Reacting to Balintawak Kali - Is it great or terrible? Martial arts analysis

[@MrCBTman]

Inside Fighting is now the best martial arts channel on KZbin. I get a genuine mood boost whenever one of these videos drops, lol. Really enjoying level one of the RAID system as well & would love to learn more about the origins of the rhino, cape, & spear and how you arrived at that combination.

[@inside_fighting]

Thanks so much. I got to those positions from Filipino arts and Muay Thai. Both use similar covers but i adapted it for self defense instead of combat sports and simplified it

[@MrCBTman]

Thanks for clarifying that. I had been wondering about a strong Muay Thai influence there, especially with the cape. Flowing between the three moves is extremely simple and intuitive. With the right combat mindset, I can see how you could really overwhelm and crush an attacker with it. Looking forward to learning from future videos in the series.

[@TheTrippnotist]

Agree!

[@danielmollohan1703]

I also agree, but my girlfriend does not. (Thank you)

[@jeffmoore4940]

You do a good job giving honest criticism without shitting on the martial art.

[@inside_fighting]

Appreciate that. I like the system just wanted to be honest about my experiences

[@jrlonergan6773]

Exactly this

[@DavidBodman-nc4lj]

I literally searched KZbin to see if you'd done a video on Balintawk a few days ago. Spooky. You're the best and most balanced martial arts channel on here.

[@inside_fighting]

Thanks man. I like the system i just think it’s highly specific

[@johnmichaelcanares2633]

You know, I have trained Balintawak and that's what I've noticed too after seeing videos surfacing and growing in KZbin regarding the placement on the strikes of GM Taboada's students. Our master didn't thought us that, instead thought us the correct way to strike, to the head with the elbows tucked in to the hips after the swing, and if we give away our hand extending like that, we will earn a strike to the arm by him. I'm not disrespecting GM Taboada, he's A LEGEND and I would take any opportunity to learn from him in a heartbeat (I'm in PH and he's in the US). He is also doing great at spreading this unique art and I highly respect him for that and more, and he is also one of the best students of Teofilo Velez, which is also my master's teacher. I just found it odd seeing the way his students are throwing the stick almost like a punch. And since I respect GM Taboada so much I just brushed it off like maybe he has a reason why he's teaching his students that way. I don't know. Anyways, I agree that Balintawak lacks pressure testing, and when we do spar, it's always unarmed (in our school anyway). However, I disagree that Balintawak is linear. It's not. When you are advanced enough, your instructor will start circling around you with the drills. My criticism with Balintawak also is that it doesn't teach you how to come in, especially if your opponent prefers long range. I've sparred with someone with a kendo background before, and I just don't have a clue how to get in.

[@chicagobalintawak]

Yeah, that hand extension is what GM Bobby calls "Hollywood". It has checking applications but leaving out becomes a target for sure. GM Jorge Penafiel used to say you gotta learn to move in and out of "Balintawak range".

[@tschr979]

i was told that GM Taboada made changes to compensate for the average size of Americans compared to Filipinos to make it stronger. He also states clearly on his DVDs that extending the hand is for practice only.

[@groovefire]

Just a few nit picks. First of all, I love your channel and content. I think you do great stuff and I believe you’re a very well rounded talented martial artist. Ok, Balintawak. I’ve been training it now for about 2 years. There are 6/7 levels of curriculum in Baintawak (depending on the lineage) one thing all the Balintawak systems do have are full power strikes with follow through. You’re commenting on the very first level of controlled strikes which focus on the punch rather than the power zone of the stick angle. We get to that after around 6 classes. I’ve trained extensively (over a decade in the Presas Modern Arnis system, as well as the Lacoste/Inosanto Kai system. Been to several Vunak, and Inosanto seminars along the way. I will say that Balintawak does have everything I experienced in those systems. The one thing I found in Balintawak is that it is very reflexive focused. But there are several sensitivity flow drills, dozens of disarms, locks, footwork patterns, and free flow sparring at my location. I encourage you to dive a little deeper into training Balintawak if you find the opportunity. Again I love your content. Keep up the great work!!!

[@EpherosAldor]

That's interesting, because in almost all the videos you find for Balintawak you see this foundational stuff only. I would love to see more of this nuance, especially from the seminar videos where you can get a taste of a wide range of what the art has to offer. Their flow drills are fantastic and so very concise without being complex, so that's great to see and learn from. But from what we see, it sells itself as an art that specializes in 'bridging the gap' only. With Ilan's background and experience, it would be great to see him get an elaborate, one on one breakdown of the art's capabilities.

[@inside_fighting]

I most definitely will! Appreciate that. I know if the full force strikes and shadow fighting but never saw it applied in a drill or sparring. I think that’s all the system is missing. I’m going to spend some time deep diving and training balintawak. There’s a good guy out here. Maybe he will make a video with me.

[@groovefire]

100%. It’s my biggest gripe with the Balintawak content creators. There’s nothing out there beyond level 1. There isn’t even a video I can find out there that elaborates on the use of the checking hand. And I think there are only a couple clips of GM Bobby following through with the business end of the stick. The video of Bobby doing the demo for those SWAT guys where he follows through and shows some of the body mechanics. I’m not content generator but I really wish there was more video available to other FMA practitioners that have backgrounds in other systems so they can see a little further down the road beyond the 12 basic angles controlled, and 12 basic defensive counters. I think there is 1 video out there that shows the 12 angles full power. I can’t post the link now but I will find it and share later on.

[@ajaniwinston8117]

@@groovefire I think the level one stuff is so fundamental that it’s just rigorously practiced and constantly reinforced. Then after level two everything focuses of the use of the empty hands along with reinforcing the full power strikes learned in level one

[@chicagobalintawak]

@@inside_fighting Have you considered going straight to the source, so to speak, and reaching out to Grandmaster Bobby? And what are you looking for in training in Balintawak?

[@balintawakarnis.]

People need to understand a system before you can make an informed comment, although I do like your video’s as it makes people ask questions and analyse what they are practicing. I have been practicing martial arts for 51 years and 31 of those practicing and studying Balintawak. 16 years grouping method under Bobby Taboada and 14 in the random method of Bobby Tabimina. Most practitioners will only be exposed to the teachers curriculum, unless you know the question you will not get the answer. But believe me there is a depth to this art few will be exposed to. So to keep this short balintawak covers all ranges and the footwork is as varied as any boxers, the stick tip is used, but as most people lack control in particular beginners so the elders changed it to make it safer to propagate the system. Let’s be honest most martial arts are not practiced or performed as they where intended.

[@inside_fighting]

Everything you said makes sense. I think it has tons to offer. When it comes to mechanics i think those need to be taught properly from day one and i think the “coolness” of the drills can detract from people training the other important stuff. I’m no expert as i said and you are so obviously it’s just observations coming from another FMA

[@nospam3327]

@@inside_fighting I trained in Jeet Kune Do, and I enjoyed it and felt like I got some benefit from it. But Bruce Lee was always saying stance training is useless, so none of them want to do stance training. But if you look at photos of Bruce Lee executing a technique, he is always in a perfect stance. Why? Maybe because his teacher originally made him do tons of stance work, so it became automatic. So Idk. How did Taboada get so good? Did he throw out the training he had--in order to make the system safer to practice? Will any of his students end up as good as he is, or by making his system safer to practice did he throw the baby out with the bath water? Idk. I guess time will tell.

