Pekiti Tirsia Kali Assistant Instructor Program: Residential Martial Arts Training in Goa

Pekiti Tirsia Kali is an indigenous Filipino martial art built around the use of the blade. It is taught to elite law enforcement and military personnel across six continents, and it is known for being directly applicable and unapologetically effective — two reasons LightHaven lists it as one of the best choices for anyone learning self-defence. The assistant instructor programme is split into two phases. The online classes run first, so students from outside Goa can start the material from home. The residential training then takes place at LightHaven's facility, where you train in person with the instructors and the rest of the group.

Days at the facility mix PTK with the other arts taught at the gym. Muay Thai sessions cover stand-up striking and clinching, including the shin kicks that give the sport its 'art of eight limbs' nickname, and they are physically demanding — the school is explicit that full-contact fighters need a good physical base. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sessions cover ground fighting; LightHaven notes that BJJ has been proven in combat repeatedly and has become a staple for professional MMA fighters in promotions like UFC and One FC. Kali solo drills include footwork, diagonal and vertical lines, the dirty dozen, an introduction to Sinawali, a basic breakdown of free flow or Carenza, and Pekiti-specific strength drills. Some of this material is available free on LightHaven's YouTube channel, so you can see the teaching style before you commit to the programme.

The instructor track is what separates this from a normal training camp. Assistant instructors are expected to learn how to teach, not just how to fight, so each day includes time spent working through drills with partners, correcting form and getting feedback from Aditya Roy and the other instructors. That coaching element is the reason the course runs as a residential block — you are living on site with the people you are training and teaching alongside, so the hours on the mat are longer and more consistent than a commuter schedule would allow.

LightHaven was set up as an immersive martial arts and movement training space. The idea, in the founder's words, is a place where you can pick up skills not just to defend yourself like a warrior but to live like a warrior in everyday life, and a place where people from different martial arts are welcome to train together as one community. The gym teaches Pekiti Tirsia Kali, Muay Thai, BJJ and Muay Thai for kids, and the residential courses are specifically designed for students who want to train with LightHaven but live outside Goa.

The location is Nachinola, in Bardez, North Goa. House No 314, Joidar Vaddo is the address. North Goa is well connected by road and rail and has its own airport, so reaching the facility from elsewhere in India is straightforward. The residential block runs for the duration of the course, and the online phase takes place before you arrive.

What's included

- Online classes in the lead-up to the residential block - Residential training at LightHaven's Goa facility - Pekiti Tirsia Kali instruction - Muay Thai sessions - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sessions - Assistant instructor training and supervised teaching practice - Accommodation at the facility for the duration of the residential course

What's not included

- Travel to and from Goa - Personal training equipment and protective gear - Meals and personal expenses - Travel insurance