Remembering Guro Bud Balani

My name is Johnathan Balani, and it’s with great sadness that I’m announcing the passing of my father, Hospecio “Bud” Balani Jr. who unexpectedly and tragically passed away on May 11, 2023 at the age of 60 years old.

To those who knew him he was a great man, teacher, loyal friend, and coworker. To our family he was a great son, brother, uncle, godfather and most of all a great father. He left behind his three brothers (Phil, John, and Dale), his mother Helly, and above all his Son, Johnathan. He was dealing with a great amount of medical issues these past few years following a near fatal motorcycle accident in 2019. One year ago Bud moved to Las Vegas with Johnathan to go be with Buds mother. Beforehand, he worked as a Local 80 Motion Pictures Studio Grip for 20+ years and was a martial arts instructor of Lameco Escrima & Kali lustrisimo.

Bud leaves behind a community that has been forever touched by his kindness, passion, and unmatchable hardheadedness and love for his family, friends, and colleagues. His impact on the lives will continue to be with us for years to come. Bud will be deeply missed, his spirit will live on through the memories and countless lives he has touched throughout his journey.

This fundraiser is to help our family with covering the funeral costs, memorial services, and transportation to get him back to Los Angeles from Las Vegas to be laid to rest with his late wife and Johnathans mother, Cindy Balani. Our family and friends really want to make it possible to give Bud the service that he deserves. For anyone in the position and/or willing to donate to our cause, any amount of money helps and it will be appreciated tremendously by me and my family.

Thank you greatly.

More About Guro Bud Balani:

When our teacher Punong Guro Edgar Sulite passed away, the group wanted to honor his work but in the least commercial way possible. We weren’t sure how we could do it…and looking back I am not sure why we wanted to do it that way. One day after one of our countless demos around the city, Aki from PWC approached me to do a history workshop at Glendale City College. Afterwards she asked if I would like to use the art to help at risk to kids to gangs violence and drug use. My first reaction was “are you sure?” I was thinking we are kind of a rough bunch and we are wielding sticks, knives and swords and were more like a gang ourselves. I didn’t think it was exactly appropriate at the time. I was reminded that the Rampart district (where the movie “Training Day” was set) had the highest murder rate in the city at the time and was kind of rough itself with numerous hyper violent gangs such as MS13 and 18th St. claiming the area as their turf. Thus I half heartedly accepted. Anyway, to cut a long story short – our recruiter was right. We had a surprisingly high success rate with the youth. Just a few minor glitches like gunshot wounds, knife fights, comas and molotov cocktails on roofs…but thats another story.From what I can gather, most of the rougher kids changed their ways….after maybe a little backyard method persuasion techniques. Two things were very effective. 1.Military style drilling, rules and lots of push ups for the whole class if someone was out of line – Guro Bud was an expert at this method. 2. Lots and lots of sparring. Be it Eskrima, Grappling, Kickboxing etc. If they were very bad they would have to spar everyone in class ending with me. It was truly a transformative and effective method…but probably illegal in several states…lol. Some parents told us their kids grades had gone up. Another parent told us that a school teacher said to her that her son was “The most moral student in the school” (since joining the program)…still makes me laugh.

We had an amazing experience doing volunteer work with those great Non-Profit Community organization like SIPA, PWC and FilAm ARTS. The at risk youth positive diversion program from gangs and drugs we taught from 1997 to 2004 was a big learning experience for us all. I am proud that when government funding was low or disappeared, we didn’t let it stop us. Instead myself, Guro Arnold A. Noche and Guro Bud Balani Jr. offered adult classes at the centers at an affordable rate and used the proceeds to assist in funding the youth programs. One of the adult students even got Asics to sponsor us for a semester and we got some cases of their wrestling shoes. It was a grand adventure that took us far and wide. What more could you ask for, help a few kids out, teach a few adults some culture and still train in the art you love. All that was missing was a small paycheck for the Eskrima staff…lol.

It’s funny to think that all those non-martial artist participants who went through the program where forced to learn our Eskrima lineage and history. They were exposed to Lameco and the teacher in our lineage such as GM Ilustrisimo and his 5 Pillars (GM Tony Diego, GM Yuli Romo, GM Rey Galang, GM Christopher Ricketts and PG Edgar Sulite), GM Caballero and various other arts over the years.

Our first guest instructor at the program was none other than the legendary Grandmaster Doc Lengson – which was an incredible honor for me. Not only was GM Dr. Guillermo B. “Doc” Lengson one of Master Ricketts teachers. He was also the one who advised GM Presas to add “Modern” to Arnis. GM Lenson also advised PG Sulite to use the title” Punong Guro”. Punong Guro was the first to use this term in the Martial Arts, all others since were somehow inspired by his usage. GM Lengson was the first to feature FMA on Philippine TV. One of the TV shows had a 14 year old Master Ricketts representing Sagasa Kickboxing fighting a seasoned professional boxer. With another legend GM Roland Dantes as a judge.