[@inside_fighting]

@@nospam3327 very good comment. Only time will tell, i agree

[@kevionrogers2605]

That is why Modern Arnis, Kombatan, and Kuntaw Kali Kruzada were created. All three have Balintawak within the system but expand upon it to cover the areas where the system isn't as rigorous.

[@florantegarcia3821]

Nice Kali FMA🇵🇭

[@ivandoyle]

The thing to understand about Balintawak is that....essentially, its an entire platform or system based around one central attribute - its 90% a system for developing QUICK REACTIONS ("sensitivity" if you will). Single stick, double stick, knife, empty hand, whatever. Everything in this system is about developing quick reactions. More specifically, its about quickly blocking and then counter-striking - with speed, power, timing and accuracy. And that's it. Block and strike. Block and strike. Block and counter. Counter and counter. Being aware of, sensitive to, multiple triggers (a strike, a grab of the hand, an elbow, a knee, an attempted disarm, etc) and instantly reacting and countering. That's the guiding principle of the system. And at that one specific task, it excels.

[@inside_fighting]

Agreed. It’s great for that

[@sabby88888888]

I was training this with a friend yesterday ironically. I come from a karate background where every strike and weapons movement needs to follow through even in drills so bad habits aren’t formed. I pointed out how this aspect wasn’t there in Balintawak, and he explained that the basics all stop short, but at the advanced levels everything follows through and the shadow forms reinforce that.

[@inside_fighting]

I imagine as you advance that comes i just wonder how many s hooks spar

[@chicagobalintawak]

What your friend said was true. At least to how I was taught. The "Play", which is a drill to help develop certain skills, as it becomes fast and explosive it can become extremely easy to hit your training partner in the head. II've accidently been on both sides of that delivery. Not fun. At the lower levels, as the role of agak (follower/uke), I learned the basic toolbox and fast defensive reactions in close range. As I progressed I learned to take a hit and keep going. I also learn to feed, where it became my role to help develop those defensive reactions in someone else. Then I learned how to apply the toolkit and mix it in with what else I have, see openings, recognize body positioning, and control the other person. And there's the cuentada - the chess game. GM Bobby says "It's easy to hit someone. Defense is harder." From my own personal experience, I'd have to agree.

[@chicagobalintawak]

@@inside_fighting there sparring that goes on for pressure testing. Becoming focused on sport point sparring is discouraged.

[@oldnatty61]

For me the magic of FMA is the rapid transference to empty hand. You can spend years w/ Wing Chun or months w/ FMA. And FMA gives you so much more dynamic, flexible, adaptable, allowing for creativity and problem solving. This of course depends on if you're lucky enough to have a teacher that shows you the connection.

[@inside_fighting]

Fma are so teacher dependent. Maybe the most

[@oldnatty61]

@@inside_fighting I think Martial Arts is teacher dependent. It all should start w/ the students goal, but what teacher really does that? It's rare. Most are invested in proving their system the best.

[@kevionrogers2605]

I agree. That is because most Contemporary Martial Arts are taught backwards. Most historical systems would teach staff before other weapons and some form of ethnic standing wrestling before striking if they have a striking system. Wing Chun Kuen ought to be taught inverted. For instance the pole exercises are thrust focused because it's more based on spear drill than cudgel which is more swinging. Than learn the swords as a secondary weapon. Then learn the dummy as a last defense.

[@oldnatty61]

@@kevionrogers2605 You're missing the point and getting lost in the weeds. True Martial Arts is not contemporary or ancient. It just is in real time and environment. So until we know the student, and their goal we can't know how, what, or even if we will train them.

[@kerry-j4m]

Most martial arts are good for protection,but,once a gun comes out ( let's face it,most guys are gonna pull the strap ) your fight/health are pretty much over,now it's in the hands of your foe.

[@JoelHuncar]

I love this video, and I am coming from almost 30 years in Balintawak. What you say in your criticism is very honest. The drills do focus on a specific skillset that is very valuable, but the energy is way different than when we spar with sticks. Many Balintawak people don’t spar, but a lot do. Where these skills come out is a very small part of a spar… and it does not look pretty like when we are doing the grouping systems. You are 100% right in your criticisms, hence why I also train De Campo 123 Original, as well as have dabbled in Ilustrusimo under GM Norman Suanico. However as a Kru in Thai Boxing (I’m a westerner, and my Thai boxing is not Muay Thai any more if I am honest) I see how Balintawak helps my clinch and hand control. The skills also help my hand control in knife and weapons defence drilling. Balintawak has a lot to offer, but you need to understand these criticisms of it. However check out the full power striking drills as well as the shadow fighting form. There is a lot in that to help with the problems that are inherent in this system. Love this video, the funny thing is I posted this video early this morning before I went to bed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJC0oKSjhbNqgpIsi=l-mfpMRrFcrBX7-v Then I woke up and saw this. Great coincidence. Your criticisms of this are honest. They are similar to my criticisms of the JKD referencing drills as well. However understanding what these drills can develop gives them a lot of value. Thank you for posting this.

[@inside_fighting]

Really appreciate that and honored to know you took this in a positive way and saw similar issues. Going to check your video brother.

[@inside_fighting]

It’s interesting how you age. Strong doce pares influence in your movements from my perspective when you step outside the e balintawak movements. Would be great to train together one day 🙏🏼

[@JoelHuncar]

@@inside_fighting I would love that. Funny. My original FMA instructor was into Modern Arnis, Doce Pares, and was starting a journey into Lameco as well just before Edgar Sulite died. I was able to seminar train with Cacoy and Edgar Sulite in the 90’s. I don’t know where the modern Arnis influence or Doce Pares influence from Guro Ross was part of my journey, but you definitely could be right. De Campo 123 Original has been my main focus the last few years as it is one of those systems you can actually learn (if you have a solid background in FMA) through zoom lessons. I believe De Campo has improved my power at least 5-10%, which is huge for an old geezer who is declining physically. I would love it if you were to do a little dive onto that system. There are reasons it was one of the two main pillars of Lameco Eskrima.

[@inside_fighting]

@@JoelHuncar wow I’ll definitely check it out. Might be something to add to my training

[@shaunsnow192]

Balintawak (like most martial arts) is can be a great compliment to other arts you’ve studied, but in and of itself can be very limited. I study Tabimina Balintawak with an instructor and he told us that Balintawak was created to very different from the schools of Kali, specifically to counter those styles of Kali.

[@vitorcrema7167]

Professor, I really like your analyzes on martial arts, you break down the content well and you seem to be a calm and calm person. I'm eagerly awaiting a video from you on combat sambo!

[@inside_fighting]

I’ll make one!

[@vitorcrema7167]

❤​@@inside_fighting

[@AdrenalineConcept]

The greatest KZbin channel intro and theme song. I giggle every single time. Pro. Excellent insights mate every video I watch, and can then research or further discuss.

