2. STARTING POSITION

1. HOLDING THE STICK

1. Hold the stick with a firm grip (NOT TIGHT), about  1 to 1.5  inches from the butt of the stick.  The danger of leaving a long butt is  the possibility of being disarmed or controlled by the opponent. This is the basic grip. Advanced gripping techniques that will be discussed later. Advanced ways are taught when the student understands the dangers of each situation and has further acquired the skill, speed and training to react in a fast and effective manner. Furthermore, it is unwieldy, it shortens you weapon and lessens your leverage. The stick must be at 90 degree angle with your arm. Do not bend the wrist while striking.  
   

2. Clip your elbows loosely, close to your side at a 90 degree angle. Forearms should be in a horizontal position while the stick should be in a vertical position. Avoid the slant forward of the stick (tumbada). It lets you open, allows sneaking blows or sliding blows and exposes you to a disarm. Some masters lean the stick on the side of their neck. They can do this when they have the  speed and training.  
   

3. The tip of the stick must be a level to the top of the head to cover strikes to the head, neck and face.  
   

4. The left hand must be loose and ready at nipple level as ina boxing stance.  
   

5. The right foot should be forward at a distance of one regular walking pace. No wide inflexible stance. Bend both knees slightly and raise the left heel slightly with the weight very slightly on the right forward foot (55-45 percent ratio)in delivering the blow. Otherwise, the weight must be able to shift either direction very quickly. It must be remembered that one of the abiding principles of Balintawak eskrima is balance. The Grandmaster knew very little English and one of the terms he always used was CENTER BALANCE. That is, maintaining balance on both feet with the ability to shift weight forward, backward or sideways, considering of course the physics and dynamics of power strikes.

2. USE OF EYES - Look straight into opponent’s eyes for eye to eye contact and for the following reasons:

1. To guard against attack with hands, feet and the stick in case grappling and in-fighting. Guard against elbows knees and head-butts. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FOLLOW THE STICK WITH YOUR EYES. USE PERIPHERAL VISION AND "FEEL" IN SENSING THE STICK AND BODY MOVEMENT AND INERTIA.  
   

2. As part of psychological warfare to instill fear, hesitation and even terror. Confidence, resolve, will power and willingness  on your part to use violent force unnerves a faint hearted foe.

3. MAINTAINING DISTANCE

It is important to maintain the proper fighting distance between you and your opponent. The reasons are to keep your balance, deliver power blows and maintain control over your opponent. This is achieved by proper stepping. The following are basic rules. They are NOT set out in concrete but learn first the basics. When a fighter knows what he is doing, he may break the rules, often as a ruse to trap his unsuspecting foe into thinking he has an open blow.

1. WHENTHE STICK IS NOT IN MOTION.

1. If the opponent’s& right foot is forward, withdraw your left foot to maintain proper fighting distance.
   

2. If opponent’s left foot is forward, withdraw your right foot to avoid being stepped on, kicked and to maintain distance. The same rule is true with your left foot.
   

3. In the same manner, if the opponent withdraws his left foot, make a forward step with your right foot, that is, to maintain the proper fighting distance and so as not to lose control of your opponent.

2. WHEN STICK IS IN MOTION.

1. If opponent’s stick is on your left side, withdraw your left foot to avoid a "dropping blow" (patagakan or dakdak) and to face the blow
   

2. If opponent’s stick is on your right side, withdraw your right foot for the same reason.
   

3. If your opponent delivers a blow to your left side while your foot is withdrawn, do not withdraw your foot any farther but turn your left shoulder (takilid) farther left and away from the blow to face the strike.
   

4. If your opponent  delivers a strike to your right side and while doing so he makes a simultaneous backward step, do not withdraw your right foot if it is in a forward position. Instead, step forward with your left foot to maintain control and proper fighting distance.

4. MAINTAINING BALANCE

1. In eskrima as in any martial art, balance is considered of primordial importance. Effective delivery of blows and effective defense against blows, kicks or punches depend very largely on balance. For this reason we advocate& normal balanced steps, short and low snap kicks and a balanced delivery versus the fancy high kicks and wide arm swings in the delivery of strikes. As I have stated earlier, one of the principles held by the late Balintawak Grandmaster "Anciong" Bacon was CENTER BALANCE. This has been referred to in other Asian arts as the chi, said to be located above the navel. When the person is hit above the center of balance, his tendency is to fall backwards and when hit below the center of balance, the tendency is to fall forward. Thus boxers hit below the center of balance falls forward, gravity adds tremendously to the uppercut blow. I; suspect the exception is, when hit on the jaw in a knockout punch. When the power goes out, the man just slumps and falls wherever is weight is tilted at the point of power failure.