Sasamba-Kali-Modern Arnis
Philipino Knife and Cane Fighting
Blue Ridge Kung-Fu International Headquarters teaches a Pilipino
Cane-Knife Fighting (Kali - Modern Arnis - Sasamba) martial art
which supplements our kung-fu and enhances our ability to change
styles and manuever for a different approach for both defense
and offense. We incorporated and worked this art form into our
system of kung-fu and also teach it as a separate system. Modern
Arnis which uses a variety of joint locks, sweeps, throws
and low kicks also develops a flow of movement that is in it own
holds its own. As a complete system, it can stand as your only
art form for self defense or it makes an excellent supplement
to any stylist or martial artist. In our school it is like learning
two completely different systems for the same membership commitments.
You also have the Sasamba mixed in that is Tuhon Rick Wards own
system. This sytem incorporates Preying Mantis type movements
and striking styles along with the Kali background incorporated
from Tuhon Ruby.
Learn about Tuhon Guadiosa Ruby
<< here >>.
The History of Modern Arnis and Remy Presas
The Origins of Arnis are difficult to trace, primarily because there
are nearly as many styles of Filipino stick fighting as there are
islands in the Philippines archipelago--more than 7000. The
people who settled in the islands came from India, Southwest Asia,
China and Indonesia. These people were very diverse in culture and
beliefs. Over the centuries their cultures mixed and they
developed a common method of employing sharp swords, daggers and
fire-hardened sticks in combat. These highly sophisticated
fighting styles have grown in popularity in the international martial
arts community.
One of the earliest known forms was called "tjakalele"
(Indonesian Fencing). "kali" is another term familiar
to stick fighters around the world today. When the Philippines
were invaded by the Spanish, the invaders required guns to subdue
their fierce opponents. The deadly fighting skills of Filipino
warriors nearly overwhelmed them, and they dubbed the native stick
style "escrima" (skirmish).At age 6 Grandmaster Remy Amador
Presas (Filipino Arnis master and founder of modern arnis) was already
learning the fundamentals of kali, the forerunner of Modern Arnis
de mano.
In Cebu, Presas studied Arnis under Rodolfo
Moncal, Timoteo Marranga and Marranga's instructor, Grandmaster
Venancio Bacon, all experts in Arnis and the "Balintawak"
style of stick fencing. In addition to Arnis, Presas became
proficient in judo, jujitsu and karate.
When Presas first traveled his country, he took
what he considered to be the most effective principles of each island
style and combined them with his own knowledge of other martial
arts.
Presas also insists on modernizing a particular
training aspect traditional in Arnis: that of hitting your
opponent's hand or arm instead of his stick - a painful practice
that was tolerated because the rattan canes used in arnis were considered
sacred.
Presas does not merely combine techniques, he
encourages the individual student to adapt Arnis principles to his
own feel for each technique.
The method should suit the person and not the
other way around. This is known simply as using the "flow."
"Arnis makes many martial
artists discover new things about their own style," Presas
says. "They recognize the beauty of Arnis because it
blends naturally the best movements from many arts.
Most of my students continue to study their own styles - they just
use Arnis to supplement their understanding."
In 1982 Presas was inducted into
the Black Belt Hall of Fame as Instructor of the Year for his devotion
to teach the art he loves. Years of refinement have given
Presas a personal style that makes his seminars among the most popular
at many martial arts schools.
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