chicagobalintawak

Best Martial Arts for Adults in Evanston and Skokie (No Experience Needed)

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 21:00:49 GMT

If you’ve ever searched “martial arts near me,” read this first

If you’re searching for “martial arts near me” in Evanston, Skokie, or Niles, chances are you’re looking for something real—something that fits your life, your body, and your values.

Maybe you trained years ago and miss it.
Maybe you’re curious but don’t want to get hurt.
Maybe you want self-defense, community, or just a place where training feels alive again.

Let’s talk honestly about how to choose the right martial art as an adult, and why Balintawak Eskrima has quietly become a favorite for thoughtful professionals across Chicago’s North Side.

Start With the Right Questions (Not the Flashy Styles)

Before you worry about belts, uniforms, or what looks cool on YouTube, ask yourself:

What do I actually want from martial arts right now?
Am I training for self-defense, fitness, or personal growth?
Do I want competition, or practical real-world skills?
Is community important to me?
Do I care about learning weapons or defending against them?
How disciplined vs. casual do I want the environment to be?

Different martial arts can serve different goals. They all have something good to offer.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Taekwondo → great if competition motivates you
Krav Maga → very direct self-defense focus
Karate, Hapkido, Tang Soo Do → strong structure and discipline

At Chicago Balintawak , we sit in a different lane:
disciplined but human, practical but playful, serious without being stiff .

Why Filipino Martial Arts Work So Well for Adults

Balintawak Eskrima is a Filipino Martial Art (also known as FMA) focused on timing, awareness, control, and adaptability. It’s especially effective for adults because:

You don’t need peak athleticism to start
Skill develops through learning the foundation movements then building up reactions and decision-making , not brute force
Training scales safely as you improve
You learn weapons and empty-hand self-defense together

Our foundational curriculum draws from GM Bobby Taboada’s Balintawak Eskrima Cuentada System
and GM Jorge Penafiel’s Putakti System , taught in a progressive, semester-based format designed for adults with real lives.

The Commute Matters More Than You Think

This part is underrated.

In Chicago, it can take 40 minutes to go three miles . In Evanston and Skokie, the same distance can be much shorter—especially along Dempster Street or N. McCormick Blvd .

While some people do travel over an hour each way to train, most can’t sustain that long-term.

Consistency beats intensity.

Choosing a martial arts school near where you live, work, or spend lots of time dramatically increases your chances of sticking with it—and actually getting good.

New to Martial Arts? The Beginner Experience Matters

Not all martial arts schools are beginner-friendly.

Some throw you straight into advanced classes. That can be overwhelming—and risky—especially if you have:

A job you can’t miss
Family responsibilities
Old injuries
A body that doesn’t bounce like it did at 22

We recommend looking for a school that has entry-level classes built on the assumption that you have zero experience , but are engaging for experienced martial artists, as well.

A good beginner class should teach:

Control
Safety
Timing
Structure

Yes, even the “basic” stuff is practical. A lot of times, the MOST practical.
And yes—your instructor should make the basics fun , not boring.

Why Fun Is Not a Gimmick

Drills are turned into games on purpose.

Because when people are relaxed:

They learn faster
They react more naturally
They build trust with training partners

And trust matters when someone is swinging a stick at you—or manipulating your joints.

You should leave class tired, sharper, and smiling—not limping.

Community Is the Secret Ingredient

People stay for skills.
They commit because of community .

Look for a program where the students train together, share rides, practice outside of class, and break bread after tests and seminars. Where they laugh, train hard, and respect each other.

We love training alongside a diversity of people:

Engineers
Doctors
Artists
Security professionals
Business owners
People in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s

Community is not a vibe you fake. It’s something that is built.
We think that it is really important to find people you like being around. If you don't like them then you aren't going to be as motivated to go to train or get the most out of the experience.

The Hardest Step Is the First One

Making the call.
Booking the class.
Showing up.

That part? Totally normal to feel weird about.

