Balintawak Sugbu Hawk Chapter

Brief history of Balintawak

Balintawak Escrima is a Filipino martial art known for its close-quarters combat techniques. It originated in the 1930s in the town of Balintawak, Cebu, Philippines, under the guidance of Venancio Bacon. Bacon, along with his students, developed a system that emphasized practicality and efficiency in self-defense. The system gained recognition and spread primarily through Bacon's students, who continued to teach and refine the art. Notable among them was Jose Villasin, who further popularized Balintawak Escrima by introducing it to Manila and establishing schools there. Over the years, Balintawak Escrima has evolved and diversified, with various instructors adding their own interpretations and modifications to the original system. Today, it remains a respected martial art both in the Philippines and internationally, valued for its effectiveness in real-life self-defense situations.