Born on the 5th day of September 1957, before Cecelio Sandigan became a Master of Mink Mongoose Martial Arts Kali Arnis, he started to learn martial arts when he was 10 years of age.
1967 - 1972: A Master from Mindanao who is a friend of HIS father taught him the art of kick boxing, and combatant grappling he also taught him the art of combat Kali Escrima.
1972 – 1977: Cecelio met another Master, who was a friend of his former Master, this Master taught him the art of Alamid Musang self defense, also he taught Cecelio the art of Kangaroo Kick Boxing, and then finally he taught Cecelio the art of the snake and the eagle along with, the art of Mantis and Ducling style.
     Upon completion of learning those techniques and styles, this Master also taught Cecelio the principle of Sundang at Punyal, “the way and the art of long and short bladed weapons.”
1977 - 1982: Cecelio met yet another Master this one was from Bicol Region, he taught Cecelio the art of Likapasa martial arts, it means “linlangin ang kaaway sa pamamagitan ng sayaw,” he also taught Cecelio the art of Larong Pusa meaning “the speed of the cat claw.”
Also taught to Cecelio was the art of Larong Tulisan it means, “Cheating the opponent or snatched and grab the opponent,” and continuing I learned from this Master the art of electrifying karate, which involves the power of jerk, “a sudden pull twist with speed and timing it can cause electrifying effect to the human body.”
     After learning those some different kinds of martial arts, he taught me the secret of Espada-e-Daga and Arnis de Mano, Hagis Wasiwas, Doblete de Rapilon, from the Master in the Bicol region, Cecelio thrust for knowledge continued and it was in 1984 he met yet another Master from antique who was a Master of human anatomy (healer).
     By using the fingers of both hands, and just pressing the points of different nerves, it can heal some diseases like arthritis, rayuma, back pain, headache, heart failure, colds caused lung failure, and much more, its all about by using suction therapy, it is used with rubber suction cups on the humans body. This Master from antique taught Cecelio his style and discipline and techniques for approximately 4 years.
     At the age of 33, Cecelio found himself with the knowledge that he had gained from all the research and training from these various Masters, Unfortunately these four Masters have passed away.
     Wondering what to do next Cecelio decided to develop his own style with what he had learned, plus adding his own philosophies. He trained, formulated, analyzed, theorized, and tested for 20 years.

Grandmaster Sandigan Balatinga

     During the time Cecelio spent developing, theorizing and building his own style or martial arts. In his opinion he found the most effective and powerful techniques to history, the Balatinga Arnis style.
     What the Balatinga consists of is; a small ball that is made of metal attached to a lanyard. This can be used for self defense; this is very unique and amazing weapon because anyone can carry this weapon anywhere without the weapon being detected. Almost anyone is able to play the way of Balatinga, just learn the fundamentals and the footwork with the techniques of Balatinga.
     This weapon used correctly is able to break even the hard things like rock, bricks, hollow blocks, and much more. But the important thing mostly is it can be used for self defense, injuring a human being, once it has hit the person in any part of the body.
     To play Balatinga is one of Grandmaster Sandigan specializations, he well developed the use of the Balatinga while he was developing and building his own style and discipline of martial arts, for almost 20 years.
     It was in December 2002 the Grandmaster Cecelio Sandigan registered the name of his style with the Department of Trade and Industry for single proprietorship. This was the beginning of the style now known as Mink Mongoose.
     And now he would like to teach and share his martial art know as Mink Mongoose Kali Arnis with other practitioners and throughout the world.

Mink Mongoose System Theory
     This martial art specializes in bare hand combat particularly "locking techniques", "locking releasing techniques" and arresting techniques." The striking techniques have different points of attack, which may result in paralyzing the opponent which is composed of well mobilization, elasticity and flexibility of the hand and the body to confuse and avoid the opponent.
     In the defense of this bare handed combat it use of "jerking" "dropping". "dub trap" and "tossing" this art has different kinds of mobilization, which the fighter can ignore or counter the attack of the opponent by moving away from the point of attack in order to have the right timing to use the attack against the opponent, making it an art that imitates the mongoose confronting the cobra.
     It is a unique art in its defensive and offensive techniques, using 21 strikes and blocks using the baston and which also can be used in knife fighting confrontations. The footwork is intricate and balance is of most importance, using smoothness in mobility, yet jerking motions, dropping and other movements like the mongoose. Based on reaction and constantly avoiding the opponents attack point and small movements. The use of pressure points, joint immobilization, and nerve strikes make this style a most formable martial art.
     The power of the jerk has a series of full twitching and heavy blow strikes and throws. It’s a sudden full twist with a tremendous speed and timing with proper holding on the opponents’ nerves by both hands. It can cause an electrifying effect which can make a fatal injury to the opponent due to the cuttings and disconnecting and damage caused to the opponents nerves.
It is the experience of being taught the moves, footwork, mobilization and blows which make the style have deadly attacks or counter attacks, as it teaches you the science of self-defense.
Learning Mink Mongoose is to know the harmonious dancing footwork, and mobilization, it pattern is like a dance of the mongoose, it never uses emotions to get the opponent down, its sense of precision and sharpness in everything it does, and has no fear and provokes the opponent to strike by judging its distance and its lightening speed by observation.
     Once a student learns the art he/she may be confident to fight an armed opponent without using any weapon in order to lessen or avoid any violence that may occur in times of challenges. This martial art teaches the fighter how to relax and think during the time of a challenge and keep himself/herself thinking whether just to disarm, paralyze or even kill the aggressor.
     Its strikes never finish without leaving a trace of its attack and it moves and techniques giving the opponent no opportunity to counter the strikes and heavy blows.

Weaponry
     This system of Mink Mongoose Martial Arts Kali Arnis is specialized in the use of weaponry, particularly in the long and short bladed weapons, not only teaching the usage of the weapons; but also the art of disarming the weapon from the opponent.
Mink Mongoose is applicable to all persons who may have a job that is/may be dangerous in leading to violence such as law enforcement, security etc.

Mink Mongoose Martial arts Kali Arnis was adopted by the Filipino Martial Arts Association of the Philippines and even the World Masters Alliance Council and the Philippines Council of Kali-Eskrima-Arnis Masters.

As a member of the World Alliance to joined seminars and several tournaments throughout the country and even from parts of the world to share knowledge about our martial arts. By our efficient Masters and practitioners appreciated our martial arts discipline.