You’re okay.
You’ve got this.

If you’re searching for martial arts in Evanston , martial arts Skokie , or martial arts near me , your next step isn’t more research—it’s trying a class. In fact, go try several!

Martial Arts Are Better Together

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:00:30 GMT

W hy Bringing a Friend Makes Filipino Martial Arts Training Stick

How Balintawak Builds Community From the Ground Up

Have you ever wanted to check out a martial arts class but felt just a little intimidated about going?

Maybe you trained years ago.
Maybe you’ve been watching videos late at night.
Maybe a friend keeps telling you, “You’d love this.”

And still — walking through the door feels like the hardest part.

Here’s the thing: that feeling is normal. And you don’t have to deal with it alone.

Why Bringing a Friend Makes Starting Easier

Showing up is the biggest hurdle. Not the workout. Not the technique. Just getting in the door.

Bringing a buddy helps because:

You feel less self-conscious
You have built-in encouragement
You’re sharing the experience instead of facing it solo

That friend doesn’t have to be your long-term training partner. But having someone alongside you at the beginning makes the whole process feel easier — and more supported.

Buddy Week: A Simple Way to Try Martial Arts

What If There’s No Buddy Week?

Ask anyway.

Seriously.

If a friend trains somewhere and you’re interested, ask if you can come along sometime. Almost every martial arts instructor worth training with will say:

“Of course.”

Martial arts is meant to be shared. Good schools grow because people invite the people they care about.

A Big Thank You to Elite Sports

We’d like to thank Elite Sports ( www.elitesports.com ) for sponsoring this month’s Buddy Week with high-quality training shorts.

If you join Buddy Week, you’re not just trying something new — you may also be helping your friend win some great gear.

Good training partners deserve good equipment.

Final Thought

You don’t need to be fearless.
You don’t need to be “ready.”
You don’t need to know what you’re doing.

You just need to show up.

And if bringing a friend helps you do that? Even better.

That’s how Chicago Balintawak Martial Arts builds community — one person, one class, one connection at a time.

How Balintawak Martial Arts Builds Community From the Ground Up

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 22:19:38 GMT

How a Small Class in Evanston Is Building a Global Martial Arts Family

1. Trust: The Core of Martial Arts and Real Community

There’s something deeply human about learning to move with someone else. In Balintawak Eskrima, our foundation is control. Not just controlling our sticks or footwork, but controlling our intent. Every strike, every block, every counter is delivered with the understanding that we’re pushing each other to grow — not to hurt.

That’s real trust. It’s knowing someone could hit you, but they don’t. Instead, they use precision and control to make you faster, sharper, and more resilient. It’s mutual respect. And it’s the foundation of how we build something that feels like a community, not just a class.

2. Defensive First: A Shift in Perspective

We focus on developing each other's defensive reactions , not just throwing strikes. That means prioritizing timing, range, and rhythm. When you train this way, you become more thoughtful, more capable under pressure — and more able to protect those you care about.

It’s empowering. It’s grounded. And it brings people together with a shared sense of purpose.

3. Laughing While Swinging Sticks

Yeah, we laugh. A lot.

There’s a kind of magic in swinging sticks at someone, locking them up, twisting their joints a little — and then laughing together when it goes slightly sideways

That laughter isn’t just fun; it’s how trust is reinforced. We joke, we mess up, we try again. And in the middle of all that, we get better. Safer. Stronger. Closer.

4. Outside Class, Inside the Circle

Our training doesn’t stop when class ends. We keep it going with:

Group chats to share videos, ideas, and memes (yep, memes are part of the culture)
Organizing meetups to review material
Coordinating rideshares to class

Sometimes, students show up early or stay late to help each other out. That’s not something you can force. It happens when people care.

5. Breaking Bread Builds Belonging

One of the most meaningful things we do? We eat together.

After testing or seminars, we celebrate. Potlucks with lumpia, pancit, warm rice, pulled pork. Or heading out to a Chinese buffet and seeing who can stack the most plates.

