Modern Arnis

From MartialTalk Online Martial Arts Encyclopedia Project

Modern Arnis is the system of Filipino martial arts founded by the late Remy Presas after World War II as a comprehensive self-defense system. His goal was to create an injury-free training method as well as an effective self-defense technology in order to preserve the older Arnis systems. The term Modern Arnis was also used by Remy Presas' younger brother Ernesto Presas to describe his style of Filipino martial arts; since 1999 Ernesto Presas has called his system Kombatan.

One of the more prolific systems of Arnis today, the system was taught in the basic education units in the Philippines as part of the Physical Education curriculum (and in many areas, still is taught in the schools). It is derived principally from the traditional Presas family style of the Bolo (machete) and Balintawak, with influences from other Filipino martial arts.

1 Weapons Training within Modern Arnis
2 Belt Ranks
3 Controversy
4 Practitioners of Note
5 Modern Arnis Organizations
6 External Resources

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Weapons Training within Modern Arnis

One of the characteristics of Filipino martial arts is the use of weapons from the very beginning of training. Modern Arnis is no exception. The primary weapon is the rattan stick, called a cane or baston (baton), which varies in size, but is usually about 26 inches (70cm) in length. Both single and double stick techniques are taught, with an emphasis on the former; unarmed defenses against the stick and against blades (which the stick is sometimes taken to represent) are also part of the curriculum.

It is said that, originally, the cane was considered sacred by practitioners, and therefore an arnis practitioner was expected to hit his cane at the hand or forearm of his sparring partner and not at the latter's cane. This also had the advantage of being the preferred method in actual combat. However, it discouraged many would-be practitioners who were hurt from this impractically brutal training, and arnis became a dying art. Remy Presas' modernization of the training method helped save it. He taught the method of hitting cane-on-cane during practice, which attracted more newcomers and allowed the art to be taught in the Philippines' school system.

Training covers empty-hand self-defense as well as the trademark single and double stick techniques of the Filipino martial arts. Other aspects of the art include espada y daga (sword and dagger fighting), sinawali (double stick weaving patterns), and tapi-tapi (locking drills with the stick). In addition to partner drills, Modern Arnis includes the use of anyos (kata), solo forms both with and without the stick. Emphasis is placed on fitting the art in with a student's previous training ("the art within your art"), smoothly reacting to changing situations in the fight ("the flow"), and countering the opponent's attempt to counter strikes directed at him ("tapi-tapi").

In addition to its Filipino influences, elements of Judo, Shotokan Karate, and Wally Jay's Small Circle Jujitsu appear in the system.

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Belt Ranks

Modern Arnis uses a system similar to Karate in its ranking. There are some minor variations between organizations as to the exact number of belts. There are 10 Black belt ranks in most Modern Arnis organizations systems (similar to the Dan ranks used in Japanese systems). They are numbered in Tagalog:

1. Isa 2. Dalawa 3. Tatlo 4. Apat 5. Lima 6. Anim 7. Pito 8. Walo 9. Siam 10. Sampu

Arnis black belt ranks are gender-specific. For men the rank is refered to as Lakan (Tagalog for male) while the female rank is refered to as Dayang (Tagalog for female). Thus, a first degree black belt in Modern Arnis would be refered to as either a Lakan Isa or a Dayang Isa, depending on his or her gender. The black belt is usually bordered with red, however some groups use a plain black belt. Additionally, many groups use a simple Lakan or Dayang rank that comes before Lakan Isa.

In addition to rank, titles such as Datu, Master of Tapi-Tapi, Senior Master, Punong Guro, etc., have occsasionally been granted to prominent individuals. The title Guro (teacher) is typically given to all Lakans and Dayangs.

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Controversy

Unfortunately, following the founder's death there has been a splintering of the remaining leadership of Modern Arnis. The IMAF, previously the organization of record for North American Modern Arnis practitioners, split into two subgroups, headed by Randi Shea and Jeff Delaney; Remy Presas' son Remy P. Presas also formed a group following his father's death. Some groups claim that they hold the true curriculum and right to grant rank, while others claim that the dynamic structure of the art means that any attempt to "set the art in stone" would be contrary to the Professor's frequent exhortation to "make the art your own". The situation is analogous to those of Jeet Kune Do and American Kenpo following the deaths of their popular and charismatic founders.

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Practitioners of Note

Over the years Modern Arnis has seen a number of individuals rise to various levels of renown and notoriety. A complete list is simply beyond the scope of this article due to the conflicting definitions on just what exactly makes up this elite level of recognition. A few names of note are listed below. Some are leaders of organizations, some ambassadors of the art, others are of high skill but keep to themselves, while others have gone their own way but still give credit to Grandmaster Presas and his art, often incorporating much of it into their own martial vision. Thus is the diversity that is Modern Arnis.

This incomplete and short list includes Dan Anderson, Roland Dantes, Jeff Delaney, Bram Frank, Tim Hartman, Shishir Inocalla, Dieter Knuettel, Remy P. Presas, Roberto Presas, Randi Schea, Kelly Worden, Jerome Barber, Tom Bolden, Ken DeJesus, David Hoffman, Lee Lowry, Willy Matias, David Ng, and Doug Pierre. From the Philippines Cristino Vasquez, Pepe Yap, Rene Tongson, Samuel Dulay, Mark Santos, Alex Ercia, Audy Ercia, Rodel Dagooc, Jerry Dela Cruz, Pepito Robas, Arvino Logarta, Trish Dane Sempio.

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Modern Arnis Organizations

Modern Arnis is currently perpetuated by a number of organizations worldwide, with some of the largest being the DAV of Germany, the International Modern Arnis Federation (IMAF), and the World Modern Arnis Alliance (WMAA). Countries where the art is most popular include the Philippines, the U.S., Canada, and Germany, but there are practitioners in many other nations. The major organizations are:

Other organizations or groups include:

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