[@lcb1250]

Man, would've loved a video like this 20 years ago! I trained Balintawak and Dog Brothers just about the same time in the late 90s and early 2000s and it took a few years for me to reconcile the two approaches. I had to relegate the Balintawak Group exercises to beginner level memorized partner drills, the biggest reason is when you spar using the movements from Groups, it doesn't reflect reality. A few traps and some disarms work, but not for the amount of time and effort you put into it, much like Wing Chun. I know Taboada meant Groups to be core drills and the art becomes comprehensive as you advance, but I also agree with your assessment that it needs to evolve.

[@johnl2648]

The funny thing is in ye olden days Balintawak didn't have the grouping system, there was lifting and clearing but the drill wasn't as organized, then some people organized the movements into the groupings, though other Balintawak lineages without grouping are still around. I think the issue can be addressed by mixing things up so people don't imagine that the organized drills are what fighting really is, so drilling in less organized ways without the patterns, or doing various sparring formats, will help avoid developing tunnel vision.

[@inside_fighting]

@@johnl2648 agree fully. Some people have clearly taken offense to my critiques but i really believe its that simple

[@lcb1250]

@@johnl2648 Yup, that's right, Bacon's student created that particular training method. And true, that's exactly what happened to me as I developed and changed: Balintawak is now just one aspect of my overall training program.

[@johnl2648]

@lcb1250 after a while practitioners will drill at more random less organised free play ways that resemble soft sparring with counter to counter exchanges, empty palm taps, etc. These are found in a lot of the lineages that use grouping system too. It's just a framework

[@groovefire]

I watched your video again. And I think I better understand what you’re saying. You are correct in saying that Balintawak does primarily during the typical drilling and class focus on keeping things pretty safe. Where when I’m training say a Sambrada set from Cabales system, I will mostly get hit in the face, neck, and hands if I don’t execute correctly. I find combining Balintawak for a closer, reflex based system a plus to cross train with your other FMA. I still absolutely love Balintawak, and really value what I get from it. But I train other systems for a reason.

[@inside_fighting]

That’s exactly what I’m saying. I understand the need to be safe I’d prefer to see it done at the expense of protective great and not changing mechanics and angles in drilling. That’s all

[@itllkeal]

I see that you train real world training. It's crazy how something can work in one place but not another. I'd love to see a sit down with you and icy mike. Thanks Eli for doing what you do

[@inside_fighting]

Appreciate it! I’d like to also

[@quentinj6357]

This is one of my favourite top 5 channel. Thank you for being honest about it Inside Fighting.

[@defensivetacticssystems8167]

I would suggest that you do an indepth study of the Balintawak history.. You will find that in the earlier days, Balintawak founder Anciong Bacon was a student of Saavedra and both were members of the Doce Pares association before the split in the 50s. You really need to get your facts straight about the use of the applications of Balintawak eskrima..

[@johnl2648]

As a Balintawak practitioner (who replied to your previous vid and anticipated this one) imo you have good points and I'm wary of developing chisao-itis. The intent and application of the drill should be explained and other formats should be explored to prevent becoming one dimensional. Anyway many other Balintawak lineages don't actually aim with the fist but swing and end mid stick or upper half of the stick, the swinging movement is akin to the yawyan hammer fists. There are also full swing or power strike drills. I think adding other drill formats or as you say sparring to diversify the exercises beyond the linear partner flow drill will address those observations. The agak drill can be likened to focus mitts training in boxing or striking, there's still shadow fighting and hitting the bags

[@inside_fighting]

I’d love to see some of the other lineages as i happened to end up exploring the ones shown in the video. It seems like outside America balintawak is more spar heavy as well which is nice.

[@hotpopcorncake]

Just wanted to say yawyan Is that shit. i wish I could learn more from it

[@johnl2648]

@inside_fighting a few vids are out there in YT generally the ones outside of the US, for example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pprdnot8rM1lebcsi=3PQy5Jxe1i9RyEjR kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHzQqquEmNqZnqcsi=AkEdSAgudiOijIRE

[@johnl2648]

@@inside_fighting a lot exist and there's some stuff they put up in YT, generally there's more of them outside of the US kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGW7naGhfsl5aZI kzbin.info/www/bejne/pprdnot8rM1lebc kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqaae6uCoNOCj80

[@johnl2648]

@inside_fighting man I make several replies here with links to vids of wotbag and Askal hybrid balintawak but they aren't visible

[@game9848]

Not all Balintawak schools follow the same gameplay. If you get an opportunity to train with Eugene Samuel 5:26 or Belton Lubas 11:15 "TAKE IT". They both mix their FMA(Balintawak, K.I., PTK, etc...) with striking(Boxing, Muay Thai, etc...) and grappling arts(Judo, BJJ, etc...).

[@inside_fighting]

Would love to visit their schools. Sounds awesome

[@jazzquire]

Great video and valid observations as always. As a fellow Doce Pares FMA practitioner, I share your reservations about Balintawak, but I admittedly do recognize the beauty of their flow drills (their effectiveness and application in sparring are another matter though). The drills definitely look good and impressive (especially when they speed up) - in fact, so much so that Balintawak is the primary fighting style used in the movie Dune.

[@Balintawak72]

As a Balintawak practitioner, I appreciate your criticism. I studied under Manong Ted Buot for 14 years one on one and I can say it differs from much of what is demonstrated on YT. You are spot on with your analysis of material you presented!!! I am 100% addicted to your channel and GREATLY appreciate the work you put in, thank you. Respect from Detroit 🙏👊

[@jehanali-arumpac69]

From what my master, a student of anciong himself, told me that they trained with thin wooden whips because it was a lot lighter, faster and painful. The stick is not important but the reaction is. The stick is only meant for training your reaction. They train to cut first.

[@juandelata]

I do get your point about them just placing their hands instead of actually striking, but I remember seeing a really old video of a younger Bobby Tabaoda where he explains that the really close quarters exchanges they do isn't actually how you'd fight, but rather just a method of training reflexes and control, and that actual fights could end with a single block and a counter hit. there's also a video of GM Nene from a different branch of Balintawak where he kinda says the same thing, and actually shows how to properly generate power with a strike, like where the whoosh of the strike should be when striking, which is pretty interesting something I've never thought of before

[@reddotdao]

Just subscribed after watching a few videos. I'm enjoying your breakdowns.