We tell stories, tease each other, show off old tattoos, and bond. It’s silly and sweet and deeply human. It’s family.

6. Bigger Than Evanston: The Balintawak World

Our local group in Evanston is part of a global community of Balintawak practitioners. Every year we connect with others at seminars, and at the annual Balintawak World Camp .

We train hard. We play hard. We form real relationships that extend beyond our city and our state. You meet someone at camp, and a year later, you’re visiting their school in another city, jumping into their training group like you never left.

All Walks of Life. All Ages. All In.

Our students come from everywhere: doctors, engineers, bartenders, security pros, artists, business owners. We’ve got guys in their 20s, women in their 30s, and folks in their 60s sharpening skills side by side.

That diversity builds empathy. It builds perspective. And sometimes it reveals small-world surprises: like when one student realized another used to hang out with his dad in high school!

Why Training with a Grandmaster Is a Game-Changer

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 05:03:38 GMT

What I Learned from Training with Grandmaster Bobby Taboada—and Why It Will Transform Your Filipino Martial Arts Journey

Let’s cut straight to it:
If you want to actually level up your Filipino Martial Arts training—whether it’s for self-defense, cultural connection, personal growth, or pure skill development—training with a Grandmaster will change your life.

I don’t say that lightly. I’ve trained with Grandmaster Bobby Taboada, one of the living legends of Balintawak Eskrima, and every time I leave a session with him, I feel like I’ve just opened a door to an entirely new level of awareness. Not just as a martial artist—but as a teacher, a human, and someone who wants to move through life with purpose, power, and precision.

Experience You Can’t Fake

There’s something different about working with someone who’s spent decades—tens of thousands of hours—training and teaching Filipino Martial Arts to people of every background you can imagine. From military personnel to nurses, from engineers to stunt actors, from beginners to masters of other systems.

A Grandmaster like GM Bobby doesn’t just teach technique—he translates it. He sees what you need, in your body, at your level, and gives you a correction or a cue that changes everything. Not in a way that makes you feel wrong. But in a way that makes you feel excited to get back to work, even though it stings some.

It’s like having a martial arts coach, mentor, and engineer wrapped into one. I think this is why he says he is a Doctor of Stickology!

It’s Not Just About Speed and Power (Though He Has That Too)

I’ve seen GM Bobby move. Explosive. Fast. Precise. You blink and the hit’s already landed. I've felt it.

But what sets him apart isn’t just his physical gifts—it’s the way he teaches you to unlock your own . The drills aren’t just reps; they’re chess games , full of traps, counters, setups, and psychology.

He doesn’t teach you to just do a technique—he teaches you to understand how to make someone fall into it.
That’s the game.
That’s Balintawak.

Check out this video of GM Bobby Taboada to see his explosive power in action:

The Layers Unfold

One of the most important things I’ve learned through training with Grandmasters like GM Bobby Taboada and GM Jorge Peñafiel is this:

A true martial artist isn’t just a fighter. They’re a student of movement, of timing, of human behavior.

And those lessons come in layers. Every session reveals a new detail you never noticed.
A better way to move your wrist. A tighter line. A cleaner way to generate power.
A clearer sense of how to read someone before they even move.

I’ve had sessions where I walked out of the gym with more drills, insights, and training ideas than I knew what to do with. My cup was full and my mind totally melted. I’ve also walked out thinking, “Wow, I still have so much to learn. And I can’t wait to get after it.”

That’s the magic.

It’s Personal

Here’s what most people forget:
Training with a Grandmaster isn’t about worshiping a legend—it’s about building a relationship .

GM Bobby has laughed with me, challenged me, pushed me, encouraged me, and reminded me to have fun while training hard.
He’s human—and he makes the art feel alive.

I’ve gotten to know the man, not just the icon.

