Tournaments - FMA Informative

The student learns to look at the enemy without flinching, blinking, or turning the
focus of one’s vision to the enemy’s fist, hand or weapon, even in the middle of a flurry
of offensive strikes. “You have to look at the enemy straight on, dead center, and rely on
peripheral vision to see the strikes,” says Tabimina. “That way, no matter which direction
the strike comes, you’ll see it. The moment you blink or shift your focus onto your
enemy’s hands or weapon, you’re done for. A single distraction or improper focus can
make a life and death difference.”
Balintawak also involves keeping in step with one’s opponent and maintaining the
Balintawak fighter’s in-your-face fighting range. Tabimina teaches students to dominate
and control the fight by keeping in close range, whether one is moving back or moving
forward. A Balintawak sparring session looks like cha-cha from the outside, with fighters
moving back and forward in a synchronized way. The fighter who breaks the rhythm,
either by failing to do the proper footwork or failing to keep the right range, loses.
And the fact that most fighters are not comfortable in close range is probably one
reason for Balintawak’s fearsome reputation.
“It’s very rare that a fighter can fight close range,” says Tabimina. “The natural
instinct is to move away from a threat. So many fighters will try to stay in the middle or
longer range during a fight. They’re simply uncomfortable being in such close range with
an enemy so their natural instinct is to move back. Once such a fighter moves back, a
Balintawak fighter will take advantage of it and move in. By moving in and controlling
the range, the Balintawak fighter can unbalance an opponent, discomfort, and bring him
down.”
According to Tabimina, one of the phrases used by Bacon with his students is
“Simhuta ko, dong,” which is Cebuano for “Smell me, boy!” This simply means a
Balintawak fighter relies on virtually pure sensory inputs and reactions. An enemy
moves, and the good Balintawak fighter reacts quickly and effectively.
“This doesn’t mean any reaction will do,” Tabimina
cautions. “The reaction must be a productive one. And it should
be automatic. Zero-mind. An unproductive, improper or delayed
reaction can be deadly. Since you are fighting close range, any
extra, unnecessary movement, the closest gap or pause in your
reaction will make a difference in the fight’s outcome. An
unproductive movement of the feet can leave you
unbalanced, so the Balintawak fighter can use that against
you. An unproductive movement of your arm can be used
against you, too. In close-ranged fighting, more things can
happen. Balintawak has only 12 basic strikes, but at close
range, the combinations are almost infinite, and an
opponent’s reactionary gap can be his downfall.”
As someone who’s experienced Balintawak sparring
– something that we undoubtedly did with much silliness
while looking like the uncoordinated idiot we are – the “smell
me” phrase has some added meaning. You can literally smell your
opponent at such close range. Balintawak isn’t just in your face. It’s fighting at smelling
distance. But you can’t think, “Hey, am I smelling Hugo Boos?” or “That’s my mom’s
cologne!” because what happens next is lights out for you, boy.