Other guest instructors at our program included GM Taboada, GM Gaabucayan, GM Manaois, GM Olavides, Guro Ariel Mosses, Guro Hans Tan and half of Lameco SOG. What a journey. Maybe this is why the kids responded.

 

 

Some items of recognition for our volunteer work back in the days of seemingly limitless energy.

Exerpt from:

http://www.filipinomartialartsmuseum.com/index.htm

Welcome to the Filipino Martial Arts Museum, the virtual museum and repository of knowledge of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) systems, styles, masters, history, literature and virtual artifacts. The writing ranges from incisive to light-hearted to even controversial, and the literary and virtual exhibits encompass all aspects of Filipino martial arts systems and disciplines including arnis, kali, eskrima, dumog, buno, hilot and other indigenous arts of the Philippines.

Authors are well-known experts in their fields as well as volunteer writers. Article submissions are encouraged. The authors of these articles have consented to have their articles reprinted and republished in whole or in part, as long as the author’s name, website reference address and this website are acknowledged.
I would like this site to become the most comprehensive online reader-written encyclopedia on FMA. It is meant to be a contemporary or living as well as an archival museum. Send your submissions for The Top 200 Living Masters, The Top 100 FMA Schools and other FMA Museum Who’s Who series, and then see your submissions published online. We also accept original articles and online book publications.

http://www.filipinomartialartsmuseum.com/index.htm

 

http://www.filipinomartialartsmuseum.com/FMA_masters-systems-schools/FMAguros-living-list.html