And that relationship has opened more doors than I ever expected:

I’ve trained alongside stunt performers, doctors, and designers.
I’ve worked with military vets and martial arts masters from other systems.
I’ve been nominated Man of the Year , featured in books, and invited to assist in elite training events.

 All of that started with one thing: getting on the mat with someone who lives the art.

Why It Matters for You

If you’re reading this, you might be:

A Filipino-American curious about your heritage
A martial artist looking for new levels of precision
A suburban dad who’s watched every GM Bobby video on YouTube
Someone tired of feeling vulnerable and finally ready to do something about it

Wherever you’re coming from, Balintawak Eskrima has something to offer you .

Final Thoughts from the Mat

At Chicago Balintawak Martial Arts , I don’t just teach for self-defense. I teach so that people in Chicago can experience the joy, clarity, and confidence that comes from Filipino Martial Arts training that’s both traditional and alive .

We keep it fun. We make the drills into games.
We build confidence one layer at a time.
We take the lessons of Grandmasters and pass them on in a way that sticks.

Whether you’re in Uptown, Evanston, Skokie, or anywhere nearby—your journey can start here.
Come experience the difference. Reserve your spot here.

Train smart. Train fun. Train real.

And maybe one day, you’ll be the one people call "Master."

How to Find Martial Arts Training on Chicago’s North Side

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 04:29:50 GMT

And What to Look for So You Actually Stick With It

Let’s be real for a second.

If you live in Chicago, Evanston, Skokie, or Niles, you’ve probably passed at least five different martial arts gyms without even noticing. Tae Kwon Do, BJJ, Krav Maga, Muay Thai, Karate, Kung Fu, Silat… It’s a buffet. The hard part isn’t finding a place to train—it’s figuring out what kind of training will actually fit your life.

I’ve been there. I live by Albany Park, and I’ve tried everything from Hapkido to Aikido. I work a job that doesn’t let me just clock out and forget it all. So when I started training in Filipino Martial Arts—specifically Balintawak Eskrima—it was like something finally clicked. I found a system that kept my body moving, made me feel sharp, and reminded me of why I started in the first place: I wanted to learn something practical.

So here’s what I’ve learned—whether you’re in your 30s figuring out your next step, or in your 50s still curious (and still kicking)—here’s what really matters when choosing where and what to train:

Location, Location, Location

Let’s be honest: the best martial arts school in the world doesn’t matter if you won’t go to it. Consistency beats perfection every time, and a big part of consistency comes down to location. Commuting 15–25 minutes for training is reasonable. Classes that are near you that don’t turn your commute into a chore are a game-changer. Whether you’re looking for self-defense classes in Evanston , Filipino Martial Arts in Skokie , or weapons-based martial arts near Niles , the key is keeping it within reach—mentally and geographically. You’ll make time for something if it’s close enough not to become another stressor.

At Chicago Balintawak, we hold classes inside Northside Boxing and Fitness, right on the edge of Evanston by Skokie. The location is right off public transit and by main roads like McCormick and Dempster. Easy in, easy out.

Style That Matches Your Goals

Are you looking to win medals? Lose weight? Feel safer walking to the train? Build confidence?

Different martial arts do different things. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is great for groundwork and sport. Muay Thai builds insane cardio. Karate offers strong discipline. Balintawak Eskrima? It’s fast, explosive, technical, and designed for real-world scenarios. You learn to move with your body, not against it—even if you’ve got an old knee or a cranky shoulder.

We swing sticks. We learn timing. We learn how to move our feet and protect our heads. It’s fun, intense, and kind of addictive.

The Right Instructor Feels Like a Guide

Your instructor isn’t just teaching you to block or strike—they’re showing you how to problem-solve under pressure.

So ask yourself:

Do I trust this person?
Do they see me?
Are they flexible enough to adapt the lesson to how I learn or move?

At Chicago Balintawak , we work from a progressive curriculum—GM Bobby Taboada’s system—but each class is flexible enough to meet you where you are, whether you're brand new or returning after years away. As someone building this business from the ground up, I want every person in the room to feel like they matter. Because they do.

