B. STARTING POSITION

1. HOLDING THE STICK

1. a. Hold the stick with a firm grip (NOT TIGHT) hammer grip, 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. Alternate gripping techniques will be discussed later. Alternate 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 your weapon and lessens your advantage and leverage. The stick must be a 90-degree angle with your arm. Do not bend the wrist while striking. Avoid the limp wrist please! It’s too girly.
   b. 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 leaves the fighter open to disarm. It further allows sneaking blows or sliding blows. Some masters lean the stick on the side of their neck. They do this when they have the confidence, speed and training.
   c. The tip of the stick must be at level to the top of the head to cover strikes to the head, neck and face.
   d. The left hand must be loose and ready at nipple level as in a boxing stance.
   e. The right foot should be forward at a distance of one regular walking pace. Avoid a wide and 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.

    

1. USE OF EYES - Look straight into opponent’s eyes for eye-to-eye contact (some martial arts look at the chest or the neck) and for the following same reasons:

   - Using peripheral vision to guard against attack with hands, feet and the stick in case grappling and infighting. Guard against elbows knees and head-butts. 
   DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FOLLOW THE STICK WITH YOUR EYES AS IN WATCHING A PINGPONG GAME. USE PERIPHERAL VISION AND "FEEL" IN SENSING THE STICK AND BODY MOVEMENT AND INERTIA.- As part of the psychological warfare - to instill fear and intimidation, hesitation and even panic and even terror and to show confidence, resolve and determination this often unnerves a fainthearted foe.
   - Some martial arts advocate focusing of the chest and just use peripheral vision.

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. WHEN THE STICK IS NOT IN MOTION.

   1) If the opponent’s right foot is forward, withdraw your right foot to maintain proper fighting distance.
   2) If opponents' 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 strike" (patagakan or dakdak). Do not turn your back to the strike.
   2)  If opponent’s stick is on your right side, withdraw your right foot for the same reason.
   3)  If your opponent delivers a strike to your left side while your foot is withdrawn, do not withdraw your foot any farther. Instead, 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.
   5) FACE THE STRIKE - Even if struck at an oblique angle, turn your body to face the strike.

MAINTAINING BALANCE

In eskrima as in any martial art, balance is considered of primordial importance. Effective delivery of strikes 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. The late Balintawak Grandmaster "Anciong" Bacon always spoke of 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 his weight is tilted at the point of power failure.