1 Dino Flores Lameco Los Angeles, CA, USA
2 Hospecio Balani Lameco Los Angeles, CA, USA
3 David Gould Lameco
4 Leonard Trigg Lameco
5 Arnold Noche Lameco Los Angeles, CA, USA
6 John Jacobo Bakbakan Maryland, USA
7 Roger Agbulos Lameco North Hills, CA, USA
8 Marc Denny Dog Brothers CA, USA
9 Eric Knauss Dog Brothers CA, USA
10 Tim Hartman Modern Arnis USA
11 Kelly Worden Modern Arnis WA, USA
12 Myrlino Hufana Modern Arnis WA, USA
13 Jeffrey Delaney Modern Arnis Canada
14 Randi Schea Modern Arnis
15 Jay de Leon Modern Arnis, Los Angeles, CA, USA
16 Alvis Solis Seneres Arnis TX, USA
17 Ron Balicki Inosanto Kali Los Angeles, CA, USA
18 Diana Balicki Inosanto Kali Los Angeles, CA, USA
19 Ramon Rubia San Miguel Eskrima CA, USA
20 Mel Lopez Villabrille-Largusa
21 Greg Alland Dekiti-Tirsia-Siradas
22 Mary Ann Presas Modern Arnis San Pablo, CA, USA
23 Demetrio Presas Modern Arnis San Pablo, CA, USA
24 Remy Presas, Jr. Modern Arnis San Pablo, CA, USA
25 Tom Bolden Modern Arnis NY, USA
26 Jerome Barber Modern Arnis NY, USA
27 Percival “Val” Pableo Doce Pares
28 Graciella Casillas CA, USA
29 Raffy Pambuan Pambuan Tulisan Arnis FL, USA
30 Steven Dowd Arnis Balite Fallon, NV, USA
31 Hock Hochheim Modern Arnis, Kombatan TX, USA
32 Jorge Penafiel Balintawak Cincinatti, OH, USA
33 Larry Alcuizar Doce Pares Los Angeles, CA, USA
34 Felix Valencia Lameco Santa Barbara, CA, USA
35 Anthony Davis Cabales Serrada CA, USA
36 Sultan Uddin Cabales Serrada CA, USA
37 Darren Tibbon Cabales Serrada CA, USA
38 Jason Inay Inayan Eskrima San Jose, CA, USA
39 Jena Inay Inayan Eskrima San Jose, CA, USA
40 Ray Dionaldo Sayoc Kali FL, USA
41 Edwin Mosqueda Doce Pares
42 Nate Defensor Doce Pares Chicago, IL, USA
43 Conrado Manaois Manaois Eskrima Los Angeles, CA, USA
44 Dan Anderson Modern Arnis WA, USA
45 Rocky Pasiwk Modern Arnis
46 Ron Harris Original Filipino Tapado New Orleans, LA, USA
47 Tim Waid Pekiti-Tirsia TX, USA
48 Leslie Buck Pekiti-Tirsia TX, USA
49 Erwin Ballarta Pekiti-Tirsia TX, USA
50 Gaudencia Ruby Comjuka TX, USA
51 Phil Rapagna Lameco, Inosanto Kali Los Angeles, CA, USA
52 Victor Gendrano Inosanto Kali Los Angeles, CA, USA
53 Stephen Aron Inosanto Kali Glendora, CA, USA
54 Menandro “Anding” de Leon Arnis de Leon Garland, TX, USA
55 Jaime Abregana Hawaii, USA
56 Vincent Cabales Cabales Serrada CA, USA
57 Vincent Cabales, Jr. Cabales Serrada CA, USA
58 Carlito Bonjoc Mata sa Bagyo CA, USA
59 Mark Wiley Cabales Serrada
60 Tom Bisio San Miguel Eskrima
61 Rafael Kayanan Sayoc Kali
62 Tom Kier Sayoc Kali
63 Jeff Chung Sayoc Kali
64 Paul Vunak Inosanto Kali CA, USA
65 Burton Richardon Inosanto Kali HI, USA
66 Steve Grody Lameco
67 Steve Tarani
68 Blaise Loong
69 Cass Magda CA, USA
70 Rick Tucci Inosanto Kali Princeton, NJ
71 James A. Keating Comtech Walla Walla, WA, USA
72 Ed Goco Galang Las Vegas, NV, USA
73 Michael Replogle Modern Arnis USA
74 Felix Roiles Doce Pares Los Angeles, CA, USA
75 Spencer Gee Pananandata NY, USA
76 Bruce Ricketts Kali Ilustrisimo San Diego, CA, USA
77 Maurice Gatdula CA, USA
78 Mar de Leon Tumba-tumba Arnis San Diego, CA, USA
79 Chris Siangco Pedoy Derobio Eskrima San Diego, CA, USA
80 Ernie Reyes, Jr. San Jose, CA, USA
81 Alex France Kombatan CA, USA
82 Alex Ercia Kombatan CA, USA
83 Arthur Gonzalez De Cuerdas Stockton, CA, USA
84 Teofisto “Toby” Tobosa Tobosa Kali/Eskrima Hawaii, USA
85 Bram Frank Modern Arnis FL USA
86 Jeff “Stickman” Finder Cabales Serrada CA, USA
87 Dennis Servaes Cabales Serrada CA, USA
88 Khalid Khan Cabales Serrada CA, USA
89 Eddie Lastra Lastra System CA, USA
90 Rico Acosta NY, USA
91 Carl Atienza Atienza Kali NJ, USA
92 Allain Atienza Atienza Kali NJ, USA
93 Apollo Ladra Pasadena, MD, USA
94 Bobby Ladra Pasadena, MD, USA
95 Pedro Israel IMB WA, USA
96 Madeline Coffin Cabales Serrada Seattle, WA, USA
97 Michael G. Davies Cabales Serrada Sacramento, CA, USA
98 Ariel Mosses Las Vegas, NV, USA
99 Jon Cuenca Las Vegas, NV, USA
100 Victor Rivera
101 Christopher Turla LESKAS WA, USA
102 Tony Somera Bahala Na CA, USA
103 Richard Van Donk De Cuerdas CA, USA
104 Wileen Arellano Bakbakan NJ, USA
105 James Muro Inayan Eskrima San Jose, CA, USA
106 Jon Ward Inayan Eskrima San Jose, CA, USA
107 Cory Hanosh Inayan Eskrima San Jose, CA, USA
108 Rupert Bisquera Cacoy Doce Pares San Jose, CA, USA
109 Ron Lew Cacoy Doce Pares San Jose, CA, USA
110 Carlos Patalinghug Cacoy Doce Pares USA
111 Virgilio Apostol Hilot CA, USA