[@inside_fighting]

Really appreciate that. Thank you

[@The_Surviving_Lakan]

Finally found a manong to show me a bit of FMA. he is a practitioner of balintawak. all the criticisms you said he would agree with since he has brought them up before, which only makes me more confident with my teacher. just found you today and subbing rn

[@inside_fighting]

That’s amazing to hear. Since making the video I’ve come across some great balintawak guys who addresss the things i mentioned and if they were closer i would be happy to train with them. It’s a great system when done right

[@madjidchouarbi3921]

Balintawak used to be one of the toughest arnis school at its very beginning and the balintawak guys were feared as dangerous street fighters. The teaching then was very brutal and most students experienced breaking fingers, wrist ...Until Jose Villasin designed a set of mouvements to intercept the uncoming strikes with the stick instead of interceptingit by stricking the hand or forearm. This gave the students the ability to develop a better understanding of the attacking motion and reflective reactions to strikes from any direction. Real fights don't last long, in a couple of seconds, you win or you're out, and that's the real strengh of Balintawak : Once the fight start, you connect the opponent weapon and from this place, you finish the fight with one or two blows only. About the empty hands flows, some misunderstand the purpose of this training : Just like the circle boxing in Kung fu ( practicing a form with a partner, in a choregraphied way, just like in Hong Kong movies ) your goal isn't to touch your partner but to make him aware of the uncoming attack so he can deflect, parry it, counter attack etc... If you're too close, chances you hurt him increase, especialy if the guy has lesser skills. This kind of training must not be confused with sparring nor " martial applications ". In fact, the real training for fighters is made "close door" and involve footwork, semi or hard hitting and the use of bladed weapons. ( With a bolo, you can perfectly cut your opponent with any part of the edge and you better cut with the central part before sliding the blade to cut the flesh to the bone. If you only use the tip of your blade your risks at missing the target increase as well. One of my favorite Balintawak master is Nick Elizar.

[@MrBanana808]

The sound of the stick moving through the air is my indicator of generating powerful blows. I force myself to follow through to create the sound.

[@dannyh5700]

True for me too, personally i'd rather make the whistle of a hollow led pipe if i had to defend with one.

[@ajaniwinston8117]

So, I’ve been in it for the past year in NC. I’m new to Filipino arts, but I’ve studied other arts for some time. Here’s the catch with your take. You can to stay in it longer to get those parts you desire. The drills you reviewed were just if beginner first level things, just to establish control and safety. Right after that, still In the early stages the art focuses on the other parts you mentioned, like follow through and body mechanics. Do a video search for “Balintawak shadow fighting.”

[@inside_fighting]

Thanks for the response brother. Is there sparing though? I know the shadow fighting but it’s not done against resistance as far as i understand. It’s essentially Amara in dove pares.

[@ajaniwinston8117]

@@inside_fighting there is feeding, and playing so far. They playing is a lot like playing any other martial game. But the parts have their application to combat where they fit. There is the system itself, and then what you add to your flavor on completion. The unique thing is that the curriculum is based on you adding aspects of other styles or martial arts you have practiced and apply them under the Balintawak framework. It’s required you develop unique tested concepts. So it’s interesting to see people with a variety of specialties and adaptations.

[@inside_fighting]

@@ajaniwinston8117 that makes sense

[@dannyharris9897]

In Escrima we focused on striking with the tip as well. Excellent observation.

[@leowhite9873]

Love these breakdowns...un-biased & thorough for the limited time speaking on the subject ✔✔

[@inside_fighting]

Much appreciated and thank you 🙏🏼

[@PaulMatthewsEsq]

I love your channel. My background is mainly wing chun (12+years), karate (4 years) and taboada balintawak (2 years). As for wing chun I agree with almost everything you said about it except for one thing. On a very high level the top wing chin men can pull off the fine motor skills and do it effortlessly. As for balintawak. Gm Bobby likes to strike with the fist in very close range he believes that the fist sided by the stick like a roll of quarters is even more powerful than a rattan stick. Bobby had a background in boxing and he incorporates the boxing power generation and head movement. The other thing about it is that’s the training using the grouping system allow a student to make tremendous progress in training speed and reactions and the super fast training also subjects you to Adrenalin and dealing with Adrenalin. If you were to actually touch sticks with either Bobby who destroys All of his top instructors at age 75, or any of his excellent fully qualified instructors I believe you would like this art even more than you do

[@inside_fighting]

Thanks for the awesome breakdown! I will check out more schools for it and seminars any chance i get for sure. Glad you found the channel.

[@PaulMatthewsEsq]

I trained with Carlos his nyc instructor who is also a 4 degree black belt in kajukendo and has also trained other escrima styles. Bobby, fully qualified instructors are, for the most part, guys who have trained other martial arts styles to a very high level, yet Gm Bobby still dominates them all

[@ruiseartalcorn]

Great video! Many thanks :)

[@inside_fighting]

Glad you liked it!

[@kevn12112]

This channel is criminality underrated. He should do stuff with icy mike, sensi seth and the rest. He's an excellent martial artist so he would fir in well.... let's se a collaboration lads. From Scotland with love

[@wendlelewis2443]

Afternoon 🙏🏿Greetings from the Uk 🇬🇧! thank you so much for your breakdown. I must say I’m in agreement with a large percentage of what you’ve stated here. My question is…what if there is a branch of FMA (BALINTAWAK) that addresses a few of your critiques in your analysis? The best description I’ve heard of Balintawak is it’s “the art of near misses”…Being in those tight spots (conversation range or slightly closer just before you tangle up to grapple) indeed space and time are may also against you. Angulation of the body is employed, only its tighter because we START fairly close. With some branches of Balintawak, contact is actually necessary! After all, how else would you know you’re actually defending your space? Initially your tasked to REACT as rapidly as possible to your instructors random strikes (which are made with all parts of the stick as well as the fist). The instructor is trained to such a degree that these shots stop millimetres away from the face or land accurately on the body. gradually, once student gets better, the attacks are launched throw with more ferocity along with extreme control! Equally with time and reps a student is tasked to defend and counter with just as much sharpness and accuracy. A student is required to defend themselves against the stick, “active left hand” (in the form of a grab, palm strike etc), kicks, sweeps, tackles and more! Similar methodology is applied to the bladed portion of our art as well as an empty hand portion. Regardless Awareness, reaction, resistance, speed and sound mechanics are the cornerstones of our approach. Honestly I’ve merely scratched the surface of how deep the art can run…but respectfully I’d invite you to take a look a look at mine or my instructor’s “insta” pages (@fluid.tactics or myself @martial_movement77) Let me know your thoughts. Again huge fan of your page 👊🏾👍🏾 you do amazing work Kind regards Kojo

[@inside_fighting]

Will check out your pages and if the art is practiced the way you describe then it sounds great to me. I think as long as there is a progression to contact then the style has a lot to offer

[@inside_fighting]

Checked it out. You guys definitely have a more realistic way of playing cuz you are trying to make contact

[@wendlelewis2443]

Thanks for taking a look! I appreciate that. 💯 we are aiming for eachother but with control. I get reprimanded any time my shots are not aimed accurately at my instructor. He/we say exactly the same thing as you do….”I NEED you to aim for me…if I don’t block…it’s on me”! I do believe solid striking and grappling are a must also. Balintawak has deffo sharpened my MMA for sure! Thanks again

[@Ed7501]

One of my former instructors was also a Balintawak expert, and one of my college buddies learned Balintawak when living in the Phils. So I'm always curious about this style. Thanks!

[@inside_fighting]

Hope you enjoy my views on it

[@trinidadraj152]

I think it's helpful to view martial arts from a generational perspective. Bobby comes from a different generation and upbringing. I could see linear footwork making more sense if you were raised/live in a place with narrow streets and over-packed cities. If you don't live in that kind of area, then it would seem odd to look at purely linear footwork. But if you hit as hard as he does with a stick, then yeah, you don't need to move as much. In many traditional arts that practice forms and kata, the stepping pattern of the form is sometimes a historical reflection of the literal space the creator of the form had to work with.

