Balintawak Has No Live Hand? Don’t Kid Yourself. Here’s Why I Still Choose Modern Arnis.

Lately, I’ve been hearing this wild claim that Balintawak “doesn’t have a live hand,” and that somehow makes Modern Arnis the superior art. Supposedly, this was even something Professor Remy Presas said. Let’s get real about this.

First off—Balintawak absolutely has a live hand. Anyone who’s actually trained in it knows this. Look at Group 1 in the grouping methodology—lifting and clearing. Unless you’re doing Jedi no-touch powers, you’re using your hand. To say otherwise isn’t just wrong—it disrespects an art that has shaped so much of what we do in FMA.

Now, did Professor really say that? I seriously doubt it. The man respected Balintawak and its community. He knew its value. My own experience confirms it: I had a solid live hand in Modern Arnis before I ever touched Balintawak, but once I trained there, I realized how hard it is to find another system that sharpens live hand work the way Balintawak does.

So why would someone spread this? Maybe politics. Maybe fear of losing students to Balintawak. Who knows. But let’s not twist the truth to push an agenda.

Here’s the bottom line for me: Modern Arnis is still my first choice. Not because Balintawak is “missing” something—it’s not—but because Modern Arnis is more versatile for the world I live in. Balintawak was designed for dueling stick fighters. Modern Arnis? It prepares you for the chaos of everyday life—grabs, punches, stabs, swings. That’s the stuff we’re more likely to face.

Does that mean I dismiss Balintawak? Absolutely not. Balintawak made me better. It gave me a deeper understanding of where Modern Arnis came from and how Professor built his synthesis. It’s part of my roots, and I respect it fully.

But when it comes to what I need in my martial arts journey, Modern Arnis is the art I’d bet on every single time.

So no, Balintawak doesn’t suffer from a “dead hand.” Don’t kid yourself. But for me, Modern Arnis is the art that truly delivers for real-world training.

Respectfully,
Datu Tim Hartman
Remy Presas’ Modern Arnis
Bacon–Buot Balintawak Eskrima

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