The Professor
Modern Arnis is the system of Filipino martial arts founded by the late Grandmaster Remy Amador Presas, or "The Professor" as he was known to his students. The Professor’s goal was to create an injury-free training method as well as an effective self-defense tool. In addition to its many Filipino influences, elements of Wing Chun, Judo, Shotokan Karate, and Small Circle Jujitsu appear in the system. Grandmaster Remy Presas was widely regarded as the world’s foremost expert on Filipino martial arts, and Modern Arnis is the largest Filipino martial arts system in the world, boasting students from all points of the globe.
Elements
One of the unique characteristics of Modern Arnis is the use of weapons from the very beginning of training. The primary weapon is the rattan stick, called a cane or baston which is usually about 28 inches in length. Modern Arnis uses empty-hand self-defense (striking, locking, throwing,etc.) as well as the trademark single and double stick techniques. Other aspects of the art include espada y daga (sword and dagger fighting), sinawali (double stick weaving patterns), and tapi-tapi (locking drills with and without the stick). In addition to partner drills, Modern Arnis includes the use of anyo (kata), solo forms both with and without the stick. Emphasis is placed on fitting Modern Arnis in with a student's previous training if they have any ("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").
opponent's attempt to counter strikes directed at him ("tapi-tapi").
Master Tom Green
Master Green receiving his Black Belt from GM Remy Presas
Master Tom Green was a personal student of Grandmaster Presas beginning in the late 1980s. He received his Black Belt and Advanced Instructor Certificate directly from The Professor in 1989 and has been teaching since at the school that he founded, the Warren School of Self-Defense located in Warren, Pennsylvania.