Community Matters

You’re gonna sweat. You’re gonna make mistakes. And you're going to spend time very close to other humans. So ask yourself:

Do I feel welcome here?
Do people introduce themselves?
Can I relax enough to enjoy myself?

Training should be serious and fun. When classes feel like a game you’re all playing together—with a healthy dose of accountability—you’ll stick around.

At our classes in Evanston, we joke around. We hit stuff. We ask questions. We consider the reasons we do things. It’s not a cult. It’s a crew.

Schedule: Can You Actually Make It Work?

Life is busy. Between work, family, errands, and trying to get some sleep, it’s easy to say, “Maybe next week.”

But if the class times align with your actual schedule—and feel like something to look forward to instead of another obligation—you’re way more likely to follow through.

Currently, Chicago Balintawak offers:

Wednesdays at 7PM
Saturdays at 9AM
at Northside Boxing & Fitness in Evanston.

We’re also looking to open a second location soon—so if you’re in Skokie, Niles , or even Andersonville or Uptown , let us know what works for you.

Want to Try a Class?

We offer beginner-friendly intro packages. Most people who try a class end up sticking around—because they see how much this system has to offer, both mentally and physically.

You’ll get a shirt and training weapon when you start. And a chance to hit something after a long workweek. Win-win.

Final Thoughts

It’s never too late to start. Whether you’re a 33-year-old tired of sitting behind a desk, or a 63-year-old engineer who still moves like he’s 40, the right martial arts class won’t just teach you how to fight. It’ll help you reconnect—with your body, your goals, and yourself.

6 Ways Filipino Martial Arts Helps You De-Stress and Refocus

Fri, 16 May 2025 14:47:44 GMT

Swing a Stick, Clear Your Head: Why Filipino Martial Arts Is the Stress Reset You Didn’t Know You Needed

Let’s be honest: work stress doesn’t stay neatly behind at 5:00 PM on Friday. It rides home with you, creeps into your weekend, and hijacks your headspace.

Whether you’re grinding at a desk in downtown Chicago, troubleshooting systems in Skokie, or simply trying to be present with your family and your own goals — the pressure adds up. And most people don’t have a healthy way to hit the reset button.

So here’s a wild but solid solution:
Hit something with a stick.

I’m talking about Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) — specifically Balintawak Eskrima, a stick-based system that helps you shake off the mental cobwebs, get grounded in your body, and reset your nervous system after a long, overstimulating week.

You don’t have to be a fighter.
You just have to be ready to swing, sweat, and show up.

Let me break down how it works.

1. You Hit Stuff. And It Feels Amazing.

It’s Saturday morning. You grab your stick, shake off the sleep, and step into class. You start to move. Maybe you're tired. Maybe you're a little tense.
Then —
WHACK!
WHACK!
THUMP! THUD!

There’s something weirdly healing about hitting the heavy bag. Not because you're angry, but because you're human. You’ve been holding stress in your shoulders, your back, your gut — and this gives it a place to go.

Unlike punching air or jogging on a treadmill, this kind of physical expression has texture. A stick hitting a bag gives instant feedback. You feel the force. You hear it. You let the week fall out of your muscles with every hit.

2. It Loosens Your Body Where You Didn’t Know You Were Tight

Balintawak’s movement drills are designed to unlock mobility.
After a week of sitting, scrolling, typing, commuting — your spine and hips need a wake-up call. Our drills keep you flowing: torso twisting, pivots, shoulder and head movement, swings, and strikes. You’re not just exercising — you're recalibrating.

Your body goes from “work zombie” to realigned and alive. Think of it like foam rolling with a purpose — except you’re learning how to defend yourself at the same time.

3. It Forces You Into the Present Moment

Work stress thrives on what-ifs and not-yets .
Balintawak training forces you to respond to what’s actually in front of you.

