Why Candidasa, Bali?
More than a beautiful village.
Some places are chosen because they're convenient. Others are chosen because they become part of your story.
For over thirty years, Candidasa has quietly become part of ours.
Tucked away on Bali's peaceful east coast, far from the busy streets of Kuta and Seminyak, Candidasa offers something increasingly rare - a place where time seems to slow down.
Life here moves at a gentler pace. The mornings begin with the sound of waves rather than traffic. Local fishermen head out before sunrise, temple ceremonies continue much as they have for generations, and the warm smiles of the Balinese people make you feel welcome from the moment you arrive.
After morning training, participants often spend the afternoon enjoying the beach, exploring nearby sites of interest, relaxing by the pool, visiting local restaurants or simply sitting with a coffee while watching the ocean.
For Kali in Bali, this isn't simply a beautiful location.
It's Bali without the rush.
Authentic.
Relaxed.
Welcoming.
It is home.
While many visitors experience Bali through crowded tourist centres, Candidasa offers something far more authentic.
Here you'll find peaceful beaches, excellent restaurants, traditional Balinese culture, beautiful walking paths, world-class diving and snorkelling, relaxing spas and friendly local businesses that quickly become familiar faces.
It is the perfect place to train hard during the morning, then spend the afternoon exploring, relaxing by the ocean or simply enjoying good food with friends.
For many of our participants, this slower pace becomes one of the highlights of the entire week.
Why we keep coming back
Over the years we've been asked a few times why we don't move the camp somewhere else.
The answer is simple.
Candidasa reflects the values that Kali in Bali has grown around.
Friendship.
Humility.
Learning.
Community.
Here there is time for conversations.
Time to share ideas.
Time to make new friends.
Time to appreciate not only martial arts, but the people who practise them.
Every year, those friendships become one of the things participants remember most.
Where the story really began
Following Johan Skålberg's Footsteps
The connection between Kali in Bali and Candidasa began long before the first camp was ever organised.
In 1994, after intense training in the Philippines and competing in the World Arnis Championships in Cebu, Johan Skålberg travelled to Bali looking for something different.
The Philippines had challenged him physically.
Candidasa helped him reconnect with something quieter.
While staying in the village he was introduced to a local Silat teacher known simply as Mr H.
There was no school.
No uniforms.
No ranks.
Only a deep understanding of movement, posture, breathing and natural body mechanics.
Training with Mr H became an important chapter in Johan's personal journey and quietly influenced the way he approached martial arts for the rest of his life.
Sometimes the greatest lessons aren't found in a busy training hall.
Sometimes they're found sitting beneath a tree, watching the ocean and learning to move differently.
Very little is known about this time but small snippets were told to me over the early years of training FMA in Gothenburg.
Continuing the journey
Years later I found myself following the same path.
After travelling and training in the Philippines, I too came to Candidasa, curious to see if I could find what Johan discovered in this peaceful village.
Although Mr H had disappeared, even maybe passed away, the influence could still be felt.
Walking the same roads.
Watching the same sunrise.
Training beneath the same trees.
Standing beside the same temples.
I began to understand why this place had become so important to Johan.
Candidasa wasn't simply just a place he visited.
It had become part of his journey.
Without really planning it, it slowly became part of mine as well.
A living legacy
Today every participant who joins Kali in Bali becomes part of that continuing story.
Most arrive expecting five days of excellent martial arts training.
They leave having experienced something much deeper.
The same peaceful village that inspired Johan.
The same coastline that helped shape my own journey.
New friendships.
New skills.
New inspiration.
And memories connected to a place that has quietly shaped generations of martial artists before them.
Every year another chapter is added.
Every year more people become part of the story.
Why this matters
There are many places where you can attend a seminar.
There are many beautiful resorts throughout Bali.
There are many instructors around the world.
But there is only one Candidasa.
For over thirty years this quiet village has been woven into the personal journeys of those who helped shape Kali in Bali.
When you join us here, you're not simply visiting another destination.
You're becoming part of a story that continues to grow with every camp. Today every participant helps write the next chapter of that story.
Come walk the path with us
For us, Candidasa will always be much more than a destination.
Some places become holiday destinations, others become part of your life.
For us, Candidasa has become both.
Whether you join us for the training, the friendships or simply to experience another side of Bali, we hope Candidasa leaves the same impression on you that it has left on us. We'd love to welcome you to the community!
Come and discover why, year after year, we continue to call this peaceful village the heart of Kali in Bali.
Every path has a beginning.
Ours begins in Candidasa.
- Kali in Bali