Balintawak Arnis/Escrima

World Toevel's Balintawak Arnis: Elizar Chapter


 in Cebu City.

The Chief Instructor: Master Nicomedes "Nick" Elizar.

Master Nicomedes "Nick" Alburta Elizar was born on September 15th 1948 in Ronda, southwestern Cebu, The Philippines. His parents were Teodorico Elizar a school teacher and Sancha Elizar a home maker. When he was five years old they moved to Cebu City for his fathers work.

At a young age he was interested in martial sports and especially his favorite sport was boxing. At thirteen years old he was already training with older amateur boxers from the University of the Visayas. Later he was to continue his training at the Ngujo Boxing stable near the Cebu Capital site.

In 1965 he started learning "Karate" and in 1967 he became a member of the "Tae Kwon Do Karate Club" in Manila under the supervision of of Mr Al Hipolito, the clubs chief instructor.

In 1969 he moved back to Cebu. Combining his knowledge of boxing, Tae Kwon Do and Karate, he developed his own self-defense style, often being challenged by other Karate blackbelters.

In 1970 through 1971 he was hired by a local businessman and politician as a bodyguard, using both martial arts and firearms. With the decree of martial law however, he lost his right to carry a gun, so he then concentrated on his martial arts training.

In 1972 he re-met his childhood friend Mr Bobby Taboada and was invited to train and practice in one of the well known Escrima/Arnis clubs of the time, the "Balintawak International Self-Defense Club". During that time, the club was run by Atty. Jose Villasen as President, Teofilo Velez Vice President and Anciong Bacon their Grandmaster.

As a neophyte of the club, he was taught up through the basic fundamentals and advanced lessons, up into the advanced techniques, like counter and recounter through Chito and Eddie Velez. He was also put through his paces by Master Velez, Master Villasin and Grandmaster Bacon but often most checked by Teofilo Velez.

In 1977 he moved to Dumaguete City, Negros and organised an Escrima club based on Balintawak. During this time several instructors from others styles in Dumaguete decided to test his ability. None succeeded in besting him. As his club grew they were invited to demonstrate and instruct students from the Silliman University in Dumaguete.

Moving back to Cebu City he continued his Escrima/Arnis training with Master Velez with the learning of the different combat Judo techniques that had been taught to Master Velez by Master Jesus Cui. Master Velez also taught Nick the older Doce Pares styles that he had been taught.

The Balintawak group was now going through an evolutionary period and high ranking Escrimadors from Balintawak Original and Balintawak International began to move for the formation of a new club. On April 17th 1982 the "Teovil's Balintawak Group" was formally inducted at Lapu Lapu City with Teofilo Velez as the President and Mr Nick Elizar was inducted as one of the Instructors and on the Board of Directors.

In February 17, 1989 the saddest moment of the Teovil's Balintawak Group came when their Grandmaster Teofilo Velez died. In 1990 the members formally recognised Master Pacito Velez as the heir and successor of his father and thus became the new Grandmaster.

Grandmaster Pacito Velez kept on developing and checking the ranking and category of the members of the Teovil's Balintawak group, especially with the instigation of the colour chapter groups.

In 1994 on the occasion of the birthday of the late Grandmaster Teofilo Velez, instructor Nick Elizar was one of the awardees to receive a certificate of "Master" category signed by Grandmaster Pacito Velez. Presently Master Nick Elizar is the chief Trainer/instructor of the Teovil's Balintawak Arnis International Self-Defence Club "White Chapter".

During the 1998 World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) Championships, Master Nick was given the task by Grandmaster Pacito Velez to represent the Teovil's Balintawak Group for the Grandmasters Seminar held at Skema Hall of Martial Arts located at Lilo-an, Cebu and in 2000 at Panagsama Beach, Moalboal, Cebu. With Master Nick were Grandmaster Esing Atillo, Grandmaster Rodrigo Maranga, Grandmaster Vicente Carin, Grandmaster Ben Culang, Grandmaster Undo Caburnay, and Grandmaster Pacito Velez. This event was attended by roughly 300 escrimadors from many different countries.

At present Master Nick Elizar is employed by the Philippine government and has received many commendations and Special Mayoral awards for his services. He continues to teach self defence lessons with the combination of Boxing, Karate, Eskrima/Arnis, and combat Judo.

Master Nick can be contacted at:

Postal address: 84-Y Cabantan St., Barangay Luz, Cebu City, Philippines, 6000.

Phone number: (your international code) 63 32 419-1248

His cellular mobile phone number is:

Phone in the Philippines: 09198019311

Phone from outside the Philippines: (Your International Code) 63 9198019311

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©1998-2003 John Russell