# Workshop at Canada Bakbakan Headquarters

- Link: https://brianejohns.com/2011/02/11/blog-workshop-at-canada-bakbakan-headquarters/
- Published: 2011-02-11T21:00:00-05:00
- Author: Brian Johns

Recently, Guro Ramon Villardo invited me to conduct a two-hour Modern Arnis workshop
at the [Canada Bakbakan HQ](https://brianejohns.com/2011/12/12/blog-warrior-arts-of-the-philippines-fundraising-event/).
The workshop took place last Saturday, February 5th. 10 eager students attended 
the workshop.

## At the 󠀁[workshop](https://brianejohns.com/2008/04/15/blog-2008-toronto-fma-workshop/)󠁿, I focused on single sinawali techniques, a common root between Modern Arnis and Bakbakan.

At the beginning of the workshop, I quoted from a book entitled “[The Secrets of Kalis Illustrisimo](https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Kalis-Ilustrisimo-Filipino-Explained/dp/0804831459/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+secrets+of+kalis+illustrisimo&qid=1595637297&sr=8-1)”
by Antonio Diego and Christopher Ricketts. There is a section on Christopher “Topher”
Ricketts’s martial arts career. In particular. this section recalls his tutelage
under Dr. Guillermo Lengson. It states as follows:

> “It was in 1969 that Topher met Dr. Guillermo Lengson, an arnisador from Pangasinan,
> who was studying arnis under Remy Presas at Lengson’s dental clinic in Manila.
> At that time, Presas had not yet developed his so-called modern arnis style and
> was teaching Balintawak to Lengson, who, in turn, taught Presas the double stick
> art of sinawali.”

This section further indicates that under Dr. Lengson, Topher and several other 
students won several tournament competitions.

![The cover of "The Secrets of Kalis Illustrisimo"](https://i0.wp.com/brianejohns.
com//wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screen-Shot-2020-07-24-at-8.39.06-PM-703x1024.png?
resize=703%2C1024&ssl=1)

The cover

## Based on this common root, I focused on the Modern Arnis version of 󠀁[single sinawali](https://brianejohns.com//2017/01/09/blog-sinawali-applications/)󠁿, both cane and empty-handed.

If you are not able to view the video, click [here](https://youtu.be/afVdvSwK8CQ).

Throughout the workshop, I taught one right vs. right technique and one left vs.
right technique out of single sinawali. I also taught them applications of the armbar
and the standing centre lock based on single sinawali. I challenged them to put 
it all together at the end of the workshop, and the Bakbakan students rose to the
challenge and did a great job.

If you are not able to view this video, click [here](https://youtu.be/1N4lKP8aXhw).

## The hospitality that Canada Bakbakan displayed was outstanding, adding to the workshop’s enjoyment and fun! I look forward to seeing this outstanding group soon!

## Additional Reading

 * [2008 Toronto FMA Workshop](https://brianejohns.com/2008/04/15/blog-2008-toronto-fma-workshop/)
 * [Video of the Week 8: Single Sinawali Pattern](https://brianejohns.com/2024/04/15/video-of-the-week-8-single-sinawali-pattern/)
 * [Women Warriors of Filipino Martial Arts: Guro Peachie Baron Saguin](https://brianejohns.com/2014/12/01/blog-women-warriors-of-filipino-martial-arts-guro-peachie-baron-saguin/)
 * [Digging Deep into Single Sinawali](https://brianejohns.com/2021/12/06/blog-digging-deep-into-single-sinawali/)
 * [My Martial Arts Biography](https://brianejohns.com/2007/09/06/blog-my-martial-arts-biography/)

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