What happens when Filipino grandmasters of the native martial arts of Kali (knife fighting,) Sinawali (sword and dagger,) street fighting, and unarmed combat come together? Bakbakan.

"Bakbakan International is a brotherhood of martial artists from different disciplines of martial arts. It is not a style nor representative of any single style. It is a center for the sharing of ideas, techniques and knowledge." - from the Bakbakan International Member's Handbook.

Headed by the "who’s who" in Filipino Martial Arts communities, Bakbakan is a confraternity of all the best moves, principles, and techniques each discipline has to offer.

With a main office at Manila, Philippines and outlying chapters in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and Europe, Bakbakan International remains ever dynamic with the constant interchange of ideas from students of progressive fighting styles in this organization honing and continually shaping the refinement of the Bakbakan method of fighting. A dynamic yet strong foundation for improving the combat arts.

A Covenant Between Brothers

To support, propagate and develop the Warrior Arts of the Philippines. Such is the goal and standard of the Bakbakan fraternity. The ideals of the group remain embodied intheir maxim: "Karunungan, Katapatan, Katarungan" (Knowledge, Loyalty, Justice or Truth)

Exactly like a fraternity, members of Bakbakan International are made to pledge according to the principles of the Philippine Katipunan conventions.: Allegiance, loyalty and obedience to God, to country, and to the brotherhood.

Affiliation with the Bakbakan International Fraternity is not just a membership. It is a commitment.

The Discipline and the Master

Bakbakan wouldn’t be the formidable martial art it is without the combined expertise of the grand masters.

Bakbakan Kali Ilustrisimo

An off-shoot of the Kali Ilustrisimo system designed by Grandmaster Antonio 'Tatang' Ilustrisimo, the name Bakbakan Kali Ilustrisimo was coined to describe the system developed and structured by Bakbakan International based on Grandmaster Ilustrisimo’s concepts and strategy. It is these training methods and structure that differentiate the Bakbakan Kali Ilustrisimo practitioner from any other Kali Ilustrisimo claimant. Time and again, the effectiveness of the Bakbakan system has proven its worth in competitions local and abroad.

Based on basic knife fighting techniques and constant sparring as opposed to pre-arranged drills, the Tulisan (too-lee-san) Knife-Fighting System is another variant of the Bakbakan Kali Ilustrisimo system. Fast gaining popularity among Bakbakan members, Tulisan has proven its mettle in many sparring matches against knife-fighters from other systems. Antonio Diego, the recognized heir to the Kali Ilustrisimo system is the instructor for the Bakbakan Kali system.

Master Rey Galang’s Sinawali

Rey Galang, one of the most recognized names in the escrima and Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) circles, brings his expertise in the Central Luzon region method of double weapons fighting, "Sinawali."

A major stepping stone into the Espada y Daga (Sword and Dagger,) Sinawali trains the Bakbakan practitioner ambidexterity and fluidity of movement. Once the two abilities are mastered, it is a simple progression from equal length weapons to uneven ones.

Unarmed Combat

Through the efforts of Dr. Guillermo "Doc" Lengson, Bakbakan founder Christopher Ricketts, and other senior members of Bakbakan, the Sagasa Kickboxing System ("sagasa" literally meaning running over) is another technique in the Bakbakan repertoire. The intensive drills, known as "series" are geared towards developing coordination, power, and reflexes.

Complementary to Sagasa is the Hagibis Combat System where combat evolves from long and mid-range into close-quarters fighting.

Starting off as throwing and tripping techniques, Hagibis has also included grappling and submission arts.

Taking into consideration the fact that most street attacks are multiple and armed, emphasis is given on training the Bakbakan practitioner to disable and throw opponents while retaining the ability to fend off oncoming attackers. Reminders are given though, to be wary of grappling with multiple and armed assailants with grappling only as an unavoidable option.

Bakbakan's combination of Sagasa and Hagibis systems has qualified its members to participate and represent the Philippines in San Shou competitions internationally.

Joining the Brotherhood

While the fame of Bakbakan continues to grow in international communities, getting in is no easy matter. No Bakbakan aspirant is allowed entry without any referral from an active full- fledged member.

This guarantees that all candidates are known personally to the responsible "sponsoring" member. Where a candidate has no patron, the aspirant is then subjected to a minimum of six months probationary period before even being accepted as an Associate Member.

Such practice, though strict and elitist, remain enforced an appreciated particularly when it comes to weeding out the "undesirables.".