Bahala Na Club #1 Memories from a Guro
Driving down San Joaquin street in Southside Stockton California you wouldn’t believe it if you saw it. That an old, white two story house next to a vacant lot was the home of one of the most respected martial arts schools in the world. If you were anyone else you would think you were in any town USA. But if you were an escrimador of any style or system you knew you stood on sacred ground. This was the residence of Leovigildo Giron at 2120 San Joaquin Street. This was Bahalana #1 (BNC#1) smack dab in the middle of one of the hardest neighborhoods in Stockton California.
This wasn’t an martial arts studio with all the bright lights, mats on the floor, air conditioning, and trophies lining the walls. No this was an uneven dirt lot in the spring and summer time and a little jungle in the fall and winter. No matter what season it was always perfect for environmental training. When it goes dark or depending on the weather we played inside the basement. The basement served triple duty as Uncle Leo’s storage, washroom and training facility for many students. Though his first school started in Tracy California in 1968. It wasn’t until he moved to Stockton and in 1979 began the groundwork for BNC#1. With the help of his late wife Alberta the driving force behind him Giron, Alberta and some old school players in the basement of their home chartered BNC#1.
Classes were held three times a week Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings. I remember coming in early on Monday nights during football seasons sitting down with Uncle Leo watching night football. Manong Leo didn’t have a particular team he liked but he would often commentate the action during the game. A little known secret that most people don’t know is that if you look at the Bahala Na logo. On the bottom where it reads “ Patakaran Ni GNG Giron” meaning “the Giron system” you will notice the GNG short for ginang stands for the female title Mrs. In English; GN being short ginong or Mr. this was just a small dedication to Alberta for her love and support.
Many visitors and students came and went. Some short time students, who after getting popped on the knuckles realized escrima was not their thing. Some long term diehards who showed up religiously. Some students came for cultural connections to their roots some to learn to defend themselves. But whenever you left Bahala Na, you were humbled by the company you kept. You see many of Leos students were family and friends, close referrals of different occupations backgrounds and respetated members of the community. Young thugs turned ritious citizen of the neighborhood, many findings careers in local law enforcement and correctional facilities, how ironic is that? Whatever your reason to take escrima was Bahala Na wasn’t a warrior factory turning out fighters.
Bahala Na was a micro community with many different faces in its make up ever changing through the years. The faces in Bahala Na many have drastically changed through it are over 30 years in the business but the mission statement has always been the same. I’m not going to lie and say things haven’t changed since we closed the old club.
Ideals and future plans of individuals have changed and certain people don’t come around as much as they used to. Some support isn’t in person anymore but from e mails and faxes. Though we’ve moved and have to pay rent for our facilities the underlying fact is we are still Leo’s boys and yes girls. Ready to back each others play at a moments notice and to uphold the teachings of a great man whom is no longer with us. So no matter where BNC is I will always have fond memories of that old house in the south side, the backyard and San Joaquin Street.
Article creator : Guro Joel Juanitas
This wasn’t an martial arts studio with all the bright lights, mats on the floor, air conditioning, and trophies lining the walls. No this was an uneven dirt lot in the spring and summer time and a little jungle in the fall and winter. No matter what season it was always perfect for environmental training. When it goes dark or depending on the weather we played inside the basement. The basement served triple duty as Uncle Leo’s storage, washroom and training facility for many students. Though his first school started in Tracy California in 1968. It wasn’t until he moved to Stockton and in 1979 began the groundwork for BNC#1. With the help of his late wife Alberta the driving force behind him Giron, Alberta and some old school players in the basement of their home chartered BNC#1.
Classes were held three times a week Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings. I remember coming in early on Monday nights during football seasons sitting down with Uncle Leo watching night football. Manong Leo didn’t have a particular team he liked but he would often commentate the action during the game. A little known secret that most people don’t know is that if you look at the Bahala Na logo. On the bottom where it reads “ Patakaran Ni GNG Giron” meaning “the Giron system” you will notice the GNG short for ginang stands for the female title Mrs. In English; GN being short ginong or Mr. this was just a small dedication to Alberta for her love and support.
Many visitors and students came and went. Some short time students, who after getting popped on the knuckles realized escrima was not their thing. Some long term diehards who showed up religiously. Some students came for cultural connections to their roots some to learn to defend themselves. But whenever you left Bahala Na, you were humbled by the company you kept. You see many of Leos students were family and friends, close referrals of different occupations backgrounds and respetated members of the community. Young thugs turned ritious citizen of the neighborhood, many findings careers in local law enforcement and correctional facilities, how ironic is that? Whatever your reason to take escrima was Bahala Na wasn’t a warrior factory turning out fighters.
Bahala Na was a micro community with many different faces in its make up ever changing through the years. The faces in Bahala Na many have drastically changed through it are over 30 years in the business but the mission statement has always been the same. I’m not going to lie and say things haven’t changed since we closed the old club.
Ideals and future plans of individuals have changed and certain people don’t come around as much as they used to. Some support isn’t in person anymore but from e mails and faxes. Though we’ve moved and have to pay rent for our facilities the underlying fact is we are still Leo’s boys and yes girls. Ready to back each others play at a moments notice and to uphold the teachings of a great man whom is no longer with us. So no matter where BNC is I will always have fond memories of that old house in the south side, the backyard and San Joaquin Street.
Article creator : Guro Joel Juanitas
