Excerpt from "Fighting Mindset: A Realistic Approach to Self Defense" by Arnelle de Guzman

When to Strike:

From a neutral position. If you decide to strike first, strike the centerline of your opponent. An explosive strike to the centerline of your opponent is difficult to defend due to the speed of the strike.  Also, your body is less likely to telegraph the move if the strike is to the centerline. A strike to the outside or side will clearly telegraph your intent. Your shoulder will drop, elbow will rise, and then eventually your arm and hand will move towards your target.  Your opponent can easily move to an outside line and deflect, block or strike your hand and arm (limb destructions).

An explosive centerline strike from the neutral position must be rehearsed and practiced to have the most effect on your opponent. You will need to build your speed, accuracy and assess range and distance to obtain maximum velocity and destructive impact on your opponent.  Also, with all situations, a complete mastery of your emotions must be emplaced. A well trained opponent can easily determine the likelihood of a strike based on your observable emotions. For example, an agitated and boisterous opponent will tend to keep his adversary out of range due to the perceived potential of a strike.  Learn to neutralize your anxiety and excitement by exhaling a large amount of carbon dioxide. This deliberate act causes your body to relax.

From a fighting position.  If you and your opponent “square off” or take a fighting posture against one another, you will have to identify the openings in their guard. This is first done by observing the rhythm of your opponent. Your opponent will have a natural rhythm and will move side to side or forward and backwards. He will likely move his arms according to the rhythm established in the movement of his feet and legs.  An example, an opponent drops his right hand when taking a right step.  By placing yourself in the right position and throwing off his rhythm, you can effectively strike your opponent when he drops his guard or If his guard is up (both arms up) protecting his upper torso, you may opt to execute a “pendulum kick” to targets below the waist.

Once you’ve identified a potential opening, understand your range. A closed fist from along the knuckle line is approximately 2” to 4” wide.  This is the striking surface area of a hand. It becomes narrower if you decide to use a “ridge hand” or a “finger jab”. The target becomes more difficult to strike if it is adequately protected and produces an even smaller target area. This doesn’t mean you should quit and let him strike you. It just means you have other steps to take in order to strike an effective area of your opponent’s body.

Realistic Training

An altercation is stressful enough but the aftermath of a violent encounter can last for years. We tend to be overly critical about how we react to stressful situations when we least expect it. But one thing I've learned to understand is that to prepare for any stressful or violent encounter, you must train as realistic as possible with minimized physical risk of injury.

This is where the problem lies. There seems to be a vast difference in the perception of realism when it comes to altercations. I know of one martial arts instructor who trains with training knives and fake blood. He would spill fake blood on some of his students to inoculate stress. Another instructor would teach his students law enforcement disarm tactics wearing a ninja suit. Also, some police departments instruct martial arts with techniques so complicated that you would think you would be watching a "B" rated martial arts movie without the subtitles.

What ever your perception is about realistic training, train yourself to do research and always ask for other's opinions, preferably someone with experience in real life scenarios. I've been privileged to investigate numerous violent criminal acts and interviewed thousands of victims and witnesses. I've been involved life and death scenarios and understand the physical changes that the body goes through during these stressful times. With this experience, I still seek second opinions in the quality of training I provide so that the student receives the best and realistic training available in the market today.

Who We Are

Bilis Pegada (BP) translated means “quick strikes” and stems from a pool of different martial arts. It was developed to what it is today by Mr. Arnelle de Guzman.  The basic foundation of Bilis Pegada has its origins in the Philippines and was developed as a fighting system by Mr. de Guzman’s family. Often thought of as a game and at times a burden to learn, Mr. de Guzman sought out other forms of martial arts which he thought to be more appealing than that what his family taught him. Throughout the years, Mr. de Guzman trained in various martial arts which included; European fencing, kendo, Okinawan Kenpo, Silat, Wing Chun (Hung Gar), Kali, and western boxing.  Mr. de Guzman continued to train in BP as he learned these other fighting systems. He is currently receiving instruction in boxing from Mr. Carlos Aguilar, a former trainer of boxing Hall of Famer, Roberto Duran.

