Guro Ramon Villardo was first introduced to the “sweet science” of boxing when he was just 10 years old and since then he has been studying the martial arts. He is a full-fledged member and the Regional Director of Bakbakan International in Canada (a brotherhood of martial artists head quartered in Manila, Philippines and New Jersey, U.S.A. dedicated to the propagation and proliferation of the Filipino Martial Arts). He was a former Weapon Instructor at Moni Aizik (Combat Krav Maga) gym in North Toronto, Impact Martial Arts. Currently, BAKBAKAN INTERNATIONAL, CANADA is Headquartered at Universal Mixed Martial Arts, North York, Ontario, Canada.
Guro Ramon was personally trained by Master Rey Galang, one of the “five pillars” of Kali Ilustrisimo, in the art of Bakbakan Kali Ilustrisimo, Sinawali and Tulisan Knife Fighting System. Guro Ramon also collaborated and trained closely with his friend, the late Master Fred Garcia founder of YawYan-Sibukan after Master Fred invited him to teach at UMMA. He currently teaches the highly revered Filipino Martial Arts of Bakbakan Kali-Ilustrisimo & Sibukan-Kali (aka BAKBAKAN-SIBUKAN KALI ILUSTRISIMO), Tulisan Knife Fighting System, Sinawali, “Dos Manos,” Knife Self-Defense, Bolo/Itak Fighting from Tagaan Arnis, and Kawala self-defense/street survival system.
Guro Ramon has also attained Maestro level in TAGAAN ARNIS – which means, in Filipino or Tagalog language: “patayan sa pamamagitan ng itak o gulok” which can be translated to English as “duel of death by a bolo.” This bolo fighting system is rooted from noble freedom fighter KATIPUNEROS of the De Leon-Payumo ancestry. This blade system which uses primarily a bolo or itak and did not have a name during the first two generations. It is just a fighting/survival system, but remains intact to the selected members of the Payumo-De Leon clan. Guro Ramon is the first Maestro level Instructor outside Grandmaster De Leon’s family and has been given the authority to teach and propagate this battle-proven art. In addition, Guro Ramon is also a certified instructor in empty hand self-defense/street survival system known as “KAWALA” close-quarter fighting.
Guro Ramon is also a martial arts journalist and seminar instructor. Aside from these qualifications, in his long martial arts career and deep passion for the martial arts, he has attained Blackbelt rank in Okinawan Goju Ryu and Sifu ranking in the Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu. He also studied other martial arts disciplines such as French Cane Fighting, Savate, Harimau (Tiger) Pencak Silat, Muay Thai, Tai Chi Chuan, Grappling, Filipino Boxing, and YawYan-Sibukan. He is mentioned in the book of Master Reynaldo Galang “Classic Arnis.”
(Note: If the martial art you practice is primarily “empty hand” (striking/grappling) but would like add weapons training or weapons self-defense to your arsenal, Guro Ramon is available to conduct seminars/workshops at your school. He can be e-mailed directly at ramonvillardo@gmail.com or reached at 647-500-1023).
