Tinikling more specifically refers to the Slaty-breasted Rail ("Gallirallus striatus"), the Buff-banded Rail ("Gallirallus philippensis"), and the Barred Rail ("Gallirallus torquatus"). The term "tinikling" literally means "to perform it 'tikling"-like." The dance originated in Leyte, an island in the Visayas in the central Philippines. It imitates the movement of the "tikling" birds as they walk between grass stems, run over tree branches, or dodge bamboo traps set by rice farmers. Dancers imitate the tikling bird's legendary grace and speed by skillfully maneuvering between large bamboo poles. Today tinikling is taught throughout the United States. In grades K-12 the dance is used
Traditional games in the Philippines begins with the garters at ankle-height and progresses to higher positions, with the players jumping nimbly on the garters while doing their routines. A game variant of the tinikling dance, with the same goal—for the players to dance nimbly over the clapping bamboo "maw" without having their ankles caught. Once the players ankle got caught, they will replace the players who hold the bamboo. The game will just continue until players decided to stop. Tsato (lit. "stick game", "better be good at it"): Two players, one flat stick (usually ) and one short flat piece of wood ( usually a