As a former use of force instructor to a Southern California police department, Mr. de Guzman recognized the deficiencies in some of the arrest and control techniques used by law enforcement. Because of these deficiencies, he created a system specifically for law enforcement and military use. His system was considered unconventional at the time therefore, most police agencies opted to go with more popular and highly marketed form of martial arts. Mr. de Guzman questioned the effectiveness of the techniques taught to officers which he believed jeopardized the practitioner's safety and increased personal and departmental liabilities. Some of the techniques seem to violate the department’s own use of force policies.  Mr. de Guzman continued to train in BP but kept his system to himself and taught his immediate family and  a small group of law enforcement friends.

In 2010, a small group of police officers, who had heard of Mr. de Guzman’s skills, sought him. Though already well versed in other forms of martial arts, the officers asked Mr. de Guzman to instruct them in the defensive system he developed.  Mr. de Guzman reluctantly agreed and offered his instructions only to a small group of law enforcement and military personnel.  He still trains the same group today.

The concept of Bilis Pegada is to overwhelm the attacker with multiple strikes; several strikes in quick succession on different parts of the body.  Rather than focusing on one part of the body, BP practitioners will strike at vulnerable targets in very quick rapid sequences in which the assailant will find it difficult to defend against. A BP practitioner may strike an opponent in the face but reposition himself to strike the back of the head or the pelvis. BP training consists of motor development as well as developing the fighting mindset to sense and react to an attack. Explosiveness, accuracy and power are characteristics of BP.

Arnelle de Guzman, Punong Guro

Because of the potential lethality of the system, BP is only instructed to law enforcement and military personnel. Military personnel, based on their mission assignment, receive additional instruction in the deadly techniques of knife offensive tactics. Law Enforcement personnel receive training in compliance holds; take downs, strikes, knife defensive tactics and de-escalation tactics. The goal is to lessen liability for police agencies by giving them realistic training.  People often ask what makes Bilis Pegada different from any other forms of martial arts. Our answer lies in its creator and those who currently practice the art. Mr. de Guzman served as a patrol officer, gang detective, swat, hostage negotiator and used his system on a daily basis with high regard for officer safety, emplaced use of force policies and plain common sense. The art continues to evolve based on new technologies  in the law enforcement/military industry with direct input from those who actually use it; law enforcement and military personnel.  Often times martial arts instructors who teach "police defensive tactics" have no law enforcement background and can never effectively articulate the need to use a certain hold or strike. This ensures a great deal of liability for a police department.  Instead, officers are taught a traditional form of a martial art which makes it too flashy and unrealistic for law enforcement and military use.  Bilis Pegada is a straight forward no nonsense system designed to eliminate the threat as quickly as possible.

At the training facility in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, the total student population is limited to 20 law enforcement, military or security personnel only. Bilis Pegada Instructors are available to provide seminars to law enforcement agencies, military organizations and selected private security companies. There are no civilians allowed to partake in the training. At the Rancho Cucamonga, CA facility,  the applicants are scrutinized on their maturity level. They are interviewed by at least two BP instructors. This process allows for a dynamic group of professionals to effectively train with one another. Training at the facility includes, Bilis Pegada, shoot don’t shoot (FATS), shock knife, impact tools (baton, flashlight, etc), gun retention/deployment, long gun handling, knife defensive/offensive tactics, de-escalation tactics, use-of-force policy development/modification and bi-monthly simulated shoot house tactics training at a local facility.

The goal of Lords Executive Consulting is to provide collaborative training to emergency services personnel so that they have the necessary skills to survive a violent confrontation without increasing liability for themselves and the municipality they represent. If you are in Southern California and interested in becoming a member at the Rancho Cucamonga facility or have any questions regarding our training, send us a short message by clicking on the contact tab. --Lords Executive Consulting Staff.