When someone swings a weapon (in a controlled, safe drill), your brain doesn’t have time to wander to unread emails or awkward Slack messages. You’re here. Now. Eyes focused. Body reactive.
Some people call it “No Mind.” or " Flow State " You’re not frozen — you’re flowing. It’s active presence.

And funny enough?
That practice — being fully in the moment — stays with you.
Monday’s problems don’t hit as hard when you’ve trained to breathe under pressure and deal with things one strike at a time.

4. You Sweat Out the Week

According to Healthline , sweating improves your mood, boosts your energy, and helps regulate your stress hormones. We make it a goal to sweat in every class.

Whether it’s from fast-paced partner drills, stick-sparring, or our cardio stick games (yes, games — it’s still fun), we get that full-body “I did something real” workout.

It’s not punishment.
It’s play with purpose.
And it leaves you feeling lighter, clearer, and more awake than any iced coffee could.

5. Cuentada Trains You for Life’s Pushback

“Cuentada” is a Filipino word that,to us, means counter-for-counter. In Balintawak, this isn’t just about fighting — it’s about anticipating what happens next and adapting.

You train to read people’s movement patterns. You learn to respond instead of react.
ou get used to the idea that when something comes at you, you have an answer — because you’ve practiced finding one, over and over.

That skill translates. Whether you’re managing a team, raising kids, or just navigating daily stress, cuentada helps you stay calm, creative, and capable.

6. New Environment, New Energy

Sometimes, just getting out of your usual environment is enough to change your mindset. When you train FMA, you’re not in your office, your car, or your daily routine. You’re on the mat. With real people. From all walks of life.

You connect. You learn. You laugh.

You get perspective — from people outside your bubble.
And when you step back into your life afterward, things feel just a little more manageable.

Reset Your Week. Come Hit Stuff.

You don’t need to be a martial arts master. You don’t need to be in perfect shape.
You just need to be ready to try something different.

Our Chicago Balintawak classes meet you where you’re at — whether you're a 33-year-old data guy who wants to feel alive again, or a 63-year-old engineer finally checking off “learn FMA” from your bucket list.

Come get sweaty. Swing a stick.
Laugh. Learn. Reset.

You’ll leave class feeling clearer, stronger, and more ready for whatever Monday throws at you.

Want to try it out?
Click here to grab your first class pass →

We train in Evanston, IL. Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings.
One stick, one hour, one less stressful life.

#StickTherapy #ChicagoBalintawak #MartialArtsForLife #ResetWithEskirma

How Filipino Martial Arts Makes You a Better Problem Solver

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 19:47:48 GMT

Sharpen your body. Sharpen your mind.
#MentalEdge #StrategicThinking

I’ve spent years behind desks, in front of screens, solving problems that lived in spreadsheets, security protocols, or messy data sets. And while my degrees in design methods and imaging taught me how to think critically, nothing rewired the way I actually respond to challenges quite like Filipino Martial Arts — specifically, Balintawak Eskrima.

It’s more than learning to defend yourself. It’s training your body and mind to process chaos, spot patterns, and make better decisions — fast.

From Physical Tools to Mental Playbooks

When I first started training Balintawak, it was all about building the physical toolkit: strikes, blocks, footwork. But even early on, I realized this wasn’t just about movement — it was sharpening my awareness.

The real magic starts when you hit the Cuentada phase — “counter-to-counter” training. At first, you’re just trying to keep up. They swing, you respond. But then it clicks:

If they do X, and I respond with Y, then their likely next moves are A, B, C, or D.

It becomes a real-time chess match. You’re not just reacting — you’re predicting, testing, adapting. You try a counter just to see how they respond. You’re running simulations with your body. And that starts bleeding into the way you approach work, relationships, and problem-solving in life.

You Learn How to Breathe Under Pressure

One of the most powerful things I’ve picked up from training isn’t a technique — it’s learning how to breathe when things get intense.

