Bakbakan International

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.

Organization

Bakbakan is a Filipino Martial Arts Association with its headquarters located in Manila, Philippines. The founder and Chief Instructor of Bakbakan is Christopher Ricketts, a well-known martial artist in the Philippines, Australia, and the United States.

Bakbakan has chapters in Australia, Canada, and the United States. It was Bakbakan that promoted the Masters of Arnis tour in Australia that featured Christopher Ricketts,
Antonio Diego, Edgar Sulite, and Rey Galang.

Training Methods

Kali Ilustrisimo

Grandmaster Antonio "Tatang" Ilustrisimo is the revered head of the Kali Ilustrisimo system. It is this system that is the basis of Bakbakan's Kali system now referred to as Bakbakan Kali Ilustrisimo. This name change identifies the system developed and structured by Bakbakan based on Grandmaster Ilustrisimo's concepts and strategy.

Tulisan Knife-Fighting System

An off-shoot of the Bakbakan Kali Ilustrisimo system, is based more on basic knife-fighting techniques and constant sparring rather than memorized pre-planned drills.

inawali Fighting System

Teaches ambidexterity and fluidity in the mastery of weapons.

Lameco Eskrima

The late Edgar Sulite of Lameco Eskrima is another of the first-generation Kali Ilustrisimo masters that helped develop the structure of the Bakbakan Kali system. Sulite's Lameco Eskrima System is part of Bakbakan's system of martial arts.

agasa Kickboxing System

Developed from drills and concepts formulated by Dr. Guillermo Lengson of the Karate Federation of the Philippines, Sagasa Kickboxing System has progressed into its present form through the efforts of Christopher Ricketts and senior members of Bakbakan. The intensive drills, known as "series", are designed to develop coordination, power and reflexes.

Hagibis Combat System

Complements Sagasa as combat evolves from long and mid-range into close-quarters fighting. Developed primarily as throwing and tripping techniques, Hagibis also includes grappling and submission arts. Emphasis, however, is to throw or disable an opponent in such a way, that one is able to defend themselves against multiple opponents.

Ngo Cho Kun Kung Fu

Ngo Cho helps develop power, stamina and concentration which are qualities of enormous value to the martial artist.

Notable Members

Tony Diego, Edgar Sulite, Alexander Co, Christopher Ricketts, Rey Galang, Dodong Sta. Iglesia, Miguel Zubiri, Ding Binay, Ronnie Ricketts, Rolly Maximo, Ramon Tulfo, Rey Dizer, Edgar Aristorenas.

Publications

The organization or its senior members have been featured in the following published works:
*September 1997 issue of "Exotic Martial Arts of Southeast Asia"
*"Filipino Martial Culture" by Mark V. Wiley ISBN 0-8048-2088-0
*"Five Ancestor Fist Kung Fu" by Alexander Co ISBN 0-8048-3153-X
*Premiere Issue of "Martial Arts Illustrated".
*"Masters of the Blade" by Reynaldo S. Galang ISBN 0-9727679-2-4
*"Warrior Arts of the Philippines" by Reynaldo S. Galang ISBN 0-9727679-1-6
*"Classic ARNIS - The Legacy of Placido Yambao" by Reynaldo S. Galang ISBN 0-9727679-0-8
*"Complete Sinawali Filipino Double Weapon Fighting" by Reynaldo S. Galang ISBN 0-8048-3156-4

References

*"Filipino Martial Culture" by Mark Wiley. ISBN 0-8048-2088-0 Tuttle Publishing

External links

* [http://www.bakbakan.com/ "Bakbakan International Website"]
* [http://www.bakbakan.co.uk/ "Bakbakan International - United Kingdom Website"]
* [http://www.ilustrisimoUSA.com/ "ILUSTRISIMO USA Website"]