Sergio “Noy Sergio” Arcel was born on February 24, 1941, at J.M. Basa St., Cebu City. Raised by a poor family of a Boholana descent and a Cebuano father. He grew up in a less privileged environment, which has forced him to work early in life to survive. He supported his way by working as a carpenter, a farmer and at other times a fish vendor with his wife to support his family of seven.

At the age of 20, he enrolled at Balintawak Eskrima Club under the guidance of the Great Grand Master Venancio “Anciong” Bacon. From the moment he started practicing the Art, he became so obsessed that until today he continues to practice the Art almost everyday. His personality is very opposite to his art, very meek, gentle, soft-spoken and humble. He enjoys songs of Jerry Vale, Tony Bennett and other “oldies but goldies” music. Surprisingly, he is a very graceful dancer too!

“ Noy Sergio” is a true-blooded Balintawak from the very beginning and a loyal student of the late Grand Master. He stayed with the Club for more than 10 years and witnessed numerous bloody fights by the Grand Master Anciong Bacon, Delfin Lopez, Teddy Buot, Timor Maranga, Atty. Villasin, Jose “Joe Go” Millan, Isidro Bardilas and many others. One story, which he told of, is the fight between “Noy Anciong and Master Trovador Ramos during the former’s stint in Camp Crame while serving in Prison.

After “Noy Anciong’s” release from prison, in 1978, Noy Anciong called a meeting to all his students because he wanted to introduce a modification to his techniques. Not everyone took it seriously though because it was very minute - so they say. “Noy Sergio”, the ever-loyal student, took matters without reservations together with Teddy Buot, Arturo Sanchez, Joe Go, Jim Boy and a few others.

“Noy Anciong’s” demise produced different teaching methods as can be seen today and thus 3 Balintawak schools were formed, namely: Balintawak International, Teovel’s Balintawak and Balintawak Original, retaining the deadly form but different teaching methodologies.

Today, Noy Sergio continues to teach the traditional system. He survives with its meager income teaching new students the Balintawak technique and a Cultural heritage. Sometimes, he has to wake up very early in the morning to take a boat to Ormoc because his student requested him for practice. Other times, he goes Danao about 60 kilometers away from his abode to follow-up a student. However, he is very selective of his students, and prefers to teach new students in a location near his place so that he can have more time teaching than traveling for a single student. He has also very high respect to Arturo Sanchez, his batch and the said rightful heir of the Balintawak Original School in Cebu, Philippines. He can be reached at akhandakhumar@yahoo.com.


His system of instruction follows that of the tradition of the Late Grand Master Anciong Bacon. He starts from the basic 12 hitting points always emphasizing the correct body weight position (“Undayag”) He continues to guide the student until fluidity in his movement is attained. The steps here are the usual walking distance of the foot but the variation is when to put your weight of either foot, He prefers that the student practice daily.

After the basic , he will proceed to the “Corridas” or random. Here, the student will learn to catch up the speed, coordination and anticipation of the instructor. This will take a lot of time and sweat! Sometimes you have to catch up your breath in each set.

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