Nickel Stick Balintawak

I'd like to meet:

Balintawak is just one of many styles/groups from Cebu. You also have Doce Pares (the oldest organization), San Miguel, Combat Eskrima Maranga (from Pasil district), De Campo Uno Dos Tres, Kalis Ilustrisimo (from Bantayan Island, Cebu) and many others.

Then you have other groups from other provinces, like Bakbakan (metro Manila), Sulite's LAMECO (from Kalis Ilustrisimo and Eskrima De Campo 1-2-3), Arnis Sikaran, etc. In the U.S. you have Serrada, Sayoc, Dan Inosanto's Eskrima (from Juan Lacoste, also from Cebu).

Filipino Martial arts (FMA) is what it is collectively known.

From the Muslim Filipinos we have Silat and Kun Tao/Kuntaw (Chinese in origin--the same kun from Bruce Lee's Jeet Kun Do & the same tao from "the Tao of Pooh", because during pre-Spanish times Chinese traders were based in Tawi-Tawi and other Sulu towns in Mindanao, Philippines).

What sets FMA apart from other Asian martial arts (korean, japanese, chinese, etc.) is that it is weapon based. From the very begining the FMA student is given a weapon. Once he masters the weapon~either impact (stick) or edge (blade) she then progresses to empty hand. From there to ground fighting, called Dumog or Layug.

The student of FMA becomes faster first since he/she had to deal with a weapon swinging 100mph in the beginning. Footwork, understanding of range, reflexes, individual rhythm, fluidity in movement (flow), breaking the enemy's rhythm, out fighting, in fighting, etc. is addressed in the very beginning of training.

Music:

FMA Digest (www.fmadigest.com)

Movies:

Television:

Eskrima: Providing Personal Security One Beauty Contestant At a Time.

Books:

Bobby Taboada (bottom left) and Nick Elizar (playing the guitar)

Heroes:

Jose Villasin , Timoteo Maranga , Sergio Arcel , Crispulo Atillo , Arnulfo Mongcal , Ted Buot , Bobby Taboada , Nick Elizar , Eddie Velez , Sam Buot , Dom Lopez , Bobby Tabimina , Henry Jayme