[@inside_fighting]

Agreed and makes sense. I also agree that he specifically looks like a beast

[@crisscross7176]

I agree with you. Hope newer generation trainers adapt your ideas

[@inside_fighting]

Appreciate it. Seems like some are offended and want to dismiss me as uneducated but some are open to dialogue which is nice.

[@johnl2648]

Some of these concerns have already arisen and got addressed during previous generations too when they explored and experimented during their era - it's just cyclical.

[@kellymiller5925]

It looks like from the comments that you're located in Florida and relocating to Fort Lauderdale. GM Bobby Taboada is currently there being hosted by one of his instructors. You should reach out and train since you've expressed interest.

[@inside_fighting]

I texted him. I did one of his classes a while ago: hopefully he answers and lets me shoot a video with him and we go over my critiques

[@danielquest8644]

Great video, Balentawak is my third FMA style….. I never really thought of it in the way that you do…. I always found the core drill a bit like hubud or sumbrada…. Very fun, has some practicality if you understand the limitations….. but is mostly a drill for learning a very specific thing. It’s a tool for exploring things that happen in fighting….. it’s not good at teaching you how to impose that range on an opponent and stay safe doing it. That’s why the dog brothers stuff looks the way it does, different context! Try shorter sticks, it will probably change your balentawak experience. They also have great disarms!

[@Loyal2law]

Okay, I know that this is under Balintawak, but I want to propose checking out Abenir Kalis System. So far, it is unique in its approach in a sense that they focus more on the blade. Hope you'll cover them in the future.

[@inside_fighting]

I will cover it

[@darthclone7]

great criticism! what i like about Balintawak is the Grandmaster urges its practicioners to practice other martial arts to expand! he says he is only teaching what he taught by thev masters before and he doesn't know everything

[@Spung913]

Echoing some of the other Balintawak practitioners- the placement is for control so that speed and reflexes can be hyper-focused on; you don’t even get taught semi-advanced technics until lvl 6; I have dabbled in a few styles and this one blew my mind on the teaching aspect & how fast this system develops quality results in people is a real actively short time. Also: the fed/back movement is as if you were fighting in a very narrow alley or bathroom stall (those dog-bros were on a basketball court, just say’n) Great commentary regardless, though from a novice perspective 😂

[@inside_fighting]

Much appreciated and self admittedly a novice in balintawak if that even. Do balintawak guys spar?

[@Spung913]

@@inside_fighting from what I have seen and experienced the play shown in videos on KZbin is the “play” that is taught for the first 6 beginner lvls which I consider a form of controlled sparing because it can be done in a random pattern; in this the “feeder” (the one striking first and setting the pace learns to strike then block (that block also can be defanging the snake); sparing with headgear and gloves has been known to happen depending on experience of the student and the teacher

[@dannyh5700]

@inside_fighting , off topic but real quick, have you ever heard of the system called Feral Fighting by a guy named James Franco?

[@inside_fighting]

No but it sounds very cool 🤔

[@ZacharyBerno]

I am primarily a boffer larper and it is hard to find a traditional martial art that translates to the rule system of the sport. This style looks very intriguing to me, especially since most of the downsides listed in your analysis wouldn't matter too much in the context I would use this system in.

[@inside_fighting]

It’s a really beautiful system that develops strong reflexes

[@dlhatch8]

I agree with you 100% on the striking method used by the other Balintawak systems. They are placements. It is my understanding that they train that way for safety. Having trained with Manong Ted Buot for 11 years one on one, we do not strike that way (or block that way). We strike with the tip of the stick backed by body mechanics. We do not have drills. We train with random striking. (A little harder to learn initially.) Manong Ted Buot was a student of, and instructor for, GM Anciong Bacon (founder of the system) in Cebu for 10 years before moving to the state of Michigan. The objective is to subdue the opponent quickly with a knockout, or submission. Advanced levels will change the footwork if needed. Intercepting and stick management are trained extensively. The “major” functions of the left hand are to Monitor, Manage, and Delay the opponent’s stick. Strikes, shoving, cupping, etc. with the left (empty hand), are secondary. Timing & Coordination are the two main attributes emphasized. Speed comes later. I have also trained with Guro Dan Inosanto for many years before Balintawak. It was Guro that had me look up and train with Manong Ted Buot. David Hatch

[@felipeleeuwen]

I wonder if they are placing the stick like that to mimic a ginuntingan or kampilan or machete, where in a cut or slice is enough for damage rather than a hack. That seems a lot of slices with that speed. What do you think?

[@inside_fighting]

I don’t think so. The explanation is got is it’s safety to help spread the art and avoid hits early on

[@felipeleeuwen]

@@inside_fighting oh, so they gave that explanation. I see.

[@free2flow]

Very honest review of Balintawak!

[@inside_fighting]

Appreciate that 🙏🏼

[@allones3078]

I would love to see you do a video like this on other FMA styles like FCS (mine), PTK, Modern Arnis or kalis ilustrisimo. But I would really would like to see some videos on lesser known FMA styles lagas tapado.

[@inside_fighting]

Just did one on ilistrisimo recently 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@crunchylumpia]

As soon as I heard that opening song... I subscribed.

[@curtrod]

just want to say your clear fair criticism is warranted, at 2:33 when you start explaining placing the stick you have put into words my instinctive bad feeling about the training methods they're using indeed they're not getting any swing or follow through with the sticks not to say that the master there can't whap you hard as heck with that stick but most people will never do too much damage with those short vertical strikes, just my two cents worth, anyway I agree with you entirely, good video

[@windanger2023]

I understand your point. The reason its that case because they are training | learning about how to block from different angle attack and not about strength of impact. Same with their range. The training is not about depicting the impact and range but its about learning the different blocks coming from different attacks. Balintawak is just used in the scenario when you are fighting mid to close combat. Of course if you have a chance to avoid the fight you can do that but its not the part of the lesson.

[@MuayThaiDreadlock]

when you said "punyo" i immediately liked the vid. you know whats up

[@MuayThaiDreadlock]

and you just said "panantukan".... hell yea

[@inside_fighting]

@@MuayThaiDreadlock 💪🏽💪🏽 thanks man!

