Bakom, also known as Vacón, is a martial art created during the early 1980s by former commando and street fighter Roberto León Puch Bezada.
History
The art was created by Roberto Puch ( in
Barrios Altos),
a resident of the third block of Caylloma street, in the historic centre of Lima, a once-dangerous part of the city.
[ The oldest of eight children,][ Puch was born in Barrios Altos, growing up in the neighbourhood's then crime-ridden areas, such as Cinco esquinas,][ where he saw kicking duels as a child, eventually learning self-defence techniques from a Chinese mentor at the city's Chinatown.][ He eventually graduated from the COEDE School of the Peruvian Army, serving as a commando and later working as a member of the intelligence service.][
]
Both the fighting style and its creator's fame reached its peak during the 1980s and 1990s.[ In the early 1990s, he was interviewed by Jaime Bayly in his programme ¿Qué hay de nuevo?, also being featured in the biographical miniseries .][ After his appearances on Peruvian television, he became a bodyguard for a number of celebrities and politicians,][ eventually becoming a curandero,][
]
Rules
According to Puch, the ruleset is as follows:
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Study the opponent and analyse the type of physical build.
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Maintain serenity, reason, make your mind work quickly and safely, keep your body elastic and not rigid.
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Always remember that skill is better than strength and resort to creole mischief, that is, "total fight."
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Review and memorize the weak points of the human body.
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Distrust is part of wisdom, in the face of a possible triumph; Never turn your back on your opponent. Never neglect any angle of your body.
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Surprise is the cornerstone of success in action; Change and combine different tactics in the fight.
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Never give your opponent a break, on the contrary, ensure his defeat by attacking him without rest.
See also
