D
dng1032
Guest
Sorry about this being so long but...
After keeping quiet in regards to the many different posts, and just reading and absorbing all that has been said. I have decided to put in my view point of Modern Arnis . I want all to remember that I am just one person and am stating my observations and opinion on the state of things.
Introduction: Just to give a little background on myselfÂ…My name is David Ng. I am 33 and have been training Modern Arnis since I was 20 with the Professor after being introduced by Master Rick Ward. IÂ’ve been running a full time martial arts school for 10 years and have been teaching Modern Arnis as a separate curriculum as well as a Kung-fu curriculum and a Tai Chi Curriculum. I am a LEO in Durham, NC (7 year LEO veteran). I had the honor of training with the Professor as many of you have. I also have had the honor of being with the Professor the past couple of years before his passing as he had moved his weekday base of operation to Raleigh, NC since 1999. I am on the Board of Directors of the ProfessorÂ’s I.M.A.F., Inc., (Dr. Schea, Chairman, and as requested by the Professor). I am a Filipino and am heavily involved with our local Philippine-American Association here in N.C.. (plug here for worthy cause in the Philippines) http://www.carolinamedicalmission.com . I hold Modern Arnis very dear to my heart since it is part of my heritage and culture. I am willing to train and learn with anyone with the right attitude and integrity. (Time and money permitting of courseÂ…my wife and 2 kids control thatÂ…)
A quick to “hello” to those who know me…
This forum is slowly but surely growing in the right direction, promoting discussion of ideas and fellowship in Modern Arnis. I hope that in the long run that we can get through the growing pains. We all may be members of separate organizations; or independents; or new persons interested in Modern Arnis, but what we have in common is the love of the Art that our Teacher/Father has left us to spread and develop for the future.
Many of us had the honor and opportunity to train personally with Professor. Whether it was at camp, seminar, in our homes, in the car, airport, hotel room…you name it the Professor was always teaching/training/learning/developing Modern Arnis. I believe it is very important for all students and instructors of every generation (70’s,80’s, 90’s…) under the Professor to be able to exchange ideas and experiences. In my experience over the past 13 years, I find that for one to really understand what the Professor was teaching, especially now that he is gone, is that we must follow his development through training with different Generations. Remember as the Professor always said, “Change partners!” Each Era of Student/Instructor had/has an important role in the development of Modern Arnis. Even more we must rely on each other to keep in touch with what has been taken away from us…our teacher’s genius that was the glue that holds the different groups and personalities together… No matter what name/concept/art within art that you do, we all are training Modern Arnis. Each of us has something to offer…in the end all the information is the same because it came from the Professor. Professor may have focused the past few years on Tapi-Tapi as the medium for his curriculum. But Tapi-Tapi is not necessarily the curriculum…this is how I explain it to my students…Tapi Tapi as the Professor used it in the last years is the computer of Modern Arnis. Now to make the computer run, you need the information and programs…these things would be the traditionals, striking styles, palis-palis, disarms, disarm counters, triangle footwork, angling, body shifting, sinawali, trapping, baiting, etc. if you get my drift. So again we all are doing Modern Arnis. Remember training Filipino Martial Arts (any art ) is not about focusing on techniques…we are developing skills that will give us the technique. example… Try and remember 100 techniques from single siniwali. That would be pretty diffucult unless you have photographic memory…I don’t. Now instead train s. sinawali so well that your great skill in doing the motion allows you to flow into 100 techniques…now that is more realistic. That is Modern Arnis.
IÂ’m sure there are many out there like myself that wishes that all groups find a venue to get together and share information, personal ideas, what the Professor may have taught that individual or group. Just as Dr. Barber has proposed in another threadÂ…(IÂ’ve been thinking the same thing sir, but you have beaten me to the punch on broadcasting the ideaÂ…kudos to you sir!)Â…We should even as different organizations find a common ground to share. Professor taught many people different things and told them many different things, but to reach the same goal in developing and promoting Modern Arnis.
Modern Arnis, presently is in a state of grievingÂ…it will be for awhileÂ…in the Philippine TraditionÂ…we shall grieve for years to come. Also in tradition, many of us were asked by the Professor to carry out certain tasks in furthering Modern Arnis. We must carry these tasks out or it is bad luck, bad chi, taboo or whatever you call itÂ…FilipinoÂ’s are very superstitious and are very serious about these things.
