4^th Anniversary
Tribute to the Father of Modern Arnis
Grandmaster Remy A. Presas
The Promise

It has been four years since the passing of one of the greatest martial artists that ever lived. Professor Presas will long be remembered as the man who brought back to life the dying art of Arnis, a visionary with endless determination and boundless energy.

When Professor Presas was a very small boy of six years old he became very curious about the training his father was giving to the soldiers near his home. This training was not openly shared; Remy’s father was training guerilla fighters to combat the invading Japanese forces during World War II. It was this curiosity that lead young Remy to stand on a rock, peak through the nepa leaves that covered the training hut and begin mimicking the movements of the soldiers. He would swing his small rattan stick at the leaves of nearby trees resulting in a question from his grandfather who was also curious. He was wondering what had caused the trees to loose their leaves. When young Remy showed him what caused the trees to become bare his grandfather saw the enthusiasm for the art of Arnis in this young boys eyes. Against his parents wishes Remy’s grandfather made a promise to teach the small boy the family system of Arnis.

Young Remy worked hard at his art, it became a driving force in his life. He was obsessed with the movements and power of Arnis. He learned the art during a time of great upheaval there were many deaths and life changing injuries dealt out at the hands of powerful arnisadors. This caused young Remy to feel great sorrow for those that were hurt; he felt that the art that he loved should not be used to harm others. This feeling would shape the future of Arnis.

When Remy was old enough he yearned for more information about Arnis, there are many different family styles taught in the islands. He left home in search of more knowledge, by learning more about the art he was keeping a promise that he had made to his grandfather to learn and practice his art. Through out his travels he always kept true to his word, he worked hard and learned from many different masters he was a natural athlete and his talent and reputation soon grew.

Unfortunately, Remy was forced to flee his beloved Philippines during a time of political instability. This was both a beginning and an end for Remy. It was the end of his time spent in his homeland but the beginning for his beloved art known as Modern Arnis. It was at this time that Professor Presas began to keep a promise he had made to himself all those years ago as a young boy, he would make Arnis the art of the world. He dedicated his life to teaching Modern Arnis, his own adaptation of his grandfather’s style of balintawak as well as all the things he had learned from the other masters he had studied with. Perhaps the most valuable adaptation was to allow the practitioner of Modern Arnis to strike the opponents stick. This would encourage people to continue with their practice of the art without removing the martial aspect of Arnis.

Professor Presas spent most of his adult life on the road teaching to a new group of people at every venue. During the course of his travels he taught many distinct pieces of his art to a few very dedicated and talented practitioners of his art. Whether he gave someone a new technique or movement or had them search for it in what he had just done he always made them promise to teach it to someone. He believed that by teaching someone else the technique or movement would become your own.

All too quickly Professor Presas was taken from this earth but his beloved art and his promise lives on through all the people that have dedicated their lives to the practice of Modern Arnis. Every time that knowledge is passed on in the manner that Professor would have taught it we are all keeping his promise for him. We are sharing and spreading his beloved art through out the world.

It is on this fourth anniversary of his passing that we should all take a moment to remember what his promise meant to him and to remember what he meant to all the people he has touched through out the world. Every time that you pick up a rattan stick you are helping to keep his promise, this is a sacred responsibility and an honor.

3^rd Anniversary
Tribute to the Father of Modern Arnis
Grandmaster Remy A. Presas

When a person is born his destiny is not determined. Each person will make choices along their life’s path that will create their destiny. The choices made by one may affect the lives of others. Each person has the potential to be great. It is what we all do with that potential that makes us who we are.

It has been three years since the passing of a man who took all the potential he had, created a martial arts system which is second to none, affected the lives of millions of people much like a single drop of water falling in a pond creates ripples that can go on for ever. This man was Remy A. Presas perhaps the most loved martial artist of his time.

The training hall was filled with the smell of burning rattan, it echoed with the sounds of canes coming together. Everyone in the room was concentrating, working hard and learning. A voice called out “Come here, sit down, come close I will tell you about your family.” The group comes together in a circle, listening intently to the man in the center.

From the start of time it has been important to pass on family history, heritage and culture. If the father was a fisherman it was only natural for the son to follow. It was the duty of a good father to teach the children his craft; it was a gift that would help them to survive in a world that was often very harsh. It was also the duty and privilege of the family elders to ensure each person understood who he was and where he came from. This was accomplished by remembering those who have gone before us.

How we remember those who have come before us is important. Often it is a quick private thought that brings a smile to our lips or a small tear to our eye. These moments shape who we are. When we share these times with our friends and family we are giving them a gift that money can not buy, we are giving them a sense of being, a sense of who they are and where they come from. Every person may find a different meaning in each story but those who listen with more than their ears will gain the most.

When Professor taught his art it was crucial that he pass on more than a multitude of possible combinations and patterns. It was important that people understand his art. To understand the art a handful of people would receive the greatest gift of all times. They would be allowed the privilege to “play” with Professor. They would be given a personal family history lesson. This lesson was often physically and mentally painful but, these were moments, that none of them would trade for all the riches in the world. These moments were little glimpses into the heart of a true warrior.

On this anniversary of his passing, take a moment to remember where we have come from. Take a moment to remember the warrior, the father, the friend and the teacher. Cherish each moment that you spent with him. Listen to the voice inside yourself that drives you to get better. Remember who he was on your quest to discover who you are.