I keep hearing that Balintawak was traditionally taught one on one. How common is it for it to be taught in classroom settings?
It appears that classroom or seminar settings are more common with the different versions of Balintawak out there then the traditional setting.
The traditional setting, from how I understand it, went like this:
People would gather in the lower level of the Watch shop on Balintawak street. Anciong Bacon would come in, grab a stick, and would pick someone to work with. He would work with that person for a couple of minutes while others watched. He would instruct them, then move on to the next person. After the training session was over, people could work with each other or play with each other if they wished. But during the "official" instruction, people either were working with Anciong or watching. The key to the "tradition" was that the instructor would always work with the students one on one. Also, the system did follow a specific format, or progression.
When Noy Anciong felt comfortable with Ted Buot teaching, Manong Ted would teach one-on-one in the same format in Anciong's absence, or if Anciong decided to take a break. Remember that this was not a commercial venture as it is today, so Anciong, Buot, and the other Balintawak players all had day jobs, and trained Monday-Friday after work.
When Manong Ted came to the states, he would only teach one-on-one in the same format under which he learned and taught at the Balintawak club in Cebu. He would not do a large classroom settings or seminar settings.
When I was given the O.K. to teach, I vowed that I would carry on the same tradition; which was to only work one-on-one with students for Balintawak. I will teach stick fighting concepts or blunt weapon tactics in a classroom or seminar format, as I have in the past; but this is not the same as Balintawak. I make this clear because I don't want people to be mislead. I feel that if I am teaching "Balintawak" under that name, that I need to give those students the benefits of the instructional format that I experienced.
The thing is, the only real way to learn Anciong's Original Balintawak is through the traditional format; this includes going through the Abecedario's, Seguida's, and Corrida's (and Cuentada if one gets there) following the specific format, one-on-one with the instructor so that the instructor can ensure that all of the nuances are correct.
Anything else is not Anciong's original Balintawak, even if it carries the Balintawak name. If it is taught as a grouping system, or in a seminar format, for example, then it is a hybrid of the original program. This is O.K., though, in my opinion. This is not a criticism of what others are doing. Even while Noy Anciong was alive, different Balintawak players who were very proficient eskrimadors in their own right were teaching Hybrid programs. Like Villisan's grouping system, or Maranga's system. Even Taboada's Balintawak is distinctly his hybrid.
There is nothing wrong with this as these instructors are very talented and have the rights to develop their own versions of Balintawak. These instructors deserve credit for developing good quality programs; especially those that can be presented in a larger classroom setting. But, just understand what they are. Anciong's original system is different then the other hybrid systems. I choose to teach Balintawak the original way because I had the benefit of learning that way, and I feel responsible to preserve that wonderful tradition. Yet, I am glad that others are out there doing the seminars and doing their own thing.
Hopefully that explains it...