The last few conversations I had on the phone with the Professor in the Summer of 2001, we mainly talked about how he loved all his students and that the Art be carried forward. We all have been given tasksÂ…the different groups, IMAF, Inc., WMAA, MARPPIOÂ… Delaney, Inc. etcÂ…. Each of these groups has their focus and the end result is the same Â… Continuing to Spread the Art of Modern Arnis founded by the only Grandmaster of Modern Arnis, Remy Amador Presas.
The future of Modern Arnis is in good hands. But we must make sure that we don’t let the hands become idle. I’m sure that won’t happen, but any type of Modern Arnis infighting will pretty much do the same thing as not doing anything at all. Everyone will have their way of proceeding forward, that is ok. We are all individuals and will always have our own ways of doing things. But we must also follow the basic concepts that Professor laid out the groundwork for us… Yes we will still argue on what those basics may be…but just shut up and do it and prove it in your students…if they are growing and learning you are doing something right…Also remember as Professor always said, “Don’t worry, just be happy!!!”
My rambling may not be making senseÂ…sometimes when I get long winded I too get lost in my own wordsÂ…but hopefully these ideas are common to many of us out there that have been quiet for so longÂ…
Finally, (you are probably going YEAHHHH!) I have had the opportunity of meeting, Roland Dantes in July of 2001 (we hosted him at our school in Raleigh per ProfessorÂ’s request), the Presas Children (in Durham,NC April 2002), Rodel Dagooc (in Durham,NC April 2002), Master Max Pallen (visited our seminar May 11th here in Raleigh). All very nice and genuine people. All with the same goals of spreading Modern Arnis, and all wanting to find a way to unify all of Modern Arnis (at least in a common training camp). By meeting these different individuals it is nice to see we all have the same goals as I have stated aboveÂ…we can only be stronger by doing thisÂ…we live in a big worldÂ…there is room for all of usÂ… Speaking to folks such as Kelly Worden, and training with Tim Hartman, David Hoffman, Dr. Randi Schea, these long time students and teachers of Modern ArnisÂ…are going forward with the same conviction and resolve that the Professor had for his creationÂ…May all of us share this together so that we may grow even strongerÂ…and preserve our TeacherÂ’s Legacy!
More to come when the mood hitsÂ…Take care and Maraming Salamat to all! Mahal Kita Professor!
:asian:
After keeping quiet in regards to the many different posts, and just reading and absorbing all that has been said. I have decided to put in my view point of Modern Arnis . I want all to remember that I am just one person and am stating my observations and opinion on the state of things.
Introduction: Just to give a little background on myselfÂ…My name is David Ng. I am 33 and have been training Modern Arnis since I was 20 with the Professor after being introduced by Master Rick Ward. IÂ’ve been running a full time martial arts school for 10 years and have been teaching Modern Arnis as a separate curriculum as well as a Kung-fu curriculum and a Tai Chi Curriculum. I am a LEO in Durham, NC (7 year LEO veteran). I had the honor of training with the Professor as many of you have. I also have had the honor of being with the Professor the past couple of years before his passing as he had moved his weekday base of operation to Raleigh, NC since 1999. I am on the Board of Directors of the ProfessorÂ’s I.M.A.F., Inc., (Dr. Schea, Chairman, and as requested by the Professor). I am a Filipino and am heavily involved with our local Philippine-American Association here in N.C.. (plug here for worthy cause in the Philippines) http://www.carolinamedicalmission.com . I hold Modern Arnis very dear to my heart since it is part of my heritage and culture. I am willing to train and learn with anyone with the right attitude and integrity. (Time and money permitting of courseÂ…my wife and 2 kids control thatÂ…)
A quick to “hello” to those who know me…
This forum is slowly but surely growing in the right direction, promoting discussion of ideas and fellowship in Modern Arnis. I hope that in the long run that we can get through the growing pains. We all may be members of separate organizations; or independents; or new persons interested in Modern Arnis, but what we have in common is the love of the Art that our Teacher/Father has left us to spread and develop for the future.
