Panantukan, also known as Filipino boxing or dirty boxing, is the empty-hand facet of Filipino martial arts (FMA). Practical in nature, Panantukan is a synthesis of the art of Western boxing and the ugly effectiveness of street fighting. Panantukan employs punches, elbows, shoulders, headbutts, low-line kicks, and limb destruction, thus making it a highly effective and versatile system of self-defense. For pupils and hobbyists who cannot train every day with a teacher, educational DVDs provide an easy and engaging option for learning and building techniques.
Several Panantukan DVD collections have become popular over the last few years. Below is a thorough review of the top-ranked Panantukan instruction DVDs on the market, providing information on their strengths, learning style, and overall value to novices and veteran martial artists.
1. “Panantukan Dirty Boxing” by Ron Balicki
Ron Balicki, a renowned martial artist and student of Dan Inosanto, presents one of the most complete Panantukan instructional sets available. His DVD series dives deep into the fundamentals and advanced applications of Filipino dirty boxing.
Strengths:
Balicki’s background in Jeet Kune Do and FMA gives this series a practical and effective blend.
Instruction is detailed and sequential, from simple footwork and jab-cross combinations to more complex counter-fighting principles.
Contains drills that consist of limb destruction, off-balancing, and trapping.
Ideal For: Intermediate to advanced students who wish to enhance their knowledge of the Panantukan mindset and movement. Quality of production and pacing are good, which makes it suitable for home study as well as drilling.
2. “Panantukan: Filipino Dirty Boxing” by Kelly McCann
Kelly McCann is a retired military combatives instructor who gets the job done in no-nonsense, in-the-trenches fashion. His Panantukan approach is minimalist and brutally effective, using high-percentage self-defense methods.
Strengths:
Extremely practical for street use; emphasizes gross motor responses under duress.
McCann’s no-nonsense, no-bull teaching style is inspiring.
Simple and aggressive focus rather than complicated drills.
Best For: Police, military, and civilians who want effective self-defense on the basis of FMA philosophy without the glitz. It’s not flashy—just effective.
3. “Panantukan: Filipino Boxing Vol. 1 & 2” by Dwight Woods
Dwight Woods, a Dan Inosanto-certified instructor, has a very methodical and instructional teaching style on his Panantukan DVDs. Since he is also a teacher, his lessons are well dissected.
Strengths:
Focuses on rhythm, timing, and smoothness—crucial points of FMA.
Has transitions from hand-to-hand to stick/weapon ranges, which is true Filipino martial arts.
Very heavy emphasis on coordination and flow drills.
Best For: Beginners and intermediate practitioners looking to grasp the inner mechanics of Panantukan. It’s also great for those who want to bridge the gap between empty-hand skills and weapons.
4. “Panantunchecked.net: Street Boxing” by Jared Wihongi
Jared Wihongi is a police tactical officer and Pekiti Tirsia Kali combatives instructor who incorporates his system with Western boxing and Pekiti Tirsia Kali aspects. His DVD is particularly geared towards using Panantungan in the context of a downtown, contemporary city setting.
Strengths:
Combines tactical situations and situational awareness into the training.
Teaches practical defensive techniques against common street attacks.
Professional-grade, professional-quality production with step-by-step explanation.
Best For: Self-defense practitioners and tactical practitioners who want an updated and modernized version of Panantukan. It is also suitable for practitioners who want to cross-train in grappling and weapons.
5. “Essential Panantukan” by Michael Janich
Michael Janich is most famous for his work in the world of knife combatives, but he is also well-versed in Filipino martial arts. His Panantukan content, though less showy, is all about functional movement and biomechanical efficiency.
Strengths:
Emphasizes joint manipulation, off-balancing, and striking weak anatomical targets.
Extremely detail-oriented; ideal for left-brained students.
Shows direct uses of principles in close-quarters combat.
Best For: Advanced martial practitioners and combatives enthusiasts seeking a tactical approach. Janich’s teaching is cerebrally and anatomically strike-oriented, beneficial to anyone seeking to improve their close-range skills.
Selecting the Proper Panantukan DVD
In choosing a Panantukan DVD, it would be advisable to take into consideration the level of expertise you have and what you aspire to achieve through training. For instance, if you are new to FMA or even martial arts in general, an instructional DVD like that of Dwight Woods’ beginner instruction would be perfect. But if you already have a long background working with boxing or Jeet Kune Do and want to learn Filipino boxing as well, Ron Balicki or Jared Wihongi might be more up your alley.
Key Things to Keep in Mind:
Instruction Method: Would you rather have the classic martial arts experience or street-level tactical training?
Production Quality: Strong video and audio assist in learning retention.
Information Density: There are summary DVDs, and there are lengthy multi-disc sets.
Application Level: Are you training for tournament competition, self-protection, or cross-training martial arts?
Final Remarks
Panantukan is an excellent martial art for anyone who wants good, solid, practical self-defense and fighting ability. The art itself’s fusion of rhythm, timing, and brutality is great to see. No substitute for live instruction, but a wonderful transition for the single student or someone who wants to supplement the gym or dojo training.
Nowadays, DVDs of Panantukan are a goldmine of information inherited from past masters. From mastering how to transition smoothly from defense to offense to mastering just how to freeze an attacker in his tracks, there’s something for every type of fighter in this list.
