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, which is a guided, 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.
Great Grandmaster Bob Silver Tabimina is the inheritor of Anciong Bacon’s method and continues to preserve the lineage. He alone was given the key on how to pass his art in its entirety.