Many of us had the honor and opportunity to train personally with Professor. Whether it was at camp, seminar, in our homes, in the car, airport, hotel room…you name it the Professor was always teaching/training/learning/developing Modern Arnis. I believe it is very important for all students and instructors of every generation (70’s,80’s, 90’s…) under the Professor to be able to exchange ideas and experiences. In my experience over the past 13 years, I find that for one to really understand what the Professor was teaching, especially now that he is gone, is that we must follow his development through training with different Generations. Remember as the Professor always said, “Change partners!” Each Era of Student/Instructor had/has an important role in the development of Modern Arnis. Even more we must rely on each other to keep in touch with what has been taken away from us…our teacher’s genius that was the glue that holds the different groups and personalities together… No matter what name/concept/art within art that you do, we all are training Modern Arnis. Each of us has something to offer…in the end all the information is the same because it came from the Professor. Professor may have focused the past few years on Tapi-Tapi as the medium for his curriculum. But Tapi-Tapi is not necessarily the curriculum…this is how I explain it to my students…Tapi Tapi as the Professor used it in the last years is the computer of Modern Arnis. Now to make the computer run, you need the information and programs…these things would be the traditionals, striking styles, palis-palis, disarms, disarm counters, triangle footwork, angling, body shifting, sinawali, trapping, baiting, etc. if you get my drift. So again we all are doing Modern Arnis. Remember training Filipino Martial Arts (any art ) is not about focusing on techniques…we are developing skills that will give us the technique. example… Try and remember 100 techniques from single siniwali. That would be pretty diffucult unless you have photographic memory…I don’t. Now instead train s. sinawali so well that your great skill in doing the motion allows you to flow into 100 techniques…now that is more realistic. That is Modern Arnis.
IÂ’m sure there are many out there like myself that wishes that all groups find a venue to get together and share information, personal ideas, what the Professor may have taught that individual or group. Just as Dr. Barber has proposed in another threadÂ…(IÂ’ve been thinking the same thing sir, but you have beaten me to the punch on broadcasting the ideaÂ…kudos to you sir!)Â…We should even as different organizations find a common ground to share. Professor taught many people different things and told them many different things, but to reach the same goal in developing and promoting Modern Arnis.
Modern Arnis, presently is in a state of grievingÂ…it will be for awhileÂ…in the Philippine TraditionÂ…we shall grieve for years to come. Also in tradition, many of us were asked by the Professor to carry out certain tasks in furthering Modern Arnis. We must carry these tasks out or it is bad luck, bad chi, taboo or whatever you call itÂ…FilipinoÂ’s are very superstitious and are very serious about these things.
The last few conversations I had on the phone with the Professor in the Summer of 2001, we mainly talked about how he loved all his students and that the Art be carried forward. We all have been given tasksÂ…the different groups, IMAF, Inc., WMAA, MARPPIOÂ… Delaney, Inc. etcÂ…. Each of these groups has their focus and the end result is the same Â… Continuing to Spread the Art of Modern Arnis founded by the only Grandmaster of Modern Arnis, Remy Amador Presas.
The future of Modern Arnis is in good hands. But we must make sure that we don’t let the hands become idle. I’m sure that won’t happen, but any type of Modern Arnis infighting will pretty much do the same thing as not doing anything at all. Everyone will have their way of proceeding forward, that is ok. We are all individuals and will always have our own ways of doing things. But we must also follow the basic concepts that Professor laid out the groundwork for us… Yes we will still argue on what those basics may be…but just shut up and do it and prove it in your students…if they are growing and learning you are doing something right…Also remember as Professor always said, “Don’t worry, just be happy!!!”
My rambling may not be making senseÂ…sometimes when I get long winded I too get lost in my own wordsÂ…but hopefully these ideas are common to many of us out there that have been quiet for so longÂ…
Finally, (you are probably going YEAHHHH!) I have had the opportunity of meeting, Roland Dantes in July of 2001 (we hosted him at our school in Raleigh per ProfessorÂ’s request), the Presas Children (in Durham,NC April 2002), Rodel Dagooc (in Durham,NC April 2002), Master Max Pallen (visited our seminar May 11th here in Raleigh). All very nice and genuine people. All with the same goals of spreading Modern Arnis, and all wanting to find a way to unify all of Modern Arnis (at least in a common training camp). By meeting these different individuals it is nice to see we all have the same goals as I have stated aboveÂ…we can only be stronger by doing thisÂ…we live in a big worldÂ…there is room for all of usÂ… Speaking to folks such as Kelly Worden, and training with Tim Hartman, David Hoffman, Dr. Randi Schea, these long time students and teachers of Modern ArnisÂ…are going forward with the same conviction and resolve that the Professor had for his creationÂ…May all of us share this together so that we may grow even strongerÂ…and preserve our TeacherÂ’s Legacy!
More to come when the mood hitsÂ…Take care and Maraming Salamat to all! Mahal Kita Professor!
:asian:
