How does one define Modern Arnis?

[pennkempo]

I had the opportunity to ask the question of Rich Parsons over the weekend and was fairly satisfied with his answer, but I'm curious how other people would answer this:

How does one define what Modern Arnis is (other than the obvious "it's what Remy taught")? In particular what makes Modern Arnis unique among the various Filipino martial arts? Perhaps another way of asking the question would be to say, "How do I tell if two people practicing are doing Modern Arnis versus some other FMA?"

We all know that the body can move in only so many ways. All complete arts have some form of striking, grabbing, trapping, etc. So, is the difference in strategy? Training methodology? Purpose?

I surprised myself when I realized I couldn't easily enunciate a good answer to this question.......

-Dave

[Rich Parsons]

I had the opportunity to ask the question of Rich Parsons over the weekend and was fairly satisfied with his answer, but I'm curious how other people would answer this:

How does one define what Modern Arnis is (other than the obvious "it's what Remy taught")? In particular what makes Modern Arnis unique among the various Filipino martial arts? Perhaps another way of asking the question would be to say, "How do I tell if two people practicing are doing Modern Arnis versus some other FMA?"

We all know that the body can move in only so many ways. All complete arts have some form of striking, grabbing, trapping, etc. So, is the difference in strategy? Training methodology? Purpose?

I surprised myself when I realized I couldn't easily enunciate a good answer to this question.......

-Dave

Hmmm, Now I wonder what I said

Seriously, I would like hear what people think.

Thanks

[kruzada]

To answer this question we have to understand the reason why the late GM Remy A. Presas founded Modern Arnis in the very beginning in the P.I. and the reason why he added to the art with his own innovations in the U.S.

GM Remy wanted to make the practice of Arnis suitable for Physical Education programs in High Schools and Colleges in the Philippines so that the art would not die out in the land of its birth.

He also wanted to organize his system so that it could be taught in a defined progression with Belt ranks and structure akin to the Japanese martial arts. He did this so that Arnis would be accepted in countries that already had a Karate and Judo presence, as was the case in the Philippines.

He further developed his own innovations in Modern Arnis to appeal to those practitioners in the U.S. that were enamored of the joint locking techniques in Jujitsu and the close quarter trapping of Arnis and Wing Chun.

So all in all the reasons that motivated GM Remy to transform the classical styles of Arnis that he had been taught into what we have come to know as Modern Arnis today, give us the answer to the question "what is Modern Arnis"

It is a Filipino martial art that is geared towards Physical education, developed so that the art would continue to flourish in the Philippines, and spread throughout the world. Modern Arnis encompasses both the classical art of Arnis and its modern evolution. It is this duality that makes the art unique among the various FMA. It is an art that emphasizes fluidity, adaptability and creativity; allowing room for growth and personal expression. Preserving the art of Arnis in a manner suitable to all cultures, without compromising its integrity.

It is all of these things but it is still nothing without a full understanding of GM Remy's vision and reasoning. He was first and foremost a proud Filipino, as well as a visionary with immense charisma. He was his art, and Modern Arnis will never be the same without him.

Rich Acosta

[DavePaj]

Is there any information in the MA community about whether the Professor was teaching the same modern arnis in physical education settings as he did to his more senior students on the seminar circuit in the US and abroad?

I ask this because the Professor's adaption of Arnis to a participant friendly version is somewhat analagous to the institutionalization of karate in Japan. This resulted in an art that was very different than its predecessors. Does this mean that all modern arnis is like this, or only during the belt ranks ... perhaps once a student demonstrated they were able to surpass this the professor would convey a different vision of Modern Arnis?

so, in conclusion, are there different modern arnis's based on who experienced it and what the professor felt they were capable of?

[kruzada]

I cannot comment on what GM Remy taught here in the U.S. and in other countries, but I will elaborate on what is taught in the P.I.

Modern Arnis is the largest FMA group in the P.I., it has more practitioners and instructors there than any other Arnis/Eskrima/Kali system. This is largely due to it's inclusion in educational programs all across the country, and the untiring efforts of GM Remy's Master students that continued to spread the art in the P.I. after GM Remy moved to the U.S.

It is true that many students who learn Modern Arnis in a P.E. setting have a comparitively limited amount of knowledge of the FMA when compared to students enrolled in a regular ongoing program at training halls such as the IMAFP headquarters in Manila, where students train 5 to 6 days per week. Students who study Modern Arnis in the Philippines as part of a P.E. program, know only a small part of what is taught in the IMAFP curriculum.

IMAFP Black Belts, however, have a well rounded knowledge of Modern Arnis ranging from the basics to classical Arnis such as Sumbradas, advanced Doble Baston and Espada y Daga forms and applications (taught only by IMAFP and Arnis Masters in the provinces), as well as advanced Tapi-Tapi. They also learn a wide range of weapons such as the bankaw, dulo-dulo, sangot and others. In addition to this some Black Belts are taught styles that the Senior Masters specialize in outside of the Modern Arnis curriculum, such as Tres Puntas, Doblete Rapelon and Cinco Teros. Many of the Modern Arnis Masters in the Philippines mastered other forms of Arnis before they studied with Grandmaster Remy, and in some cases had the opportunity to learn styles from other FMA Grandmasters in Manila and in the provinces.

There is alot more in the IMAFP curriculum, but this is all I can recall off the top of my head.

The Modern Arnis Masters in the Philippines have a wealth of knowledge that is open to all practitioners of the Filipino martial arts. It would take two lifetimes to explore what each Master has to offer, and an additional lifetime to master what you have learned.

-Richie Acosta

[Rich Parsons]

Is there any information in the MA community about whether the Professor was teaching the same modern arnis in physical education settings as he did to his more senior students on the seminar circuit in the US and abroad?

I ask this because the Professor's adaption of Arnis to a participant friendly version is somewhat analagous to the institutionalization of karate in Japan. This resulted in an art that was very different than its predecessors. Does this mean that all modern arnis is like this, or only during the belt ranks ... perhaps once a student demonstrated they were able to surpass this the professor would convey a different vision of Modern Arnis?

so, in conclusion, are there different modern arnis's based on who experienced it and what the professor felt they were capable of?

Hey Dave,

How is it going?

Have you heard of the "Pink Book". This book is a good reference for what was taught in the PI, yet it is always best to hear from those there, and then train with them as well

Also another book "The Practical Art of Escrima" was first published in the PI.

Check both these out. I know Tim has a copy so if you do not find them before you next visit, he should let you browse. I would check e-bay as sometimes you can find the second book I mentioned there.

The First book can be gotten from Brian Zawilinski if Tim does not have a copy.

[Chad]

Real short answer....
Understand that what Professor developed as a PE curriculum in the sixties and seventies morphed a lot as time went on. When Professor came to the states he had to gear his teaching to a vastly different audience; the inclusion of the empty hand anyos would be one example.
Professor also continued to work with other artists; for example Wally Jay was vastly influential on some aspects of the art.
Also bear in mind that what was taught as Phys. Ed. was not the sum total of Professor's art, any more than was a brief collection of his seminar teachings.
I think it is safe to say that for different times and different audiences Professor stressed different facets of the art, but not that there was a deliberate hiding of component pieces as was the case when Okinawan karate was taught to Japanese or Americans.

[arnisador]

How does one define what Modern Arnis is (other than the obvious "it's what Remy taught")? In particular what makes Modern Arnis unique among the various Filipino martial arts? Perhaps another way of asking the question would be to say, "How do I tell if two people practicing are doing Modern Arnis versus some other FMA?"

The first question is very hard to answer, other than referring to the Professor's teachings. For the second, though unique is too strong a word, I think that Modern Arnis is distinguished by, to name just a few things, its greater propensity to grab the stick (where many arts might grab the hand, or place their hand on the stick but not grasp it), the Small Circle Jujitsu techniques, the emphasis on block-check-counter/trapping hands, and the extensive tapi-tapi drills.

For the third question...well, as a rule I think it's hard to reliably tell one FMA from another by watching two people practice unless they do something very distinctive. For Modern Arnis, big clues would include the Shotokan-style anyos, single sinawali (which doesn't show up often in other systems, in my experience), recognizable tapi-tapi patterns, an emphasis on solo baston, and de cadena trapping hands. Smaller clues, to my mind, include fighting at medio-to-corto range, grabbing the stick, tying people's arms up, stick as stick (not usually as sword), and the diving throw. Obviously, apart from the anyos, none of these would be conclusive!

[Buwaya]

In addition to this some Black Belts are taught styles that the Senior Masters specialize in outside of the Modern Arnis curriculum, such as Tres Puntas, Doblete Rapelon and Cinco Teros. Many of the Modern Arnis Masters in the Philippines mastered other forms of Arnis before they studied with Grandmaster Remy, and in some cases had the opportunity to learn styles from other FMA Grandmasters in Manila and in the provinces.

Hi Richie/Kruzada,

Which MA master trained in Doblete Rapelon?

[kruzada]

Sorry I overlooked your reply, which was sent so long ago.

SM Samuel Bambit Dulay trained with GM Mena in Doblete Rapelon. I am not sure for how long a time though.

They were from the same province. So GM Mena encouraged him to study his style.

I know that other MA practitioners in the P.I. have trained in Doblete Rapelon under Eng. Diaz.

-Rich