BAKBAKAN INTERNATIONAL, established in 1968, 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/Chapters
Bakbakan International Headquarters is located in Manila, Philippines and is headed by the Ricketts' brothers (the late Master Christopher Ricketts and his brother, Chief Instructor Ronnie Ricketts). Before his departure from the United States, Master Rey Galang has successfully established Bakbakan International Chapters in Canada, Australia, the United States and Europe. The present form and structure of Bakbakan is credited to Master Rey Galang who is one of its founding and charter members. Master Rey Galang wrote many of the rules and regulations of Bakbakan International in close conference with the Masters, Senior Members as well as its revered Grandmasters. The late 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 does not purport to take credit away from "Tatang" Ilustrisimo but to identify the system developed and structured by Bakbakan based on Grandmaster Antonio "Tatang" Ilustrisimo's concepts and strategy.
Weapon Systems - the following are the weapons systems taught in Bakbakan:
Kali Ilustrisimo:
The late 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:
From the combat tested and proven art of KALI ILUSTRISIMO is born the knife fighting art of TULISAN. Tulisan Knife Fighting System is developed under the watchful and critical eyes of the late Grand Master Antonio "Tatang" Ilustrisimo and Senior student, Master Rey Galang of Bakbakan Kali. TULISAN Knife Fighting has proven itself a totally realistic, dynamic and practical Filipino Martial Arts knife fighting system. The development and evolution of the knife fighting art of TULISAN owes much to the constant refinement and testing of its techniques. This is achieved through regular sparring and constant emphasis on the reality of the knife. An off-shoot of the Bakbakan Kali Ilustrisimo system, Tulisan Knife Fighting System is based more on basic knife-fighting techniques and constant sparring rather than memorized pre-planned drills. Tulisan has proven its mettle in many sparring matches against knife-fighters from other systems.
Sinawali Fighting System:
Recognizing the need for ambidexterity and fluidity in the mastery of weapons, Bakbakan's research into the Philippine martial arts found its answer in the ancient system of Sinawali - a fighting style popular in the Central Luzon plains. Although not exclusively a double weapon system, Sinawali emphasizes double weapons training for obvious advantageous reasons. Bakbakan's Sinawali Fighting System is a major stepping stone into the realm of Espada y Daga (Sword and Dagger). Once familiarity and ambidexterity has been achieved, it is a simple progression to switch from equal length weapons to short and long armaments. Research and development of Bakbakan's Sinawali system is credited to Master Rey Galang, with contributions from Antonio Diego and the late Edgar G. Sulite. Antonio Diego, the recognized and designated heir of the Kali Ilustrisimo system. Known for his well-rounded expertise in both long and short weapons, Diego has proven his worth with the blade in many street encounters and full-contact sparring matches.
Lameco Eskrima:
The late Punong-Guro Edgar G. Sulite, who founded "Lameco Eskrima," is another of the first-generation Kali Ilustrisimo masters that helped develop the structure of the Bakbakan Kali system. Punong-Guro Sulite's Lameco System is part of Bakbakan's repertoire of fighting arts. It was the close fraternal ties with Bakbakan that prompted Edgar to have his Masters Tour within Bakbakan premises and with Bakbakan Masters and guest instructors from other systems conducting workshops for his Lameco students. Punong Guro Edgar Sulite died in the Philippines in 1997.
The following are empty hands fighting systems taught in Bakbakan:
(1) Sagasa 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.
(2) 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.
(3) "Ngo Cho Kun" Kung Fu
Ngo Cho helps develop power, stamina and concentration which are qualities of enormous value to the martial artist.
Organization/Chapters
Bakbakan International Headquarters is located in Manila, Philippines and is headed by the Ricketts' brothers (the late Master Christopher Ricketts and his brother, Chief Instructor Ronnie Ricketts). Before his departure from the United States, Master Rey Galang has successfully established Bakbakan International Chapters in Canada, Australia, the United States and Europe. The present form and structure of Bakbakan is credited to Master Rey Galang who is one of its founding and charter members. Master Rey Galang wrote many of the rules and regulations of Bakbakan International in close conference with the Masters, Senior Members as well as its revered Grandmasters. The late 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 does not purport to take credit away from "Tatang" Ilustrisimo but to identify the system developed and structured by Bakbakan based on Grandmaster Antonio "Tatang" Ilustrisimo's concepts and strategy.
Weapon Systems - the following are the weapons systems taught in Bakbakan:
Kali Ilustrisimo:
The late 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:
From the combat tested and proven art of KALI ILUSTRISIMO is born the knife fighting art of TULISAN. Tulisan Knife Fighting System is developed under the watchful and critical eyes of the late Grand Master Antonio "Tatang" Ilustrisimo and Senior student, Master Rey Galang of Bakbakan Kali. TULISAN Knife Fighting has proven itself a totally realistic, dynamic and practical Filipino Martial Arts knife fighting system. The development and evolution of the knife fighting art of TULISAN owes much to the constant refinement and testing of its techniques. This is achieved through regular sparring and constant emphasis on the reality of the knife. An off-shoot of the Bakbakan Kali Ilustrisimo system, Tulisan Knife Fighting System is based more on basic knife-fighting techniques and constant sparring rather than memorized pre-planned drills. Tulisan has proven its mettle in many sparring matches against knife-fighters from other systems.
Sinawali Fighting System:
Recognizing the need for ambidexterity and fluidity in the mastery of weapons, Bakbakan's research into the Philippine martial arts found its answer in the ancient system of Sinawali - a fighting style popular in the Central Luzon plains. Although not exclusively a double weapon system, Sinawali emphasizes double weapons training for obvious advantageous reasons. Bakbakan's Sinawali Fighting System is a major stepping stone into the realm of Espada y Daga (Sword and Dagger). Once familiarity and ambidexterity has been achieved, it is a simple progression to switch from equal length weapons to short and long armaments. Research and development of Bakbakan's Sinawali system is credited to Master Rey Galang, with contributions from Antonio Diego and the late Edgar G. Sulite. Antonio Diego, the recognized and designated heir of the Kali Ilustrisimo system. Known for his well-rounded expertise in both long and short weapons, Diego has proven his worth with the blade in many street encounters and full-contact sparring matches.
Lameco Eskrima:
The late Punong-Guro Edgar G. Sulite, who founded "Lameco Eskrima," is another of the first-generation Kali Ilustrisimo masters that helped develop the structure of the Bakbakan Kali system. Punong-Guro Sulite's Lameco System is part of Bakbakan's repertoire of fighting arts. It was the close fraternal ties with Bakbakan that prompted Edgar to have his Masters Tour within Bakbakan premises and with Bakbakan Masters and guest instructors from other systems conducting workshops for his Lameco students. Punong Guro Edgar Sulite died in the Philippines in 1997.
The following are empty hands fighting systems taught in Bakbakan:
(1) Sagasa 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.
(2) 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.
(3) "Ngo Cho Kun" Kung Fu
Ngo Cho helps develop power, stamina and concentration which are qualities of enormous value to the martial artist.
