Baston: The Great Equalizer

Many members of the LSAI community have often used the famous phrase "the baston (arnis stick) is the great equalizer". But, unfortunately, they failed to explain to the students of the art of Lightning Arnis the true definition of the phrase or the person responsible in coining the phrase. Often a student of theirs would always end up confused with their "own" definition, using "new age" philosophies, without even coming up near the mark to its true meaning. Master Ronald Ramirez, my mentor, would often describe them as "armchair philosophers"; all talk but no sense. Only a few knew that this phrase "the baston is the great equalizer" was actually coined by, none other than, Master Ronald Ramirez; founder of the Iron Viking Society.

But, somehow, faith has conspired to make the author of the famous phrase unknown. Why? I have my theories but I will not divulge my thoughts as of now. Suffice it to say that I only wish to set the record straight and to, finally, give credit to where it is truly due by describing exactly why the baston is called the "great equalizer."

According to my mentor, Master Ronald, the real reason why the baston is the "great equalizer" is because the baston (arnis sticks) "levels the playing field." It "equalize" or neutralize any advantage the enemy has over you in a fight. It doesn't matter whether you're a man or a woman, an adult or child, or weak or strong' it is all the same to an arnisadores expert. An arnis player, armed with the deadly sticks of his craft, can immediately gain a 50% or more advantage of winning and be victorious in the field of battle. It is an advantage that no other unarmed martial art can ever have. It is a boastful claim, one may say by those who are not familiar with the art, but it is the absolute truth in every sense of the word.

Let me give you an example to give you a clear idea of what I am saying. Imagine that you are a karate black belt expert, 5th dan, weighing 150 lbs., with a height of 5' 6". And then imagine your opponent is also a karate black belt, with the same style of karate as yours and a rank much lower than yours, but the only difference is he is 7 feet tall and weighing 300 lbs. of pure muscle. Who do you think will win? Isn't it obvious?! The one who is more stronger, and whose reach advantage is greater than he's enemy, who usually wins in this fight.

Let us try the same example, but the difference is both are arnisadores black belts and the smaller guy ranks higher in skill than the bigger guy. Who do you think now will win? Of course, obviously, the one who is more skillful than the other will win. Why? Because in a fight with weapons the one with the most experience and skill will always win since the fight is dictated, not by the strength of ones muscles, but by the players skill and strength of his/her weapon (baston). That is the reason why "the baston is the great equalizer."

Many of you may not believe my argument, for it is after all debatable, but still no one can argue that it does not make sense. Let's be truthful for once shall we? Isn't it true that no matter how strong you are, or skillful in fist fights, the man that holds a very powerful and deadly weapon always wins?! Even Mr. Tim Larkin, founder of the self-defense seminar called TFT (Target Focus Training), believes on these premise. And this is one of the many reasons why I studied and practiced the art of arnis de mano, the ancient combative art of our forefathers, in the first place.