WHAT IS MODERN ARNIS? Modern Arnis is a comprehensive Filipino martial art created by the late Grandmaster Remy A. Presas (1936 - 2001). Professor Presas introduced the art to the United States in the late 1970s and continued to develop and refine it until his untimely death in 2001. The Filipino martial arts are eclectic and draw upon many influences, including but not limited to: native Filipino fighting systems, Chinese Kung Fu, Indonesian silat, Okinawan and Japanese martial arts and Spanish fencing. Professor Presas began his study of Filipino martial arts with his family system. Later he travelled the Philippines and studied with notable masters like Vernancio Bacon of Balintawak Arnis. After studying numerous styles, he added his personal knowledge of Shotokan Karate, Judo and Jujitsu. The result was Modern Arnis, a formidable self-defense art that incorporates the stick, the blade, empty hand fighting and grappling. After bringing Modern Arnis to the United States in the late 1970s, Professor Prsesas continued to refine and develop his art. He trained along side, influenced and was influenced by many other truly exceptional martial artists he met here. This group includes notables such as Grandmaster Wally Jay, Grandmaster George Dillman and Professor Florendo Visitacion. In fact, the friendship and influence between Professor Presas and Grandmasters Dillman and Jay was such that both Ryu Kyu Kempo and Small Circle Ju Jitsu have left significant influence upon Modern Arnis theory and curriculum. Professor Presas was a visonary as well as a virtuoso martial artist. His teaching methods were modern and unorthodox. He did not have a Headquarters school in the United States. He constantly travelled the seminar circuit, training everywhere with everyone. He was one of the first notable instructors to teach concepts not merely techniques. He brought Modern Arnis to us as "the art within your art". He did not require that students abandon their primary arts or practice of other disciplines, only that they use Modern Arnis and its theories to make themselves better martial artists. Professor Presas was recognized for his accomplishments as Black Belt Magazine's Instructor of the Year for 1982 and Weapons Expert of the Year for 1994. One of the most important concepts in Modern Arnis is Tapi-Tapi. Tapi-Tapi translates as "counter for counter". While some believe that the term merely applies to set of drills, it is really the heart of the art. Adopting a "counter for counter" approach to all aspects of training enables the student to develop a continual "flow" in combat. Rather than being rigidly locked into preset responses for different attacks, the Arnisador can respond appropriately as each situation requires. |
| Empty Hand Modern Arnis Technique Sequence - Punch deflection to forearm takedown, finishing with shin to bicep lock and strike to the attacker's head (1 - 8) |
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| CHANG'S MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY |
| 6447 North Cicero Avenue Lincolnwood, Illinois 60712 |
| (847) 568-0952 |
