What is Modern Arnis, and where can I find Training?

[Bob Hubbard]

Updated : 8-29-2002
What is Modern Arnis?

Modern Arnis is a martial art with its roots in the systems of the Philippines. It was developed by the late Grandmaster Remy A. Presas, and in its simplest definition covers open hand, knife, and stick techniques.


Where can I train?

There are many schools around the world that offer training. You can easily find a school in your area by checking the websites of the various Modern Arnis organizations.


Modern Arnis Organizations:
Format: Organization (abreviation) (Head) - Website or Email

World Modern Arnis Alliance (WMAA) (Datu Tim Hartman) - http://wmarnis.com

Modern Arnis Remy P. Presas International Organization (MARPPIO) - http://modernarnis.com/

Jeffrey J. Delaneys' International Modern Arnis Federation (IMAF) - http://professorpresas.com

Randi Scheas' International Modern Arnis Federation (IMAF) - http://www.modernarnis.net

World Modern Arnis Coalition (WMAC ) (Datu Kelly Worden) - http://www.kellyworden.com

Danish Arnis Federation (Thorbjørn Hartelius) - http://www.arnis.dk

German Arnis Federation (Datu Dieter Knüttel) - http://www.modern-arnis.de

American Modern Arnis Associates (Guro Tom Bolden)- www.americanarnis.com

Jerome Barber, Ed.D. - www.guntingseminar.com (see DoctorB's post below)

Bram Frank - arnisman@aol.com (See post below)

Arnis International (Bruce Chiu) - http://www.brucechiu.com

Dan Anderson - www.danandersonkarate.com




Similar to Modern Arnis is Arnis de Leon
International Arnis de Leon Federation (IADLF) - http://www.arnisdeleon.com/


There are a few other groups that I am aware of, but I don't have the links on hand at the moment. Please feel free to expand on this listing, and expand on my brief description. I will update this initial msg as I can with the latest listings. Please read the entire thread as there may be more details below. I have attempted to list the major organizations and instructors as I've found them. No slight is meant to anyone I did not mention. If you have additional information on where Modern Arnis can be found, please feel free to add on to this listing.

Thank you!

Hi there
Just in case you are lost and ends up in Scandinavia, check www.arnis.dk for information on Modern Arnis in Denmark.
And don´t hesitate to visit we are always happy to learn, teach, practise, fight and show people around Wikingland.
Sincerely Arnis.dk

[Bob Hubbard]

Thank you for the info. Can you give some information on the organization and help me fill in the blanks below? (I can't understand the site to pull the info from it)
Thank you!



Organization : Danish Arnis Federation
Head : Thorbjorn Hartelius
Location : Denmark
Email :
WebSite : http://www.arnis.dk/
Founded :
Coverage : Denmark,
Events:
Notes:



Updated by Renegade. Wrong instructor

The following question was asked as part of a new thread:

>What is Modern Arnis?

>Modern Arnis is a martial art with its roots in the systems of the >Philippines. It was developed by the late Grandmaster Remy A. >Presas, and in its simplest definition covers open hand, knife, >and stick techniques.

The short answer is right on target, although during my 12 years of training in the art under both Professor Presas and Sifu Don Zanghi, who was the first person to bring the art to the Western New York area and who served as the first representative of the system, the knife component was not taught except for the six unarmed defenses against an attack. I stopped training with
Professor in 1994, so what ever he did with knife after that point someone else will have to explain. During my time with Professor, he was reluctant to show the knife translations and techniques because he wanted to have Modern Arnis shown in the best possible light to the general public. During several different conversations over the years he explained his rationale for this in the following manner; most Americans think of the knife as something only bad people and criminals use. Of course I am paraphrasing his words and not quoting him directly.

>Where can I train?

>There are many schools around the world that offer training. >You can easily find a school in your area by checking the >websites of the various Modern Arnis organizations.

You offered the following and it is a good list:

>Modern Arnis Organizations:

>World Modern Arnis Alliance (WMAA) - http://wmarnis.com

>Modern Arnis Remy P. Presas International Organization
>(MARPPIO) - http://modernarnis.com/

>Jeffrey J. Delaneys' International Modern Arnis Federation
>(IMAF) - http://professorpresas.com

>Randi Scheas' International Modern Arnis Federation (IMAF) -
>http://www.modernarnis.net

>World Modern Arnis Coalition (WMAC ) - >http://www.xpres.net/~gmattson/ubbs/


>Similar to Modern Arnis is Arnis de Leon
>International Arnis de Leon Federation (IADLF) - >http://www.arnisdeleon.com/

>There are a few other groups that I am aware of, but I don't >have the links on hand at the moment. Please feel free to >expand on this listing, and expand on my brief description.

An additional group was added by Guro Dieter Knuttel, who also has trained with GM Ernesto Presas:

>Organization : Danish Arnis Federation
>Head : Datu Dieter Knuttel (???)
>Location : Denmark
>WebSite : http://www.arnis.dk/

I would like to add the following person and organization to this list, PG Tom Bolden and the American Modern Arnis Associates.
PG Bolden, has a very distinctive style and 40 years of training experience in the FMAs. He trained in Hawaii under Master Florintino Pancipanci and later trained with GM Remy Presas here in the United States. He is the the person who brought the IMAF version of Modern Arnis to the Mid-Hudson Valley of NY State in the early 1980's, he was promoted to Senior Instructor by Professor Presas in 1989 and he later formed the AMAA in 1994.