Whether it’s sparring or getting hit with a problem at work, the instinct is the same — tension, panic, freeze. But FMA teaches you to keep moving, stay calm, and breathe through it. That moment of breath gives you the space to reassess and choose the next move, instead of just reacting blindly.

And let’s be real — that’s invaluable when you’re dealing with deadlines, conflict, or life's curve balls. You take the hit, breathe through it, and keep moving. The fight keeps going.

Problem-Solving Is a Physical Skill Too

What most people don’t realize is that problem-solving isn’t just a brain activity. It’s physical too.

Every time I train, I sweat, learn something new, and play through real-time puzzles with another person. There’s that short-term dopamine hit of getting something right, but also the long-term serotonin release of consistent movement, connection, and self-assuredness that comes from consistent work. It’s self-care that sharpens your edge.

The bonus? When I go back to my desk, I’m clearer. The stuff that seemed overwhelming before class usually gets handled way faster and what had been a block isn't anymore.

One Step at a Time. One Move at a Time.

FMA also trained something I didn’t expect: patience. You can’t skip steps. You can’t hit the next strike until the current one is set up right. That lesson started carrying over to every complex project I tackled — personal, professional, emotional.

You break it down.
You finish the move you’re in.
Then you go to the next one.

It also teaches when to back off, when to sidestep, and when to commit fully. You start seeing the tools you’ve got — not just sticks, but communication skills, habits, patterns — and using them more intentionally.

The Bigger Picture: Pattern Recognition

Over time, you stop seeing every situation as random chaos. You start seeing patterns. Even in the craziest moments — whether it’s sparring or handling a crisis at work — you recognize familiar rhythms, familiar openings. It’s like your nervous system is trained to simplify the complexity.

And once you see the pattern, the solution is usually just one or two moves away.

Final Thoughts

If you’re like me — a high-achiever who got tired of static careers and abstract rewards — you might find something deeper in Filipino Martial Arts. Not just physical mastery, but mental clarity. Not just fighting, but problem-solving under pressure.

Balintawak isn’t just about defending yourself. It’s about upgrading how you see, think, and move through the world.

And honestly? That’s the kind of training that actually makes a difference.

Want to experience this for yourself?
Come train at Chicago Balintawak. Your first class is free.
Let’s see what kind of moves — and mindset — you can unlock.

#MentalEdge #StrategicThinking #Balintawak #FilipinoMartialArts #ProblemSolving #MartialMindset #TrainTactical #ChicagoMartialArts #BreatheThroughIt #MoveWithPurpose

Why Desk Jobs Don’t Mean You Can’t Be a Warrior

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:40:26 GMT

It's Not About Your Job Title, It's About How You Live Your Life

So many of you Chicago area have desk jobs. Analysts, designers, marketers, engineers, and more. That doesn’t mean you aren’t warriors in your own way. Being a warrior isn’t just for people who carry a firearm for a living. Being a warrior is how you live your life.

What it means to be a warrior

That means taking care of yourself and your loved ones. Taking care of your community. Digging in and standing tall when you are scared. It’s doing the hard thing sometimes. It’s speaking the truth rather than holding back. It’s going hard. It’s in your attitude of getting back in the game when you make a mistake. It doesn’t mean your superior. It’s coming at whatever it is with your full self. It means making time for regular training.

Making Time to Train

A warrior trains. Even training 15 minutes a day adds up. The more times you practice the better you get. Physical movement and sweating gets the blood flowing so you can let go of stress, especially if you’ve been sitting all day. Training helps your physical fitness and improves mental focus. A good martial arts practice translates beautifully to office life. It transforms your attitude. Have you ever noticed that you’re able to work through things on the mat that have been in your way at work? I remember practicing one day years ago and my instructor told me I was sticking my butt out and all I could think was “Man! I’ve been doing that all week at work, too!”