[@joedrock2]

The wing chun i learned, when we went full speed we'd always end up behind the person

[@amaashelton]

I trained Balintawak for a year. There are parts i liked - and parts i just couldn’t wrap around . The idea was to have the 12 inner strikes (called full control) when an opponent was on the inside and transition to the outer strikes (called no control)once the opponent or yourself traveled out of the inner range. The inner strikes could be hit with the fist or the stick just above the hand. The block and counters ran off of the 12 strikes and i liked the simple counter attacks . This is really simple. Like Tommy Carruthers. JKD ( what he does today. Not what he demoed 25 years ago.) There was triangle stepping. Though the basic levels primarily forward and back as you see in the videos. With each level, they built off of the basic structure. Though some of those changes seemed silly to not just do it from the beginning. Especially for someone with training and other systems. You have to learn, unnatural movements only to have that on natural movement moved to natural movement once you move up a rank. When performing the lower level, you had to do it at that lower level or unnatural movement as well. In the group flow sessions, which are quite impressive to watch - I didn’t care for the fact that the feeder does not perform the proper strikes for you to block encounter. The feeder stick will be point at a shoulder to be blocked instead of an actual strike thrown. (Watch an exchange, but only looking at the feeder to see their movements.) The reasoning given was that the simple movements were faster therefore it pushed you to make your block faster, which has a point. However, the feeder is not doing any training at that moment. Essentially just touching the person like a game of I got you. It’s a mist opportunity to have two partners doing actual training rather than one having to learn an entire system of specific stick touches. The feeder is almost always the one to disarm which again does not make sense considering the feeder is doing non-strikes to begin with. We didn’t do any pad work. No striking on a bag no light contact on a partner. Any questions brought up had almost like a cult like answer. Any groups that practice sparring looked nothing like Balitiwak. No attempt to re-create the inside fighting . I found the terminology very difficult as well. Full sentence titles of a particular drill that need to be repeated verbally immediately before performing the drill and repeated everytime time it was run . Killed training time and took me out of the training. “ Semi hitting while in a defensive stage 1 punch low, 1 punch center, 1 punch high “. But I do like the idea of the art and incorporated into my own training .

[@PremiumTrader]

I would check out WOTBAG Balintawak. That is the original system Bobby Taboada studied in the Philippines. My understanding is he made some changes when he came to the US to make it easier to teach.

[@inside_fighting]

Just looked it up and it solves every issue i mentioned. I wish i could train that system

[@PremiumTrader]

@@inside_fighting It is taught in the US just not as well known. I train with someone in Atlanta.

[@johnl2648]

@@inside_fighting I think people practicing and exploring the standard drills will inevitably gravitate towards things similar to what the WOTBAG people and others devised (decades ago!), whether or not it's shown in videos. To be fair a lot of FMA people aren't social media savvy. And I know that people who make innovations do worry that they'll get criticized for deviating or not being True Original XYZ or they are hesitant to show exercises that aren't as crisp as the standard stuff (even if non-crisp kind of messy stuff is still essential!) because there's some people who do think that their vids HAVE to be action movie-grade flawless before presenting it to others.

[@dannyclaydenchambers5907]

@@inside_fighting So does WOTBAG address your concerns? Would like to see a follow up about this.. I just started Balintawak and want to pursue the right path

[@yamiyomizuki]

since nobody seems to be saying it here, this is also the style that was used for the fight choreography in Dune.

[@inside_fighting]

Yes which is very cool

[@yamiyomizuki]

@@inside_fighting yes, although since the weapon of choice is called a kriss I would have thought they would go with silat or maybe one of the styles from the southern filipines. that would also have fit with the Islamic cultural themes in the story.

[@loscomagno8877]

I met someone who runs a studio in HK where he teaches Boxing, BJJ, Pekiti Tirsia, and Wing Chun. I asked him, aren't boxing and wing chun counterintuitive? He said kinda, at the start. But he's trained in both for many years (boxing all his life) that his body can now incorporate the tactics of each instinctively according to the need. But his philosophy is, for someone to extract those fruits, he needs to teach both systems the way he was taught, independent of each other and with virtually no variation from the source material.

[@inside_fighting]

I think every martial art has positives. I also don’t mind contradictory systems and despite what balintawak guys commenting think i genuinely want to learn more of the system

[@hydeseyk3924]

Good share and great analysis!

[@joeoleary9010]

Have you ever seen A Grande Arte (in English, The Great Art; US title: Exposure), the 1991 Brazilian movie about knife fighting? The knife fighting in it is incredible, but how realistic do you think it is?

[@inside_fighting]

Haven’t seen it but I’ll check it out

[@joeoleary9010]

@@inside_fighting It's the Enter the Dragon of knife fighting!

[@user-sg8kq7ii3y]

I agree with your opinion of WEKAF. I used to criticize WEKAF tournaments due to them just swinging wildly at each other, wearing way too much protective equipment, and just completely ignoring getting hit in the head. However, like you mentioned, the positive aspect of WEKAF is that they are swinging with 100% intensity, and they are going full speed. So AT LEAST you get to experience the speed of a real life fighting situation. Also, WEKAF style fighting takes a heck of a lot of conditioning, and anyone who has tried it before will tell you how exhausting it is. So it really tests your conditioning.

[@kingash71]

This occurs sometimes in martial arts. An instructor has a trick that’s successful or that they just like. Said instructor is well trained, can use the trick well and teaches around it. But they don’t teach the basics and their students never become proficient.

[@dmdm7690]

Some good food for thought. Have you done a similar video on pkt or have views on it?

[@markhatfield5621]

Your first few minutes show the key of the problem. It's really not mentioned anywhere but the issue is: The teacher may have many students but the only ones who get the 'real' thing from him are his son, his brothers son, and the son of his best/trusted friend. EVERYONE else gets a watered down version. It is dumbed down/sporterized even more if you (the student) are not a local and especially if not from the same country. Examples: The Okinawans gave the Japanese a sport version of Te (karate) not the real thing, nowhere near. complete. The Chinese are especially strong in that practice. You NEVER teach the real thing to non-Chinese or non-Japanese, etc. Even in recent years, classes in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, in public classes, classes of all locals got one thing, classes of mixed locals and outsiders got something else, classes of all outsiders got something even different. They will be taught something which looks like it but is missing critical elements. Even among themselves, the old Chinese custom is to never teach everything to any student in case someday you have to fight him for real. More so, while some of this is old custom, some of it is just business, 'experts' who actually don't know how it really works, teaching (for the money) to people who can't tell the difference. The 'kung fu' fad here had many examples of that (Yes, Asians did it too).

[@johnl2648]

This is not really true for FMA. Balintawak is not a family system.

[@huwhitecavebeast1972]

Ohh, that video with Bobby the student is incredibly timid and clearly suffering from the thing where some guys don't want to challenge their instructors at all, are overawed, or don't want to make them look bad. Probably also hyper conscious teaching in front of navy seals. I've never seen balintawak like that, and Bobby taught a few seminar at our school. EDIT: Jeez, Idk what I'm seeing here with Bobby. I do remember his body structure wasn't the best.

[@TimHartman]

Hi there, I was thinking, it'd be great to have you on my show, "FMA Talk Live." We could dive deep into the topics that you're covering. There's a lot of nuance and inside knowledge that might not be available to you yet. Having a chat rather than a monologue can really open up the conversation, especially with people who have firsthand experience. I've been involved with Filipino martial arts for over 40 years, focusing on Balintawak since 2000. My training lineage traces back to the original style of GM Anciong Bacon, through GM Ted Buot. I've also been fortunate to call Grandmaster Bobby a friend and mentor since around 2003, learning directly about the grouping methodology he was taught. Would love to discuss this further on the show! Best, Tim Hartman FMA Talk Live World Modern Arnis Alliance

[@roccodefrancesco1778]

Sir great video. With all due respect, other Balintawak masters don't present the same flaws that you pointed out. I appreciate what GM Taboada is doing for the art, but his lineage is not the only version of Balintawak out there. It'd be badass if you featured fellow youtuber Jerome Teague. Crispulo Atillo is almost 90 and still doing it too.

