25 Years Ago Today – A Turning Point in My Martial Arts Journey

In every martial artist’s path, there are defining moments—turning points that reshape how we train, how we teach, and how we see the art. For me, one of the biggest happened exactly 25 years ago: I officially began training in Balintawak Eskrima under the late Grandmaster Ted Buot.

Many of you have heard the story, but for those who haven’t—it all started with Professor Remy Presas. He once told me, “If you want to become a real stick fighter, train with Ted.” At the time, I didn’t fully grasp the weight of that advice, but I quickly found out why he said it.

What many don’t realize is that Balintawak was the last system Professor Presas trained in before creating Modern Arnis. In fact, he was one of Anciong Bacon’s top fighters. Because of my deep background in Modern Arnis, I began to recognize the roots of our system—tracing key concepts and techniques directly back to Balintawak. And that insight began changing me almost immediately.

My live hand transformed. I started setting traps, creating openings, and drawing reactions—not by telling partners what to do, but by baiting them into predictable patterns. That strategic depth—that ability to manipulate the flow—came straight from the Bacon–Buot lineage.

And as I continued training, one thing became clear: Balintawak didn’t replace Modern Arnis—it revealed deeper layers of it. I wasn’t switching systems; I was expanding my understanding. That’s an important distinction. Too often people think it’s either/or. But the truth is, both arts brought different tools to the table, and knowing both gave me a distinct advantage. When I sparred with players from either system, I had answers—because I could see both playbooks.

As I grew in Balintawak, I began teaching the relationship between Modern Arnis and Balintawak, helping others see how the two systems complement one another. Eventually, with Grandmaster Buot’s blessing, I began conducting dedicated Balintawak seminars. It was an incredible honor to be one of only two people he personally authorized to teach his material in that format.

Now here’s something I don’t think enough people talk about: Professor Presas wasn’t trying to keep us from Balintawak—he was pointing us back toward it. Over the years, he sent several of us to train with Manong Ted. And every time we saw him afterward, he’d ask what we had learned. In my opinion, he was trying to return to his roots. Unfortunately, his seminar schedule was relentless, and it left little room for that kind of focused retraining.

But he trusted students like me—people who weren’t leaving Modern Arnis, but were trying to understand it on a deeper level. I truly believe that if Professor were still with us today, Balintawak would have had a far greater influence on the evolution of Modern Arnis.

In the end, this journey didn’t just change how I move—it changed how I think. It gave me new eyes to see the arts I’ve devoted my life to. And for that, I’m forever grateful to Manong Ted—for his time, his wisdom, and his trust.

His influence still guides everything I do.

Respectfully,
Tim Hartman
Remy Presas Arnis
Bacon–Buot Balintawak