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Martial Arts Topics / about Atillo Balintawak and Balintawak history
« on: January 06, 2004, 01:13:37 AM »
(I did some research for you guys)...
http://www.blackbeltmag.com/archives/blackbelt/1998/dec98/way.html
http://www.krishnagodhania.com/articles/duel.html
http://www.blackbeltmag.com/archives/blackbelt/1998/dec98/way.html
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Atillo was 14 years old when he began his formal training in 1952 under arnis legend Venancio "Anciong" Bacon, but his first fighting experience came at a much younger age. During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in the early 1940s, Atillo's father was a member of the resistance, and more than once both father and son narrowly avoided capture. It was also during these war years that he witnessed Bacon and another legendary Balintawak master, Teodoro Saavedra, fight in challenge matches. These early experiences left a deep impression on the young Atillo and made him a lifelong devotee of the original style of Balintawak arnis.
After World War II, the only surviving Balintawak master was Bacon. It was from him that Atillo learned most of this single-stick style. But Atillo's father was also a student of the late Saavedra, and the senior Atillo passed those skills along to his son. The result was a style of arnis that made the junior Atillo one of the best ambassadors of arnis in the Philippines.
http://www.krishnagodhania.com/articles/duel.html
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In September 1983, Ciriaco "Cacoy" Canete fought Ising Atillo in the last officially sanctioned duel. The duel, witnessed by many spectators, did not last long. Two strikes to the temple and one to the hand brought matters to a close. A rematch was scheduled for four days later—but Atillo's heart rate was too high, and he was declared physically unfit.