Three Related Cebuano Martial Arts

It is easier to comprehend a martial art concept or working principle when viewed from many seemingly different but actually related martial arts, if one has a chance to venture on cross training with martial arts sharing the same working principle, say the so-called principle of corto.

In the contemporary Cebuano martial arts we have three related martial arts that are currently available to the public. All these share the same lineage and emphasize the corto principle.

One is the now famous Balintaawak system of eskrima founded by Venancio “Anciong” Bacon. This system emphasizes, among other things, the close-quarter stick fighting. Another related Cebuano martial art is Tat Kon Tou, a barehanded fighting art developed by José Go-Millan. The third one is Baraw Sugbo, less-known Cebuano martial art focusing solely on the use of the dagger. This was originated by Lorenzo Saavedra.

Historically all these are related because, Lorenzo “Tatay Insong” Saavedra also happened to be the original organizer of both the Labangon Fencing Club and the original Doce Pares schools. He was also the teacher of Venancio Bacon. José “Joe Go” Go-Millan was also one of the many students of Anciong Bacon.

The aforementioned martial arts emphasize practically almost the same fighting principle wherein the “Live Hand” is given too much importance. Enthusiasts of any of these martial art, could easily adopt the strategy of the other, say, a Balintawak practitioner would find it easy to learn and apply any thing about Tat Kon Tou. The Tat Kon Tou stylist also would find Balintawak eskrima, familiar in many things. They can also find that Baraw Sugbo can literally improve their performances in their respective arts since it shares a familiar fighting strategy.

Many non-FMA stylists appreciate eskrima and easily integrate it to their respective martial arts. Many Wing Chun practitioners, for example, are cross-training with eskrima since they can easily get the concept.