dimensions of the Martial Arts. ⁶ 
• “Mark Wiley should be commended for showing that these arts are not just ways of attack and defense, but manifestations of an ideology and worldview prevailing in Filipino culture and society.” – Felipe P. Jocano, Jr., Department of Anthropology, University of the Philippines. ⁷

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1. Filipino Martial Art Anthology, compiled by DeMarco, M.A., Michael A., Via Media Publishing Company, 2017, p. iv. ↩︎
2. Amazon: About the Author, Amazon.com, viewed on July 12, 2026. ↩︎
3. Filipino Martial Art Anthology, compiled by DeMarco, M.A., Michael A., Via Media Publishing Company, 2017, p. iv. ↩︎
4. Filipino Martial Culture, Wiley, Mark V., Tuttle Martial Arts, 1996, cover page. ↩︎
5. Filipino Martial Culture, Wiley, Mark V., Tuttle Martial Arts, 1996, inside cover page. ↩︎
6. Filipino Martial Culture, Wiley, Mark V., Tuttle Martial Arts, 1996, inside cover page. ↩︎
7. Filipino Martial Culture, Wiley, Mark V., Tuttle Martial Arts, 1996, inside cover page. ↩︎