WHO ARE THE HASTARTES?
Hastartes Tactical is Oregon's premiere Pekiti-Tirsia Kali and weapons-based Filipino martial arts network that teaches The Authentic Blade-Fighting System of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali in Eugene, OR. Established by Guro Ferd Terado (formerly) of PTK-SMF on March 3rd, 2023 was originally an unofficial "club" within PTK-SMF called The 13th Legion. It eventually evolved into Ferd's professional brand under the new name Hastartes Tactical or simply The Hastartes.
Hastartes Tactical draws its inspiration from ancient Roman military culture; Hastartes is derived from two Latin words; hastae, meaning spears or polearms and also hastati, the term for vanguard units of (pre-Marian reform) Roman legions, modeled after the Greek Phalanx, and artem/artes meaning "art" or "skill."
MORE THAN A NAME. A STANDARD
The name draws inspiration from the military culture of ancient Rome while remaining rooted in the training and traditions of Filipino martial arts.
The idea is simple: Start small. Develop skill. Build something greater.
THE SYMBOL
The Official Hastartes symbol is the helmed legionnaire with Aquila (eagle) wings. It's an homage to Guro Ferd's PTK-SMF origins, which bore the winged-skull symbol. Historically, the Roman legionnaire symbolized the professional citizen soldier of ancient Rome and its military power. The Hastartes emblem combines Roman-inspired imagery with Filipino symbolism:
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The battle-worn galea or helmet represents the disciplined martial practitioner
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The aquila wings represent freedom, beauty, strength, and the pursuit of something greater than ourselves
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The baybayin "KA" symbol represents connection
Together, they represent the identity of the Hastartes community.
For us, the symbolism isn't about pretending to be Roman soldiers. It's about the qualities represented by the ideal:
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Discipline
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Training
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Camaraderie
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Responsibility
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Continual improvement
SIC PARVIS MAGNA
Sic Parvis Magna translates as "thus greatness from small beginnings;" this phrase was inscribed in Latin on the ring given to Sir Francis Drake after he circumnavigated the globe and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. Guro Ferd adopted this motto for The Hastartes as a reminder that we all start small but our journeys can lead to bigger and better things.
This motto represents the philosophy behind Hastartes. Every experienced martial artist was once a beginner. Every difficult skill begins with a first step. Every strong training community begins with a few people willing to show up and train.
HISTORICAL ORIGINS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE 13TH LEGION
January 1st, 49BC - After rejecting Julius Caesar's final peace proposal, The Roman senate ordered that he immediately disband his legions or be branded as hostis (enemy of the State). On January 10th, 49BC Caesar defied these cowardly politicians and marched from Gaul (modern day France) back to the Roman capital with the entire 13th Gallic Legion behind him. The senate soon realized how grave a mistake they've made once Caesar crossed the Rubicon river. As a result, civil war erupted with Caesar winning battle after battle.
September 13th, 2013 - The 13th Legion online "club" was formed by Guro Ferd, who became sort of the figurehead and standard-bearer against the authoritarian overreach of the PTK Global Grand Alliance/PTK Grand Magisterium and became the proverbial "middle finger" to the cultish behavior that became so prevalent in the Pekiti-Tirsia Kali community.
