What is the Balintawak Escrima Cuentada System?

Balintawak means Heroes of the Cry of Freedom, referring to the famous freedom fighters of the Filipino revolt against Spanish domination. The name was also given to a small street in Cebu City, Philippines where the first balintawak escrima (Spanish word meaning skirmish) club was established in the 1930s by the late Great Grand Master "Anciong" Bacon. The balintawak system emphasizes both in-tight and long-range fighting and utilizes the single-stick and empty-hand applications for practicality.

Cuentada is a Spanish word that means to counter. It acknowledges the reality that there is a counter for every counter and that while making any move you should already be subconsciously anticipating your opponent's response.

Through hard lessons of the past, Grand Master Taboada realized that very little concern was placed on safety of the student while learning. He has resolved to teach his own students with a minimal risk of injury, which has led him to develop the traditional art of cuentada into a less punishing, yet powerful and effective system of training. Grand Master Taboada believes that it's easy to offensively strike, punch or kick somebody, but it's a lot more difficult to defend against an aggressive attack. For this reason, in his teaching he places primary emphasis on the creative mindset and technical skills necessary to counter and overcome any attack. To all students of the martial arts, he imparts this message: "Every style has something to offer. Pick up a good move, rehearse it, practice it, understand it and then think about the counter. Then it is yours."