Great Grandmaster Atty. Jose Villasin
(1923 - 1988)
The late Atty. Jose Villasin was born October 2, 1923. He and his wife Juliana had fourteen children, only 5 of whom were boys, four surviving Boy, Joey, Bianor (Banoh) and John. He was an excellent father, who taught all his children the art of Balintawak Arnis. Two of the children, Ver: aka "Boy Villasin" and John studied Balintawak Arnis seriously, continuing until they became instructors themselves.
Atty. Jose Villasin was a lawyer and labor leader. As a lawyer and officer of the Allied Labor Union laborers respected his intellectual skills but dockhands also understood brutal force, physical violence and raw power. Atty. Jose Villasin represented one of the biggest Labor Group in Cebu City the Allied Labor Union also known as ALU. He was the first President of Balintawak International Self-Defense Club then a misnomer at that time when the Club was hardly even recognized outside Cebu City. But now, with the increasing popularity of Eskrima abroad, the name Balintawak has become a buzz word in the International Filipino martial arts community.
Atty. Villasin was one of the few articulate students of the legendary Balintawak inventor Grandmaster Venancio Anciong Bacon. He documented the silent moves of the diminutive Grandmaster and organized it into groupings. It was an attempt for the first time to systematize the genius and Art of Venancio Bacon as a tool to teach the Art efficiently and with a progression that is designed not only to produce proficient fighters but instructors as well.
He successfully organized his course by making notes for his students. His attempt to organize Escrima the art of Filipino martial arts were so successful and being taught by his sons, daughters and former students around the world. Villasin's study simplified the explanations for quicker understanding. Purists dismiss his attempt the "Balintawak Style" as a Great improvement to the Grandmaster's Anciong Bacon's teachings. This was in fact the very first successful attempt to reduce Anciong Bacon's training into writing.
It is the camaraderie, the 'method of teaching' the intimate relationship between instructor and student (Agak), that Balintawak International has instilled on students and methodical Escrima training is very easily learned amongst advanced students ,which sets it apart from other styles.
Balintawak Style "more than just stick fighting", it’s what the student learn that sets Balintawak International apart from other styles of Escrima martial arts / self-defense.
Atty. Jose Villasin a Great parent, a Great teacher a Great Leader - soft spoken, gentle and always with a ready smile. He was strong as a bull but graceful and agile in his moves, beneath his humility, the confidence, the conviction; his ability, his art the Balintawak Style.
Atty. Jose Villasin was the Founder Balintawak International and the true Author of Balintawak style. His teachings continue to grow and being taught around the world under the reference of Balintawak and /or the Villasin name. He is a true hero who stood up to organize the Filipino art of self defense into what is now a very organized modern Arnis "Balintawak Style"
Among the illustrious students of Atty. Jose Villasin were Grandmaster Johnny Chiuten, Sam Buot, Nilo Servila, Isidro Bardilas, Dom Lopez and Eddie de la Cruz. Atty. Jose Villasin died on November 5, 1988 at the age of 65. With the humility of his late Dad rubbing off on him, John Villasin insists that the ailing Nilo Servila is still the incumbent President following the line of succession laid down by his father. With the squabbling and bickering over succession prevalent in many Eskrima organizations nowadays the example set by John Villasin is indeed rare and worthy of emulation.
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