[@RicoKhem]

Have you heard of a brazillian martial art known as luta livre? It is a ground fighting art from that region.

[@inside_fighting]

Yes of course it used to be the main competitor to bjj

[@CJ1776]

Hey dude i need your judgement. Ill start with mma and judo soon. I wonder what to get in last kali or silat ??? Whats your opinion or any other idea on what to get in? Bjj, wrestling ? Muay thai or kickboxing ?

[@inside_fighting]

Those are lots of options. If you are doing mma and judo the most different one would be Kali because you would learn weapons. It’s better to start with one or two things and expand rather than do everything at once

[@danielmollohan1703]

I never want to trash a style, and I won’t. I really wanted to like Balintawak. I did so much research, and I could not find anything but what looks like a style that trains you to do combat with other Balintawak practitioners. That being said. If one uses it as a method for building dynamics, working in a way that ones brain may not be used to, and to take bits from it to add to an existing base of knowledge (after one has studied another style, another FMA even, for a long time) then I believe it has value. I could not see it being anything but damaging, though, and I hate to say this, to a beginner; as a first MA. Just my opinion, and again, I don’t mean any ill will, and I tend to view most MA’s as fundamentals to be built upon that are meant to adapt.

[@Beave98]

Fighting half the man is similar to wing chun concepts and most internal arts for that matter of the death gates life gates.

[@dannyh5700]

Made sense to me, I would assume you would want to try and secure your weapon as much as your defending your life, philippine martial arts has to be one of the most life and death based martial art out there, and should be taken extremely serious at all times.

[@inside_fighting]

Yes when weapons are at play the room for error is no. Existent

[@user-sg8kq7ii3y]

12:00 - I will say that the guy on the left is a pretty damn good stick fighter. I do not know his name, but I believe I saw him in a full contact stick fight, like how the Dog Brothers fight, and he can scrap.

[@joelregis8767]

Your analysis on Balintawak is only one part of the family. What you have seen is the grouping method of Balintawak. There is another part of the Balintawak family teaching the random method. It will satisfy your critique of proper mechanic of striking. Please check out the Tabimina Balintawak. It will enhance your knowledge about distance, body mechanics, and reaction.

[@inside_fighting]

I saw it after you recommend it and it’s great! I don’t know where to train it though

[@joelregis8767]

Salinas, Seattle, Central Florida, Phoenix, New York, Denver. We usually have a gathering every October. You will get to meet our main teachers. If your curious, let me know, I will keep you updated.

[@BradYaeger]

I can't speak to this particular art , but I have seen and even trained in some arts that fell into what has been called the Patty Cake game. Where if you just get a touch in first it's considered fight over . Lots of independent arm movement with speed placed too far above power . Which is fine if it's an entry and sets up bigger shots , but don't build an art around just that . Even with a heavy stick or club, humans can take some serious punishment and keep going .

[@inside_fighting]

Agreed and unless you pressure test with weapons it’s easy to become delusional

[@rodcav3]

I ain't mad at ya 😆..Really appreciate the insights you bring to the martial arts community..while I may disagree I respect the respectful insights. I would like to ask since you mentioned that you studied Balintiwak with different people...Question 1. Were they FQI (fully qualified instructors) Question 2. What level did you attain in Balintiwak's Level 1 -7 system . because your level will determine your understanding of the system in its entirety

[@regishu7464]

Each School / Style has its own training objective and the training methods are crafted in order for the "training objectives" to be achieved or realized. Comparing and Contrasting works if you have the same depth of knowledge of the "subjects".

[@RedSplinter36]

I feel similarly about PTK honestly. A lot of people out there see that as the only style of FMA. It's so template/drill bloated... it legitimately feels like the krav maga of Kali these days. Which the same can also be said about Sayoc as well. There's also this gate keeping type of mindset, these hidden techniques and drills we can show no one. I'm an Inosanto Kali, Serrada, and illustrismo guy myself... and by its very nature all Filipino martial arts are based on common principles and tactics. Having different flavors yes but still: simple and principle based tactics that can be recalled under stress.

[@inside_fighting]

I feel like these styles have changed tremendously from how they used to be.

[@EpherosAldor]

I totally see where you're coming from regarding Pekiti Tersia Kali. So many have devolved it into some form of "combatives" thing that very little is still there. Getting past those Self-Defense seminars and realistic combat training scenarios PTK really does have some great long-lived capability and application. I study Pekiti Tersia and love it more so than some of the other FMA styles out there, not to say they are bad or anything, I just jive with PTK more.

[@alantinoalantonio]

Kalis Ilustrisimo is my favored FMA style. I remember first hearing about Sayoc from Tom Kier and the movie The Hunted. Great stuff!⚔️🗡️

[@RedSplinter36]

@alantinoalantonio absolutely! Hiro Koda, the fight choreographer for the hunted is an Inosanto Kali and sayoc student as well! A solid film! Classic Sayoc is legitimately effective! Love it.

[@tonytaclay9390]

Is it in your personal opinion I'm talking about the host. Which FMA system. Is superior.

[@TheChabm]

Agree.. i practice balintawak wotbag system and yes we practice hitting with the stick and not as a punch..

[@SlotsAndStuff]

Does Balintawak teaches you how to fight multiple attackers charging you with machetes coming from different directions? If a crazy guy with a chainsaw runs at you do Balintawak fighters just stay at the same close quarter position waiting for the attacker to come in then get a clear shot?

[@lewisb85]

Random question, there's no real kali schools around me but there is a Jeet Kune Do one, due to my background in Kapap I've always wanted to give the stick fighting styles a chance. Since JKD is descended from kali in your opinion is it worth it?

[@EpherosAldor]

It really depends on the JKD school, some schools have a sorta specialty focus area where they train and develop more. A JKD school near me focuses more on the striking and trapping aspects more than the kali stuff throughout the month. You can still check it out, see what they do, and get what you can out of it, especially since many times they're going to go over common Kali drills like sumbrada. Getting good at those drills and picking up videos here on YT can definitely help with broadening your kali knowledge, especially if you have/make friends at that school that train more than the 2 or 3 times a week class is held. The main problem learning Kali through a JKD system is that you aren't given a comprehensive learning of Kali fundamentals (the different strikes, the finer aspects of footwork and body mechanics, and the application of drills), you end up with just a piecemeal exposure to bits of Kali that is disconnected from the source. It might work for JKD and what they are trying to accomplish, but it isn't good in giving you foundational knowledge needed to expound on your experience with a particular art. Other than that, try out the JKD class for a little bit and see how it plays out. You might still like it and get value out of it, while still providing you with at least something to work toward until you do find a Kali school.

[@inside_fighting]

I agree with the answer above. I’d definitely try it out at a minimum and see if it works for yiu

[@lewisb85]

@@EpherosAldor Thanks man did what you said, but the story gets more interesting, one of the fellow students at the jkd school is the local Pencak Silat instructor, so although not kali I am getting some weapons based martial arts in.

