Welcome
Welcome to the 3 Fires Martial Arts Academy Website
What is Kali?
We begin to teach our students the use of tradtional Asian weapons with their introduction to the Filipino martial art, Kali. Kali is a well rounded martial art similar to karate in that Kali encompasses weapons, empty handed techniques, philosophy and healing arts. We utilize the escrima sticks as a vehicle to understand striking lines and body connection.
There seems to be some confusion over the differences between the terms, Kali, Escrima and Arnis. We were taught that Kali is a complete martial art while escrima and arnis refer to the stick fighting arts. Drilling down further into these terms we find that escrima is a Spanish word for "skimish". These days that term is falling out of grace in the Philippines with the government embracing Arnis as the term describing the stick art.
The neat concept that Kali teaches is that the arc of the stick strikes is the same as the arc for many of the strikes and blocks in our empty hand arts (Karate and Kung Fu). At higher ranks in our martial arts we teach some of the Kali empty hand arts with the introduction of Kali Dumog / Hubud Lubud drills.
Next set of Archery Sessions Begin June 15 @ 5:00PM
Two session times per week - Wednesdays 5 - 6PM; Saturdays 2 - 3 PM. - 8 Week blocks @ $80.00/block. Recurve or long bows only - 40 lbs max. (Some loaner bows are available to rent for $10 a block)
These sessions are open to archers; beginners or intermediate. The beginners will be taught the basics of archery while the intermediate archers can practice on their own - optionally with guidance of a coach.
Archery (click here for more information)
3 Fires / Ferris Family Karate Shiai (fun tournament)
Family Camping Weekend
After a 2 year hiatus, we are excited to announce we have secured the group campground at Samuel de Champlain Provinical Park
When: August 19th weekend (Friday - Sunday)
Fun, games, crafts, tournament and BBQ. Register by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Why do we have the instructors and students clean the mats after class?
In tradition martial arts, the cleaning of the mats after class is regarded as part of the lesson of respect. The process is called SOJI (so jee). The cleaning is to show respect to the training area. Of course, aside from the respect lesson the cleaning (disinfecting) minimizes the possibliity of skin infections. Plantar wart and athelete's foot are common infections in gyms.
We also disinfect the equipment (weapons etc) after each class for the same reasons.
Who Are We?
3 Fires Martial Arts Academy is a volunteer-run registered non-profit corporation . Our mission is to provide safe affordable physical training for North Bay and district. Our services include Karate, Kung Fu, Tai Chi and Weapon Arts programs as well as Instructor Training and Junior Leadership Programs.
Our out-reach programs provide physical education support to the school boards. As part of the physical education, we offer an Anti-bullying course based on the internationally recognized program Martial Artists Against Bullying.
Our Volunteers
- All of our members are also our volunteers starting with the students who are responsible for sanitizing the mats each day - in traditional martial arts process (Soji) that shows respect to the training area.
- In order to support our youth and senior programs some of our volunteers work at bingo 40 hours a month to bring in much needed funds so that our members can have affordable high quality training.
- Of course we maintain a clean and organized environment thanks again to our volunteers. Our volunteers also help local schools by running exercise and self-defence programs.
- This same service is extended to reserves such as Bear Island and Nbisiing.
Miigwetch to our volunteers - the unsung heros!