Great Grandmaster Venancio 'Anciong' Bacon
Balintawak, a Filipino martial art founded by Venancio “Anciong” Bacon, took root in the late 1940s on Balintawak Street, Cebu City, Philippines, inside the watch shop of his student Eduardo Baculi. Anciong was born in 1912 in Carcar, Cebu, Philippines. Cebu lore holds that Anciong was formidable with espada y daga, and that his mentor and uncle, Lorenzo Saavedra of the Labangon Fencing Club, once removed the dagger in training, pushing him to solve the same problems with less. That minimalist principle shaped a single stick, defense priority approach that defines the art.
Instruction begins in the realm of defense, addressing the psychological aspects first such as composure, judgment, and increasing awareness, before the physical aspects of combat like structure, distance, line, and timing. Training is designed to condition the nervous system and elevate situational awareness: modulate the flinch reflex, expand peripheral perception, shorten reaction time, and turn recognition into action so responses become instantaneous rather than overanalyzed.
Instruction is one on one, delivered through Agak, a Visayan terminology meaning "to carry or to guide," which is a hands on framework where the teacher leads the student through essential lines and centerline control while building the habit of defending and preparing the counter in the same motion, developing precise reaction. Agak lays down reliable motor responses the nervous system can access under stress, supports eliminating the blinking process during combat, regulates breath, and controls adrenaline during adrenal charge situations, leading to cleaner timing and a broader, calmer field of awareness.
Lessons begin with the 12 basic angles of attack and the matching 12 basic defenses to establish a solid foundation. As the foundation stabilizes, training proceeds to a random feeding approach, where angles, rhythm, and intent vary without preset patterns, forcing real time decisions, deepening pattern recognition, and inoculating the nervous system against the unexpected, keeping awareness and performance sharp as pace and pressure rise. Students are also exposed to all foul blows in controlled training so they learn to protect and respond decisively, without reliance on memorized patterns, and with the deliberate elimination of anticipation because anticipation can lead to memorization. Difficulty increases progressively so sessions feel like a real fight while remaining controlled. Approach every exchange on the premise that the opponent is skilled, and make survival your first objective. Therefore a strong defense is imperative and non-negotiable.
Balintawak’s relevance extends beyond combat. The same principles that breeds decisiveness and punishes hesitancy, can be applied in our daily lives. The art teaches you to adapt in real time, in any given situation, be it at work or play. It empowers you to be in control because you are fully aware of your capabilities under duress. A natural assertion of dominance is inevitable.
Great Grandmaster Bob Silver Tabimina
Great Grandmaster Bob Silver Tabimina was born on March 20, 1950 in Iligan City, Philippines. He was a black belt in Shotokan Karate at the age of 17. He then went to Cebu City with his father, Major Olympio Tabimina, to pursue a career in Criminology.
His father asked the Dean of Criminology, Dean Maambong, what is the best martial arts in Cebu? The dean answered, “There are only 2 that are notable, Doce Pares and Balintawak.” His father asked, “Which among the 2 would you recommend?” The dean answered, “I would recommend Doce Pares because they are effective, fast and their technique and amara looks so beautiful.” His father then asked, “What can you say about the other one?” The dean answered, “Oh they are bastos (rude), and violent.” His father then said, “Take me there.”
The head of the Balintawak organization at that time was Atty. Jose Villasin. During the initial encounter with Atty. Villasin, the young Bobby Tabimina sparred with the attorney with the approval of his father. Due to his Karate background, he initiated his favorite attack, which was a jab followed by a roundhouse kick, and was shocked that he ended up on the ground and his mouth was bleeding. He got up, nervous, changed to a side stance and slowly closed the distance. He did a side kick and again was neutralized by the attorney. From then on, he started his formal learning of Balintawak.
He learned with Atty. Villasin for 6 months and then was endorsed to his student, the founder of Teovel’s Balintawak, Teofilo Velez. He lived with Velez and was treated like a son. He learned his method and became one of his ferocious fighters for 5 years. During this time, Teofilo Velez told him that he had nothing left to teach him and that it was time to meet the old man, the founder of the art, Venancio “Anciong” Bacon.
Unfortunately, Anciong Bacon was incarcerated for killing the perpetrator by snapping the attacker’s spine and neck during an ambush. Bobby and his father searched for Anciong and thought he was in Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. With the help of his father’s connections as a police officer, they were able to locate Anciong, who was incarcerated in Camp Crame. Fortunately, one of the top officials of Camp Crame was a cousin of his father who spoke with the Provost Marshal and helped them locate Anciong Bacon.
During this first encounter with the old man, they played using a walis tambo (broomstick). Bobby was full of confidence because of his experience as a Balintawak fighter, but to his surprise, he was easily neutralized by Anciong. In 1972, Bobby trained with Anciong Bacon while he was in prison. For 6 months he trained with Anciong while providing for his needs.
Unbeknownst to all, the reason Anciong received an early parole was because of the help of the Tabimina family. After his release, he flew straight to Iligan City to continue Bobby’s training and would go to Cebu to satisfy his parole requirements.
In one of his trainings, Bobby said, "Noy, I think I have seen the light, I would like to try and attack you." Anciong allowed Bobby to attack him but ultimately paid a price and he sustained a damaged right ear. On one of his close friends accounts stated, "Bobby while training with Anciong flew in a pigsty. It is the only time you will see sweat, snot and blood at the same time. He is always black and blue." While training with Anciong, Bobby experienced the brutality of Anciong's training. The lore is not everyone can survive Anciong's training that is why the grouping system was created. In one of Bobby's training sessions, he finally told Anciong, "Noy, this is too difficult." Anciong replied, "Do you think everyone attacks like me? Go challenge other people and you will see." Following Anciong's advice, Bobby challenged numerous eskrimadors and other Balintawak practitioners and to his surprise, he easily neutralized them during a bahad or juego todo.
There was a meeting held in Cebu City where Bobby was called by Anciong because they were going to introduce the new methodology. Most of Anciong's students were there, unfortunately this methodology was never imparted because Bobby was challenged by Roman Encarnacion, one of Anciong's instructors in Cebu. During that encounter, Bobby easily neutralized Roman by pushing him in the chest and flew off the ground. After landing Roman Encarnacion fled the scene and Timoteo Maranga stood up and challenged Bobby. Bobby looked at Anciong and he just nodded and acknowledged. Bobby then proceeded to defend Timoteo's attack and counter attacking hitting his body. Timoteo Maranga is gifted and due to his stature and strength, continues to ignore the counter attacks and continue to press forward which is his signature style. While attacking with a forward momentum and attempting to stomp Bobby's foot, every time he stomps, the bamboo flooring would break. Anciong then stopped their fight and told Bobby, "Bob you forgot one thing. Timor let's play." Anciong then proceed to play with Timoteo Maranga and easily neutralized him by disrupting his balance. Timoteo Maranga then stated, "That's why he is the Grandmaster." Timoteo Maranga was amused by Bobby's defense and counter attacks that he offered to teach him his methodology and even went to Iligan to train Bobby.
Great Grandmaster Bob Silver Tabimina has trained with Atty. Jose Villasin, Teofilo Velez and Maj. Timoteo Maranga. But it is an undisputed fact that he is the sole inheritor of Anciong Bacon’s method. There is difference between being checked by the founder and was trained by the founder. He is compelled to preserve the lineage and his legacy. He alone was given the key on how to pass his art in its entirety.