WOTBAG Method of Teaching

The students begin with the 12 basic angles of attack and  defense, taught by basic blocks and counters to these strikes.The Instructor will then attack in the "12 Basic Strikes" and the student will block and counter this series.



Later, as the students timing, control, speed and footwork combine properly, the instructor will then attack with ‘At Random’ strikes and then later will introduce stronger and faster random attacks with an angular semi-hitting strike to make the student a faster reactions, including sometimes with the 'Pak Gung' of sticks. 


The 12 Basic Strikes, At Random and Pak Gung are only the beginning. They are the basic foundation or platform of Balintawak and can be a very enjoyable free style, free flowing, free wheeling form of play.This is the foundation for which all advanced training is to be based on.


After the basic angles, the student is introduced to basic grouping methods. These methods give the student an intro to possible attacks and openings. The 5 grouping methods introduce concepts of the live hand, thrusting, utilizing the butt of the stick, grabbing, etc. An advanced set series of attacks are now used by the instructor against the student and the student will learn the advanced set series of counters and defence to the instructor’s attacks. These set series are called the ‘Grouping’ or ‘Groups’ method,and Variations of  Grouping Method and are considered a type of grading system. They answer questions such as "What do you do if your counter has been grabbed, what is the defense?" One of the groups will show the student how to defend in this situation. "What if the opponent tries to disarm or grabs and locks your stick or arm and punches?" The Groups answer these questions and the style is gradually built up, further and further by showing the counters to the counters, from the basic platform of the style. When the student does all the techniques from the groups in a flowing fashion, then the movements between the student and instructor will become an advanced freewheeling motion, all based on the students and instructors individual timing.

One the student has achieved proficiency in these methods "Grouping Method" the Advance Students will learn also the Push and Pulling,Hitting, Snatching, Butting,Stick Locking,Tripping,Combat Judo, Punta y Daga. It will proceed to Random feeding or Palakaw is trained and continuously refined until "correct" responses are programmed into the practitioner.