[@EpherosAldor]

@@lewisb85 That's freaking awesome! Silat is a brutal and great art, you will learn so many good things out of it that if you do get into Kali then it will feel second nature to you. I'm so glad to hear that you made that contact. I love Silat and Kali, I have the most interest in those two. Keep training!

[@lewisb85]

@@EpherosAldor Its the whipping motion with the wrist on the sticks that has taken some getting use to, I come from a kapap/krav maga and hema background so using the sticks its the motion from the elbows with silat and jkd its the elbows and the wrist to get more power when using the sticks, it's taken some getting used to.

[@FormlessJKD17]

I agree. The placement of the "punches" in Balintawak i don't agree with because with the fast drilling i did with my friends in the art, i countered every attack and defense each of my friends had. Trapping is a split second and that's it.

[@jessespeedy9709]

If you're ever in Orlando I'm down to talk Balintawak and share my take. Having trained a few Balintawak lineages as well as Boxing as a comparison I think I might offer some insight. I think we have a mutual friend Miguel M. that would vouch that I'm at least slightly less weird than your typical YT commenter.

[@M_K-Bomb]

Yeah, it's subtle in how it's wrong, but training to just put your hand and stick out is definitely wrong, and will cause problems down the line in application.

[@inside_fighting]

It’s just my observation and I’m sure at some point it’s corrected but i can’t help feel off when i try it and that’s the focus

[@RalBalintawak]

In taboada style Balintawak we train three ranges: fist or punyo, middle stick, and tip of the stick. Thr first is the initial position to help students overcome fear of being close and to teach control, the middle and tip are for power. You should come and try a class with GM Bobby he is a legend. Tho I agree with some points without having a concept of the curriculum we teach kinda limits understanding. Love ya stuff fella! Except for the wc diss jk lol

[@johnnymism]

Congratulations on a more balanced view here.

[@inside_fighting]

appreciate that. I like to be as positive as possible. This is one area I’m really experienced in so I’m more critical

[@friscocisco7155]

What you are describing is GM Bobby’s basics for building control.its the very beginning of balintawak.if you have no control you can’t move fast safely.and for the record balintawak is known to be very hard hitting and the won almost every challenge match they ever had

[@hotpopcorncake]

Idk but to me this guy is a beast I couldn't process his speed with the stick. so I saw that people become Drill masters in Manila so far it doesn't bother me I am willing to learn anything. I live in the state I would take Any FMA style to understand because there is none in Florida where I live. I wish there was Yan Yaw in Florida big time.

[@inside_fighting]

Where in Florida are you?

[@hotpopcorncake]

@@inside_fighting live in Generic West palm beach

[@inside_fighting]

@@hotpopcorncake i can teach you if you email me. I live close but I’ll be moving to Fort Lauderdale

[@hotpopcorncake]

@@inside_fighting What your emial

[@inside_fighting]

@@hotpopcorncake [e-mail]

[@turbopowergt]

I don’t know if this is true, but it looks like at some point there was organized fighting, either as an army or something similar to faction fighting in Ireland (shillelagh fighting). The forward movement and fewer big swings because people will be on your left and right. Also the need to have lots of people practice with structure for scaled fighting similar to the way militaries train. I don’t know if any of this is true for the system but it looks like something you would do in a big melee environment.

[@johnl2648]

Balintawak evolved from stick dueling and street brawling with the pioneers training in a very tiny gym, the pedagogy is traditionally one on one training with a feeder and a receiver - imagine a combination of boxing focus mitts and wing chun chisao... but with sticks.

[@passportbrolife]

INTUITIVE Reaction is the most basic instinct of human Survival... This is the primary focus of Balintawak style.. To Sharpen Intuitive reaction...Strike power will come on its own.. The faster you are, with your adrenaline and reaction, the harder your strike power will come naturally......

[@scandisamurai8899]

30 years ago my teacher said that his Filipino teacher told him that there are two kinds of fighting: The "pretty" kind, which you have seen at gyms and in movies, which is truly the "art" part. Then there's the "ugly" kind, which you will only see in bars and prisons, which is otherwise known as *JUNGLE FIGHTING*. He then explained that the aims of jungle fighting are: #1: Remove your enemy's *eyes* from his head in any way you can as quickly as possible. #2: Remove your enemy's *nose* from his face in any way you can as quickly as possible. #3: Remove your enemy's *ears* from his head in any way you can as quickly as possible. #4: Remove your enemy's *fingers* from his hands in any way you can as quickly as possible.#5: Remove your enemy's *genitals* from his body in any way you can as quickly as possible...and so on and so forth... until he is no longer moving or alive.

[@leandro5840]

i Really need a Bonafont esgrima system video , an Argentinian Martial Art.

[@BMO_Creative]

Dude Nguni Stick Fighting or Donga are FOR REAL! LOL

[@SoldierDrew]

Grabbing the stick in balintiwak creates bad habits that'll cost fingers in a knife encounter in real life combat defense.

[@hakimgillard-nc3lm]

Are you looking at it from a real street application or in sparring? A street fight is totally different than a ring fight. Most martial arts aren’t to end a fight in seconds. I was taught if it looks like it’s going to be a fight, be first and put them down quick. I want to end the find before it starts. I don’t want to get into squaring up with my opponent cause at that point if we’re doing that it’s becoming an exhibition.

[@kolinstewart1254]

What I dislike from most kali, but not fma, is their propensity to disregard high kicks and deny them the ability to use their foot as a fighting tool. I've never seen balintawak using kicks in their teachings.

[@inside_fighting]

Have you seen sikaran? It’s very beautiful

[@chicagobalintawak]

What I was taught was how to apply my kicks while playing Balintawak in close range drills. Kicking isn't taught as part of the Levels 1-6 Taboada system of Balintawak. We would practice some kicks in class when I was training with my instructors but it's not curriculum. One of my seniors knew how to insert a high kick while playing at speed with sticks. Our main instructor, GM Penafiel, was in his 70s so he focused on low kicking. When I would go train with Punong Guro Michael-Vincent Malanyaon he would have us practice applying kicking with stick hitting combos within his Maktan FMA curriculum.

[@johnl2648]

In Balintawak sessions I've been kicked in the chest and shoulder/head level by the masters and controlled oblique kicks to the shin are used for footwork correction. Footsweeps are also there.

[@norbe6534]

I think what you don't understand between a jab and a hook is that jabs tends to be faster to pull off. What Balintawak emulates is "Jabs that turns into swings halfway", what you only see are the "Jabs" not the swings afterwards. Most people think a sword or a stick must be used in "swings", thats Western mindset, in the East a sword or stick or any weapon is an extension of the arm not a weapon. Balintawak basically is a 'defensive' system that relies on handspeed. You will know an offensive system when you see footworks in action.

[@BogalaSawundiris]

Please make a video on 'IWCO Full Contact Wing Chun' also known as 'Wing Chun Free Fight' ....... it's the legit full contact Wing Chun combat sport that NOBODY TALKS ABOUT !