# Women Warriors of Filipino Martial Arts: Guro Peachie Baron Saguin

- Link: https://brianejohns.com/2014/12/01/blog-women-warriors-of-filipino-martial-arts-guro-peachie-baron-saguin/
- Published: 2014-12-01T17:52:00-05:00
- Author: Brian Johns

Guro Peachie Baron Saguin is one of the foremost teachers of Kalis Illustrisimo.
He recently did a seminar tour with Guro Arnold Narzo in the USA. Both were long-
time students of GM Tony Diego. Grandmaster Diego was a student of Grandmaster Antonio‘
Tatang’ Ilustrisimo, a legendary eskrimador.

Guro Peachie kindly answered questions via email for this blog post. Thank you, 
Guro, for taking the time to answer the questions.

## **Prior martial arts background**

I don’t have a lot of martial arts background because when I found the group [Bakbakan](https://brianejohns.com/2011/02/11/blog-workshop-at-canada-bakbakan-headquarters/)
International, I stayed there. I joined first Hwarang do, saw a JKD group in the
Philippines and tried it for a month, then I found Bakbakan. And here’s how I met
Master Tony.

I first met Master Tony Diego when I joined Bakbakan International in 1989. He was
a friend of the Master of Bakbakan Christopher Ricketts, and was invited frequently
in our practice sessions, to share with the students of Bakbakan his style in sword
and knife fighting.

When my Master in Bakbakan left for the States for good, I started training with
Master Tony on a regular basis with his Binondo group, the Kalis Ilustrisimo. My
training then took on a leap. I was shown the proper way to hold the blade, not 
to grip the handle too tight, to prevent it from being disarmed when struck heavily
with another sword. Then I was taught the different kinds and forms of striking 
and blocking, and the footwork and stances that goes for each attack and counter-
attack.  I was asked to repeatedly execute a particular strike before moving on 
to the next. Master Tony has always reiterated the importance of repetitive exercise
for one to gain mastery of the form. 

### Soon enough Master Tony taught me how to use the stick and knife at the same time. This style is called Punta y Daga.

From this style, my interest grew more and more and I always look forward to a [sword play](https://brianejohns.com/2021/02/26/blog-killer-podcast/)
with Master Tony, where my speed and accuracy to block and strike are put to test,
my distance and movements, checked and corrected. There are moments when Master 
Tony would attack me when my guard is down to find out how I would react. If I stopped,
he would tell me not to think but just to react, otherwise, I get hit. The word “
sorry” is never used in the gym. If you get hit, it’s your fault.

### **How many years did you train with Master Tony? How often did you train with him?**

I trained with him from 1989 up to the last Sunday that he was at the park.. I used
to train with 4 times in a week. Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and then 
when my husband died in December 2009, I got too busy with work that I get to train
with him only every Sunday.

Master Tony passed away two weeks after he stopped going to the park. He was already
on and off in the hospital. In fact he had difficulty standing but called me on 
a Saturday and said, “_tomorrow at the park, feed me and I will do all the counters”
So I feed him while he was sitting down_ because he was having a hard time standing
up.

### **What inspired you to pursue training?**

It’s my passion. I feel alive when I’m crossing swords.

### **Training with a Sword**

After considerable drills with a wooden sword, Master Tony gave me as a gift, a 
real sword to practice on. Again my strikes and counter strikes were checked. Using
the real sword, Master Tony would ask me to execute the different strikes and counter
strikes. The purpose of this exercise, he said, is to gain better control of the
blade and to prevent improper techniques from developing, and thus trains the student
to hit at the right angle. My first swordplay using a real sword with Master Tony
was really scary, but then I passed with flying colors.

Suffice it to say, I was taught not only to defend and attack on a standing position
but on a sitting and lying down position as well. The exercise of ascending and 
descending the stairs during a duel is so difficult and tiring. Disarming is also
part of the drills.

## Training with Master Tony was not easy.

I often found myself catching my breath during the swordplay, while Master Tony 
was laughing and comfortably attacking and parrying my strikes. At the end of each
session, I am totally exhausted. My shoulders ache and I could hardly lift my arms.
At home before going to bed, I would take a muscle relaxant to relieve the pain 
so I could train again in the next session.

### **How often do you train with real swords vs. wooden swords?**

I only train with blunt swords.

### **Do you consider the sword to be an extension of your arm?**

Absolutely.

As I continued my training with Master Tony, I learned not only the art of bladed
weapons but also, the essence of a good swordsman, the discipline and the commitment
that one must have to the art.

Christened as Antonio Ramoneda Diego Maestro, Mang Tony, as he prefers to be called,
truly lived up to his name, a “maestro” in bladed weapons… a master by name and 
by heart. Mang Tony Diego passed away on August 25, 2014.

Guro Peachie was interviewed by the Manila Times and the interview is quite informative.
See: [http://www.manilatimes.net/the-grand-dame-of-filipino-martial-arts/86238/](http://www.manilatimes.net/the-grand-dame-of-filipino-martial-arts/86238/)

## Additional Reading

 * [Workshop at Canada Bakbakan Headquarters](https://brianejohns.com/2011/02/11/blog-workshop-at-canada-bakbakan-headquarters/)
 * [Bikinis and Filipino Martial Arts](https://brianejohns.com/2015/09/09/blog-bikinis-and-filipino-martial-arts/)
 * [Warrior Arts of the Philippines Fundraising Event](https://brianejohns.com/2011/12/12/blog-warrior-arts-of-the-philippines-fundraising-event/)
 * [Horrifying Mall Attack](https://brianejohns.com/2023/12/06/horrifying-mall-attack/)
 * [One Way To Be A Warrior](https://brianejohns.com/2023/05/11/one-way-to-be-a-warrior/)

### Share this post:

 * [  X ](https://brianejohns.com/2014/12/01/blog-women-warriors-of-filipino-martial-arts-guro-peachie-baron-saguin/?share=twitter)
 * [  Facebook ](https://brianejohns.com/2014/12/01/blog-women-warriors-of-filipino-martial-arts-guro-peachie-baron-saguin/?share=facebook)
 * [  LinkedIn ](https://brianejohns.com/2014/12/01/blog-women-warriors-of-filipino-martial-arts-guro-peachie-baron-saguin/?share=linkedin)
 * [  Threads ](https://brianejohns.com/2014/12/01/blog-women-warriors-of-filipino-martial-arts-guro-peachie-baron-saguin/?share=threads)
 * [  WhatsApp ](https://brianejohns.com/2014/12/01/blog-women-warriors-of-filipino-martial-arts-guro-peachie-baron-saguin/?share=jetpack-whatsapp)
 * [  Email ](https://brianejohns.com/2014/12/01/blog-women-warriors-of-filipino-martial-arts-guro-peachie-baron-saguin/?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20Women%20Warriors%20of%20Filipino%20Martial%20Arts%3A%20Guro%20Peachie%20Baron%20Saguin&body=https%3A%2F%2Fbrianejohns.com%2F2014%2F12%2F01%2Fblog-women-warriors-of-filipino-martial-arts-guro-peachie-baron-saguin%2F&share=email)
 * [  Print ](https://brianejohns.com/2014/12/01/blog-women-warriors-of-filipino-martial-arts-guro-peachie-baron-saguin/#print?share=print)

### Like this:

Like Loading…

### _Related_