Gaffing 101 Sukat, Sapin, Kalang, Asinta and Bid-Bid

Every sabungero dreams of tying his own tari someday. But most of us learned by watching over the mananari's shoulder at the pit, and he works fast. So when Bernard Jo ("Pareng Jeck-Jeck") posted an 11-minute, complete gaffing tutorial for beginners, I watched the whole thing. His promise: "Full video ito ng gaffing tutorial... para sa mga baguhan." Everything is in one sitting: pagsusukat, sapin, leather boots, kalang, asinta and bid-bid. (Names come from the audio, so spellings may differ slightly.) Step 1: Pagsusukat (Measuring) Brace the leg from below, and set the base of the gaff against the hinlalaki (the back toe). The right measure goes past the soft part (kalambutan) but does not reach the feeder line. "Safe po 'yun, mga pre, 'yung ganyang sukat." Step 2: Sapin (The Wrap) Wrap gently (malumanay lang). Start with about 4 turns on top. Don't press the wrap against the tahid (spur). If you keep layering on it, it will bukol (bunch up into a lump). Massage the sapin after every few turns so it compresses flat, especially at the bend. Slide it down so it sits evenly between the tahid and the rest of the leg. Goal: "Pantay talaga." Step 3: Leather Boots and Kalang He sets the leather boots a little lower because the bird has a normal-sized foot. He likes a slightly bigger kalang, not extra large, just a bit bigger than medium. Before pressing the kalang down, trim and stretch the end of the sapin so it locks neatly into the leather boots. Leave a little space at the base of the kalang. That gap is where the bid-bid locks later. Step 4: Asinta (The Angle) His preset is 12:30, not 1 o'clock and not fully escuadrado (square). He says this setting works whether the bird is on top or below, and for both flyers and grounders. The asinta sits at the knee line, and you must know your blade's preset before you start. Step 5: Bid-Bid (Tying) He counts every turn out loud, roughly: 8 at the bottom, 5 in the middle, 10 on top. 5–6 on the left and 4 on the right, then sampay (drape over) so the blade won't drop. 2 full turns behind the leg, never straight across, "kasi walang pwersa 'yan." This is what stops the blade from tilting. About 7–8 locks on top. "Ito ang pinaka-importante." Counter-wraps of 4–5 on each side, then tuck every end inside, under the kalang. Finish the thread end on the left side so it's easy to find when you untie. His answer to people who say a long bid-bid is heavy: "Paano bibigat, ang gaan-gaan lang ng sinulid?" Safety First Keep the blade cover on until the last moment. If the bird struggles, "huwag na huwag n'yong bibitawan." That's how gaffers get cut. ⚠️ His counts and 12:30 preset are his personal style. Other mananari use different numbers. Practice on a dummy leg first, never on your best cock the night before a derby. My Takeaways for Pinoy Breeders Learning to tie saves real money. A mananari usually takes a commission or fee per fight. If you fight often, that adds up fast. It's also a sellable skill. A trusted gaffer is always in demand at the local pit. Consistency beats speed. Same sukat, same preset, same counts every time. Write your own "recipe" down. Buy a good set once. Cheap tari and thread that slips will cost you more than the savings. Learn from a mentor too. A video teaches the steps, but a senior mananari watching your hands will catch mistakes the camera can't. Like a Sastre Fitting a Barong Tying a gaff is like a sastre fitting a barong for a wedding. He measures first, because a wrong sukat ruins everything after it. He lays the lining smooth so there are no lumps, sets the shoulders at just the right angle, and only then sews with tight, even stitches, the same count on both sides. Rush any step and the barong looks wrong all night. Do each step right and the groom never even thinks about his clothes. He just performs. — Sabungero