People Skills

Nowadays a warrior has to know how to work with people. In martial arts training that gets practiced by building trust and respect with your training partners. I’ll tell you a secret - finding ways to make them shine will make you shine. Interpersonal skills come from communicating and learning from the encounters. Being able to communicate so you don’t hurt each other help you build more intensity with your movements. Nowadays being a warrior is also leadership. That doesn’t mean being the one in charge but leading by example. That is part of why we have you lead the 12 Basics in class.

Remember, being a warrior is an attitude. It’s how you live your life. It’s not that you have to even consider yourself one. It’s how you approach your day and and deal with what you are faced with. It’s how you are in the world. It’s something that is cultivated and practiced. It can be done from anywhere. Whether from in the dojo, the garden, or at your desk, you are a warrior when you need to be.

5 Self-Defense Moves Everyone Should Know

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 21:04:07 GMT

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You work at night a lot. You know someone who has been assaulted. You took some self defense classes as a teenager but its been years so now you are finding ways to start practicing again. Here are the top five self-defense moves you should consider mixing into your routine. These come from my 30+ years training martial arts, my own experiences and having spoken to numerous women on the subject and taken into account what their experience has been like.

1. Front Kick

Simple, easy, and straight forward. Seeing as how your lower body is more powerful than your upper, its a very effective move. Also a great one if your hands are full. Target anywhere below the belt. God forbid you are wearing heels or boots. When practicing this, bring the knee up towards the target then let the foot fly while driving it with your hips. You've done this before. Don't forget about keeping your hands inside your shoulders but not crossed.

2. Palm Strikes

Remember these? Why do you want to close your fist up and possibly break it when you can hit really hard with your palm? One of those across the jawline and it's going to rattle the person's brain. Smash the palm into the nose and it will get very hard for the other person to see and breathe. Some of the other ways to use it that you learned back in those courses are going to be really effective, too, but could lead to court and trauma, so I hope you practice them but keep them as a last resort.

3. Using Everyday Objects

Learn to use what is on your person or around you! The old key in your knuckles like claws isn't the most effective choice. They get wobbly and you'll do yourself a lot of damage. There are other ways to use keys. A writing pen is is something you might have on you throughout your day and can be stabby. Former Mecklenburg County, NC Sheriff, Irwin Carmichael, recommends carrying a "tactical" pen at all times. And pens can go anywhere! Learning to use your scarf, USB cable, or purse straps are other options.

4. Presence

Ok, this isn't a "move" per se but this is really important. It's like you've been told - don't hold yourself like a target. Make yourself BIG. My friend Carol says this is how she was taught to drive back hyenas when in the bush while in Africa, and has worked for her on creepos in parking lots at night. It definitely gets people to reconsider you as an easy target. A part of this is eye contact. Learn to watch peoples eyes. Not only can eye contact intimidate but you can also begin to read a persons mind from it. The other part is carrying your "BIG". It's as much mental as it is physical.

5. Looking Around

Last but definitely not least, always notice what is going on around you. You know not to be head down on your phone while walking around or even on the train. You also know that tuning the world out with music makes it hard to hear what's coming, so I want you to keep your head on a swivel. You don't have to be paranoid or scared, but I want you to be aware. Look out for distortions in space and time. In other words, notice when the movements and flow around you aren't right. Notice where your exits are. Motorcyclists and bicyclists use this a lot. They are always looking to have two or more points of escape at any moment and I think you should, too.

These are the five essential self defense moves that I think will help you. I know some of this isn't new but I hope that this does help you stay safe and continue to have a happy and wonderful life. I believe that these things ought to be practiced some so there is some muscle memory. It's up to you to mix that into your routine. How to do that may be another blog post in the future.

Write to me and tell me what YOU think is something I left off.

chicagobalintawak

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5 Self-Defense Moves Everyone Should Know

This is a subtitle for your new post

1. Front Kick

2. Palm Strikes

3. Using Everyday Objects

4. Presence

5. Looking Around

1. You Hit Stuff. And It Feels Amazing.

Sharpen your body. Sharpen your mind.
#MentalEdge #StrategicThinking