Backstabbers Finland: Baraw Sugbo -style knife defense

Does the size of the knife change the training?

Absolutely. Even small differences in blade length and handle geometry can influence how the hands interact during training.

In this clip, Juho and Jasse are working through Baraw Sugbo drills using a Mora knife as the training reference. Compared to larger knives, the shorter handle and blade demand greater precision in gripping and control. It’s a simple equipment change that encourages practitioners to pay closer attention to hand placement and structure rather than relying on habit.

Changing the training tool doesn’t change the principles—but it can reveal details that are easy to overlook.

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Check out our seminars in Helsinki and other cities from our website, link in bio!
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Disclaimer: Pictures and videos are not choreographed demonstrations and don’t represent self-defense situations.
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Backstabbers Finland: Baraw Sugbo | Arnes Diablo | Kutsilyo Cebu knife defense, as taught by Eduardo Ceniza, Cronnie Cabatingan, and Venson Villamala. | Knife related combatives. Based in Helsinki. We strictly adhere to lawful and ethical guidelines, and do not condone any unlawful or extreme practices.

One of the easiest ways to slow down a student’s progress is to give them too much to process at once.

In this clip, Juan and Juha are refining the Baraw Sugbo Metodo. One detail worth noticing is Juan’s feeding: it’s clear, consistent, and intentionally uncomplicated. Rather than trying to challenge the defender with endless variation, the goal is to present exactly the stimulus needed for the current learning objective.

Good feeding is a teaching skill in itself. Sometimes doing less produces better learning. Once the foundation is stable, complexity and pressure can be added progressively.

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Check out our seminars in Helsinki and other cities from our website, link in bio!
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Disclaimer: Pictures and videos are not choreographed demonstrations and don’t represent self-defense situations.
——————————
Backstabbers Finland: Baraw Sugbo | Arnes Diablo | Kutsilyo Cebu knife defense, as taught by Eduardo Ceniza, Cronnie Cabatingan, and Venson Villamala. | Knife related combatives. Based in Helsinki. We strictly adhere to lawful and ethical guidelines, and do not condone any unlawful or extreme practices.

Juho and Jasse working through Baraw Sugbo randomized dexterity drills, also known as Palakaw, using a standard KA-BAR knife.

Palakaw develops timing, adaptability, and grip dexterity through an interactive training process. Rather than memorizing fixed sequences, the emphasis is on recognizing changing opportunities and responding with appropriate movement while maintaining structure and control.

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Check out our seminars in Helsinki and other cities from our website, link in bio!
——————————
Disclaimer: Pictures and videos are not choreographed demonstrations and don’t represent self-defense situations.
——————————
Backstabbers Finland: Baraw Sugbo | Arnes Diablo | Kutsilyo Cebu knife defense, as taught by Eduardo Ceniza, Cronnie Cabatingan, and Venson Villamala. | Knife related combatives. Based in Helsinki. We strictly adhere to lawful and ethical guidelines, and do not condone any unlawful or extreme practices.

Markku and Juan have been working through the core fundamentals of Baraw Sugbo during the past two Wednesday sessions. Great to see both the instructors and the trainees developing steadily and building a solid foundation together.

The final session of this intro course takes place next Wednesday. After that, all participants are warmly welcome to continue training in our regular sessions and keep progressing along the Baraw Sugbo path.

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Check out our seminars in Helsinki and other cities from our website, link in bio!
——————————
Disclaimer: Pictures and videos are not choreographed demonstrations and don’t represent self-defense situations.
——————————
Backstabbers Finland: Baraw Sugbo | Arnes Diablo | Kutsilyo Cebu knife defense, as taught by Eduardo Ceniza, Cronnie Cabatingan, and Venson Villamala. | Knife related combatives. Based in Helsinki. We strictly adhere to lawful and ethical guidelines, and do not condone any unlawful or extreme practices.

Another glimpse from the Aikido Unlimited training day, this time focusing a bit more on knife retention training.

In Baraw Sugbo, techniques are not treated as single fixed solutions. The knife retention skills of the attacker/feeder are trained simultaneously, constantly shaping the defender’s options, timing, controls, and possible disarms.

Without proper understanding and skill in agak; the Cebuano concept of guided attack simulation and adaptive feeding; training easily turns into choreography instead of functional learning.

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Check out our seminars in Helsinki and other cities from our website, link in bio!
——————————
Disclaimer: Pictures and videos are not choreographed demonstrations and don’t represent self-defense situations.
——————————
Backstabbers Finland: Baraw Sugbo | Arnes Diablo | Kutsilyo Cebu knife defense, as taught by Eduardo Ceniza, Cronnie Cabatingan, and Venson Villamala. Libre Fighting | Piper knife combatives. Based in Helsinki. We strictly adhere to lawful and ethical guidelines, and do not condone any unlawful or extreme practices.

Great to teach skilled practitioners and exchange ideas at the Baraw Sugbo seminar hosted by Aikido Unlimited in Tampere. Especially valuable were the discussions regarding the role of the attacker in training; how feeding, pressure, intent, and structure shape the defender’s learning process.

Excellent questions and plenty of thought-provoking material also for the instructors of the seminar!

Big thanks to Mikko and Sarita from Aikido Unlimited for the arrangements and hospitality! 🙏

——————————
Check out our seminars in Helsinki and other cities from our website, link in bio!
——————————
Disclaimer: Pictures and videos are not choreographed demonstrations and don’t represent self-defense situations.
——————————
Backstabbers Finland: Baraw Sugbo | Arnes Diablo | Kutsilyo Cebu knife defense, as taught by Eduardo Ceniza, Cronnie Cabatingan, and Venson Villamala. Libre Fighting | Piper knife combatives. Based in Helsinki. We strictly adhere to lawful and ethical guidelines, and do not condone any unlawful or extreme practices.