Punong Guro Tom Bolden
American Modern Arnis Associates
Pancipanci Eskrima, CHA-3 Kenpo & IMAF Modern Arnis
Poughkeepsie, NY; (845) 471-0742
www.americanarnis.com

My own program is being taught in two places:

Erie Community College, Orchard Park, NY;
This program has been running for the past 16 years, with the first two being a student club program and the last 14 as a credit bearing, Physical Education Course. My complete curriculum was reviewed by and approved of by Professor Presas in 1989. He signed off on the official curriculum which is posted with the college curriculum committee. The program is a blending of Tracy System Kenpo, Modern Arnis and Pancipanci Eskrima.

The second program is a commercial school that I opened this past September in Hamburg, NY. The curriculum is an expansion of the ECC program.

Our web site is being developed and can be found at:
www.guntingseminar.com

The organizational format that I founded is listed under
Independent Escrima Arnis Associates

Jerome Barber, Ed.D.



Thank you!

[Datu Tim Hartman]

It's good to see so many people from the Modern Arnis world are members od this forum!


Tim Hartman

Ha! Renegade, I see you forgot to keep your certificate current A brown belt instead of six black ones now eh? I bet I am white after posting this but you know me and belts, they hold the pajamas closed for me!

Thanks for the invite, another place for me to play instead of in the programs they gave me to make money with on this silly box!

There are really cool smiley faces here and a knife forum and this thing too. Cool hangout.

Talk soon.

Oh, if anyone wants a really nasty version of Modern Arnis mixed witha few other items (military H2H/ stick/ knife, Bando, jujitsu, tang soo do), call Tim Murray at 630-584-0007. Teaches out of St Charles IL (far western suburbs) and focus is entirely on conflict resolution and self preservation.

[Bob Hubbard]

Updated original post to reflect corrections and new info.

If you know of other Arnis groups, please post them here and I'll add them to the main post.

Thank you

Hi Kaith
Here are some updates on Modern Arnis in Denmark.

Email: toby@arnis.dk
Founded: 1984
Events: Next event is May 18/19 2002 in Aarhus, Denmark. Kombatan seminar with Grandmaster Ernesto Presas, Master Roger Solar, Master Randy Remolin, Master Michael Ermach.

I will try to follow up on the events.

The Danish Arnis Federation has 7 clubs spread all over Denmark.

Sincerely
Thorbjørn Hartelius, Chiefinstructor Modern Arnis Denmark.

[Cruentus]

Thanks for the contact info for Tim Murray.

About 5 years ago my brother and I hung out with Tim and Dr. Gyi for the weekend. That was one of the best time's we've ever had at a seminar. He runs a very cool program, and he has a lot of knowledge. I'm just in regret that I haven't gotten a hold of him in so long! Oh, well... better late then never. I'll get a hold of him, and possibly train after May Buffalo camp.

Everyone else: If your near Chicago, you train hard, and like to learn combative fighting system's, Murray's the one to get a hold of!

Was that a KaBar sem or the pocket stick and scarf one? Tim is good people and he has as much use for MA politics as I do, why we get along so well.

Oh, and the fact that the other guy has to die now rather than later. I was amazed at how quickly he could have greased my train last night AND the guy I was partnered with, roughly 1.5 seconds or so? Glad to have the mats down.

[Cruentus]

It was a Ka-bar and Python staff seminar. It was sweet!!

[Tapps]

Training with Tim Murray is always fun. Pack your Motrin he plays hard.

I belive Dr. Gyi will be teaching the Python staff you menntioned at the WMAA camp. Dr. Gyi plays very hard.

Ask him about the fang .... G'head ask him. He'll gladly show you !

What about long-distance training and rank certitication? There are no schools in my area but I would like to not only gain knowledge of the art but possibly inquire about rank cert. How is this done in Modern Arnis?

[Cruentus]

Through any of the Modern Arnis Orginizations you can get ranked. You can do this by either training w/ someone certified to give rank through one of these orgs., or by travelling a little, and doing camps and seminars, and training on your own in between. Do some research, though before you pick an orginazation. Since our founder, GM Remy Presas passed away, there have been different Orgs. popping up with slightly different views on the Art. Make sure you pick the one that suits you best.

I will use this thread reply, now, to shamelessly plug the WMAA...

After training w/ Professor Presas for many years, and spending a lot of time after he passed away thinking about what I would do next, I chose to link up with the WMAA. Check out the web site. They have camp coming up the 1st weekend of may. Through the WMAA you can get ranked under Datu Tim Hartman (a very good instructor, and close friend of Professors). I chose this Org. because through it, I feel that you will get more of a complete representation of Professors Art. I'm not trying to 'mud-sling' the other Orgs., though, so please do some research and decide for yourself!

What City/State/country do you live in? Maybe I, or someone else can help you find someone else in your area!

PAUL

I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma and would be willing to travel to be able to study this art.