112 Leo Fong CA, USA
113 David James Vee-Arnis-Jitsu NY, USA
114 Arsenio “Sonny” Padilla Kali Ilustrisimo Canada
115 Badger Jones Modern Arnis, Siling Labuyo Arnis Canada
116 Vic Ferrer Sikaran Saskatoon, Canada
117 Romelle Espiritu Kali De Leon Canada
118 Dan Rutano Estokada Kali Canada
119 Oliver Salvador Estokada Kali Canada
120 Gil Lafantasie Estokada Kali Canada
121 Dante Alhambra Alhambra Arnis and Sikaran Canada
122 Tom Sulit Sikaran Canada
123 Roger Paclibar Paclibar Arnis Canada
124 Rommel Tortal Pekiti-Tirsia
125 Sinuhe Martinez Modern Arnis Mexico
126 Jan-Jan Presas Kombatan Manila, Philippines
127 Manuel Caballero Caballero Orihinal Uno-Dos-Tres Cebu, Philippines
128 Rodrigo Maranga Combat Eskrima Maranga Cebu, Philippines
129 Ondo Caburnay Lapunti arnis de abanico Cebu, Philippines
130 Dennis Canete Cacoy Doce Pares Cebu, Philippines
131 Nilo Limpin Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
132 Ronnie Ricketts Bakbakan Manila, Philippines
133 Monsour del Rosario Bakbakan Manila, Philippines
134 Miguel Zubiri Bakbakan Manila, Philippines
135 Nathan Dominguez LESKAS Manila, Philippines
136 Bot Jocano LESKAS Manila, Philippines
137 Manolo Luis del Rosario LESKAS Philippines
138 Jon Escudero LESKAS Philippines
139 Sioc Glaraga Modern Arnis Philippines
140 John Russell Visayan Martial Arts Australia
141 Henry Jayme Visayan Martial Arts Cebu, Philippines
142 Samuel Ibe Mantas Daga Philippines
143 John Villasin Balintawak Cebu, Philippines
144 Jimson Dearos Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
145 Rei Samson Modern Arnis Mountain Province, Philippines
146 Paolo Motitta Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
147 Noel Penaredondo Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
148 Michael Gubat Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
149 Armando Soteco Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
150 Marcelo “Cocoy” Oyales Modern Arnis Manila, Philippines
151 Nile Jordan Modern Arnis Cordillera, Philippines
152 Antolin “Ace” Rosales Modern Arnis Philippines
153 Romy Macapagal Kali Ilustrisimo Philippines
154 Alberto “Jhun” Dacayana Philippines
155 Isagani Abon Rapido Realismo Philippines
156 Galo D. Lalic Kalintaw Philippines
157 James U. Sy, Jr. Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis, Original Tapado, Yasay Sable, Conceptual Martial Arts Bacolod City, Neg. Occ. Philippines
158 Nelson D. Vargas Silab Kanto Filipino Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines
159 Ronaldo Garciano Garciano Arnis Kilat Serrada Dagupan, Pangasinan
160 Rohnee Tiong Gumpal Garciano Arnis Kilat Serrada Dagupan, Pangasinan
161 Abner Anievas Modern Arnis Hong Kong
162 Nathan Walker Modern Arnis Saudi Arabia
163 Ghazzi Al-Turaifi Modern Arnis Saudi Arabia
164 Manuel Maer Modern Arnis Saudi Arabia
165 Mohammed Issa Al Issa Modern Arnis Saudi Arabia
166 Raymond Floro Kali Ilustrisimo Australia
167 Graham Jamieson Black Eagle Eskrima Australia
168 Vincent Palumbo Doce Pares Australia
169 David Foggie Modern Arnis Australia
170 Edessa Ramos Modern Arnis Zurich, Switzerland
171 Jorgen Gydesen Modern Arnis Germany
172 Hans Karrer Modern Arnis Germany
173 Uli Weidle Pekiti-Tirsia Germany
174 Alfred Plath Modern Arnis Germany
175 Uwe Schwarz Cacoy Doce Pares Germany
176 Bob Breen England
177 Danny Guba England
178 Krishna Godhania Balitok / Warrior System England
179 Peter Lewis England
180 Pat O’Malley Rapid Arnis England
181 Shamim Hague England
182 Bill Lowery England
183 Jeff Espinous Inayan Eskrima France
184 Galo “Jun” Matagay Modern Arnis Italy
185 Tim Kashino Modern Arnis Italy
186 Flaviano Cabuang
187 Philip Gelinas Pekiti-Tirsia
188 Emanuel Hart Inayan Eskrima
189 Trovador Ramos TRACMA
190 John Chow Kalis Ilustrisimo Orihinal Repeticion Australia
191 Jerry Evangelisan Dekiti-Tirsia Manila, Philippines
192 Jun Martinada NARAPHIL Manila, Philippines
193 Brian Zawilinski Modern Arnis USA
194 Orly Junio Lightning Scientific Arnis Philippines
195 Narciso L. Alojado - Original Filipino Tapado, Conceptual Martial Arts Bacolod City

196 Felix A. Altarap Yaming Bacolod City

197 Fr. Jerson Balitor Oido de Caburata Murcia
198 Nelson Carmona Original Filipino Tapado Bago City
199 Joeffrey S. Deriada - Original Filipino Tapado Bacolod City

200 Irving P. Elefante Lapu-Lapu Viñas Arnis Valladolid
Andrew Filardo Arnis and Boxing New York
John Brown Bahad Zubu Utah